What We Learn With Pleasure We Never Forget

Days at home with four kids has been the hardest thing I've ever done but also so rewarding. I know that sounds trite. I have been reading a bit about non-coercive methods of education, which means there is no agenda when you teach. There is no curriculum, no set of benchmarks, everything explorative, everything open. This is fascinating to me. If nothing else, it perplexes my parenting. It raises the question-- what is my expectation, my goal for this child? Is it conformity? Conformity to my expectations? To theirs?

Just today we made a zip line in the dining room, made an alternative ending to a story, Manny did archery in the backyard. Our friend Jake made a digestive tract and guest-lectured about taste buds. We had a tame debate about whether or not the brain sends messages or just receives them. Manny steamed the broccoli for dinner. The boys came home from a playdate to find me and the girls folding laundry and watching Gilmore Girls. I left to answer the phone and came back. I asked, "Okay, what did I miss?" Benicio reported concisely, "Luke and the other guy both love Lorelei. Lorelei says she doesn't want to be with him. But now her friend in the kitchen is telling her to keep trying." And just now, I was up late with them discussing roller coasters and rides. I will treasure this homeschool year so much.

The post title is a quote from our dot-paint kit not my own. Photo captions: Benicio measuring buds at my parents' house. Benicio also recreating the park from one of our fave books-- Duvoisin's "Happy Lion." And yes, he is topless. (Yet another perk in the homeschool life.!)