We woke up about 2:30 this morning to the sounds of a sick seven year old.
{sigh}
I don’t feel like it’s okay for me to be disappointed over illness in the house when I consider that it’s been almost five months since anyone’s been sick. That’s something to be thankful for!
The sickness seemed to calm down by sunrise, and as we got up about ten minutes before my poor husband had to be out the door for work, I resigned myself to the fact that today was probably going to be a loss as far as school goes.
But surprisingly it hasn’t been.
The benefit of a sickness that leaves a little girl just wiped out enough to be content with laying on the couch, but pretty much feeling fine, is that I had her undivided attention for way more reading than we ever make it through in a single day.
We finished a science chapter that has taken us about three weeks to get through. The girls have been so fascinated with learning all about whales and dolphins that I just wanted to let them absorb all they could instead of rushing through it to stay on “schedule”.
It has been fun, and I’m really glad that I’ve somehow been able to let of go my rigid tendencies with school this year. It’s been so much more enjoyable. We are not covering a lot of ground necessarily, but we are all having fun and really absorbing all that we study and I’m starting to believe that maybe this is that beautiful part of home-schooling that can be missed when a mother (like me) gets too concerned with creating “school” at home, instead of realizing all that can take place in a home that is focused on learning.
We have been sticking to a strict schedule with spelling, math and reading though. I feel like those are the essentials that need to be a more structured part of our learning.
Today of course called for some flexibility. It didn’t seem okay to prop up a tired little girl on the couch and force her to stick her nose in a workbook.
So for spelling we played Boggle, finding any words we could and also any phonograms. For math I pulled out the addition flashcards, because this girl for whatever reason thinks that flashcards are the most exciting thing on earth!
After that I gave the sick one a rest and worked through a math lesson with miss fourth grader. Her math is already starting to overwhelm me. I find myself wondering how we’ll make it through higher levels of math.
But that’s when I turn to one of my essential rules for daily life: focus on today. Today is all I have right now. I can’t remember the exact quote, but Elisabeth Elliot says something along these lines, emphasizing that tomorrow belongs to God.
So even in math lessons I’m given the opportunity to live by faith.
The whole morning of course was not as flawlessly smooth as this all makes it sound. When my sick one wasn't occupied there were random moans and whines over boredom coming from the couch. Someday I will learn how to respond to whining in grace and with a smile. But today was not that day.
There was also a good amount of interruptions from my littlest girl, who is perfectly content to play non-stop until she sees us sit down to work on a lesson. Then all of a sudden she is in desperate need of attention and entertainment. And if there's one thing that's worse than trying not to feel like a complete fool while struggling with your nine year old's math lesson, it is having a four year old interrupt at ten second intervals with sobs of discontent.
That's all .
There's my dose of reality for the day. I'm choosing to blame it all on the long night.
And insisting on naps today for everyone.
After naptime is over we will work on an entry about whales for our science notebook. There’s also a suggested experiment we may do. To be honest I usually avoid these. I don’t feel like the girls understand the connection between this random thing they’re doing that seems more like play, and whatever scientific fact it’s supposed to prove.
But today’s suggestion is just making a “telephone” out of two cups and some yarn. Supposed to teach them something about the way sounds travel underwater. I think they’ll find the “phone” a fun thing to play around with, even if they don’t really get the lesson.
Oh, and one more thing I want to remember…yesterday we started reading The Burgess Book of Nature Lore. Only one chapter in and I’m in love already.
The story is simple, about a couple of kids. The reading is mindless, so it holds the girls’ attention easily. But woven into the story is all kinds of information about nature. So we’re getting a fun story, that doesn’t feel anything like school, and yet they’re learning all sorts of new things.
I'd love to hear about your school days. Please feel free to share in the comments, or if you want to share on your own blog you can just leave a link.
The last few days it has occurred to me that we seem to have unexpectedly fallen into a season of "slow" around here.
Our days are relaxed, our calendar is relatively empty (for us this would mean two or three things in a week versus something every single day), and it just feels like we have an endless supply of time at our disposal.
Of course I know times like this are only ever temporary. The slow will not last forever, and most likely a week from now I'll be running around frazzled over the long list of things I have to do.
But this week things are slow. And I'm trying to savor it. Sometimes when things get slow and quiet I feel restless. I have a tendency to prefer busy. But I have seen in the past that slowness is a gift, so I'm spending lots of time praying that I won't take it for granted.
I read a couple of books over the last few months (it takes me a few months with my method of a page here and there, this book today, that book another day) that really had me meditating on the idea of slowing down in our daily lives.
I've been following Ann Kroeker's blog for a couple of years now, and always enjoy her writing.
But I had a couple of reasons for avoiding her book up until now.
Number one, I assumed it to be a book all about the slow movement, something I don't know a whole lot about, but I know enough to sense that it's not a biblical philosophy of life.
