Nah, I'm not busy. I'm a homeschooling mom!

Most people assume that because I have chosen to home educate my children, my days are blissfully unencumbered by the mundane aspects of life.  I've had people look me in the eye with genuine shock when I explain to them the multiple 'hats' that I wear throughout the day.  For those that give a damn, let me give you a snippet of one of my average days;  a day that isn't compounded with a surprise doctor visit, vet visit or dental visit or a husband out of town.

Everyday we begin school at 8:30AM.  It's really more for me than the kids, but I find that if I don't begin school work with the kids by 8:30 the rest of the day is thrown out of whack.  But before we can begin school, there are 5 dogs that need to go out, go potty and be fed.  Marc most often feeds the 10 horses before he heads to work and often squeezes in a stall mucking or two.  So once the animals are fed and pottied, I make sure the kids have eaten, clean up the kitchen, put the puppy in his playpen so he doesn't electrocute himself and we sit down to begin school.

If everyone stays focused, school moves along nicely and then we head to our assorted afternoon activities.  Today for example we were supposed to head to the swimming pool at 1:30, but the horse shoer called to say he could do Madison's dressage horse and our mini with bad feet today at 12:30.  Scratch the swimming and insert farrier.  Thomas couldn't stay inside and finish science or literature knowing the farrier was here so we still have work to finish.  But before I try to refocus his energy, I have to throw something together for dinner.  Madison has Algebra tutoring tonight and the boys have Tae Kwon Do.  In addition to that the same 5 dogs and 10 horses  need to eat again, now it's time to feed the 2 bunnies, 2 guinea pigs and 10 cats. 

But after leaving the algebra tutor tonight, I'll have to stop at the store and pick up some supplies for the world health kits the ELCA Lutheran churches are putting together.  Then I can come home, do some laundry, clean up from the mad dash of a thrown together dinner, take the dogs out again, get boys to take a shower...WITH SOAP AND SHAMPOO....usher them off to bed and then prepare for tomorrow's lessons.

Tomorrow may just be even busier with the addition of Madison's riding lessons, Lenten dinner at church and service at 7:30.  Fortunately I do not have church council tomorrow night as that would just be one more thing to juggle. 

I'm not complaining.  I'm really not.  What I am doing is trying to let the world know that although I am home with my children all day and have chosen to do so, I am not sitting around watching t.v with my thumb in my butt.  I am making lesson plans and/or adapting them to individual needs, maintaining a household in the same fashion that I used to when the kids were in school 8+ hours a day, shuttling kids to activities, trailering a horse and kid to riding lessons 2-3 times a week, feeding animals, cleaning up after them, paying bills, grocery shopping, schlepping kids to friends' houses, picking them up, and squeezing in whatever else may pop up.  My life is busy.  Yes, it's busy by my choice, but why do people feel they have the right to put me down if I try to correct their assumption that my life is not as busy as theirs is because they work?

If this ain't work, I don't want to know what hard work is!!  Let me say it again.  I have chosen this life and I wouldn't have it any other way, but it sure would be nice if people would give credence to the fact that my days are busy because I am invested in my family.  Respect people....it's just about the simple courtesy of respect.  I don't put you down for choosing your lifestyle, so please respect that I am just as busy or busier than you may be.

Now it's time to put my soapbox away until some butthead offends me again....and trust me, it will happen!