It's hell, basically. And I blame capitalism. Also: unschooling as an adult, I'm now cancer-free, and an honest review of Prodigy Math (this is not an ad!).
Yes to all of this and everyone's comments. Leaving the house is HARD for us a lot of the time. I'm thankful that I no longer have to pretend to be a robot to help my son get through the process getting dressed. Being a robot is exhausting! I'm kinda fortunate that i can just put/leave all the things in the car so we don't have to worry too much about packing a bag so mostly we have all the necessary things with us. Unless, one of your children decides to throw the other child's shoe out of the car en-route and you turn up in the city with one shoe.
Fran! Congrats on the cancer-free diagnosis! This is very exciting. My oldest liked Prodigy math for about 6 months until he realized it was just worksheets in video game format. I wish gaming educators would actually do the leg work to integrate the math rather than just reward kids for answering math questions...
Also, how many times is too many times to do the countdown thing with kids? Asking for a friend. 👀 We're currently at 1 hour, 30 mins, 20 mins, 10 mins, 5 mins, 2 mins, go put your socks on, and brush your teeth ;) My kids will tell you this is nagging but if I skip any of these warnings, hell breaks loose!
Jordan Peterson did not homeschool his children but he has spoken on various podcasts and platforms about public school and basically he's just an alt right anti-government person and so he's gonna talk about how dangerous public school is. And i've seen his quotes being used online by homeschoolers to legitimise homeschooling, even though he knows nothing about homeschooling as far as I can tell.
That’s wonderful news on your cancer free news Fran.
I found so much resonance in reading your about difficulties leaving the house. This has always been us !! I fought it for a long time and felt like I’d been through a whirlwind by the time I got to the place we were heading to. Totally exhausted. Now we are in quite a different place and staying at home a huge amount due to one child’s burnout from school. So I’ve had to re evaluate my relationship with being at home. It’s like a gift in some ways as it has made me find new at home hobbies and just rest more! It isn’t always easy letting go of the internal judgments of we should be doing this that and the other and comparing myself , but very slowly this is being unwound thankfully.
Leaving the house isn’t as exhausting as it used to be, mostly because my husband now works from home and kids are older so I don’t need to bring everyone everywhere all the time (we have 5 kids - 14 to 5). But still - remembering everything, getting everyone in the car. It’s a lot.
Congratulations on being cancer free. Such a journey!
Your thoughts on leaving the house made me think that, for us, home is a place we love, feel comfortable, and want to be but it feels kind of separate from a lot of the rest of the world. Like not integrated with other places we want to be or any sort of community. Leaving is definitely leaving a comfort zone. Since I’m in the suburbs (as much as you can be in Maine) I dream of living in a place where I don’t have to get in the car to see people and do errands. I can see how that could also be challenging, although at the moment I have one kid who often can’t tolerate riding in the car with my other kid.
Yeah it’s definitely a comfort zone, which I suppose is a good thing. It’s funny bc I love being able to walk places and not get in the car, I love cities for that reason.. my kids, not so much!
Also: HEARTFELT CONGRATULATIONS on being officially cancer free! That IS a big effing deal! Going through what you have is one of my biggest fears in life. Especially the not making it part and leaving my young kids behind. So, WAHOO!, and big hugs. Do
Oh my gosh. Haha this post made me feel so seen, heard and understood and also laugh out loud. This is us. This is me. I often forgo fighting the fight of leaving the house just because we “should”. Especially after a month away in Florida and lots of doing, it was evident how everybody just needed to be back at home. And stay at home. All of what you’re writing seems true to me. Loved it.
Hehe I’m SO relieved it’s not just me. I waited so long to post this because I was basically terrified people would be like, What is wrong you?!? So yeah. Phew and also, WE CAN TOTALLY STAY HOME.
Oh God, no. Definitely NOT just you!!! You’ll see, I’m certain this post will find a lot of resonance. Just like you and the heat / no car situation in BKG, we have the “it’s too cold, too sunny, too rainy, too boring, too [fill in the blank]” reasons for not leaving the house. I especially “should”ed myself around going to homeschool coop meet ups but my kids just didn’t care to go. So I was like okay! One less thing to push for, and let it go. They’re small. They can socialize all their lives.
Congrats on your remission news. Such a great thing to hear! Much love to you!
Thank you!! ♥️
Yes to all of this and everyone's comments. Leaving the house is HARD for us a lot of the time. I'm thankful that I no longer have to pretend to be a robot to help my son get through the process getting dressed. Being a robot is exhausting! I'm kinda fortunate that i can just put/leave all the things in the car so we don't have to worry too much about packing a bag so mostly we have all the necessary things with us. Unless, one of your children decides to throw the other child's shoe out of the car en-route and you turn up in the city with one shoe.
