Fun Memories,  Henryisms,  School Days,  Writer

It was all fine and dandy…

The morning was great.

He got up, got dressed, and even brushed his teeth without my having to ask.

The excitement and anxiety was getting the best of him so breakfast was a bust. He decided on some yogurt and water. That’s fine. That’s what I would choose, too.

He moseyed into school, tall and confident, saying hi to everyone he passed. That’s my little social butterfly (read: class clown) who never meets a stranger, but if he does, he turns them into a friend.

With a quick wave goodbye, he was off to start third grade.

THIRD GRADE? Stop it!

If only I could stop time. Or at least pause it.

I spent the day at work wondering if he was having fun or not. Was he getting in trouble for talking too much? Was he fidgeting in his seat or being impulsive? Was he hungry or tired?

I knew all the answers, because when he’s with others, he doesn’t get in trouble for talking too much (most of the time) and he doesn’t fidget too much in his seat. He doesn’t have to eat every 3 minutes and he would never act like he needed a nap.

Picking him up at his after school program, he reported that the day was “great! And I like my teacher, but not as much as Miss F in first grade. Nobody even got their clips flipped and the class didn’t get in trouble one single time.”

I’d call that a success, wouldn’t you?

NOT SO FAST MY FRIENDS!

It was all fine and dandy til the homework folder came out.

Even though the math homework for the night was kinda optional, it was still going to get done. BUT THE TEARS! (Whose, you ask? Uh, his? Mine? Both?)

I just…

I’m speechless. In spite of my making a cute little chart that has rewards and everything tied to doing his best and not arguing and not making either of us cry, we succeeded in crying on the first night of school.

I mean, come on. How do you get your child to do homework without tears? Because we can’t do this every night. We just can’t.

:::waves white flag:::

36 Comments

  • Christina

    My 4th grader had to put her spelling words in ABC order tonight. She kept forgetting a word here and there and would tear up the homework and start over. Plus she had 30 math problems and journal writing to do. I just let her grunt and be frustrated. Finally she got it done but not before she declared “I hate 4th grade!” Today was day 4 for us.

    • Jana A

      I know they’re just exhausted, but damn… you know? yelling doesn’t work, being nice doesn’t work… what will? (there’s actually some really great advice here and on FB)

  • Christina

    My 4th grader had to put her spelling words in ABC order tonight. She kept forgetting a word here and there and would tear up the homework and start over. Plus she had 30 math problems and journal writing to do. I just let her grunt and be frustrated. Finally she got it done but not before she declared “I hate 4th grade!” Today was day 4 for us.

  • Christina

    My 4th grader had to put her spelling words in ABC order tonight. She kept forgetting a word here and there and would tear up the homework and start over. Plus she had 30 math problems and journal writing to do. I just let her grunt and be frustrated. Finally she got it done but not before she declared “I hate 4th grade!” Today was day 4 for us.

    • Jana A

      I know they’re just exhausted, but damn… you know? yelling doesn’t work, being nice doesn’t work… what will? (there’s actually some really great advice here and on FB)

  • Werxy

    Homework without hassle has never gone without negotiation in our house. Your child has just successfully gotten through how many hours of school work and now you are expecting more?
    When my children were in elementary school we would negotiate through home work by having a snack upon arriving home, this gave us some talk time. I could ask anything as long as the snack was being eaten, then it started we would set the timer for twenty minutes-that was homework time, depending on how much was given if they worked really hard during that time they could spend the next twenty minutes doing something fun. I use to also use a coin and we would toss to pick which subject would be tackled first. The more they thought that they were the winners over the homework the less hassle.

    • Jana A

      That’s really great advice. I’ve gotten some good ideas that I’m going to try… I think the snack is key (though he eats one already) to get their focus back. Thanks a lot!

