I Am Not A Good Teacher

teacher teaching education toddlers motherhood parenting

It’s almost that time.  The time that 5 years ago seemed like a life time away and now it’s just around the corner.  My first born…starts kindergarten.  I really can’t believe where the time has gone.

This is where the the mother part of me has failed…

He is not up to par on his sheet of “things to know” when starting kindergarten.

I love spending time with my kiddos doing artsy stuff!  Not school work.  I have no patience when it comes to teaching school work.  Right now I am trying to work on phone number and address.  And of course because I am teaching one the other two want to play a part as well, which then leads to a cluster of complete chaos.  Mommy is pulled in all directions, an entire box of paper is now gone, and my son, who I am trying to teach, wants to draw pictures instead.  And I would rather let him.

patience teaching possession

Nor have I ever possessed it.

I would rather paint a picture with them, then watch and observe while they place their toys from smallest to largest.  I go through their toys every couple of months…I know what’s smallest to largest in there.

I would rather watch them play outside in the sprinkler then have them cut a dozen triangles out of paper.

I feel like as a mother …. I would rather have fun…then do schoolwork.  School is for schoolwork.  And the minute that phrase escapes my thought…I know that I can’t rely on the school system to teach my children everything they need to know.  There’s too many students and not enough teachers.

I am very lucky that the son who is about to start kindergarten loves to learn and learns quickly.  So far the only thing we are struggling with is shoe tying.  I don’t remember anyone ever teaching me how to tie my shoes.  I literally have a memory of me sitting in my bedroom with a stuffed animal that had a piece of ribbon tied to it.  I practiced and practiced until finally I got it!  Problem is…can’t get him to practice.  He watches me or his older brother do an example of tying…he tries a couple times…then gets frustrated that he can’t figure it out and loses interest in the entirety of it.  I have even insisted on taking away his tablet until he has practiced and learned to tie his shoes.  I hate to see him frustrated.  It frustrates me.  It also frustrates me that I put him in a paid preschool and am not quite sure what he really learned there.

Frustrated,

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DomesticatedMomster

I am a mother of 5, a wife to 1, and a fully certified domesticated momster who likes to blog about motherhood, marriage, and anything else that pops into my crazy head all with a side of sarcasm and a glass of wine.

62 thoughts on “I Am Not A Good Teacher”

  1. I don’t know about where you live but when my oldest started kindergarten, I was really worried about that stuff too. The teachers were really good though and just told me not to sweat it. Both of my boys were in preschools that were meant to help them and while they did help my kids, some things just weren’t learned in time. The kindergarten teachers know that not all kids are going to come into elementary school, knowing EVERYTHING they need to know. So, don’t sweat it, my friend! Your son will do great and you’re doing a great job as his mother! I hope this helps alleviate some of that stress.

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    1. Thank you so much for reaching out and letting me know that. I just never want my kids to struggle like I did with school. I have great common sense but when it comes to studying and retaining information that I care nothing about it makes it hard. Thanks again for the wonderful comment. 😀

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      1. I’m really bad with Math! I struggled with it all through school and cannot, for the life of me, help me kids with their Math. Give me history, English, social studies and I’m good to go. Give me math and I feel like the dumbest person on the planet. I hate math!

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  2. I work as a teacher in nursery.. In the UK. We take children at 3 and they are 4 when they leave. They start school in their 4th year, and turn 5 during that year.
    I think , as do many nursery teachers, that we are made to focus on the academic, far too much, too early on. Its better to learn through play! Apparently, TT get should know, and recognise all their sounds and letter names when they leave my nursery class… That doesn’t happen. And count to 10 at least… Again, that doesn’t happen. Kids learn at different paces, and if, as a parent, you are giving them other experiences, that’s fantastic! They are sponges. Sometimes the best conversations I have are with those who, on the official scales might be lagging behind, but their general knowledge is astounding!
    You are a great mum, and through being a great mum, you don’t realise how great a teacher you are to them too! 😊

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    1. Thank you so much for the smile you just brought to my face. My son is smart…super smart with his letters, colors, can count to 100 and knows 20+ sight words. But I forgot to teach him something as simple as his address and phone number! I saw this sheet and was like OH NO! Thanks again for commenting and putting my mind at ease.

