These Parents Were Not Fully Prepared For The Realities Of Homeschooling

Parents always have the best interests of their children in mind, and we want to be able to raise our children to be fully functional and successful adults, but that does not mean we are the ones who are most qualified to actually teach them.

In this time of change where we are now responsible for teaching our children basic things like math and spelling, some parents are thriving more than others, and these parents coming up are not in the top tier.

Art Class Should Always Be Supervised

If there are any sort of art supplies present, don’t leave the room. If you choose to walk away, that’s on you, and you’re going to be stuck cleaning green paint off your leather couch.

painting the living room unsupervised
Photo Credit: Instagram / @kenzmunson
Photo Credit: Instagram / @kenzmunson

Just Call It All Home Ec

The advantage of homeschooling is you can alter the curriculum to fit what you need. Life experiences are just as important as plain old book learning, so you can get creative.

captain's log homeschooling
Photo Credit: Twitter / @NanaKimmieB
Photo Credit: Twitter / @NanaKimmieB

That Wasn’t In The Curriculum

Leaving your child to do a little independent studying could work, depending on how your old your kid is, but no matter what, we hope you never have to return to a room to see this.

kid making strange signs on the carpet
Photo Credit: Reddit / case2000
Photo Credit: Reddit / case2000

A Cry For Help

Day 17 of homeschooling… Okay, fine, it was like day four. By this day, you’re willing to send them back to school and take your chances with them thoroughly washing their hands.

 chalk sign save me from my kids
Photo Credit: Reddit / Angus-Mackenzie
Photo Credit: Reddit / Angus-Mackenzie

She’s No Bob Ross

Okay, so based on the paint splatter she left on the couch, you can probably scratch “professional artist” off the list of potential careers, but maybe she’ll do well at cleaning it up?

paint spread all over the couch
Photo Credit: Reddit / psgenius
Photo Credit: Reddit / psgenius

What Is This Substitute Teaching Them?

You thought you were leaving the classroom in good hands, but you’re sorely mistaken. You would’ve been better off just leaving your husband in charge of the math lesson for the day.

cats are bad dogs are good
Photo Credit: Reddit / kmascasa
Photo Credit: Reddit / kmascasa

We Don’t Blame Mom For Getting Confused

Week two of homeschooling is going great for all parties involved. The kids? Thriving. Parents? Living their best lives. No one has any idea what the lesson plan for the day is, but that’s beside the point.

child's quarantine homeschool journal
Photo Credit: Facebook / Candice Hunter Kennedy
Photo Credit: Facebook / Candice Hunter Kennedy

Silence Is Golden

If you’re trying to work from home while also entertaining your children, you can do what this dad did and simply call it “drama class.” They’re just playing a part.

WFH silence is golden
Photo Credit: Reddit / Bufger
Photo Credit: Reddit / Bufger

There’s Nothing Left To Dry Your Tears With

One man’s friend bought 18 rolls of toilet paper to add to her stockpile before quarantine, and then her kids decided to put all of those rolls in the bathtub as a science experiment. So now she’s looking to buy toilet paper and new children.

tub filled with toilet paper
Photo Credit: Twitter / @edcumming
Photo Credit: Twitter / @edcumming

When You Say You Need Space

When quarantined for an extended period of time with your family, it’s important to make sure that you’re taking breaks away from each other. Apparently, the children disagree with this.

room with a view kids at office door
Photo Credit: Reddit / Nahalido
Photo Credit: Reddit / Nahalido

Show Your Work

Every good teacher has examples to go along with their lessons in order to help their students better understand what’s going on. This example is about as clear as it gets.

tolerance for children or alcohol during quarantine
Photo Credit: Reddit / iujohn3
Photo Credit: Reddit / iujohn3

He Never Saw It Coming

Your dog might be thrilled about the fact that there are people home for them to play with and get attention from all day long, but your cat probably feels just like this guy.

cat and daughter posing for photo
Photo Credit: Reddit / jshev418
Photo Credit: Reddit / jshev418

Oh, How The Tables Have Turned

It’s going to be months after all this is over before your kids ever even consider asking to stay home from school or complain to you about the fact that they have to go to school every day, so that’s a silver lining.

why can't you homeschool us to can we go to school
Photo Credit: Twitter / @angela_m_juarez
Photo Credit: Twitter / @angela_m_juarez