  • Werxy

    Homework without hassle has never gone without negotiation in our house. Your child has just successfully gotten through how many hours of school work and now you are expecting more?
    When my children were in elementary school we would negotiate through home work by having a snack upon arriving home, this gave us some talk time. I could ask anything as long as the snack was being eaten, then it started we would set the timer for twenty minutes-that was homework time, depending on how much was given if they worked really hard during that time they could spend the next twenty minutes doing something fun. I use to also use a coin and we would toss to pick which subject would be tackled first. The more they thought that they were the winners over the homework the less hassle.

    • Jana A

      That’s really great advice. I’ve gotten some good ideas that I’m going to try… I think the snack is key (though he eats one already) to get their focus back. Thanks a lot!

  • Selfish Mom

    We had a hard time getting Jake to do his homework for the first couple of years. There were many tears. But now he’s twelve and going into seventh grade and it isn’t a big deal anymore. What we did was never ever let him think that he could get out of it. If there was even the smallest chance that we would let it slide just one time, he would have tried to make that happen every day. So we just made it clear that it had to get done. When he would get home from school he would get fifteen minutes to get a snack and relax, and then homework started. And he couldn’t do anything else – no TV or computer or anything – until the homework was done and checked. And eventually it just sank in that it was easier to do it than to fight it. I wish I had quicker advice, but I promise, if you’re consistent, it will get better. Kids are smart – they want to do what works.

  • Selfish Mom

    We had a hard time getting Jake to do his homework for the first couple of years. There were many tears. But now he’s twelve and going into seventh grade and it isn’t a big deal anymore. What we did was never ever let him think that he could get out of it. If there was even the smallest chance that we would let it slide just one time, he would have tried to make that happen every day. So we just made it clear that it had to get done. When he would get home from school he would get fifteen minutes to get a snack and relax, and then homework started. And he couldn’t do anything else – no TV or computer or anything – until the homework was done and checked. And eventually it just sank in that it was easier to do it than to fight it. I wish I had quicker advice, but I promise, if you’re consistent, it will get better. Kids are smart – they want to do what works.

  • Shevaun

    My girls love doing homework. I cannot, however, get through a morning without tears…and it’s too early in the day for wine. How do y’all do it?

    • Michelle

      Just substitute the wine for mimosas…same difference, right?
      School begins for us next week – kindergarten and 7th grade. I’m loving all the great tips and information for homework and happier mornings.

      The real question is … homework on the first day of school??? That’s just cruel and unusual punishment for kids and parents 😉

  • Shevaun

    My girls love doing homework. I cannot, however, get through a morning without tears…and it’s too early in the day for wine. How do y’all do it?

    • Michelle

      Just substitute the wine for mimosas…same difference, right?
      School begins for us next week – kindergarten and 7th grade. I’m loving all the great tips and information for homework and happier mornings.

      The real question is … homework on the first day of school??? That’s just cruel and unusual punishment for kids and parents 😉

  • Anna Hettick

    This is exactly what I dread. We start school next week, and I am NOT looking forward to homework. Miss Thang will be in 3rd grade this year and I know the homework ramps up. She does not do well. After she get through with her school day she needs to rest and play not do more work. Not sure yet exactly what we are going to do.

  • Anna Hettick

    This is exactly what I dread. We start school next week, and I am NOT looking forward to homework. Miss Thang will be in 3rd grade this year and I know the homework ramps up. She does not do well. After she get through with her school day she needs to rest and play not do more work. Not sure yet exactly what we are going to do.

  • Anna Hettick

    This is exactly what I dread. We start school next week, and I am NOT looking forward to homework. Miss Thang will be in 3rd grade this year and I know the homework ramps up. She does not do well. After she get through with her school day she needs to rest and play not do more work. Not sure yet exactly what we are going to do.

  • Michael Lombardi

    I’m so over homework and my kid is still more than a thousand days from school. Homework has become a joke. In my experience, the only class that should consistently have homework is math. At home projects are fine, but every night with the hour to two hours of homework for kids in elementary school? Beyond ridiculous.

  • Michael Lombardi

    I’m so over homework and my kid is still more than a thousand days from school. Homework has become a joke. In my experience, the only class that should consistently have homework is math. At home projects are fine, but every night with the hour to two hours of homework for kids in elementary school? Beyond ridiculous.

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