We’re Accident Free!

9 Jan By

It’s a regular morning here at our house. The kids are up and eating breakfast and getting ready for the day. By breakfast, I mean ramen noodles.

My kids wake up around 6:30 and start school around 8. Have you ever wondered that about homeschool families? I don’t know about other homeschool moms, but I make my kids get dressed and the whole bit. We have our pajama days, but there aren’t any in our near future. The buzz of the new year has left a positive energy and bounce in our home. The kids are moving, teeth are being brushed, and the day is beginning.

We’ve managed to make it to Wednesday morning without having any major problems and I’m sort of excited about it because before Christmas break I was ready to drop my kids off at the nearest public school and pull away as fast as I could. But so far, so good.

Monday was our first day back to school, yesterday was my youngest’s first day of P.E., and no one has called dad to tattle on me yet. Everything seems to be moving along nicely.

Things are off to a smooth start and while I’m thrilled about this, I’m also sort of wondering when it’s all going to blow up.

I thought it was going to be just a second ago when my youngest started whining about his handwriting sheet and leg cramps. You know the two go hand in hand, right? But, I didn’t react, he pulled through, and I gave him a hands-on spelling assignment that seemed to help get his wiggles out.

Right this second I’m patting myself on the back for keeping my cool through another possible meltdown scenario. I’m trying to act like a real teacher when the kids give me a hard time. A real teacher can’t yell and scream and get all crazy, so I figure I should stop doing that. I’m doing a good job too, because listening to whining about handwriting and leg cramps is super annoying, but I didn’t let on. See my strategy? It’s all stealth. 

If you were standing in front of me I would totally throw my arms up and lunge obnoxiously just like Molly Shannon used to do in her Superstar bit. I might have even spilled my coffee a little on your shirt because I forgot to set it down before I acted a fool. Then, we’d laugh really loud and crazy scary like the dorks we are.

SUPA STAR!

I feel like our house is like one of those workplaces that puts a sign up on the wall to inform you of  how many days the workplace has been accident free.

accident free for 2 days

Do you think the people that work in places like this really care how many days show accident free on their sign? I bet they do. Maybe they get a pizza party or something if they make it a certain amount of days?

While that system may work for some, reward systems don’t ever work here. I’m keeping my excitement to myself! Well, besides telling you.

I’m just trying to be nice and it’s working.

Who knew?

 

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Adrienne

Somewhere along the way I picked up homeschooling two boys and blogging. When I'm not scrubbing toilets or answering endless questions, I'm usually here, over sharing it all! My writing is always honest, sometimes sarcastic, and never perfect. I hope to keep my kids from seeking adult therapy. I know. Pipe dreams...You can find me as @TheMommyMess on Twitter and on Facebook.

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Filed Under: homeschool, motherhood, parenting, random stuff

29 Comments

Comments

  1. Jenny
    Twitter:
    says:
    January 9, 2013 at 4:22 pm

    Yes, I actually did “ever wonder that about homeschool families”! I’m kind of fascinated actually! Not to make you feel like a specimen on a petri dish or anything. I don’t homeschool, but I sure do love your idea of an “Accident Free for X Days” sign. And I think I’m actually going to tell my kids that I WILL get a pizza if we go 7 days. Also, I’m so glad I’m not the only one who sometimes lets her kids eat Ramen for breakfast. I’ve kept it under wraps until now. :)
    Jenny recently posted..How to Control Your Hygienist’s UterusMy Profile

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    • Adrienne
      Twitter:
      says:
      January 9, 2013 at 4:30 pm

      Haha! Ramen noodles are a food group here. I cook sometimes, but obviously not today! Although, I did have to boil that water and dump the package of MSG in the pot. That’s sort of cooking. My kids are pretty good about getting up and moving. If we slack then it just makes the whole day take forever. It’s better for us to stick to a schedule. Let me know how the pizza party goes!
      Adrienne recently posted..We’re Accident Free!My Profile

      Reply
  2. The Dose of Reality
    Twitter:
    says:
    January 9, 2013 at 4:31 pm

    Love your strategies!! I don’t homeschool, but I can definitely put them into practice with the kids. I will just thing “be stealthy” and “pretend like acting super annoyed is not an option”. I’ll let you know how it works out.