Recess Isn’t The Same At Home

While kids at school look forward to recess and don’t usually want to have to go back to class, when you’re homeschooling, recesses where you stare at a wall by yourself don’t have the same thrill to it.

recess homeschool isn't as fun
Photo Credit: Twitter / @profanityswan
Photo Credit: Twitter / @profanityswan

Women In STEM

It was only the first week of quarantine and already they were saying they were bored and tired of being homeschooled. This dad had to think on his feet and come up with something to keep them entertained. Why not give them a laptop and desk to break apart and rebuild?

taking apart a computer for fun
Photo Credit: Reddit / tardiusmaximus
Photo Credit: Reddit / tardiusmaximus

Modified Gym Class

Your gym is closed down, and they’re not able to participate in P.E., so you decided to combine the two and use your daughters as barbells instead. It would be perfect if your weights weren’t laughing and moving around so much.

lifting weights with your kids
Photo Credit: Reddit / stretchasmile
Photo Credit: Reddit / stretchasmile

Learning About The Economy

As a parent of only one child, homeschooling means you are solely responsible for entertaining your child. There are no other children, you are their friend and their teacher, so you have to think outside the box, which is exactly what this mom did.

store hours for at home
Photo Credit: Facebook / Stephanie Craig
Photo Credit: Facebook / Stephanie Craig

These Aren’t Kids, They’re Cats

You bought $100 worth of Lego thinking you could use them to inspire a love of architecture in your children while you’re in charge of homeschooling them, but instead, all they want is to play with the cardboard box it came in.

kids with box instead of toys
Photo Credit: Reddit / YossarianC022
Photo Credit: Reddit / YossarianC022

Learning About Personal Space

They were supposed to be learning about the importance of social distance and personal space, but that lesson is not going very well. They’re definitely going to need to review it.

fingers in face of mom
Photo Credit: Reddit / joelkes
Photo Credit: Reddit / joelkes

You’ve Lost The Battle

On a normal day, you’re able to convince your child that he has to put on normal clothing to go to school, but when you’re at home, all bets are off. Pick a different battle and just let him wear the costume.

spiderman costume to class
Photo Credit: Reddit / puddinhead2U
Photo Credit: Reddit / puddinhead2U

Time For A Study Break

You weren’t prepared to be homeschooling your children, and realistically, you don’t want to teach them math any more than they want to learn it, so the second someone suggested a roller skating party, you caved.

roller derby instead of class
Photo Credit: Twitter / @corychilds07
Photo Credit: Twitter / @corychilds07

One Day Won’t Kill Them

Don’t fall into the trap of thinking you need to teach your kids a new language or raise the next Albert Einstein during this time. If there’s a day where all they learn is what the names of the Paw Patrol characters are, that’s fine.

your kids will be fine let them watch tv
Photo Credit: Twitter / @CaspianTheGeek
Photo Credit: Twitter / @CaspianTheGeek

Homeschool Essentials

You’ve got your coffee so that you’re able to get up and function as a normal human being, Lysol wipes to make sure every inch of your house has been disinfected, and alcohol for when your kids inevitably stop listening while you’re trying to teach them.

homeschool essentials covered
Photo Credit: Reddit / fromsky610
Photo Credit: Reddit / fromsky610

Don’t Get Used To This

You’re trying to keep up your normal routines while your kids are home from school, but you also have more time on your hands, and everyone is home all the time, so things are different. But they won’t be forever.

cooking breakfast every morning
Photo Credit: Twitter / @AnedtlBrthCtrl
Photo Credit: Twitter / @AnedtlBrthCtrl

Maintaining Some Sort Of Routine

The notes you got from the school said it was important for parents to try to maintain a normal school routine while everyone is stuck in quarantine, but they didn’t mention this part in the pamphlet.

spirit week monday meltdown
Photo Credit: Twitter / @jellybnbonanza
Photo Credit: Twitter / @jellybnbonanza

There’s Only One Right Answer

School is canceled, there are no sports to watch on TV, and you aren’t allowed to go anywhere, so what’re you going to do to keep your three children entertained? Build a fort, obviously.

fort built out of blankets
Photo Credit: Reddit / 7bottlesofwine
Photo Credit: Reddit / 7bottlesofwine

Why Is Everyone In The Family Being Punished?

