After hitting “publish” on These Thoughts, I made up mind to do something positive for myself and for Annabelle this past Friday. Again and again I hear myself repeating woo woo mama’s advice to “let go”; I’m not certain whether I’m working against myself or not . . . I tell myself to let go and yet at the same time I try to give my mind the activity it needs to stay above feelings of fatigue and disappointment. Mostly I am busy planning, planning, planning . . . I continue to have mixed feelings about sending Annabelle to a 2 day, 2 hour long preschool program next month and am researching Waldorf Education, the Montessori Method, John Holt and Charlotte Mason for an eclectic homeschooling adventure. I have a feeling that even when we send Annabelle to preschool (the current conversation has to do with giving her the opportunity to decide whether or not she likes it even when a contract will bind us financially to the entire school year), she and I will continue with what I refer to as “learning at home.” With my background in teaching and my husband’s and my shared love for learning, I have a feeling that no matter what educational pathway our children choose, my husband and I will nurture a home environment where learning is ongoing . . . not something that ends at the close of a school day. From what I observe in my daughter and other small children, the desire to learn is innate . . . one of the biggest questions I have come up against in life is determining what it is during the course of our children’s lives that damages that desire . . . while I’m not certain that I’ll ever arrive at a complete answer to this question, I am making it one of my missions as a parent to make sure that a love of learning is nurtured and not extinguished within my children.
For our last day of you and me (though technically we continue to have a few more, :-) ), I visited a water park with Annabelle. There, during a snack break, I talked with her about gratitude. I asked her, “What makes you happy Annabelle?” Below are a few of her responses:
“Um, Daddy.”
“Grandma.”
“Nanna.”
“Water slides.” (she was looking at one)
“Echoes and bridges.” (again, we were sitting beside a water tunnel)
“My brother.” (Awwww!!!! She really is that sweet and is quite excited about her brother’s arrival)
“Ice cream cones. Because ice cream cones have ice cream and I like ice cream.” (ohhhhh . . . .)
“I like play-doh.”
“Zander. Aryana. Kids.” (Zander and Aryana are 2 of her closest pals)
“Mommy.” (have to say I’m glad to have made the list too)
“Dance.”
and . . . .
“Toby.” (that would be our cat)
As I listened to Annabelle list all the parts of her world that make her feel happy, I started to draw up my own list inside my head; at the top of my list were my husband, my daughter, and my baby, my friends, my family, writing, gardening (it has been so special to me these past 2 summers in our new house), photography, blogging, being a girl (I know, c’mon! but really, I really really enjoy being a woman), and in the quietest of voices I heard myself utter, God (because that is how I think of whatever it is that is bigger than me . . . than all of everything . . . the much of a which of a wind.
What makes you happy? Have you ever made a list?
And last, what happiness and gratitude rituals do you and your children celebrate?
{ 3 comments }
It’s so interesting to read how you are researching education possibilities for Annabelle (and Levi!), and how much thought and commitment you are putting into this. I haven’t read much at all about Charlotte Mason, but I have incorporated some ideas from Waldorf and Montessori into our home which work well for us, and you’ve reminded me to read more about them as I’m sure there would be more I could use from these educational methods. Reading John Holt was my biggest inspiration of course and led me to begin our unschooling journey. It’s been a lot of fun :)
I love Annabelle’s happy list :)
Things that make me happy…
my husband
our families
our many many farm animals
friends
working in the dirt
sunshine, rain, and snow, too
the first apple of the year I had yesterday
cooking
giving gifts
sharing and listening to stories
taking leisurely walks
getting enough sleep
seeing other people happy
As for children losing the desire to learn, I think we all always have that desire, our interests are just different. My husband and youngest brother both hated school by the time they were teenagers, but absolutely loved woodshop class, and working with their hands after school. Now, Ed loves learning via National Geographic, woodworking magazines, and the many educational channels on TV. But he can’t stand the idea of sitting in a classroom :)
“Ice cream cones. Because ice cream cones have ice cream and I like ice cream.”
That is the best quote ever. Also, I agree. Ice cream makes me very, very happy.
I don’t know if I’ve made a happiness list. I think it’s time to try. I’m trying to focus my life in a positive direction, and that sounds like a very good way to start. Very good, indeed.
{ 1 trackback }