HomeSchooling
That is part of the beauty of all literature. You discover that your longings are universal longings, that you're not alone and isolated from anyone. You belong. - F. Scott Fitzgerald
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Speaks For Itself
I’m not sure I run a great homeschool. Although I don’t think I run a bad one. There are a lot of things I do poorly. (It would be too detrimental to my psyche to list them.) But I think I do one or two things pretty well. (Probably because they are my favorite so they’re easy for me.) This is what we do well. We read. A lot. And a vast variety considering my homeschool’s median age is probably four. (Math is not something I do well.) I love Charlotte Mason, a British educator whose philosophy I have snagged as my own. A major part of her educational foundation,…
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School Days
You know what I love? Borrowing ideas from people far more clever than I. I saw a picture of my friend Kate’s children playing with spaghetti noodles at a table. I took her idea. And did it at my own table. With my own kids. At first, they couldn’t get over the novelty of the fact that Mommy had just dumped noodles all over the table and actually instructed them to play with their food. It was great. London spelled her name and underlined it. Hawkeye spelled a “b” and asked me to help him form the remaining letters. Mosely created a large head with an ultra-squiggly beard that made…
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From a Song to Art
Inspired by Ben Harper’s song on the Curious George soundtrack, the kids and I made a little art last week. (Yes, the Curious George soundtrack. Get it. It isn’t just for kids.) We had so much fun painting and cutting and pasting. Even Little Wilder left his mark – a mostly smeared orange hand print. The art was fun. But the song is even better. I think it’s a great anthem for our family and all of our little hands. I can change the world with my own two hands. I can make it a better place. I can make it a kinder place. I could make peace on earth…
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What I Want To Do
What is now proved, was once only imagined. – William Blake There are some things that I long to feed my children every day. And it isn’t food for their stomachs. I want to offer them a sense of mystery. The incredible blessing of a vivid imagination. The gift of simple joy. The beauty of anticipation. The knowledge of a powerful and loving God. The appreciation of nature. The ability to be still. Food for their brains. Their hearts. Their souls. I know I fail miserably every day with these lofty ideals. And I always fail more dramatically on days when I forget to pursue these things myself. When I…
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Manners
“Manners are made up of petty sacrifices.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson It really is the little things. While walking recently with the kids, I found myself just like them – tired, sweaty and sleepy. My arms were already full when Bergen asked me, “Mom, will you please carry my towel?” I took the towel but I didn’t really want to. “Thank you Mommy for carrying my towel,” Bergen said to me. And just like that, the load seemed lighter. I really didn’t mind carrying the extra towel. Because he said “thank you”. Kevin has made it a priority to train our children to be appreciative of the meals I prepare…
Keep Reading . . .
today. (teens are wonderful wonderful too – PSA)
The Right Word.
… a new dinner option
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Multi-Task Madness
Women are Queen Multi-Taskers. And we have this whole network of women out there who are doing simple things better and faster. So we should collaborate a little more often – quit reinventing the wheel all the time – right? What I am saying is – what do you do that cuts down a few of your chores every day? How do you save time or money or energy or effort in some way that you think maybe everyone else is doing, but we really aren’t? I’ll go first. It’s a little one. And you may already do this. Or do this better. That’s good. But here it is anyway.…
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What You Want
One morning recently London approached me and out of the blue stated, “Mom, God just doesn’t do what you want.” What? “What do you mean?” I asked. “Well, last night I prayed for God to shut the door and I waited and He just never did it.” I didn’t laugh. Because I didn’t think it was funny. I thought she was right. Sometimes God just doesn’t do what we want. Period. I didn’t try to convince London that God does do just what we ask. Because I don’t think that’s true. And she is young, not dumb. I didn’t try to explain that her demand was illogical. Because to her,…
