It's been a few weeks since I've strolled by the sea, but I'm facing down a tempest. I'm clinging to the side of a rock. Hopefully, the Rock. I intend to hold on, ride out the storm, and yes, win. I don't need to win at most things, though I'm a tad competitive, but there are some things a mother must win. Must win. This week is school, and I'm claiming the high ground.
The tempest? A middle school student and her moments. She may be fraught with spring fever, but we will not spend all day in the wilds reading.
And while it's all fine and dandy that you'd like to spend your hours reading When the Rivers Run Dry, and Shooting Kabul, and European comics, it's not. Because we are not unschoolers. We have a family, and we have a schedule. There are others in the house with lives, who want their school day to be over by 8 p.m.. Indeed, 3 p.m. would be better.
Then there's the issue of latin, history, and writing, and if you don't write something about those pyramids, I might just ship you off to live in one. They often induce claustrophobia you know. And while this house may feel claustrophobic, the pyramids are worse! Yes, dear middle school child, there must be, there will be, some rhythm and routine to our days.
Just as I cannot eat fruit gushers all day, you cannot stay in your pajamas all day. On another planet, they may, but not on the tiny patch of land you call home. And so while the waves may roar, and the sea storm, we are going to ride it out. We are going to jump in and embrace life.
And when the day is over, we'll get off the rock and be on our way. We'll journey, and the storm will pass, and we'll be in the same boat. Trust me, we will. But since I'm your mother, it will be my boat.
There'll be more wild days, but one day we'll laugh, and remember when the wind blew our hair, when the waves roared, and when I won - at least at school.
The tempest? A middle school student and her moments. She may be fraught with spring fever, but we will not spend all day in the wilds reading.
And while it's all fine and dandy that you'd like to spend your hours reading When the Rivers Run Dry, and Shooting Kabul, and European comics, it's not. Because we are not unschoolers. We have a family, and we have a schedule. There are others in the house with lives, who want their school day to be over by 8 p.m.. Indeed, 3 p.m. would be better.
Just as I cannot eat fruit gushers all day, you cannot stay in your pajamas all day. On another planet, they may, but not on the tiny patch of land you call home. And so while the waves may roar, and the sea storm, we are going to ride it out. We are going to jump in and embrace life.
And when the day is over, we'll get off the rock and be on our way. We'll journey, and the storm will pass, and we'll be in the same boat. Trust me, we will. But since I'm your mother, it will be my boat.
