My sister is staying with us now. She's been a great help with home schooling. She did all the girls' hair for our bowling "field trip" above. And today, when I was ready to scream and pull my (normally unstyled) hair out, she took the kids to Planet Kid (an indoor play place) for two hours so I could put some make-up on and put the house back together.

It was one of those days...you know...when somehow cereal gets dumped all over the dining room floor AND the hallway. My daughter walked into my bedroom and asked, "What happened to your bed?" because I didn't have time to make it this morning. I didn't even get my alone time with God.

That's the thing about home schooling. You don't get a break--unless your sister is in town and feeling compassionate. It's a stretch every day. I'm probably learning more than my kids are. This is how I see it...

In cheerleading, if you practice your moves with weights in your hands, later when you do the moves without the weights, your technique looks sharper. This is what home school is for me. It might not be right for me, but it is strengthening me so that when--I mean if--I send the kids back to school I'm going to be a better mom.

This makes me think of Lauren asking if she could help me make dinner tonight. I said, "Sure," and gave her something to throw away. She made it clear that is not what she wanted to do, but she did ask, and it did help me. How many times have I asked God to make me a better mom? I might not have meant home school, but in a way, God is giving me what he knows will be an answer to my prayer.

So I'll take it one day at a time. And if I need to, I'll just send my kids to another planet.