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The After School Scuffle.

 

Disclaimer:
This blog is about and for the moms of school going kids.So, if fathers, bachelors or
spinsters feel the need to skip it, they are most welcome. Although, all the above mentioned people will truly be appreciated if they spare time for this blog and realize the struggle and juggle of moms in this crucial part of their day. Not to forget the mothers, I hope this helps in some way. So let's jump in..... 😊

Before being a mother, no girl had ever known how is it being pulled into five different directions and trying to embrace it at the same time.😆
I am no exception. So here, for the first time I unveil a part of my life for those who don't know me. Yes, I am a mother of two cute faces and yes, I have been trying to survive and embrace the chaos for almost a decade. Sounds similar? Ahhh! I know.😐

The title of the blog says, "The after school scuffle or struggle in other words". We as moms always have a hard time figuring out the best routine for our kids.The after school time brings with it a lot apart from the grumpy child back home. I have failed multiple times in creating a routine for my kid after school. Not that I have mastered it now and that makes me write this blog but I have just set my self at ease with some trivial changes in life which I feel like sharing here.

1. Getting the home ready: No, the President is not coming home.😀I try to get done as much as I    can before my son drops in. That includes all the house chores, dinner preparation, clearing up the table to convert it into a home work station and getting the snack ready. I put all the school/homework supplies ready on the table so that he doesn't get an excuse to get up between his home work.They can't sit still....at least mine can't.😢
Moreover, I disconnect myself from the regular flow of the day. house work being a never ending task keeps on flowing upon us. Lately, I have realized this fact and thus I try to give a pause to the same at this time of the day, preparing myself for the exclusive' MOM AND KID TIME'.
Who knows switching from one job to another better than moms?😎

2. Few minutes to themselves: Those wacky after school expressions are hard to welcome and appreciate but its better to accept them to have a smooth after school routine. I often come across such faces like every other mom. The reasons are many...hunger, incomplete class work, something forgotten at school or something that they want us moms to just guess and take care of.😏
Well, in that case I leave him and give him few minutes to himself. Within these few minutes, I come to know the reason for all the drama. I don't talk or ask him anything if he doesn't want me to. Once I am out of the way, all the stories ,happy or disappointing, make way to me.🙌Kids really get anxious and perplexed when you behave unusual.
Even if they are in a good mood, giving few minutes to them to do anything they want helps keeping you and your kids sane enough.😇Nevertheless, its important that they know and understand the limit of this self time.The same time also includes my son's snack time where I make sure to sit with him(In case he wants to tell me more....for which I am always curious.😜)Meanwhile, I start digging into his bag.

3. The three categories: After immense struggle and being overwhelmed by the amount of school work, I made up my mind to divide the after school work into three categories:-
        A) Homework: To be honest, adding to the after school scuffle, I have a cherry on the cake🍒🎂,a toddler who waits for his brother eagerly to come home and wrestle with him💪. Now, the good news is that he is also ready for his afternoon nap at the same time. So, I take this as an advantage to leave my elder son to try doing his homework by himself.  Meanwhile, I put down the little one for his nap.After this I check his homework.
   
      B) Home practice sheets: Coming from a family of Deans, Professors, teachers and being a former teacher myself, home practice sheets is what I consider a very important part of the child's study. It helps me understand and guide my son how to perform in the exams and I at the same time get an idea of how is he going to write there. Also, I check his papers exactly like a teacher.
I use Pinterest app, education.com and teacherspayteachers.com where I find free printables often. I also make worksheets myself depending on how much time I have and usually do the printing work on the weekends. We try to complete one practice sheet each day.
     
      C) Learning and Reading: Although I try and want him to wind up by 6 p.m.before his basket ball class, this doesn't happen always. Hence, the learning and reading is sometimes done before bed time. Here, he learns at least one lesson from any subject so that we both don't go mad as the exams arrive.😱I also make sure he reads a little from any book of his choice to me even if they are four lines so that I can keep a check on his pronunciations, intonations and stress.(Phonics, being one of my favorite topics in graduation makes me very particular about this)

4. Customize: Let me tell you that all the above points are often done in the same way but at times we do fall off the wagon. This is a routine that has been working for us since long and in future we may do a little changes here and there depending on the grade, nature and the syllabi .
 I am not a pro at routines and am working my way to get into the same like any other person out there. However, I feel some of the things from my experience of this scuffle may help you in some way.😊

I wish you all and your kids out there great success and remember moms,( while I remind myself😉)
EMBRACE THE CHAOS... for the kids will fly away one day.

Be sure to comment down about your struggles and about this blog.
Happy Parenting😊

                                                                                                                                      -Shipra P Vasisth

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