The Strange, Harried Life of a First-Grader
Spring Break = No Homework.
True or false?
False.
Me: “Good God, did your teachers load you up with enough homework?”
This, after unloading the backpack and seeing that we have the packet of homework due on Mondays (so you think we’d skip a Monday? Since we weren’t in school the day it was due? No, of course not); plus the “Spring Break Homework” packet; plus the Journal (“Write in your journal every day over spring break. Write about the activities you do!”) Wacky Girl’s would go something like this, truth be told: “Told brother he was stupid. Told brother he was doing it wrong. Told brother I didn’t like him. Hit brother in head, but only after he hit me in head first. Ate brother’s candy. Locked brother in room,” etc.; PLUS the notebook for her reading group. Little Miss Talented has extra reading homework every day. Easy readers? Bah.
WG: “I don’t want to do homework. You told me it was break. You told me I had five days off.”
Me: “Write in the journal.”
WG writes in the journal: “Did homework. It was boaring.”
Then she kvetches about the math problems, the learning to tell time clocks, the stories. “Boring!”
Me, thinking boaring! : “Write about the book about the twins, for your reading homework.”
WG: “I finished it!”
Me: “So now you can write about it. And take the book back to your teacher.”
WG: “Oh!” Writes: “I liked this book. It was about twins.” Draws a nice picture of twins. Then writes in her journal again: “I like my best friend. We’ve been friends since we were in our mommy’s tummy.”
Then she writes in journal, again (nine-day break, three entries? Good enough. It’s been like pulling teeth, for chrissake): “Played with my brother and his friend.” Draws a nice little picture. It is not of her shoving her brother, trying to slam him in the door, and shrieking at him. They are smiling in the picture. They look happy.
I initial it all, without checking it, thank you, and put it in the backpack.
WG, freaking out: “Not the journal! That stays here! My teacher said it stays here!”
Me, thinking: Why the fuck did we bother with the journal?
(PS — There will be nothing about Big Love and Bill Paxton’s ass on this site, due to the sad lack of HBO in my home. I’m on the second season of the Sopranos, though, so don’t be feeling sorry for me or anything. PSS — Does Bill Paxton have a nice ass, yes or no? I’m guessing yes, based on what I’ve read in blogland.)
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Well, My kids did not receive any homework over the break! Strange, since they are only 1 year older. Having 2 in the same grade is not a joyful occassion. One gets 10 pages a week while the other one gets only 2. Go figure – So I have decided to have them both do both. No, I am not mean, I would just like them to both have the same learning process. Knit On girlfriend
April 5th, 2006 | #
Did the one without homework lord it over the one with? That would have been the scene here.
April 6th, 2006 | #
No, she didn’t make a big deal not having the same stuff as brother. She is thrilled to do more work – she is such a joyful human being. He moans about every page even though it only takes him 3 minutes to finish 100 math problems – I actually timed him. On another note, Spring is officially here – I found a bug in my wine the other night. Oh well, I need the protein.
April 9th, 2006 | #
I’ve heard the Our Daily Red is nice — hides the bugs. http://www.ourdailyred.com/html/ncwg.html
April 9th, 2006 | #
Actually it was in the Daily Red, but that makes it more organic right – I now buy it by the case, doing my part to support local business. Plus, you get 20% off when you buy a case of any wine, mix and match. The Wine guy said they have been buying more of Our Daily Red, they used to be out all the time. Maybe it is because I told the other mommys about it!
April 18th, 2006 | #