Homework For Moms . . .?

I feel like Noah's school (society in general, really) is asking a lot of us moms. It's not that I don't want to be involved with my child's schooling or anything, but really...homework at three? He already do some crafts at home. He's in school 4 hours a day, 2 days a week. Who do they think ends up with the work when they send homework?

Tuesday they sent us home with poster board to cut out paper candy canes. So, this morning I'm rushing around trying to get my "homework" together before I can go drop Noah off. I got 20 of them out of one poster board, but it took me like 35 minutes.

Today they sent him home with a poster board of a Christmas tree to cut out and decorate. Have I mentioned I feel like I live at Walmart...?

No big deal for me really, because I'm not officially doing anything else. I clean my Dad's office on the weekend, but that's about the extent of my contribution to working society right now. To me, it really seems like I do a lot though...and what if I was working....? I can't imagine being a mom who works full-time, has children (we'll add a husband to this item on the list), and then has to come home and help them with their homework.

However, it won't be something I'll have to imagine in two or so years when I join the ranks of the gainfully employed. I do find the longer I stay out of work, the more nervous I get about going back. Pre-children I had a really good job, too. I was an assistant internal auditor at a local bank and probably could have moved up to a cushy position with an even more cushy paycheck. I don't regret making the decision I made to stay at home at all though.

My children have helped me learn more real world skills than my little job ever did. I was never really good with things like multi-tasking, thinking on my feet (lets just say poop happens), accepting help, congeniality, or not sweating the small stuff. Hopefully, by the time I'm looking for work again, the economy will pick back up. Lets just say I'll be more qualified this time around . . .

Since I've been at home I have been trying to come up with ways to make money without leaving my child with someone else. There are a ton of scams out there, aren't there? I have found a few ways that are LEGIT though, and I'll be sharing more as I have time and as I find them.

Here's two:

http://www.focusonservice.com/
This one gets you a free meal (plus $10, I think) at Longhorns twice a year.

http://www.mysteryshopperservices.com/
This one is affiliated with multiple businesses. You can look up assignments by your zip code. Each assignment tells what it pays ahead of time.

It's awesome because you can bring your children! As for my family, we're just sitting at home anyways. May as well get a free meal (or whatever) and a little extra spending money.




Here's some pictures of my son being industrious today. You may have noticed he doesn't like to wear a shirt. It's Florida....what can I say?

Who can find a virtuous and capable wife?
She is worth more than precious rubies.
Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life.
She will not hinder him but help him all her life.
She finds wool and flax and busily spins it.
She is like a merchant's ship; she brings her food from afar.
She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household and plan the day's work for her servant girls.
She goes out to inspect a field and buys it; with her earnings she plants a vineyard.
She is energetic and strong, a hard worker.
She watches for bargains: her lights burn late into the night.
Her hands are busy spinning thread, her fingers twisting like fiber.
She extends a helping hand to the poor and opens her arms to the needy.
She has no fear of winter for her household because all of them have warm clothes. She quilts her own bedspreads.
She dresses like royalty in gowns of finest cloth.
Her husband is well known, for he sits in the council meeting with the other civic leaders.
She makes belted linen garments and sashes to sell to the merchants.
She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs with no fear of the future. When she speaks, her words are wise, and kindness is the rule when she gives instructions.
She carefully watches all that goes on in her household and does not have to bear the consequences of laziness.
Her children stand and bless her.
Her husband praises her: "There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!"
Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the LORD will be greatly praised.

So, I'm not an early riser, and I don't know how to sew....I'm a work-in-progress.