Tag: earnest family

Earnest Echoes (articles revisited): I Am THAT Mom.

Earnest Echoes (articles revisited): I Am THAT Mom.

by earnestmomblog ♥ 1 Comment

*Originally published 07/30/2021. I am also human, and working on myself one step at a time.

As I prepare to write this, I earnestly feel gutted. Today, I was THAT mom. The mom that I have seen a million times; trying to keep it together as she can feel the entire façade of “everything is perfect” start to crumble and slip away. At first it was hard, but as I realized that I am human I was forced to give myself some grace.

Let’s set the stage for you. Thunderstorms kept us indoors. So movie and popcorn it is, until the popcorn maker got knocked over spilling popcorn every where and cracking the side panel. It was an accident, stay chill mama – accidents happen and its just a popcorn machine. Then children kept climbing the counter, literally I was taking children down from the countertops. Things started to calm until the hall closet upstairs was completely dissected from its contents while I was cleaning the popcorn machine. By then, the window to prepare dinner was closed, my oldest needed to go to karate and this mama was waving her white flag. It was enough.

My vehicle was parked across the street at my mother in laws and since my youngest two usually refuse pants and shoes, I needed to move the car to my driveway to save them from crossing the street shoeless (I have learned to pick my battles, shoes make it to the car in case they’re needed but I do not fight them on – in these cases I prefer peace to the fight). I called all three to the kitchen and said “get your shoes ready and stay RIGHT HERE, I am bring the car over.” They get busy putting their shoes on and I hot footed it across the street. All of the sudden, as I open the driver door there is my middle little. She startled me, then I realized she had ran across the street unassisted and that her 3 year old brother is likely right behind her. In my fear, my frustration I yelled at her. Ouch, it hurts my heart to even write that as I have been really working on my volume and tone with my children, but I was scared. Scared she could have been hurt, scared my youngest would soon be doing the same or is elsewhere outside completely unsupervised. I yelled, right at her “you scared me, and what about brother?! IS he safe?! I told you to stay in the house as I ran across the street!! Why didn’t you stay???” Ugh. We ran back to the house, and my oldest and youngest were standing right where I had asked them to stay only three minutes before.

Now I tell you, I have seen this mom around, so many times. Tired, worried, stressed, overwhelmed, scared, angry, frustrated, and yelling at her kid. Until this moment, I had always viewed the “yelling” mom as such a villain – and to all the moms I have judged before, I earnestly apologize. This is so HARD. Not that I condone yelling at children, however when I was scared, overwhelmed and worried for the safety of my children, that panic kicked in and naturally my voice elevated.

As soon as I saw all three of my children safe (my oldest is 11, so legally he can stay 3 minutes with his siblings as I drive up to get them, in case you are worried lol); I knelt down, cried and apologized instantly for yelling. I asked for my middle little’s forgiveness, I explained how scared I was but that yelling was not appropriate and I am working hard not to yell anymore. Then something surprising happened, she apologized for not listening and saw how scary that was for me. I was taken aback. I did not expect her to mirror my actions, to recognize and acknowledge her mistake and my feelings. It was messy, it was hard, but even in my mama-meltdown epic failure moments, these brilliant amazing little humans are still learning forgiveness, empathy and owning their own mistakes.

Yes, I am THAT mom. I am the mom that struggles with keeping my temper, sometimes doesn’t get food to the table on time (by the way we ordered in tonight), allows too much screen time, gives in to some demands to avoid the fight, and yells when I do not mean to. I am also THAT mom who forgives quickly, loves fully, asks for forgiveness and apologizes to show them I make mistakes too, and would protect my children at all costs. I cry in the bathroom, laugh at the dinner table and hug with everything I have got. I am 100% that mom and proud.

Remember mama, we are in this together – one Earnest MOM-ent at a time!

Love, Earnest Mom

Grace over Chaos: Earnestly Homeschooling Multiple Ages.

