A recent note from a second-grade teacher gained significant attention for a good reason. “This year, there will be no assigned homework,” she informed parents. “Instead, I encourage you to spend your evenings engaging in activities that support student success. Enjoy family dinners, read together, play outside, and ensure your child gets to bed early.” Honestly, I believe she’s onto something important. You know what else likely contributes to a child’s success? Parents who are less stressed out. And you know what would help reduce my stress? Not having to endure the NIGHTLY CHAOS THAT IS HOMEWORK.
Let me clarify: I’m not criticizing teachers. Seriously, teachers, I appreciate every bit of effort you put in daily. Managing homework in the evenings feels like an insurmountable challenge, and I’m fairly certain you’re not plotting to drive me insane with each assignment you send home.
Homework simply adds to the already overwhelming list of tasks I need to oversee during our four frantic weeknight hours. From the time my kids step off the bus at 4 PM to when they’re supposed to be in bed by 8 PM, there are backpacks to rummage through, papers to sign, and dinner to prepare and clean up. Not to mention bath time and brushing teeth. Amid all this, I strive to carve out some playtime for my kids. And that’s on a night without any extracurricular activities; throw in a sports practice or a music lesson, and you’ll see just how tight the schedule becomes. Plus, let’s face it—kids take their sweet time.
Now, let’s toss homework into the mix. When I announce, with as much enthusiasm as I can muster, “Homework time!” my kids don’t exactly leap into action. Instead, I’m met with the usual groans and slow-motion trudging toward their backpacks like they’re extras from a zombie movie. Then there’s the inevitable search for a pencil, which somehow ends with us hunting down a sharpener.
That’s just the setup. The actual homework experience is even worse. Even if it’s the simplest assignment imaginable—like “Color this cat yellow!”—it feels like I’m asking them to tackle a PhD thesis on the mating habits of fruit flies. They slump over their papers, cranking out one word every two minutes, punctuated by sighs of “I caaaaan’t” and “It’s so haaaard,” regardless of the task’s difficulty. If they don’t give a proper effort, I make them redo it, which leads to even more dramatic protests.
If only I could tell them, “Do your homework!” and walk away. But that approach is as effective as assembling a dinner and expecting it to cook itself. Homework demands my involvement—guidance, redirection, and a whole lot of patience. I should be tackling laundry or some other chores, yet here I am, hovering over my kids as they whine.
You’d think they’d realize that it would be so much simpler if they just focused and finished quickly. Grit your teeth, buckle down, and complete the work the first time—cut out the complaints and procrastination, and we’d be done in a fraction of the time. But no, they seem determined to stretch it into an agonizing hours-long ordeal.
What’s even more frustrating is when they bring home genuinely challenging assignments and seek my help. I couldn’t be more inept at math if I tried, so when my sixth-grader presents me with an equation he needs to break down, I can feel my brain going blank. Nothing is more humbling than grappling with a question that should be elementary. We sit there, both of us floundering, as our patience dwindles to nothing.
Without a miraculous change in my kids’ attitudes, homework will remain a looming storm cloud over our evenings. We do it because we have to, but I can’t fault them for resisting—neither do I look forward to it.
It doesn’t matter if the work is simple; what matters is that homework is yet another obligation to squeeze into our already full days when, quite frankly, we’re all just tired of squeezing in more tasks. For more insights into navigating parenting challenges with humor and honesty, check out this engaging post from our other blog here. And if you’re considering at-home insemination, this kit is a reputable option to explore. Additionally, for anyone facing infertility, Mount Sinai offers excellent resources.
Summary
Homework can be a nightly struggle for parents and children alike, often adding stress to an already packed evening routine. The challenges include not only the time it takes to complete assignments but also the emotional toll it takes on both kids and parents. Finding ways to make homework less of a burden can benefit everyone involved.
Leave a Reply