Homeschool Frustration

Homeschooling can be a frustrating experience. I have four kids, two of which are schooling full time, one of which is learning to read, and one that just is along for the ride. My oldest is barely on grade level, and because of his AS is slightly behind on some subjects. My second is ahead of his peers, doing 8th grade math, 9th grade science, and 9th grade spelling and vocabulary (he's 11, technically 6th grade). I say all this not to brag, but to point out how differently all kids learn and at what different rates they all move. I started both boys in the same science book at the same time. My oldest is just now finishing it (2 years later). My second one is two books beyond, three lessons into biology (also considered a 9th grade subject). He loves to read, and it has helped him excel in his studies.

Today proved to be a frustrating day for #2. He's stayed up LATE reading (without permission) several nights in a row, and now he's paying for it. He is sooooo tired, and very grumpy, and finding it hard to concentrate and decipher his math. Algebra is hard enough, but when your brain doesn't want to think, it's worse. I tell him, if *I* can do this, I KNOW you can (I'm not exactly a math genius, but I have definitely improved since I began homeschooling my kids!). He's so tired, he asked to go to bed at 7 pm! Lucky for him his lego robotics class got cancelled (there was a fire at the studio where it's held), so until another location is found, there isn't any class. So he has that option of going to bed early. Hopefully, he'll get a nap this afternoon, too.

Here's a picture of my 2nd son and his best friend. My son is the one on the left:



Just as a side note, when they were kids (we've known his friend's parents for nearly 20 years...long before any of us even thought of having kids!), everyone thought they were twins. They look alot alike except for one having blond, and one having reddish hair.