"Isn't this an independent activity?"

We are in our second week of homeschooling (for the second time around - and probably forever!!) and I find myself saying it over and over again "This should be an independently activity - why am I getting involved!" in a loud tone of voice. Other such phrases include:

"Why am I yelling again!"
"Ok, ok, I am talking in a calm voice now, can you do the same please?"
"(insert name here), you have been asked to do _____. Why are you bothering your brother?"
"You are old enough to do this yourself!"
"Did you talk to your teacher this way?"
"Did you flip out at school when this happened? Then why are you doing it at home?"

In addition, I have thrown their 'stuff' out the back door into the snow when they don't clean up the first time I ask them. I have to set the stove timer way too often and I'm getting sick of it. Now I get them to set the timer instead! AND I have gotten NONE of my own work done for two weeks now! (Except when Kelly gets home and then I hang a 'LEAVE ME ALONE' sign on my forehead and across my chest until my task is completed. I thank God for Thursdays!)

So now that I'm done ranting I can tell you some of the really great things about the past two weeks:
1. less meltdowns from child #1, with less severity too!
2. when meltdowns do occur with child #1, we know exactly what has been happening in his little life and can pinpoint it easier (most of the time).
3. way more quality time with both of my boys - soo good
4. movie time in the middle of the morning
5. we sleep in every day!!! (very good for child #1 who had trouble sleeping, very good for child #2 who simply needs more sleep, very very good for mommy who get's little sleep most days anyways!!
6. this week's highlight - visiting the library!! Can you believe that!! (it wasn't Ruckers or the fun factory or buying something! I love country life!!)
7. I have seen them actually work independently (it's a vague memory to me today...)
8. we pray together when the storm wind blows so hard that we need to shut down the wind turbine and it's difficult to do in high winds - and we see God answer! Their response, "Of course He did" and "Yes, I said thank you!"

Even though it's damn hard work, I wouldn't give them back to someone who has no clue what their emotional, spiritual and physical needs are for 40 hours every week! (no offense to their teachers, I greatly respect what they do for our children).

The best part is that even though I get frustrated, tired and grumpy. I know that their Heavenly Father knows exactly what they need, what I need to do for them, and what I need too!

I just need to ask...

(I failed to do that today when things started to go sour.)


outside: -7 deg. C, High: -3 deg. C and a Low of -11 deg. C - it's a calm, warm day after a night of stormy freezing rain
inside Guest House: 21.5 deg. C and just starting a fire for the evening and it's quiet (the boys are outside!)