The Mindful Homeschool

Today started out with me reading There’s A Batwing In My Lunchbox by Ann Hodgman.  My 7 yo son has really taken an interest in this book even though I am sure it will not land on the Charlotte Mason lists for recommended reading.  Nonetheless, it was a very (unexpectedly) entertaining read for me, W and my 9 yo dd.  We finished the book tonight amidst a lot of jumping and running.  H, our energetic 3 yo, was dressed in a cape (courtesy of his elder siblings) and he ran around the house tonight saying he was Super Why from the PBS series of the same name.  H loves this show.  He calls it his show.  It teaches kids to read and even the older kids seem to enjoy it although they (esp. W) would not admit that.  H wanted us to read him The Lady With The Alligator Purse for his bedtime reading.  W started to read the first page to him, then told us he didn’t want to read it in front of all of us.  W seems to be progressing in his reading abilities but seems to lack the confidence to read much on his own.  It is usually a “forced” subject.  I hope that changes in time.  I know that he really likes to be read to; he really can follow a storyline.  That, I think, is more important than skill at this point in his education.  I want all of my children to have a real love of books and so far, I have yet to be discouraged.  

Harry Potter was being read over the past few weeks.  C and W read the first 3 books in order.  W listened to them on audio CD/or tape.  He erased some of the window markers that C had applied to our bathroom mirror at Christmas time and replaced “I (heart symbol) Henry” with “I (heart symbol) HP”  At first I wasn’t sure what it meant or who wrote it but then it dawned on me.  W really liked the books.  Unfortunately, watching the video of the first HP movie seemed to fuel some nightmares so we are going to give the whole HP series a rest for the time being.

Yesterday the boys put on shorts and their MN Twins t-shirts (gifts from TCF last summer) and played catch in the living room.  It was fun, even for mom, and it took our mind off the fact that it is very cold outside these days.  All three kids also spent some time sledding down the hill in the backyard.  We have had new snow to cover some of the bare patches in the back, thankfully. 

Today it was skateboarding.  Papa John (i.e.  Daddy) let the boys do some tricks on the skateboard in the lower level.  It didn’t seem to matter too much that the floor was carpeted.  Fun, regardless of the conditions!

C spent a good portion of the day reading and building on the Lego extravaganza she and W have in the bedroom.  We need to take a photo of it and record it.

Triton, our betta friend, got some clean water to swim in today.  It was looking pretty cloudy.  It made me realize that I need to come up with a schedule for all the work that needs to be done in a given day/week/month.  There is so much to do that we need to come up with a better plan to get it all done.  So that is one of my goals for the month - to get more organized.  Yeah, I know.  It has been a goal of mine for a long time.  

Hopefully, we can figure out what has been fatiguing C these past couple of years and get everyone back on some sort of a schedule.  It seems like the new non-dairy diet has made her a much happier, more even-keeled, more energetic girl.  If eliminating dairy can do all that for her, it is more than worth the effort.  It has been a bit of a shift to switch from our dairy-laden diet to a diet high in meat but like I said, it seems to be working.  I plan to incorporate more fish and legumes into the diet as well.  Heck, I would go vegan if I could.  That could be something to work toward.  C told me last night before she fell asleep that she feels happier on this non-dairy diet.  That is definitely a good thing. 

Two nights ago we took an unexpected trip to the hospital ER.  Dh was experiencing tingling sensations in his fingers and feet and when he explained the condition to the nurse over the phone, she recommended that he get someone to drive him to the ER.  So there we were bundling into the mini-van at 7:oo-ish in the frigid, dark night with the 3 kids and a whole lot of activity bags.  I did the driving which felt weird (usually that is something the hubby does when we do any trips as a family).  Dh was able to  get into see a doctor right away which was good.  The kids and I waited in the lobby for most of the time and they behaved very well, esp. considering that it lasted about 2 1/2 hours.  We were lucky enough to be able to pass the time with a woman named Alyssa.  Her job must have been to make people in the lobby feel better and she was good at it.  She gaved the kids balloons, plush toys and coloring books.  The coloring book was about being in the ER which was lost on the kids but it was such a nice gesture and helped the kids pass the time.  The ER doctor, if you can believe this, turned out to be Mike, from down the street.  He discharged Hubby after about 2 1/2 hours of testing and told us we could call him anytime if we have any concerns.  

The only bad part about the experience, aside from the stress of it all, was knowing that there would be a big fat bill in our mailbox in the weeks to come.  But I am trying to let go of that and focus on the positive.  And who knows, maybe our financial picture will be brighter this year.  Who knows what is in store for any of us this year?  Just need to focus on what we have right now: our health and each other.  There were a lot of people in the ER last night that were not going to get the “okay/all clear” to go home that evening.  I saw grown men and women crying.  We were the lucky ones there. 

We left the hospital with three balloons, some cute and cuddly plush toys and Daddy.  

I know that to be working in an environment like that takes a special sort of person, a special calling.  Not the life for me.  A lot of people have said that they could not homeschool for this or that reason.  I understand that HSing is not for everyone.  I, however, do feel in my heart that this is what I am supposed to be doing right now.   Even though I have moments when I find it overwhelming.  But it is what feels right for me right now.  At this time in my life.  And we are just going to take it one day at a time, one moment at a time.

And so, in the interest of saluting what I think might be one of the hardest jobs in the world, I would like to say a prayer of thanksgiving to all the men and women who work in the medical profession, especially the ERs.  May they continue to bring aid and comfort to those who in need.  

My yoga teacher read this to us tonight after our final shavasana (sp?): 

“Tension is who you think you should be or who you think others think you should be.  Relaxation is who you are.”