Every afternoon ends in tears (his and sometimes mine). 20 minutes of work stretched into 2 hours of avoidance, negotiation and despair. There has to be a better way. What's the actual structure that works in your house?
5 replies
Dave T
11 February 2026
Body double + timer + it happens at the kitchen table while I cook, not alone in his room. 'I'm right here' beats 'go do your homework' every time for us.
Kate P
12 February 2026
We negotiated with the teacher to cap it at 15 mins and write a note if it's not done. The homework was never worth the relationship damage. That permission changed everything.
Sarah M
12 February 2026
Movement first. He does 10 mins on the tramp, THEN homework. Trying to go straight from school-brain to more-school was never going to work.
Jen R
12 February 2026
Break it into stupidly small chunks. 'Just the first 2 questions.' Momentum is the whole game. Once he's moving it's fine, it's the starting that's the wall.
Amanda H
13 February 2026
Capping it with the teacher + body doubling. Going to try both. Honestly relieved I'm not the only one in nightly tears over it.
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