Home school reality.... the Truth

 Last week I snapped these three quick photos of Lia, Zeke and Ellie doing their home school work while Gwen and Anna were off at preschool.  There is so much reality in these photos!  First Lia...

Yes, this is pretty much how most 7th graders feel about school work.  Actually, she was not happy that I was taking her picture.  Most of her work is done independently with only a few subjects with mom.  I watched her go through her check list and complete each assignment.  

Ellie also does her work by herself.  She does have some of her work on the computer and while listening to her lessons, she usually does jigsaw puzzles.  I am amazed at how much she retains being able to listen while also keeping her hands busy.  On this day, I actually helped her find her new book to read (listen to) from the on line library and managed to get it set up for her.  I have to tell you this was a real accomplishment for me! 

Because Zeke is only in second grade, he needs a bit more help to complete his work.  So there were directions to explain and some sorting out of exactly which pages needed completion.  

Here is the "reality" of home school!  Zeke is doing his work on the floor.  Ellie is laying on the couch covered with a quilt.  Lia is sitting at the counter.  And this is just one day's reality..  The point is, they can be totally comfortable working at their own pace.  Lia pushes through her work and is often waiting for Ellie to finish her work, so that she can use the computer to do math.  Zeke has less work than his sisters and is glad for more play time.  I was thinking about all that happened during the four hours that Gwen and Anna were out of the house.  And I call this a win for home school. 

First of all, the kids were all up and dressed and had breakfast before Gwen left.  They all started their school work immediately (since nothing else happens until their school is done).  Zeke finished his work and then completed his chore for the day.  His job was to clean the loft and put away all the toys.  He then played for a good hour in his room.  Lia finished her school work and then cleaned the bathroom.  Ellie had to finish a book she was reading before the start of co-op the next day,  practiced piano and put away all of her "stuff" from downstairs. Lia helped me put away some of the folded laundry and we started new loads in the washer/dryer.  We all had lunch and cleaned up before Gwen and Anna got home.  During that time, I also got to have some eye-opening conversations with the kids.  

This week included one of those dates that will always cause you to stop and think.  It was September 11th.   The seventeenth anniversary of the destruction of the twin towers in New York, the plane crash in Pennsylvania, and the damage to the Pentagon.....the terrorist attacks on United States soil.  Given that Lia is 12, Ellie is 9 and Zeke is 7, I knew that they might not really have much information about the significance of the date.  Lia remembered hearing about the event during the past years.  Ellie and Zeke didn't know anything about it.  I gave some very general information about the attacks.  My thoughts were on all of the families who had been so effected by this tragedy.  Thankfully, we had no one close to us that was lost on that day.   I was thankful that our conversation about  9/11 took place at home.  

There are so many thoughts about home school versus public school.  This week brought me to yet another positive about home school for my family.  I am so thankful when hard topics come up, they can hear the truth from their family. 

I love that Jesus said "I am the way, the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me".  Our culture can be very confusing.  There seems to be a lot of "facts" that just are NOT the truth.   I am so thankful that my children and grandchildren know WHO is the truth.  And that Jesus is the only truth you can always believe and trust.  There is so much in that one little Bible verse.  You could spend hours just meditating on that verse (which is John 14:16 by the way).  And this is just another reminder to me how blessed we are to have easy access to the TRUTH - to the Bible and to Jesus. This is a great place to be when you are remembering just how shaken we were, seventeen years ago, when we faced terrorism in our own land. 

Jesus, thank you for reminding me that you ARE the truth and you have left us with the Bible to lead and guide us.  Thank you for the freedom that we have here in the United States to educate our children freely and to have the Bible in our hands.  Holy Spirit, touch those that are still suffering from the effects of that attack seventeen years ago.  Give us all compassion for those that grieve.  Amen

Peek a Boo!

Is there anything better than a giggle of a baby?  Today I had my two adorable nanny charges giggling at me as we played peek a boo.  These moments are certainly a boost when caring for 8 month old twins.  Yes, being a nanny for these baby twins is quite a lot for this "old lady".  But I am so thankful for this job and how well it has fit into my life.  I love that this is only a part time job.  I love that it is CLOSE to home (in the same town).  I love that the schedule fits my schedule and allows me to still be a grandma!  And I love being with babies.

I was thinking about this really sweet time I had with Gwen and Anna.......

 Gwen was reading this really sweet book called Hoot with Anna and I was sitting across the room!
Every time that Gwen held the book up to Anna's eyes, I would say "Peek A Boo" and  she would just giggle and giggle!

It was the sweetest thing.  I can't tell you how wonderful it is to see the amazement and discovery when little ones play.  And mixing a wonderful play time with reading is even better!  

I had a great time yesterday with Lia, Ellie, Zeke and Anna.  Gwen was at a meeting for her teaching position so I had charge of the kids.  She expected to be home in time to do "school" for Lia and Ellie, but her meeting ran late.  So this grandma got to "substitute" teach for the day.  I was not nearly as efficient as Gwen and we didn't get through all of the material before she got home, but it was still quite an experience for me.  During Ellie's science material I learned that the Florida Everglades is the only place on earth where there are crocodiles and alligators! How amazing is that?  And in a "read aloud" book for Lia I learned all about a "plain church" in New England in colonial times.  And when Anna woke up early from her nap, I learned just how difficult it is for Gwen to accomplish this school thing with a toddler and a 4 year old who also need attention.  Wow, I give her a lot of credit for taking on this task.  I was shocked at how much Ellie has learned in the 29 days of home school!  She told me facts about animals from her Science book.  She told me about the book that she already finished (Charlotte's Web) and read all of her sight words to me.  Lia is currently reading about Mayans and Incans, and Ellie and I read all about the Nile river and how important it was to Ancient Egypt.  This one little three hour session really showed me just how thankful I am that Gwen and Tim made this monumental decision to home school.  It is exciting to think about how much these kids will gain through this experience.  