Grace over Chaos: Earnestly Homeschooling Multiple Ages.

by earnestmomblog ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

In my wee early home school days, I was overwhelmed. The idea of having to break my day up between three children was daunting. Their age levels and individual curriculum made it even harder. I didn’t want to feel exhausted. I thought to schedule each separately. I wanted to leave lots of time for independent work. However, I learned quickly that independent work was not reasonable for a then 9, 5 and 2 year old. It’s worth noting the 2 year old was not being schooled. Then I found Gather ‘Round.

This is not a sponsored review just a recommendation from one home school family to another. Gather ‘Round has saved my sanity. This is curriculum is a Charlotte Mason approach that is rich in literature and hands on activities. What I love most is that there is one lesson, yes, ONE LESSON for all children. Keep in mind that a parent reads the lesson. This takes about 20-30 minutes if you use resources. Then each child has their own developmentally appropriate workbook. With a high-schooler, upper elementary and early reader, their time spent on each lesson in their workbook varies.

Our home school day starts in the afternoon. I let my children sleep and get all of the rest their growing brains need. This means wake up times are staggered. It looks like 8 am for our 7-year-old, 9 am for our 10-year-old, and sometimes 9:30/10 am. We get chores and breakfast done before noon. Then lunch followed by lessons from 1-3:30. I love having slow, easy mornings. This is especially true in the summer when the best time to be outside is before 11 am!

Starting at 1 pm we have a read aloud, a chapter book that goes along with our unit that month. We choose all of our units at the start of the school year. This way, each kiddo gets a say in what we learn. I find if they choose they stay interested longer. After the read aloud, we jump right into the lesson. Then workbook time, while the younger two finish up earlier than my high school kiddo, they get math in. Once my oldest is done his workbook, he moves into independent math work. The rest of the day is ours to spend in any way we would like! Some days we get it all done perfectly, other days we finish early due to life demands. What I love most about home school is we get to make it work for our family and our needs.

When we first started I thought I had replicate what institutional school looked like, at home. I learned after year 2 that it does not have to be that way. If I am being honest, I felt more pressure from others to make home school look like the institution. The freedom we found when we realized it does not have to be that way was liberating. We get to go at our pace, in our time, with our interests. I had to stop letting people influence us. These people are not teaching our children. They are not raising our children. We did it. We started our own path. Of course, following all of our state home school laws in the process.

The sanity saving for me was letting go of the performance mindset. Performing how education, socialized, etc, that my children were for others to see. Stop performing institution school at home, and allowing my children to bloom into the people God made them to be. Giving us the freedom to go at our pace, never behind, just always right where we should be. This grace is something I have to remind myself of daily. For my children, I found it is necessary to offer grace and lots and lots of snacks!

Every home school is just as diverse as the families are every where. This is simply what works for us!

Happy Mother’s Day – An Earnest Thank You

Happy Mother’s Day – An Earnest Thank You

by earnestmomblog ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

To the momma who woke up today exhausted but still packed the lunched, got down the cereal and kissed little foreheads – you are doing wonderfully.

To the momma who is waking in those bleary eyed nights answering the call of a hungry infant pushing through the fog to smile and coo – you are seen and your love will be felt for decades.

To the momma who is carefully navigating toddler fits, teen attitudes or the aching silence of your newly emptied nest – you are known by a God who calls you His, and His love will cover when you feel you cannot do much more.

To the momma who works outside or inside her home, or the one that does both – your sacrifices matter even when you feel they go unnoticed.

To the momma who is elbow deep in curriculum while one is moaning about school work and the other is asking for another snack – you are not alone, motherhood has power when we are in it together.

To the mommas who are grieving, praying, hoping or remembering today – you are held close in my heart, and in the hands of our Saviour.

An earnest thanks to you – for the kisses on boo-boos, for the quiet prayers, for fierce protection, the sleepless nights, the pangs of labor. There is not one perfect way to be a mother, some days feel victorious, others like total fails, but you keep showing up.

You are wonderfully made, the exact mom that was created for your exact children, with the strength of a love that grew within you before you even held them. On the days you do not feel strong or confident, remember you are the steady heartbeat of your home.

Happy Mother’s Day. You are doing kingdom work.

Love, Earnest Mom