This is what it is all about

Sometimes change is hard.  Sometimes change is hard for me.  This whole homeschool thing is more than just a little change, it is a flip the world upside down, inside out, backwards and paint it chartreuse change.  I am a traditional teacher.  I know what works for a class of thirty normal students sitting in a classroom for six hours a day.  We are not on that planet any more.  I have been really stressing the last few weeks that we are not where we need to be with the end of the school year creeping up on us like a runaway train.   We are going to continue through the summer, so I know we have a bit of time.  But, what if the “getting through it” isn’t what it is all about?  

Last Friday I taught Zippy how to use the lawn mower.  She has been begging for a while now to learn how.  Now that she is of a height I thought why not?  Excitement almost vibrated off her, she was so excited to use the mower.  I only allowed her to mow a little section.  It was not perfect, but she learned a couple of lessons.  First how to use the lawn mower; turns, straight sections, and making sure that all of the grass was cut.  Second she learned that mowing the lawn is a lot harder than it looks. When she was finished, I asked in jest, “So are you ready to mow the whole thing?” She thought for a minute and answered in all seriousness, “No, I think I will just mow this little section.”

I felt the oddest sense of satisfaction at her answer.  She learned a life skill and she thought about work in a meaningful way. Perhaps this is what homeschooling is all about.  It is not the fractions, nouns, and dates in history, but the character building and teachable moments born out of the time afforded us by being at home.  I am still a little worried about getting through the material, but, with perseverance and discipline we will make it through.

What does homeschooling mean to you?  

Learning the Hard Lessons - Loss and Death

Our cat died yesterday.  Another in a line of deaths that Zippy has had to deal with over her short life - Great-grandparents, parents of friends (this was especially difficult), and now the cat.  As a parent it can be a hard lesson to teach especially in that moment, but it is oh so important.   Here are some of the things that I have done over the years. (I am not an expert.  These are my experiences and observations.)

1. Talk to your child.  Even at a young age children are amazing astute, explain what is going on in your own words, your understanding will help them get a grip on a very big concept.  Explain the physicality of death - the body stops working because...  Explain the religious aspect of death, the spirit, the soul, afterlife.  If there is a funeral explain why they are doing what what they are doing (in our case, everyone who has died has been Catholic and we are not, so explaining mass was necessary.)  Explain why people are behaving the way they are.  Death often makes people act differently, crying, mourning may look strange to a child.
2. Listen to your child.  Take the time to see if your child has any questions or concerns and answer the honestly.  In every instance, and especially when it was the parents of friends, Zippy asked the question "Are you going to die?" We answered honestly, "Yes, but probably not soon." If your child is having an especially difficult time dealing with death, particularly if the death was someone very close, finding a counselor to talk with is a good idea.
3. Pray.  Death is a big thing, even the death of a pet.  God is big, He can handle it.  Praying for the family of the deceased is also something that children, who often feel helpless, can do.  Philippians 4:6-7 says "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
4. Write or Draw. Putting something down on paper can aid the child's understanding and help them express feelings in a way they can not do verbally.  It can help the child understand for herself. (This can help adults too, and perhaps is the motive behind this post.)

I was impressed by Zippy's ability to deal with the death of our cat, Plaid.  We spent the day yesterday watching him get worse and worse.  We were sad when he died, and there were tears shed, but she understands, thanks to the things that we have talked about together. 

If you are blessed not to have to deal with death in such a personal way, learning this hard lesson is still an important thing to do.  There are books that may aid in the lesson.  I have not searched out any.  Please leave a comment with a book that you have used or think is good.

Excellent Homekeeping {A Review}

I am thinking of introducing some enrichment time.  Call it character building, call it hospitality, call it homekeeping, whatever it is called, I want this book, Mrs. Dunwoody's Excellent Instructions for Homekeeping: Timeless Wisdom and Practical Advice, to be the guide.    I got this book for a bit of reading and found myself thinking how these are the qualities and character that I want for my daughter.

Written by Miriam Lukken,  it lays out methods for living a complete life in the home, not just house cleaning.  Written in a gentle, Christian voice, offers up gems of advice for cooking, cleaning, gardening, laundry, entertainment, manners, and marriage from the end of 17th century.  There is also nice illustrations, a sprinkling of apt quotes and pages to fill in with your own family tree, special events, recipes and tips. 

Whether or not it is used in homeschooling, this book is a wholesome, uplifting read.