Asking “Did you get your homework done?” for me is worse than asking a Board of Directors to fund a new project or raking a big yard full of leaves. But just barely.

Today one of my favorite working mom bloggers shared this post about parenting and homework.

I hate homework too!

Here’s why: My kids are constantly busy. They get up at the crack of dawn, eat breakfast, shower, manage to maintain their own “look” and head to the bus stop – all before 7:15 a.m. I don’t remember how but when they were in daycare their days started even earlier and ended much later.

Not only do they have to keep an assignment log, check homework hotlines, review online homework web pages and lug heavy books and 4” binders back and forth but they have to do more class-type work plus at least 30 minutes of reading every night.

My friend Dawn believes having dinner as a family, at the table, is more help to kids than doing homework or extracurricular activities. I agree. Fortunately I can say we have dinner together at the table almost every night.

Yet, it’s tough. These dinners compete with cheerleading, dance, basketball and musical instruments – time they spend exercising or making new friends. They usually interrupt someone on xbox, youtube, text messaging and online chatting with friends. (Surprisingly they watch very little TV.)

I know this 15-20 minutes of time with them is critical. And I know that learning greatest common factors is important. But most days – I just wish I didn’t have to compete with homework. Getting them to the table is tough enough! ^_^