First thought I shared today, a little after noon, was:  I think I'm going to be losing my mind soon, so if you see me wandering the streets, please introduce yourself.  That's just how I felt by that time today.  This is Week 4 of horrible horrendous homeschooling days with my newly 9 year, 3rd grade son.  I'm just tired and exhausted with the fight of doing SIMPLE math and SIMPLE english -- and I do mean SIMPLE!  We moved from Illinois to Texas on September 2nd, and since we missed the date for the school we intended, decided to homeschool this year until next year.  Our son was begging to be homeschooled like his friends, and really thought it would a lot of fun to do things he wanted to do to learn about.  Well, I had my hesitations because I was afraid he'd give me a hard time about actually doing the work, and my nightmares are being lived out.  We spent most of this year doing not much.  He thought he would get to play all day and that was homeschool.  Well, the past 3-1/2 weeks have been the roughest because of his stamina of resistance.  I've been asking for help and advice since we started this endeavor, and we believe homeschooling is a great choice, but next year, the boy goes to a brick and mortar building with bells and recess.  My mind and health depend on it!

I've read and researched anything and everything I could get my hands on all school year and asking people's advice, but it's all to no avail.  I'm hearing all the "rainbows and unicorns" stories of homeschooling and how wonderful everyone's children are, no yelling and tears from MOM and the kids simultaneously, and how great their days are, and how excited their children are to do the schoolwork and are hungry for more, read on their own, seek out information and research subjects on their own, and are so far ahead of public/private school students - blah blah blah ---- Well, I WANT that child too!  I get stares of shock about my questions!  What I'm asking help about doesn't seem to compute with everyone's angels!  So, I'm going to finish out this year as best we can without turning into an alcoholic, and next year, SCHOOL IN A BUILDING!

So, we're going to do school the old-fashioned way next year, and my nerves will not be shattered; I can paint; I can read; I can write those children's books I've had notes on this whole year; scrapbook; do the housework; and actually remember to cook dinner!!

Well, this whining session wasn't my plan for today, but I guess I needed to vent a bit -- and all this was putting it mildly!  I'm using a special hardhat to hold my brain in my skull at this point (not really, but it feels like it).  And, I'm hoping by continuously writing a little bit each day, my content will evolve as well into the marriage, midlife, and marriage in midlife, and trying to figure out all those "hunky men daydreams" I seem to have -- Good Night All!