"Don't ask me again. I mean it."

To say that we are "adjusting" to our old way of doing things would be accurate. Trying to be steady, consistent and normal takes more work than one might think. We have crap scattered everywhere...this is because we do not have a room that contains all of our necessary supplies that are needed constantly. Since I decided to go ahead and pull the girls out a month into the 2nd semester I needed to pull some curriculum from all corners of the earth to adequately complete the year. I had everything that I needed for 2nd grade but was slightly ill equipped for 4th grade. On the first day I was having lunch with a couple of pastor's wives, who also home-school, and I mentioned that I needed to go home and order a couple of things and one of the wives had the math book, workbook and teacher's book that I needed. I came home and realized that I already had the 4th grade reading book and reading workbook that I needed. Whew! I was so relieved because I didn't want to waste a lot of time with the U.S. Postal Service. So the next morning we started with the Math book and we began exactly where Abby left off the week before. We move on to Reading. She reads the lesson and moves on to the workbook. Here's the deal- I love to help my children...but don't take advantage of it. That's just the honest truth. I can tell when my child really needs help and when she is lingering...waiting for someone to tell her the answer or to do the work for her. So after about the third time of asking questions that had seemingly obvious answers to me I tell her, "Don't ask me again! I mean it! Take your time, read and write the answer." The next day we were at the table and I was helping her. I did feel like the answers were a little too difficult to "infer" from the material. So I had her move on to something else and I went online to chat with a "specialist". I ask Joel, the specialist, if I was missing something. I told him what book we were in and asked him about the previous book and asked if we might have "missed" something-some prior readings, entire books...etc? He assured me that we were fine and that we were probably in a "review" portion of the book, etc. So, I take the reader and scan it. "Man, This is asking questions that are not in this book." So I say, "Abby, here's the book it's asking you questions about...maybe this was part of the 3rd grade curriculum so just scan through the first chapter and see if we're on the right track." OK- before anyone starts to criticize me for this I was at my wit's end with this book. It had been a thorn in my side for two days...and it's good material...so I was just trying to get to the bottom of it. So she comes back and says, "Well, that helped. All of the answers were right there." What the heck?
The next morning we had to run an errand so Abby said "I'm going to take my book with me." No kidding, we are in the car and she starts in, "I can't do this. The answers are not in here!" I am so frustrated. Now, I know on a flat screen this seems ridiculous...but have you ever had a day when you wake up, get out of bed and step on a kid's wooden toy block? You go to get in the shower and there's no hot water. You get dressed, pour your coffee and you spill it on your white shirt? Then you should understand. There is a lot of emotion. When Abby starts whining, then Ellie starts whining. Who I must say has absolutely nothing to whine about. To this, and I'm a little embarrassed to to reveal this, I turn around and I'm sure they will totally mimic me and make fun of me for this one day, I say, "OH MY GOSH! It's not that hard. Do not ask me another question until you have read all of it. You are not going to be 'stupid girls'. You two are smart and you're not going to be lazy." There was steam coming out of my ears...I'm sure of it.
Greg comes home for lunch and I am quickly moving around the kitchen transferring a lot of information at once. "Have you called the company about the book?" he asked. "YES-I told you that I did!" I said with the tone of "Don't question me I'm not stupid!" He slowly looks up and says, "No, you said you chatted with them." OH.MY.AM.I.AN.IDIOT???? He leaves and goes back to work.
Later that afternoon after more "questions" I go to Abby and say, "Put the books on the shelf. I'll just order something different." We did this same material in 2nd grade so I am beside myself. I go and get the books, call my friend Christi, and say "Ok- I CANNOT figure this out."
No lie...I lay the books out in front of me and I HAD GIVEN HER: Reading Book Unit 1 & Reading Workbook Unit 2.
OH
MY
WORD!!!!!
That's like leaving something unplugged and thinking it's broken. When I told her she was totally cool but I felt like such an idiot. I texted Greg and of course it made his afternoon. The next morning Abby completed her lesson with ease. She laughed and said, "Finally! This makes sense."
I am such a 'stupid girl'.