Day 2 A revolution and a schedule

After the miserableness of Day 1 I decided I needed a better plan.  Not only better but revolutionary!  Look at me, I’m like the Caeser Chavez of homeschoolers.  Except I’m more like a dictator and less like a revolutionary.  Instead of organizing the workers I’m breaking them down and herding them like cats.  It’s really hard to herd cats.

I decided the best plan of attack was a schedule.  Last year we didn’t need a schedule, we kinda did our own thing and it worked for us.  This year is a little more intense.  We’re doing more and the stuff we’re doing is more difficult.  Plus, last year I had babies that napped.  This year I have babies that demand.  It’s a totally different ball game.  Heck, it’s not even a ball game any more it’s more like rugby in outer space.   So I devised a long and complicated schedule.  It’s color coded and it involved a little bit of statistical analysis.

Kids:  Hey, what’s that?  There’s colors.  It’s so pretty.

Me:  It’s a secret you’ll find out tomorrow.

Kids:  But we want to know NOW!  Wah wah wah.

Me:  (As I poured myself another glass–this was still day 1) To bed!

Kids:  But it’s only 6pm!

Me:  Well I’m sure it’s bedtime somewhere.

I needed something to encourage them to work hard.  I knew that the colorful chart wouldn’t hold their attention long.  I decided that I needed an incentive.  Rewards.  Bribery.  Whatever.

I told Dave I was thinking about writing some kind of incentive on the bottom of the wipe board.  I’d erase a letter every time the kids were bad, whinned, complained, misbehaved, or made me yell.  I’d take off two letters every time I felt the need to pull my hair out.  I needed his help to come up with an incentive.  I suggested “swim”.   He suggested “Swimming at Auntie Christina’s House after babies take a nap”.  I compromised with Swimming.

I’m pleased to announce that Day 2 went much more smoothly.  They only lost three letters from swimming.  I told them they could go mming any time they wanted.  They had a humming contest until they broke me down and I promised to take them swimming.