Recipe for a Homework Hullabaloo ( And its Antidote, too!)

Ingredients:

One Cranky Child

One Tired Parent

Math Homework (Long Division or Fractions)

Several Unfinished Chores 

Cranky Child’s Favorite T.V. Show

Mix Parent and Child in a pot, 

twirl them around and what have you got?

Anger swirling in a spinning stew.

Who knows exactly what to do?

Stir in homework and what do you know,

this Anger Stew hasn't far to go,

before Child throws a pencil in the air,

screaming, yelling “I DON’T CARE!”

Then Parent boils, bubbling ‘ver the top,

screaming, yelling “STOP! STOP! STOP!

Stop your yelling and do your work

or I will go completely beserk!”

“Why don’t you ever do your chores, 

washing the dishes, scrubbing the floors?”

Uh-oh – the chores are now stirred in,

Child’s so mad, heads start to spin!

“I hate you! I hate you! I hate you more!”

Child gets up and slams the door.

Parent bangs, yelling “Let me in!

If you don’t, you'll never win,

win back the chance to watch TV,

your favorite show that you wanna see!”

Oh, noooo!

not that favorite show!

Not in the stew 

with me and you,

not mixed with math and chores galore,

like washing dishes and scrubbing floors!

So what do you do

with this Homework Hullabaloo?

Let’s back up and try again,

and see if we can make amends.

Start with noticing that something’s wrong,

the first grumbling or a cranky yawn.

Instead of demanding work be done,

focus on trying to make it fun.

When Child is starting to get real mad,

just drop the work and they’ll be glad.

Focus on what they’re feeling right now,

talking about it will show them how

to say how they feel when something’s wrong,

instead of mad attitude and a cranky yawn.

Let them know that your mad, too,

then show them exactly what to do.

Take a time out and leave the room,

but be sure to come back soon.

When you’re calm, come back to the table,

and maybe then you’ll be better able,

to help your child in a way that’s fun,

playing with numbers ‘til the homework’s done.

Now is not the time for talk of chores,

for it will lead to battles and wars.

Focus on one thing at a time,

and then homework should go just fine.

Better to slow down, slow down the fight,

or you’ll be fighting, fighting all night.

Instead, take the time to do it right,

with wisdom and care, not fear and might.

© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, Angela Dawn MacKay 

www.knottedwordscelticart.com, Twitter: @AngelaDMac, www.angelamackay.com