The boys especially love weekends. To my eldest, weekends means relaxing no school day, more screen time, more play, more fun. Also, Saturday we get to visit the aunt. BUT, Teacher gave alot of work for weekends. He sighed. I told him to finish all the school work first then he can relax and play for weekends. Reluctantly, but also agreed to my suggestion, he dragged his books out.
We had intense moment
You could tell from his face. Why? Because it had to do with Chinese language. The many strokes. The many varieties of shapes. And each change of strokes changes the character and different reading. He had to put in alot of time and sweat to learn. So am I. We were both 'tensed'. Sometimes, I let him frustrated as he searched the meaning of the words. Sometimes, like this particular moment, I sat down and helped him find some words due to the loads of homework. We both tried to focus at the rewards thereafter. Free from work. And relax.
Since my attention was on the eldest, I asked the youngest to choose whatever he wanted to do. He loved following the big brother. Big brother was doing workbook, so he took out some of his books too. He took out dot-to-dot book, writing book and maze book. He was so relaxed. Stress-free. Tension-free. That's the benefit of homeschooling. Your teacher is your mother. You know there will be no punishment. You get to do what you like to do.
After that, he went away from the table and played by himself with all his figurines. Well, I understand his attention span on workbooks was shorter. The eldest was focusing and trying his best at his Chinese and Maths homeworks. In between, alot of comfort, hugs and encouragement. Eventhough he is the eldest, I want him to know he still can get his comfort, he still gets to express his frustration, he can come to me, and I will make sure I will be there for him as much as I can. Children nowadays have more stress than children 30 years ago. I recalled my own childhood, we were happy go lucky most of the time. There weren't alot of schoolwork, most were done at school. Weekends were all playyyyyay yay and fun funnyyyy all day!
