CINDY LOU WHO…THE HOMESCHOOLING MOM

By Todd Wilson  Posted November 21, 2018  

Hey Mom,

My wife and I, along with most of our gang and my son’s fiancé’s siblings, went to see the new Grinch movie. It was a spontaneous, last-minute decision to go and and felt very holiday-ish. As I sat there watching the familiar story of the Grinch and Cindy Lou Who…who was quite a bit older than two, I began to wonder what Cindy Lou would be like as an adult mother…and homeschooler.

Here’s what I envisioned…

ILLUSTRATION BY SAM WILSON

The Whos down in Whoville were much older than when…
a younger Grinch stole Christmas and returned it again.
The children got married and the parents went gray.
The Grinch became mayor and Max ran away.

And Cindy Lou Who who was now 42…
Homeschooled her five sons and sweet Peggy Sue.
She spent most of her days, tired and spent
And wondered and wondered where all the fun went.

Where was the magic and sparkle she knew?
All she could see were the things left to do.
There were lessons to plan and subjects to cover
Like phonics, math facts…and the history of rubber.

And now it was Christmas and all she could see
Were the gifts to be wrapped and a lop-sided tree.
She wanted to smile, she wanted to play,
But the lists and the tasks would not go away

But one day as she watched her kids study and write,
A thought came to her mind and she gave up the fight.
Cindy Lou’s idea was brilliant and bold,
A simple solution to feeling tired and old.

“We will stop doing school,” she said with a grin.
“Close your books now and let real learning begin.
We have presents to buy and cookies to bake,
Fun to be had and crafts that we’ll make.”

No more will I listen to those who know best.
I know that I need some fun time and rest.
I need to slow down and get off my phone
For soon they’ll be gone and have kids of their own.

I will not spend my days on things that don’t matter;
Instead I’ll play games like Who-Chutes and Ladders.
I will not miss this wonderful time of my life.
I will not get caught up in busyness and strife.

So Cindy Lou Who who was still 42
And still had homeschooling and parenting to do,
Decided right then that what matters most
Were not books, her lists, or her ‘Whobook’ posts.

She had been given a gift of six kids and a spouse,
And she would enjoy them in spite of her messy house.
It would not be easy, nor come naturally,
But she would make right choices and choose family.

Cindy Lou Who…the Homeschooling Mom