So back to the peek a boo.....  On Sunday, during a worship time, I actually was thinking about peek a boo.  There was something in a song that brought my mind to this....really....I'm not making this up!  The words were "I never have to look around to see you are right there by my side. Even when I look away, you are always near to me."   And then I was thinking about the process of playing peek a boo with babies.  The purpose of this little game is to help them learn object permanence.  And that is exactly what we need to know about Jesus!  He is always there....even when we can't see him!  Yes, we all need to remember that during the times that we don't feel Jesus near to us, He is!  Just like in the game of peek a boo, we can learn (and remind ourselves) that Jesus is permanently with us!  Yes, peek a boo is a great thing!  I am so thankful for everything I am learning through children!  

Jesus, thank you for always being with us - even when we can't seem to realize it.  Thank you for the reminder to trust your permanence with us!  Thank you for providing the opportunity for Lia and Ellie to be home schooled.  And thank you for Gwen's willingness to carry this out!  Holy Spirit help us all to be open to learning and growing, even through things designed for children - or through the children themselves!  What a great lesson peek a boo is!  Amen

From one Facebook post to another....to back to school

I saw this post on Facebook this morning and immediately thought about my dad.  Today would have been his 102nd birthday!  He loved this hymn and it was sung at his funeral.  I had sort of forgotten that today was the 20th, but once I saw this, I put two and two together.   One of the things that I have heard about my dad, but never really experienced myself was that he had an incredible voice.  When he was a young adult and even after my parents were married, he would often be asked to sing solo's at funerals or special services at church.  My siblings all talk about singing with my dad in the car....but by the time I came along, there was no more singing when we took car trips.  My parents were both "older" (40's) by the time I was born, so there were many things that I missed out on during my childhood.  I don't remember my dad ever "playing" in any way with me.  I don't remember ever visiting a playground or park with him.  And even though he really enjoyed swimming, he never swam with me.  He would "take a dip" in the late evening at the lake (after working all day on some project or the other).  And I don't remember my dad ever going to any event at one of my schools (except my graduations - both 8th grade and High School).  Boy how things have changed.

What a dad my grandchildren have! Tim is a "hands on" guy who is just as likely to be changing a diaper or getting that cup of milk or throwing a ball around with the kids.  Gwen and Tim made the decision to home school Lia and Ellie this year, so, on what could have been their "back to school" day, Tim took Lia, Ellie and Zeke to Great America!  All of those kids are crazy for the rides - especially Zeke!  Gwen had to be back at work in her classroom, so I took care of Anna.  But what a dad.... that would take a 4 yr old, a 6 yr old and a 9 yr old to a theme park and spend all day standing in line with them!  Quite a guy.  I just scrapbooked this picture from 2013 (remember I am that far behind....sigh).

That is Tim, under that pile of kids (only 3 kids in 2013)!  So yes, from one picture on Facebook my thoughts went to my dad.....to what kind of dad he was.....to my grandchildren.....and then I saw this on Facebook.......

Yes, this is the very sad truth right now.  I am feeling so thankful for Gwen and Tim's decision to let Lia and Ellie be children.  To guide them along as they learn at their own pace.  To have lots of time to play and pretend and create and invent and try new things.  I am so grateful that neither girl will have to be worried or stressed about taking tests that are really very meaningless - tests that are testing for ridiculous things that don't really show what the child does know! Can you believe that in Kindergarten there are NO TOYS IN THE CLASSROOM? And in the full day of school, they only get 20 minutes to eat AND play?  And then they come home with homework? After 8 hours away from home?  How can this be good for these little ones?  I am so thankful that Lia and Ellie will have lots of time to play.  I love that both girls are spending time each day, in Bible study.  And I am thankful that when they have questions, it will be Gwen or Tim that is answering them.  One of the neatest things about this home school experience is all of the practical stuff that they are learning.  There was never time enough in a day with school, and then hours of homework to learn fun things like baking!  Lia has already mastered the 7-up Cake!

It is sad, sad, sad to look at the public school system and see just how bad things have gotten.  It makes that image with those children in Africa not so funny!  

So, as the new school year begins in communities around the country, I will be praying for all of the children and the teachers.  I will also be praying that those in the government who are responsible for "Common Core" would listen to the wisdom and logic of the educators who are having to watch the deterioration of our educational system.  I will also be praying for all of those moms and dads who have made the sacrificial decision to home school their children.  Join me in praying for all the children!

Jesus, thank you for my dad and all that he sowed into our family. Thank you for the dad's today who are involved and interested in raising their children.  Holy Spirit give grace and peace and wisdom to all of the teachers in our schools.  Jesus give all in authority the ability to see our children with your eyes. Thank you for parents who nurture and teach their children at home.  Jesus, help all of us - even when we are older - to feel responsibility for the care and education of children.  Thank you Jesus for loving the little children and calling them to yourself and blessing them.  Amen