This reservation was quickly relieved when I read a part of the book's introduction:
We have to be discerning, however, because while some ideas emerging from the growing interest in a slower lifestyle are helpful, there are plenty of spiritually questionable ones as well.
To be safe, we need to anchor our choices in a person –Jesus Christ– and we need to weigh them against His Word. Otherwise it's easy to drift, unmoored. For everyone who yearns for the benefits of a slower life, I want to point to Jesus and say, "Start here. Start with the One who offers true and lasting peace. Look to His Word. Meditate on that. Learn from Him, for His yoke is easy and His burden is light." I wish they could see that the root of meaning and peace that we're seeking is found not in a yoga pose or a mind-emptying meditation session, but in a rich relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. (pg 22)
I appreciated this clarification right up front so much. It made me feel that I knew clearly where the author was coming from, which is always very helpful.
My number two hesitation with the book: I did not want to be told a bunch of reasons why our family should stop doing the things we do.
In general, we tend to stay pretty busy. Most of our busy-ness is just time spent with friends or family, but we all really enjoy it, and I was not interested in anyone telling me we need to give it up.
I am happy to report this book did not make me feel that way at all. What it did was leave me inspired, encouraged, and with a lot of interesting ideas to ponder.
My favorite part of the book is a section where Ann presents the idea that each individual family is going to have a different level of busy-ness that puts them at their limit. This eliminates all comparisons because the dynamics in each family are different, so what feels like too much for me might be just right for you.
The other point I really appreciated is her suggestion that you make sure there is some "cushion" in your life as a family. Evaluate and recognize what your family's capacity is for activity, and set your regular schedule just a little below that, so that there is room for the unexpected. Most importantly, room for the people in your life when they may need you.
I think you would be really encouraged and given a lot of great things to consider if you take the time to read this book. I'll tell you that a story she references in the very first chapter had me contemplating over it for days.
So get the book. If you're like me you may even be lucky enough to find it at the library.
I'll have to fill you in on the Rest of God a bit later because of course, the children are calling.
Here's one last piece from Not So Fast:
We have all used the phrase "what do you have on your plate today?" I have started envisioning my day as a beautiful plate that can only hold about three portions. What will I put on my pretty plate today? Just enough to be healthy! I want to do a few things really well and listen to the Lord during the open spaces of my day for the goodness He wants to fill my plate with… an abundance that I can now give to others He places in my path. As I eat my daily portion from His hand of the good works He has prepared for me to do, He will then give me ideas, encouragement, and inspiration to generously give away to others as I walk the rest of my day. (pg 64-65)
Tell me, what are your thoughts on slowing down?
**Just to clarify, this is not a compensated review….just me sharing my love of books with you!
The thing that caught my attention was a small part of the introduction. The author is speaking directly to the children who will be reading the stories and explaining how exciting Susy's six birthdays are. Then she says:
Sometimes little children don't live to spend six birthdays in this world. They go to heaven and spend them there….
Throughout all of the stories there is an underlying tone of joy and gratitude with each birthday that comes; another year that Susy's family has been given with her. The unspoken knowledge always being there that another year is not a guarantee.
These stories were written in the 1850's; a time I assume the mortality rate in infants and small children was quite high compared to now. It was not expected that you would see your children live to grow up. I can't quite wrap my brain around that.
But it's been there in my mind this last week, since we started reading, and since we were preparing to celebrate.
We've already had the joy of experiencing one seven year old. Now we get to do it again. What a privilege!
One I far too often take for granted.
Much like my thoughts on my own birthdays, I'm feeling drawn with my girls to appreciate and savor the gift of another year.
And just because we've done 7 before, I don't want to take it for granted this time. Because this is our only time having this 7 year old.
Things I love about our 7 year old middle girl:
She loves to be silly. This can drive me completely crazy, but when I'm not being too serious it's a lot of fun.
She loves learning. She resists it because she thinks she can't do it, but with a little encouragement she can get to the point where she gets something, and she is so excited.
She likes picking out my clothes and inspecting my make-up.
She wants her hair fixed just like mine. The joys of a little girl who wants to be just like her mom! (I'm well aware this is a fleeting gift)
In spite of all of her attitude, she is very tender-hearted. Sympathetic to the smallest tragedies of life (like a dead praying mantis in the backyard).
She still has full, round little cheeks.
She's so different than me. This can sometimes become a source of conflict, but I want it always to be an opportunity for me to grow in understanding and humility.
These seven years have been so wonderful. Sometimes I think she's quite grown up now. But sometimes for a moment I forget that she's my girl who I'm with every single day , dealing with all kinds of discipline and drama.
In those moments when I forget, all of the sudden I am mesmerized by this cute little girl in front of me. And I just want to squeeze her and hold her and relish her littleness before she decides she's all grown up.
You've shown me life
You've opened my eyes
So I give You my praise
Yeah I give You my all
You've shown me life
You've opened my eyes
To the truth that there's no greater love