    Reply
  3. Jennifer says:
    January 9, 2013 at 4:41 pm

    Based on my experience, the people in those places DO care. A lot of times (like in refineries and manufacturing plants) they’ll get a bonus if they stay accident free so many days.
    Jennifer recently posted..What’s in my nightstandMy Profile

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  4. Kim
    Twitter:
    says:
    January 9, 2013 at 5:56 pm

    Thanks for the laugh this morning, Adrienne! I love the idea of having that sign at home. Perhaps a more homey themed one might be “x number of days without a tantrum meltdown!” :-)

    As a member of a family who has run a manufacturing company for decades, yes indeed it is important to go accident free. Insurance rates drop, OSHA is much happier, parties and prizes sometimes happen-wheeee!-but especially important: everybody gets to go home everyday with all the body parts and faculties they started with!
    Kim recently posted..God-Sized DreamsMy Profile

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  5. Mary @ A Teachable Mom
    Twitter:
    says:
    January 9, 2013 at 7:24 pm

    Love this! You’re a supa saint, supa star! I can’t imagine homeschooling and am in awe that you are able to pull this off. And your kids happily brush their teeth when you’re not leaving the house? Sign me up!
    Mary @ A Teachable Mom recently posted..Limit Setting for the SqueamishMy Profile

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  6. Tracie
    Twitter:
    says:
    January 9, 2013 at 7:38 pm

    There are days when just being nice is a very hard thing.

    I make my daughter get up and dressed too. I think it sets the tone for it being time to work and learn, and not just time to lay around and relax.
    Tracie recently posted..A Reading List That Should Get Me Through Two Months Of ReadingMy Profile

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  7. AnnMarie says:
    January 9, 2013 at 8:26 pm

    If I was there I would totally high five you and then be the Cheri Oteri to your Molly Shannon! :)
    AnnMarie recently posted..SleepMy Profile

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  8. Alexa
    Twitter:
    says:
    January 10, 2013 at 4:22 pm

    Yay! And yay again! And I love your sign! Gosh I don’t know what I would do if rewards didn’t work in my house. I think I would completely shut down!!! :-) I have wondered if home schooled kids get up and get dressed and how that works. I would be a miserable failure. And can I say how funny it is that your kids call your husband to tattle on you????
    Alexa recently posted..Hugga BuggaMy Profile

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  9. Susan says:
    January 10, 2013 at 5:41 pm

    Enjoyed this so much, Adrienne! It’s refreshing to read such honesty and delightful to get your perspective on homeschooling.
    Susan recently posted..Ten Creative and Fun Ideas with LEGOMy Profile

    Reply
  10. Not a Perfect Mom says:
    January 10, 2013 at 8:18 pm

    Blake likes to have chef Boyardee for breakfast most of the time…whatever, he’s fed..
    and wow, dressed and everything? You’re my hero…there are days I’m not even dressed to drop off my kids
    Not a Perfect Mom recently posted..The One Pit WonderMy Profile

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  11. Christine@TheAums says:
    January 12, 2013 at 9:53 am

    I have no idea where the beginnings of my first comment went…that’s what I get for trying to leave comments from my mobile. Anyhow, was saying how much I love your writing. There are so many nuggets of pure funny in this post- from ramen from breakfast (nothing wrong with that) to posting the accident-free sign (HILARIOUS). I, too, felt jazzed about starting a fresh year on the homeschooling front. I always seem to have more ideas than we accomplish…but my attitude remains the same- I love homeschooling.
    Christine@TheAums recently posted..From My Childhood To Theirs- Things I Saved For My KidsMy Profile

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  12. Valerie @ Momma in Progress says:
    January 12, 2013 at 10:36 am

    We’re getting better with actually changing out of our pajamas regularly, but we still have a disproportionate amount of pj days. I like the sign. Ours would probably be something along the lines of staying drama free. And we’d have to measure in minutes, not days.
    Valerie @ Momma in Progress recently posted..Nothing Ever Goes As PlannedMy Profile

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  13. Patty@homemakersdaily.com
    Twitter:
    says:
    January 12, 2013 at 10:58 am

    I homeschooled my two kids, too. We also had a start time and they were expected to be up, dressed and ready to go.

    It is challenging being like a “real” teacher and not acting like a frustrated mom. I remember struggling with that. Sometimes teacher won and sometimes mom did!

    Visiting from SITS.
    Patty@homemakersdaily.com recently posted..How to De-Bone a Chicken ThighMy Profile

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  14. Heather says:
    March 23, 2013 at 9:55 pm

    Leg cramps and handwriting YES!!! That happens here all the time. Asfar as gtting dressed my kids always ask,..why where are we going?? My line for all day pjs is A) its hugh Heffner day or,. B).its just green why waste wash water?

    Reply

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