Reality of a Homeschool Family
Kendra at Preschoolers and Peace challenged me to a duel! Well, not really. I was very blessed to be at her house this weekend for a Homeschooling Encouragement Day that’s held twice a year by her church. During the break I noted to her how clean, organized, and visually pleasing her house was. Everything there was neat and beautiful. She chuckled and said I should really see her house on normal days because it’s not as clean and organized. We both agree that whenever we read other people’s blogs, we tend to think that other people have it all together and we’re the only ones with a messy house. So, with that, Kendra said she’ll post pictures of her house if I would agree to post some of mine. I thought she was just saying it, but I was wrong. Since I got myself involved in this challenge, I’ll let you into my house, virtually, and see our regular life.
Here are the children playing in the family room/homeschool room. Notice the mess on the rug? Just in case you don’t think this is too bad, check out the next picture.
Here’s what the other side of the room looks like. Yup, five laundry baskets on the floor and on the train table. Sad to say that these baskets have been sitting there for about a week now, waiting for me to fold and put them away. My oldest saw this picture and asked why I even took the picture. As much as he contributes to the mess in this house, he has a clean gene in his body which alerts him that this is not a pleasing picture.
This is our school table. Oh. . . did you notice another laundry basket next to the student desk? That makes six laundry baskets in the room.
(Yes, we’ve occasionally increased our inventory of laundry baskets to keep up with the backup of washed but not-yet-folded clothes!)
So, here you go, this is the reality of this homeschooling family. I’m just glad that Kendra didn’t ask me to take pictures of myself!
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11 Comments so far
Leave a commentLois, thanks for being honest. I confess I never would have guessed - six laundry baskets???
A friend suggested a great solution to that and it’s working at our house. (2 loads a day, washed and folded). I’ve blogged about it recently in my How?? series: http://fishboys.blogspot.com/search/label/How%3FI can’t remember if you’ve been over recently.
Lois, you made me feel WONDERFUL today! I am house-sitting for a friend who has not one iota of clutter in her house. I came straight home and felt sick. Then I saw your photos and recognized the fireplace, the exact fireplace that held the advent stockings (which, btw, made me envision the rest of your house as a perfectly decorated upscale hotel lobby). I only have three baskets of folded laundry upstairs and one downstairs (not folded yet, so it hasn’t been promoted to upstairs). I feel like the queen! Thanks!
Fishmama,
Yes, I’ve been following your blog. It’s been great reading about how you manage your household. Thanks for the laundry tip. I think I’m going to give that a try. Two loads a day sounds more manageable.Petrie,
I’m really glad I made your day. I cracked up when I read you thought my house was decorated like an upscale hotel lobby. That’s soooooo not my house. There are real people living here and mess is part of our lives though we’re learning how to manage it better.
Wow! You cleaned up the place. Looks good. he he he. I know. I know. You love me because I’m so funny.
So good to meet you and see your crew Sunday. I had to sweat a little taking pics of the messes. You have all those littles which makes for messes that stay awhile. They do grow up, act corny but are good help. Keep pressing on girl!
I followed your link from Kendra’s blog. I was looking at all the pictures of “messy” houses. I was hoping to see real messes and feel better about my mess, but, alas, other people’s messes are what my clean days look like. I was very glad to see your laundry baskets. Boy, that made me feel better.
I currently have only two and one pile on my couch. Which is good! :-))
I’m glad I’m making some homeschool mamas out there feel better about their mess. Trust me, there’s no lack of mess here. What I didn’t tell you was that I have other rooms in the house to match the one I posted pictures of. I don’t have the courage to post those pictures. We are still learning how to be more mess free and more organized.
As soon as I saw your laundry basket pictures I just had to grab my Dh and say “See! I’m not the only one!” I almost always have baskets of clean laundry waiting to be dealt with.
Laundry is my nemesis as well.
Like Fishmama, I have found that doing it every day is the only way that I can keep up. The only problem is that if we go out, or something comes up, I am stuck with two days worth, which is 4 or 5 loads here.
Thank you for the pictures.
Well. I figured I would join in to help some of you feel better.
Lois,
I, too, loved seeing your full laundry baskets. That is *so* me! I have often thought we should invest in more laundry baskets around here! ~Stacy
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