Two days into a six-week break from school, this kid managed to break the TV… Spending the remaining 40 days at home without access to a TV seems like a good enough punishment, right?

broken Tv on day 2
Photo Credi: Reddit / thatoneperson1000
Photo Credi: Reddit / thatoneperson1000

Beauty School Dropout

You left the room for a few minutes to make a snack or prep dinner, but when you returned, you discovered your son had enrolled himself in beauty school and gave himself a less-than-flattering haircut. Luckily, there’s no one else to see it!

partially shaved head at home
Photo Credit: Reddit / KThingy
Photo Credit: Reddit / KThingy

Update: We’re Not Getting Through It

I was under the impression that math was one of those things that didn’t change and was a universal law and boy was I wrong. The math they teach kids now is nothing like when we went to school.

tweet about parent not understanding math homework
Photo Credit: Twitter / @UnFitz
Photo Credit: Twitter / @UnFitz

You Have A Newfound Respect

Spending this much time with children and trying to actually be productive has made you realize just how grateful you are to your son’s teacher, and how much your daughter talks during class.

teachers need a raise
Photo Credit: Twitter / @joshcheek
Photo Credit: Twitter / @joshcheek

Meet The Newest TA

It’s all hands on deck when the kids are suddenly home for an undetermined amount of time. There’s no more slacking. Every family member needs to be involved and take control of their education.

teaching the baby
Photo Credit: Reddit / Fr-Jack-Hackett
Photo Credit: Reddit / Fr-Jack-Hackett

The Natural Evolution

The first week of quarantine started out with such high hopes. And by first week we mean first days. Look, if you’re kids are still alive and the house isn’t burned down, you’re doing okay.

weekly spreadsheet for homeschool schedule
Photo Credit: @3dirtyboyz/Twitter
Photo Credit: @3dirtyboyz/Twitter

Hey, You Tried And That What Matters

I don’t see this as any failure of parenting. If anything, you’ve leveled up in parenting because you’re being more efficient. You’re not wasting time or precious laundry basket space by wasting clothes during the day.

tweet about kids still being in PJs at bedtime
Photo Credit: Twitter / @MumInBits
Photo Credit: Twitter / @MumInBits

I’m Pawsitive Something Is Off About This Teacher

With all the kids out of school, us parents have become the impromptu teachers. If you have to hand the duties off to someone else for a little while, what’s the worst that can happen?

dog pretending to teach homeschool class
Photo Credit: kmascasa / Reddit
Photo Credit: kmascasa / Reddit

A Valid Warning

This is the warning we all need to hear, even if we don’t want to accept it. The last thing we need when the lockdown lifts is to open up a 3-month old tuna sandwich.

tweet reminding you to clean kids lunchbox
Photo Credit: Twitter / @JustMeTurtle
Photo Credit: Twitter / @JustMeTurtle

Graphs Don’t Lie

You gotta do what you gotta do. For this person, their wine tolerance has clearly increased but maybe your bubble baths or snack-eating has increased. We’re all in this together.

graph about alcohol tolerance increasing and children tolerance decreasing
Photo Credit: lujohn3 / Reddit
Photo Credit: lujohn3 / Reddit

Pray For This Little Girl

Do not mess with the lockdown snacks because that will be your final move. Hopefully the husband ran out to the store (with proper protective gear and hand sanitizer) immediately after this to buy more.

tweet about kid eating last of chocolate
Photo Credit: Twitter / @mom_ontherocks
Photo Credit: Twitter / @mom_ontherocks

Now Is The Time To Learn

Thanks to Stranger Things the ’80s have been making a comeback. That includes everything from crazy clothes to Dungeons and Dragons. Why not make the best of it and teach your kids your own nerdy hobby?

teaching kids to play dungeons and dragons
Photo Credit: d00110111010 / Reddit
Photo Credit: d00110111010 / Reddit

The Audacity!

What are they going to want next? A bath? Give us a break we’re barely able to get ourselves things like food and water right now. Coloring might be a good de-stresser though.

tweet about kids being needy in quarantine
Photo Credit: Twitter / @stayathomies
Photo Credit: Twitter / @stayathomies

Don’t Hate The Chicken Surprise

I’ve been seeing a lot of recipes online right now that are called something “surprise.” All that means is you take the vegetables that are one day away from going bad, and throwing them into a stir-fry. Surprise!

kid has to write in journal for school
Photo Credit: Twitter / @VerbsRPodcast
Photo Credit: Twitter / @VerbsRPodcast