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  6. I remember worrying about whether my child was ready for school as we hadn’t done any formal learning (at home) at all but I think they will have learnt more of the basic stuff at pre-school than you realise. And also, aren’t all kids shoes velcro-ed nowadays anyway? 🙂 Try not to over-think it! Xx #thetruthabout

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    1. That’s the problem lol I have always bought (easy for mom to get on) type shoes. Let’s face it…I have 3 kids that are each a year apart. That’s a lot of shoes to put on to go somewhere. I myself live in flip flops and now my son has followed. He loves flip flops but can’t wear those to school. I am really not stressed about it…was just having a moment of “ugh I am going to blog about this!” Thanks for hosting!

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  7. Oh also I just remembered I had some friends bring him home from a boyscout session the other day and they texted me to say he had memorised *their* house number but had no idea what his own house number was! (He’s nearly 6!!). Mummy fail there I guess! 🙂 X

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  8. I know what you mean about them not trying…albeit I’m dealing with a 2 and a half year old. But she still refuses to ‘try’ sometimes. Like yesterday, I know she can put on her pants by herself but most of the time she wants me to. So by the end of the day I’ve kind of had it with the million questions and dressing her for the millionth time. I said I’m not going to take her outside unless she puts her pants on by herself. She has a major meltdown and sods around like a wounded bird repeating that she wants to go outside and refusing to even try put her pants on! Finally, 10 minutes later, I’m holding firm and she painfully puts a leg in her pants. Then the other one. Then we start laughing because “well, then, you can put your pants on by yourself after all little missy!!” And hahahah now it’s hilarious to her…..pft. Toddlers. I rambled on there a bit haha.

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    1. Oh please feel free to ramble…I do it all the time! My 3 year old is the same way! She tries to pull the “I’m the baby” card and I get so frustrated. Now I just use the whole…”If you want to go to school next month then you need to be a big girl” I feel bad sometimes because I really want my kids to be independent and not feel like they NEED to rely on anyone, but I also want them to know that I would lay down my life for them without skipping a beat. Have to find the balance somewhere. I am still searching lol.

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      1. Same here my little guy is my first experience going through the school stuff. And I’m so sad he’s going off to school he’s my little buddy and quite the momma’s boy but like you said not in the bad way. I’m going to be a wreck the first day of school

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  10. Being a mum has so many other jobs rolled into it, isn’t it. The wonderful thing is we can decide how we ‘mum’, we can decide how we express the different aspects of ‘mummying’. We’re constantly teaching our children; teaching them is so much more than school work.

    The fab thing as well is the children learn so much through play; I’m sure he’s learning loads at his preschool. As for the shoe lace tying … he’ll get it before you know it. We muddle through the best we can, and so much works better than expected along the way.

    It’ll be alright 🙂 #CommentLuv

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  11. Buy Velcro ones; problem solved 😉 seriously though, don’t be too hard on yourself. He wont go off to uni (college?) and not be able to tie his shoes. Over here, there are certain things they must be able to do before they can go to school, but I never once heard anyone being turned away from the school gates for not being able to do up their coat. Maybe there has never been a kid that can’t do it? They havent seen mine yet 🙂 Life’s too short to learn to do up a coat when they could be playing. All that said, I’ll be panicking about it this time next ear when he is due to start school…. #momsterslink

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    1. I am not really too stressed about it. Just want this last summer before he starts school, to be fun! Feels like everything will start really changing once my kids are in school. Thanks for reading and commenting and for the great advice!

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  13. I am always worrying that my children are behind their peers and blaming myself because I might not have done enough but the truth is I just never know where to start. I think we all feel that were failing as parents in one way or another. We just so badly want the best for them that we sometimes forget that what’s most important is that they are happy and loved and my kids definately have that as I’m sure yours do too. Us mums need to stop being so hard on ourselves and remember that we are mums, not superwoman and that our kids all have their own strengths and that they will catch up with their peers in their own good time.
    #Momsterslink

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    1. Thanks lady! I think as moms we are entirely too hard on ourselves sometimes. But you are so right that happiness is what is most important. Kids need to be happy because adulthood can just be so not fun sometimes!

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  15. There are many children who enter Kindergarten who can’t yet tie their shoes. Your little guy will learn in his own time. The best “teacher” advice I can give you is to not push the issue. If I may make a suggestion, try rewarding him if he spends a certain amount of time tying his shoes. For example. try starting a sticker chart or even give him extra time on his tablet for a certain amount of time he spends learning to tie those laces. xx

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    1. That sounds exactly like my middle daughter! My son and the other daughter love to learn everyday but my middle on would rather dress up like spiderman and play in the yard. She has a great imagination and is trying to learn guitar by watching youtube videos. She is 4 and when she is determined at something it fascinates me to watch her. Love my kids. Thanks for linking up with me!

