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Let’s face it. If you’re a homeschool family, you’re together A LOT. You get to make tons of amazing memories together, but you also see the less than ideal sides of each other – A LOT. There are times when the mood in your home will go south (FAR south) and you just want to throw the day away and start fresh. But that’s not how it works…
In this post, I’ve included some of the ways we combat crabbiness in our own home. Mind you our kids are 4, 8, 10… SO, if it’s moody teenagers you’re dealing with, well, I can’t really speak to that.
Read Aloud
It’s amazing to me how reading aloud a good book(whether print or audiobook) can bring everyone together. Notice I said a GOOD book. You’ve got to pick one that will draw them in. For us that good book is currently Farmer Boy on audiobook, read by Cherry Jones. The whole family enjoys listening to it.
I’ve got a saying that was inspired by a certain movie with Kevin Costner from the 80’s, “If you read it, they will come.” And hopefully snap out of it!
Music
With winter here, (no not technically, but let’s face, temps in the teens and 20’s, um yeah… that’s winter!), I know my own mood is sinking just a bit. I don’t have that skip in my step that I have when the sun is shining or when I hear the birds singing.
For me, music is always a mood changer. Lately, our family has been playing Slugs & Bugs around mealtimes and it really can change a climate of fighting and crankiness to one of smiles and laughter. And with Christmas around the corner, I just have to add, Slugs & Bugs Christmas has been their favorite Christmas album for 8 years! It’s a winner!
Games
Games can be a mood changer, provided you don’t have anyone in your family that is super competitive. No one has kids (or spouses) like that, right!? But seriously, if the mood is tense, playing a game together may be able to cut through the tension. You can find a few of our favorites in this post.
Poetry Teatime
Bake a treat. Light a candle. Set out the tablecloth and just enjoy reading some poetry together. Never tried Poetry Teatime? You can learn about it here: Poetry Teatime 101.
Get Outside
This may not be a possibility due to your climate. And I will admit, I thoroughly despise feeling cold. BUT, it is amazing how therapeutic being outside can be. I have seen how just going outside can change the moods in my kids pretty drastically, not to mention quickly.
Pray
Sometimes, especially if it’s you with a bad mood, you may just need to remove yourself from a situation and pray. And if you can’t remove yourself, just pray right where you are. Even if you don’t feel like it. In fact, it’s always best to start with prayer!
I’d love to hear from some of you… What do you do to combat crabbiness in your home? Leave your comment below.
This post was great timing for me! Your honesty and humor are very refreshing! Resetting the tough days that are part of homeschooling are possible, and it is good to remember that! I like your praying idea because it is something to do right away spoken alone or the kids can be brought into it too. I like the candle and tablecloth to make poetry tea time extra special. Question – During read aloud, do you have the kids sit and draw, do playdough, legos….? Thank you for sharing suggested resources and ideas!
Thanks for your comment Marianne. Yes, prayer is key! Regarding read aloud… I do have the kids draw, play with legos, thinking putty, etc. Joe doesn’t mind sitting and listening but Lydia needs to be doing something…