The hours from 4 to 7 p.m. can feel like a never-ending cycle of chaos for parents. This “witching hour” doesn’t disappear once the kids are out of diapers. Maybe it’s the combination of hunger, fatigue, and a general sense of being over the day, but it’s during this time when everyone in my household seems to have a meltdown — me included.
The reality is, I have a ton of chores to tackle during this time, but I’m running on empty, surrounded by a bunch of grumpy kids. Sound familiar?
Dinner Time Dilemmas
Let me break it down: first, there’s dinner. I mean, at this point, my kids graze from 3 p.m. until bedtime, making the concept of a “dinner” almost laughable. Still, I must prepare a proper meal amidst what feels like a food-fetching marathon.
The Clean-Up Challenge
Then comes the dreaded clean-up. There’s always a mountain of dishes waiting to be unloaded and loaded. Don’t forget lunchboxes that need to be cleaned out and prepped for the next day. And toys? They seem to multiply on the floor, requiring me to remind my kids every ten minutes to clean up until they finally decide to listen. On top of that, there are permission slips to sign, teachers to email, and a flood of daily stories from my kids that I have to listen to and process (I’ve basically become their therapist, social worker, and life coach).
The Homework Battle
And then there’s homework. Ugh, homework. Honestly, who loathes it more: parents or kids? Why do elementary students even have homework? Research suggests it’s mostly pointless in those early years. Maybe it’s supposed to teach discipline and self-motivation? Whatever the goal, it certainly isn’t working for us.
My son, a diligent student, does well in school, but when it comes to homework, he’s often reluctant. I can’t blame him — six hours of schoolwork is more than enough, and the homework usually feels like a repeat of what he just did all day.
I know most teachers are simply following directives when assigning homework. While I’ve offered my son the chance to skip it some nights, he genuinely wants to finish it (what a nerd!). But getting him started is akin to pulling teeth. What should take 15 minutes can easily morph into an hour of pleading, coaxing, and sometimes even reverse psychology—“Fine, don’t do it then!” (And that’s when he typically decides to get moving!)
Teamwork Makes the Dream Work
With my to-do list piling up during those after-school hours, there’s no way I’m taking on the homework battle. That’s where my husband, the saint, steps in. He’s a high school English teacher, so he spends his day wrangling groggy teens to do their work. He comes home exhausted but knows his evening duties: take out the trash, shower our three-year-old with affection, and help our nine-year-old with his homework.
He understands that I’ve got enough on my plate, and homework help is just a small part of our evening routine. Sure, some nights can turn into a circus act—if he’s tired and our son is cranky, it’s a real mess. And then there’s the confusing homework itself (looking at you, Common Core math!).
But sometimes, it’s a bonding moment. They enjoy picking out the absurd math problems together, and when the monotony strikes, they turn the homework into a game.
Overall, it usually works out just fine. It’s a fair division of labor, and while homework may be hellish, my husband knows it’s a cakewalk compared to my evening tasks.
Gratitude for Support
I feel fortunate to have a partner who comes home at a decent hour and is willing to help out with homework. It’s funny how one has to mention when a spouse “helps” with something like that; if your partner is around during those chaotic evening hours, they should be pitching in. If you find homework as unbearable as I do, don’t hesitate to delegate it to your partner.
As my son enters fourth grade this year, we plan to take a step back from homework assistance. He needs to learn to take more responsibility for completing it on his own, with less nagging from us.
We’ll see how that goes. But if it doesn’t pan out (which is likely), my husband will be back at the kitchen table, bleary-eyed, struggling with long division while my son complains about the lack of pencil sharpeners. Meanwhile, I’ll be at the sink, tackling another load of dishes, glancing over at my husband and son, grateful that I never have to face long division again and loving my husband even more for taking that on.
Additional Resources
For more insights, check out this excellent resource on what to expect when you have your first IUI and discover more about home insemination kits for your journey.
And if you’re interested in our terms and conditions, you can view them here.
Conclusion
In summary, managing homework in our household is a delicate balance of teamwork, understanding, and a little bit of humor. With my husband stepping in during those hectic hours, I’m able to focus on the avalanche of chores while he handles the academic side of things, making life a little easier for both of us.