Homework Blues

I have never liked homework.  As a child, I detested it to the point where I'd rather throw tantrums for 10 minutes than sit down and get it done in those 10 minutes.  I thought when I finished school, all the yucky homework would be finished too.

After the girls started school, I came to really enjoy homework time. . . Until they started asking me for help.

Last year, when M was in second grade, she needed help with her math homework. 

"Easy peasy lemon squeezey," I thought to myself. "It's second grade math!  I can do this with my eyes shut."

M came home from school the next day and was very upset.

"Mommy!  All of the math problems you helped me with were wrong!!" 

Oops.  That was the last time I helped any of them with math.

M came home today with grammar homework.  I love reading and words and I enjoy writing.  I like to think I have fairly good grammar but to remember subjects and predicates?  Yeah. . . I haven't had to think about that in over 10 years!  B had to school me on them briefly before I could help M.

Her homework was to write 10 simple sentences using 10 spelling words.  I assume she was supposed to underline the subject and predicate, I couldn't really understand all the blubbering through the tears.  

"You are a very creative person, M," I consoled.  "Surely you can come up with sentences for 10 words."

"Mommy, you need to help me!," came the sob.

"Oh no, M.  I am not doing your homework for you."

"But Mommy!!  My teacher says parents have to help!  She doesn't want us doing this all by ourselves!"

Really?  I'm friends with M's teacher and I highly doubt that's the case.  However, I fell for the trick and helped her.  I gave her sentences, which she wrote down (bonus spelling quiz!) and she then underlined the subject and predicate.  The best sentence was for the word "remarkable".  "My mother is a remarkable person."  Why yes she is, M, yes she is.

The good news in all of this is I have finally remembered subjects and predicates and they aren't anywhere near as tricky as I remember them being. I am only hoping that M's sentences are correct because if they aren't, I'll be beyond embarrassed tomorrow.  

The next time any of the girls ask "Why do we have homework?" I shall be very truthful with them.

My darlings, you have homework so you will be able to help your children with their homework!  It's the never-ending pattern.