This dance is exhausting. I am wondering for how long will she do this? Will all the kids do this or is it just a personality clash thing?
I end up wanting to put her out on the street corner with a sign that says "I argue with my
mother FOR NO REASON AT ALL." Seriously, my sister did this with my nephew. I've included a picture. This is for real. And it worked! He stopped lying. I'm not convinced that this tactic will work with needless homework arguing in an attempt to manipulate your mother into giving you the goddamn answer. But what can I do besides totally boycott helping with any homework. GEEEEEEEEZE.There is no more frustrating conversation than one that goes round and round with "What do you think?" "I don't know." "Really? You don't know?" "I don't know." She says as she looks at her nails. "Well why don't you START by looking at the BOOK!" Crazy making I tell you. Crazy valuim popping, xanax crushing, put it in your orange juice making.
Argh. Then she starts up with the tears. How hard her homework is, it's too much, she doesn't have her book. I'm thinking to myself, look sister, you are in 4th grade, it only gets harder from here so suck it the fuck up and get on with it. My patience lasts for about 5 mins. 4 of which I'm looking for an exit.
How people home school their children, I DO NOT KNOW. You all must be blessed with the patience of Mother freaking Theresa.
7 comments:
Is it all homework or one subject in particular? Does she straight out ask you for the answer without trying to work out the problem first or find it in the book first?
One thing I just thought of that you could try is to not help her until she has attempted to answer every question on her homework. If she doesn't have an answer to one question, she needs to write down the page number of where that problem/subject can be found in her book, then move on to the next one. Then, you can help her at the end.
Do you have any teacher friends? I can ask my aunt what she suggests.
It seems to do no good to explain to said child that she/he has just spent more time WHINING about the homework than it would have taken to DO the homework.
I do home school mine (only one left). I don't have the patience of Job. I do have TMJ from all the tooth grinding, and a nasty wine habit.
I'm gonna remember the sign idea. Never thought of that. We live across the street from an elementary school, too!
HAH!
Sounds to me like she's hit that frustrating stage called "tween". Bless your heart.
I think that is it. She is a tween. Wait, a Tween. I think capitalization applies here.
See, maybe I misrepresented it a little. Most of the time I don't even have to look at her homework. She gets it done in record time and is on to cookies or the dog walking business she started up. It's really quite random when she does this and maybe that is why it is soooo irritating. I know she is competent. I will think to myself, okay, she might just need my time right now. So I give it to her and she throws it back at me!
Tween. Preview to the Teenager growing in her.
Hey you, writing The Handbook - could you get on that so I can have something ready down the line?!
Oh, and she does this with clothes. You guys with the boys might not get this.
I have halted all involvement with clothes. I won't even comment on them in the slightest. When she coyly walks up to me and asks "Does this match?" I know it is a trap! A trap that has no exit. No matter how much she cries or carries on about how she has no other mother to ask and why won't I just tell her if it is cute or if it matches?! Why can't I see that she NEEEEEDS me?! I smile and say, "I understand, my love."
See, I've figured out this one because it was consistent. The other one just isn't.
YOu are going to hate me, but maybe I'm blowing hot air...I think it's a girl thing. My goddaughter does the same thing...and has since she was 9 or 10 too.
Maybe it's the age? Ask me in a year or so, I'll tell you how Alex is with it - because right now his homework is SO easy for him we don't even double check his work or look at his spelling words...he's 100% everyday and I'm slacking in the homework parenting dept
I hear your pain!
Whereas my husband and I once seemed capable reasonable educated people, a mere ten minutes of helping our kids on math reduces us to the wisdom of poo.
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