Hahaha oh Eleanor, the shoe 😭
True life
Fran! Congrats on the cancer-free diagnosis! This is very exciting. My oldest liked Prodigy math for about 6 months until he realized it was just worksheets in video game format. I wish gaming educators would actually do the leg work to integrate the math rather than just reward kids for answering math questions...
Also, how many times is too many times to do the countdown thing with kids? Asking for a friend. 👀 We're currently at 1 hour, 30 mins, 20 mins, 10 mins, 5 mins, 2 mins, go put your socks on, and brush your teeth ;) My kids will tell you this is nagging but if I skip any of these warnings, hell breaks loose!
Thanks! and agree re "educational" games. They could be so much better. Re the countdown, i'm not sure it will ever end for us!!
What is the relationship between Jordan Peterson and homeschooling?!
Also I loved the shit out of those episodes of MP
Jordan Peterson did not homeschool his children but he has spoken on various podcasts and platforms about public school and basically he's just an alt right anti-government person and so he's gonna talk about how dangerous public school is. And i've seen his quotes being used online by homeschoolers to legitimise homeschooling, even though he knows nothing about homeschooling as far as I can tell.
Thanks. That’s a worry 😬
Congratulations on the wonderful health news!
And I’ll add my voice to the chorus saying that this post makes me feel so un-alone.
thank you Katie!!
That’s wonderful news on your cancer free news Fran.
I found so much resonance in reading your about difficulties leaving the house. This has always been us !! I fought it for a long time and felt like I’d been through a whirlwind by the time I got to the place we were heading to. Totally exhausted. Now we are in quite a different place and staying at home a huge amount due to one child’s burnout from school. So I’ve had to re evaluate my relationship with being at home. It’s like a gift in some ways as it has made me find new at home hobbies and just rest more! It isn’t always easy letting go of the internal judgments of we should be doing this that and the other and comparing myself , but very slowly this is being unwound thankfully.
Thank you Leanne, and it's so good to hear your experience of finding more joy in staying home.
Leaving the house isn’t as exhausting as it used to be, mostly because my husband now works from home and kids are older so I don’t need to bring everyone everywhere all the time (we have 5 kids - 14 to 5). But still - remembering everything, getting everyone in the car. It’s a lot.
Congratulations on being cancer free!
Thank you!! And yes, having the option of leaving one or some of them home is massive and we sometimes do have that.
PS And I remind the kids periodically that they are privileged to have the freedom to decline outings when it doesn’t suit them. 😉
Congratulations on being cancer free. Such a journey!
Your thoughts on leaving the house made me think that, for us, home is a place we love, feel comfortable, and want to be but it feels kind of separate from a lot of the rest of the world. Like not integrated with other places we want to be or any sort of community. Leaving is definitely leaving a comfort zone. Since I’m in the suburbs (as much as you can be in Maine) I dream of living in a place where I don’t have to get in the car to see people and do errands. I can see how that could also be challenging, although at the moment I have one kid who often can’t tolerate riding in the car with my other kid.
Yeah it’s definitely a comfort zone, which I suppose is a good thing. It’s funny bc I love being able to walk places and not get in the car, I love cities for that reason.. my kids, not so much!
Also: HEARTFELT CONGRATULATIONS on being officially cancer free! That IS a big effing deal! Going through what you have is one of my biggest fears in life. Especially the not making it part and leaving my young kids behind. So, WAHOO!, and big hugs. Do
Thank you Jana ♥️
*Not Do, XO!
Oh my gosh. Haha this post made me feel so seen, heard and understood and also laugh out loud. This is us. This is me. I often forgo fighting the fight of leaving the house just because we “should”. Especially after a month away in Florida and lots of doing, it was evident how everybody just needed to be back at home. And stay at home. All of what you’re writing seems true to me. Loved it.
Hehe I’m SO relieved it’s not just me. I waited so long to post this because I was basically terrified people would be like, What is wrong you?!? So yeah. Phew and also, WE CAN TOTALLY STAY HOME.
Oh God, no. Definitely NOT just you!!! You’ll see, I’m certain this post will find a lot of resonance. Just like you and the heat / no car situation in BKG, we have the “it’s too cold, too sunny, too rainy, too boring, too [fill in the blank]” reasons for not leaving the house. I especially “should”ed myself around going to homeschool coop meet ups but my kids just didn’t care to go. So I was like okay! One less thing to push for, and let it go. They’re small. They can socialize all their lives.