Some days, things just all “click”.
The other day was one of those days. (Thank goodness… because I really needed a day like that!)
The kids and I have been ‘casually’ home schooling all summer. I’ve been testing the waters again, so to speak, seeing if I could handle home school along with my other full time commitments!
The jury is still out on how well I’ll actually “handle it”… but we sure have had some fun with it this summer.
On this particular day, we started our day together out on the dock, reviewing our plan and doing our morning disciplines together. We read some books – I read, then the kids took turns reading… and laughing… and reading… and feeding the swans… and then a few math drills… and some more laughing!
Their teacher is VERY funny… and witty… and clever… and obviously quite humble! ; )
We had a nice big bowl of mixed fruit together and I surprised the kids by telling them I was taking them out for breakfast. Screams of glee followed! They are NOT used to mom wanting to go out for breakfast – I think it offers the least healthy menu options at restaurants, so I’d prefer to just stay home and make my own.
This time, I chose to go to a restaurant since we still had no power due to a major storm the night before. Hubby was off playing golf with a friend of ours… it was hot, sticky and I was needing to get outta’ the house!
First, we needed to tidy up the house – we didn’t do our usual nightly “put everything away” routine due to the storm the night before. The kids helped right away… no complaining! Whoa! They did a great job, and they did it quickly! God was smiling on me, apparently.
The kids and I had a lovely brunch at an outdoor cafe. I chose a restaurant with healthIER options on the menu… but I already knew I was going to let the kids choose “tasty toxins” on this little outing. They each wanted buttermilk pancakes… but they begged me for free-range eggs first… “so the protein would offset some of the toxicity from the pancakes”!
Yes, we actually *do* have conversations like this at the table! They crack me up!
After breakfast, we went for a little hike along a nearby trail… investigating the creek and having several impromptu home school science lessons! Birds, bugs, worms, trees, flowers, the water cycle, cloud formations, sound vibrations… very cool. Oh, and more giggling and belly laughs!
Next, we visited the library in this particular town that is ginormous compared to the one in our home town. I had to drag them out of there after 1/2 hour or so… I did NOT want to be inside on a bright, sunny day!
We hit the trail again and found a pretty little park with various statues and monuments for the kids to investigate.
OK, it was time to get back to “the plan” for the day!
We headed to Whole Foods Market. I only had my ankle run into ONCE by my kids pushing a mini shopping cart too quickly behind me! That’s a record! (I’ve come close to launching one of those little carts across the produce section before… MAN does that hurt! Come to think of it, that might be how my Achilles tendon injury started in the first place! lol!)
We went on a little road trip after leaving Whole Foods. We headed along “Millionaire Mile” and ‘ooohed and aaahed’ at all the BIG homes, then we took a drive over to the town where our practice is to investigate the storm damage from the night before.
More science discussions, of course, as we talked about storms and tornadoes.
When we finally got back to the house, the kids joined up with our neighbor kids and played, played, played for hours! We all swam together later in the afternoon… enjoying a ‘forced’ day off from computer work!
I had just finished barbecuing the chicken for our chicken tostada salads, and doing my best to steam the green beans on the side burner of the barbeque, when the power came back on! Woo hoo! It was nice to have a fan on!
We ended the day together out on the dock again, admiring the sunset and dusk. The kids hit the sack a bit earlier than usual… and I was right behind them! It felt SO good to get to bed early… I think I’m getting old! After they were in bed, I also realized that they didn’t fight, argue or bicker ALL day long!!! I think I went to sleep with a big smile on my face!
It also felt really good to just BE with my kids today – no work, no expectations – just enjoying a spontaneous day full of adventure and some cool learning opportunities! : )