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  18. Oh goodness girl! I know exactly how you feel! SJ is about to start Kindergarten in a few weeks and I feel like I am failing her as well. She knows her ABC’s, colors, numbers, can count to 50, and knows how to add simple numbers. However she does not know her phone number or address. It doesn’t matter how many times we go over it she for some reason cannot remember it. I haven’t even attempted to teach her how to tie her shoe. I am glad to hear that you and I are in the same boat together. Thank you for sharing your feelings on this! Makes me feel better knowing you are here with me….if that makes any sense 🙂 #momsterslink’
    Kristen
    http://mustachesandprincessmom.blogspot.com

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    1. It’s always comforting to know that you aren’t alone in parenting :o) I think everyone just learns at their own pace. We are good mommies that don’t give ourselves enough credit. My kids think I hang the moon, so I must be doing something right. :o)

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  19. I say stick to what you know and love and make the best of it. I am all for learning through play, and this sounds like a perfect situation to play and learn. Plus, I am sure you rock as a mommy and little man has nothing to worry about. He may just shock you 😉

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  21. In Sweden, where I grew up, children don’t start preschool until 6 and then school at 7. I couldn’t read or write until I was 7 and I turned out alright 😉 so don’t stress about him not knowing certain things – he’ll soon pick them up! It sounds like you’re teaching him loads of stuff anyway so give yourself some praise 🙂 and thanks for hosting #momsterslink

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    1. Thank you lady! I know he learns through me. He’s an awesome kid! He’s polite and loving, holds doors open for people, tells me and his sisters that we are beautiful. Those are things they can’t teach him in school. Those are things he’s learned from his mama 😉

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  22. I think he’ll learn fast enough when he starts school and it sounds like you do wonderful creative things. I wouldn’t worry about it. I strongly believe we often try to educate our children too soon and don’t get me started on homework – let children be children 🙂

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    1. I agree! We grow up to adults so fast and I just want my kids to have thoroughly enjoyed being children. I want their memories to be about fun with mommy …not mommy being a lunatic cause the school insists on giving ME homework lol. Thanks for commenting Laura 😀

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  23. I really think many of us have felt this Trista. However there is so much time for them to have to learn specific things when at school. If they aren’t interested I think it can do more harm than good forcing them through it when they are young. After all we are not a school, as parents we need broader aims than passing exams. We want our kids to understand their strengths and value themselves no matter what grades they get. Carry on doing art and fun things!

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  24. I truly believe that a happy parent = a happy child and so if you’re doing things that are joyful, they’ll be happy and they’ll learn. It doesn’t matter that they aren’t “school specific” things, children that age learn through play. So even painting, playing in sprinklers and other fun things is teaching them something. Thanks for hosting #momsterslink xx

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  25. Don’t worry about all of that – it’s Kindergarten!! He will pick up all the necessary info as he goes along. Every child is different & learns at a different pace & in their own way. Spending time with your kids & playing with them will be so much to them when they are older, they will remember their special times with you! #momsterlink x

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  26. OMG you have to teach them their address and phone number…really. Hmmm better check out what I need to do in the UK lol! Seriously though well done you if he’s counting to 100, knows his letters, colours, numbers, shapes and sight words I would say that he’s doing fantastically well and thats down to your family set up and you 🙂 xx #momsterslink

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  27. My eldest daughter has finished Reception and we all had ups and downs through the whole year. It is a big change for them but they learned very quickly. We just have to be patient. It looks like yours is doing fantastic, counting up to 100 is a big achievement. Mine only counts up 50, writes her name and knows how to read and write but there is still so much to learn. I also find very difficult the part of us parents being also like teachers. We just have to take it easy and do what our hearts tells us to do I guess. You are doing fantastic! Thanks for hosting, xx

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  28. I love this. My friend was telling me how much homework her 5 year old has, I felt so sad- they should be playing not learning spellings when they’re 5!

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  29. I love this. My friend was telling me about how much homework her 5 year old has. It makes me so sad, they should be playing not learning spellings when they’re 5!

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