Term 2 Day 1

Today was the first day back at home schooling the kids. First day of Term 2. I have enjoyed these holidays a lot more than I had thought I would. The kids have played the best they have played in a long time. This past week I have done art lessons each day. The kids have learnt about an artist and a painting they have done and then have completed their own version of the painting or using their technique. It has been so lovely seeing them engage. I made a Reptile Park upstairs. I have really enjoyed this time as a family and the slower pace. Going for walks, going for bush walks, going for rides. It has just been a lovely time together. 

On Monday I decided that I would plan my own lessons for Wednesday and then we would be a day behind on the lessons which would help me have time to prepare each night. I did give feedback that having the lessons the night before would help with preparation and also for less stress in the morning. This feedback hasn't been applied.

Then last night (Tuesday night) all kindy parents received an email saying that all work that is set each day needs to be completed. That the work needs to be done in the order it is set. And that in the afternoon you would need to touch base with the teachers. This totally threw me and my head space. It doesn't help receiving the lesson plans just before 9am. There is no time to prepare for the day. So last night I spent most of the night in tears. The last few weeks of Term 1 were stressful when I was trying to teach the lessons they sent through on the same day. I didn't like the Mum that I was. I didn't like the teacher that I was. I was stressed, grumpy, unkind, full on. I couldn't get my head around the different lessons for the different grades being taught at the same time without time to prepare. Then you throw Alexander in the mix and it was stressful needing to try and engage him too. I didn't want to be that Mum and teacher again. I didn't want to be stressed and grumpy. I wanted to show my kids love and patience. So yeah, there was a lot of discussion with James and a lot of tears from me. I felt sick, I felt anxious and I had no clue what Wednesday would look like.

This morning I sat down and read my Bible - the book of Habakkuk. A couple of weeks ago we had a sermon about joy in the hard times - Godly joy. I was re-reading it this morning and a passage stood out to me.

“Though the fig tree does not bud
And there are no grapes on the vines,
Though the olive crop fails
And the fields produce no food,
Though there are no sheep in the pen
And no cattle in the stalls,
Yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will be joyful in God my Saviour.

The Sovereign Lord is my strength,
He makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
He enables me to go on the heights.”
Habakkuk 3:17-19

As I was writing it I was picturing how I felt about my day and changing verse 17 in my mind.

‘Though the chaos in my house is evident,
though no work ends up on the paper,
though my kid is telling me for the hundredth time they are hungry,
though I can’t be in 3 places at once,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Saviour.

He is my strength, he enables me to teach and support my kids as best as I can in this current situation.’

God is good! He provided Joy for me today. He gave me peace even when the lessons came through at 8:30 and 8:50. We started our morning with Alexander praying for our day. We did a 'team helpful' chant and I explained to the kids that it was going to be messy, tricky and full on at times but that I needed them to be helpful and patient so that I can be the best Mummy and teacher that I can be. 

There would be times where I needed to work with Eliza and Daniel would need to wait. The same for Daniel. I told Alexander that he would need to play by himself at times while I needed to work with the other 2. 

One of my Day plans so we had a rough idea of what was happening

They were amazing today! Alexander was so patient! It took my over 2 hours to just read 1 book but he didn't really complain. Daniel and Eliza using headphones really helped them to focus on the stories. 

Daniel had no motivation to do his writing but he got there in the end. 

Eliza complained that she just wanted to draw a picture during writing time because the teacher said the writing was an option. I wasn't happy with that attitude (the teachers are going for floor to ceiling learning. Give them a task that is at floor level and the kids can reach as high as they can. Just kindy kids don't understand that). We went for a run up on the oval altogether, even though it was just set for Eliza. I decided to move slightly from some of the set tasks just so that we could cope and fit it all in. Eliza's lessons weren't posted when she was ready to do them so she spent more time on Epic. She didn't complain at all. I had a 'whatever attitude' today and it worked. 

I don't know what tomorrow will hold. I don't know how I'm going to feel. I don't know when the day routine will be sent out. I don't know how well I'll be organised. I don't know how Alexander will be. But today was a good day. Today God was present and was working through me to show my kids love and that's what counts.