Yo-Yo Mama*

Here's how I spent my morning:

"First you have to add the ones column, Ella." (cross to the other side of the room to check on Jack)

"Jack, see if you can put all the red beads together." (go back to Ella's desk)

"Good job, Ella. Now don't forget to add the ten you carried." (walk back to Jack)

"Good Jack, now put all the yellow beads together." (trip over a block and hop back to Ella's desk)

"Ok, Ella don't forget to label your answer." (race over to the laundry room to put the wet clothes in the dryer)

"Jack, don't throw the beads." (stoop down to collect the beads. Jack takes the opportunity to run over to Ella's desk)

"Ella, sit down and concentrate." (still collecting beads)

"Jack, don't climb in Ella's chair." (get Jack out of the chair and realize he needs a diaper change)

Then Ella says, "Mommy, is it snack time?"

And the whole time I had this mental image of me as a Mommy yo-yo bouncing between the kids. It's not necessarily a bad thing, but it is a bit draining. On the one hand I feel great that I am spending so much time with them and that I can be there to give them so much personal attention. Then on the other hand I feel like I spent the whole morning short changing them because I had to keep saying, "just a minute, let me go help your brother/sister."

How is it that I can be a stay-at-home mom and a homeschooler and still feel at times like there isn't enough of me to go around? And who's this crazy perfectionist living in my head that keeps telling me I'm not doing it right? And how do I kick her out?

*Note: yes, that title is a classical music reference and a desperate attempt to prove to myself that my brain hasn't been completely melted by the musical stylings of The Wiggles and Sesame Street.