Taking it in Stride

Today was NOT a productive day.  We got next to nothing done and I have not and will not have time to correct what they did today.  Jane corrected her Algebra lesson and got two wrong (I'm okay with that).  Yesterday, she had a practice problem that she couldn't get and I stepped in and couldn't get it either.  Don't panic; these are the real gems of homeschooling.  When we learn together it is like an adventure and it somehow is retained better.  We walked away from it because I decided it was probably a "brain hiccup" (the heat is really melting our brains, right?) and we would come back to it today and triumph.  Except we didn't come back to it.  I spent my day running unexpected errands and being a taxi service. I am also busy with doing things for my second oldest son, Leo, to get him back to college in a couple of weeks and some days it's just hard to get it all in.

Ruth did manage to get some math and reading comprehension done, although I haven't looked to see how well she did.  I love her comprehension book because she learns about all kinds of things while improving her reading comprehension.  Today, she told me we should get a mongoose. 

Me:  "Oh, really.  Why?"

Ruth: "Because it says they are the best and catching and eating rats and mice. We could put it in the basement and then we wouldn't have to worry about the mice."

Here is where I smiled nicely and assured that we no longer have a rodent problem (yes, we did but now we don't).  I think she was disappointed because she was hoping for a new pet!

So, I'd like to panic about today because I know we also will not have a very productive day tomorrow.  I promised to take the girls swimming.  I take care of a friend's daughter 3 days a week.  Emma is 1 year younger than Ruth and they get along wonderfully.  Emma's family has a pool in the backyard so we are going over there to swim tomorrow.  Of'course, I plan to have the girls do school work after lunch, but we will see if that actually happens.  I am trying to balance school with still allowing summer fun for the girls.  It's a bit tricky sometimes but I think it is working so far.  They are generally on target with their goals so I just need to relax and take these bad days in stride.