Three Little Birds

Most of the time, as a homeschooler, I feel as though I'm swimming along, doing a little doggie paddle, soaking in the glow of minds at work, enjoying the ebb and flow of our full days, taking the odd wave of doubt in stride, but then, there are moments when I look up, survey the enormity of the task at hand, the OCEAN in which I swim, and I have myself a good old fashioned panic attack.

I mean really, suppose one day my kids are grown and they can't get decent jobs, so their wives run off with some guy in a Ferrari and their kids wind up cursing the name of their grandma, who with all her wacky homeschooling notions, doomed them to a life of motherless poverty? Then what?

Deep breath, sister. Repeat after me, " every little thing's gonna be alright."

It's just that, when you love someone, THREE someones, so much that it pulls the rug right out from under you, who you are, and what you hold, just never adds up to all that you'd like to give. I worry that I'm not enough to do them justice.

When those days come, I have to remind myself that my children's future does not rest solely in my hands. I believe that they are in hands that are bigger than mine, and I believe that they are made of stuff that will shine in spite of my failings.

Not that I don't think parents and teachers have integral roles to play, it's just that I'm fairly certain that they will rise to their own occasions.

I know this because I see it everyday.

Take this most recent example. We've been practicing our observational drawing.

Here's yesterday's drawing subject:

Here's 5 year old James' rendering of said birdie:

I may be biased, but I think it's pretty fantastic.

Lori mentioned though, that a good way to get kids to think about the lines that make up their intended subject is to have them trace it in the air with their finger. As an experiment in that direction, I bought cheap (less that $3) frames so that they could hold it (or tape it down) in front of their subject and then do their tracing with a dry erase marker. It worked pretty well!

They didn't stop there though.

My middle son soon discovered that his drawing on the plexiglass, would create a "colored shadow" if he positioned it in front of a piece of white paper.

Then, they figured out that they could color one glass yellow, and another blue, hold them side by side, and the "colored shadow" would be green. They experimented with other colors. They layered drawings to make them more complex.

They took this one little idea that I had and RAN with it.

This, friends, is how I know that whatever ideas I could muster about their life, would just PALE in comparison to what they will create on their own.

They are smart little cookies, and Bob Marley is too. Every little thing really is gonna be alright.

Comments

[Sarah Jackson]

It really is. See, this is why I want to homeschool - those moments of discovery are amazing. It's a huge responsibility, but also such a gift. Thanks for showing me that all the time!

[kristin]

oh, you are inspiring....once again.

[nancy]

All I can say is right on! I'm going to save this post and look back at it when I'm in panic mode. After reading this post earlier today I realized I had some plexi glass in an old frame and I popped it out and used it right away with the boys. Thanks for the idea and for the link to Camp Creek Press, love it!

[Lori]

i agree - that bird is fantastic! :^D)

isn't it amazing how they can take an idea just go? i love that.

i don't think you have a thing to worry about. ;^)

[AMBER]

I know exactly what you mean and I only homeschooled one year!! I hold that year close to my heart. We learned things about each other and the world that we wouldn't have been able to otherwise. Like you, most of the time I felt fine about it, but then somedays, I'd start to panic, wondering if I was doing my children wrong. That wasn't the reason why we decided to move them into the local school. At that time, we lived in a very isolated area without any homeschooling groups nearby and my kids felt very lonely.

At the moment, my kids are going to a public school that is a little more like homeschooling (in that students are expected to be more responsible for their own educations through creativity and exploration. They could also choose to be lazy).

I have found that no matter where my children are going to school, I still have my moments of worrying... I just breathe through it and hope for the best.

[AC]

Hey, as a homeschooled child myself I just wanted to let you know that both my elder siblings (homeschooled since 1st grade) are going to college at WSU. I was homeschooled until I did Runningstart at a community college, am now going to a fairly high-ranked, small college on scholarship.

So, homeschooling is a fine choice!

[suz]

i have stumbled across you blog sometime ago and really enjoy it. but felt the urge to comment today. i teach art (public school) and applaud you for what you are doing with your kiddos! there is so much children can gain from the arts - thank you for being one who sees, understands and supports that! :) all the best. and it looks as if you have some budding talent in your family!

[Anne]

You are doing a perfect job. I'm always amazed at how creative you are in providing opportunities for your boys to learn. You should write a book, really; A Year of Homeschooling Activities.

[Kaili]

Hi, friendly de-lurker here. I'm Kaili. Hi nice to meet you. :)

I just wanted to say that I was homeschooled and I love reading homeschooled families blogs. And I LOVE that glass art idea. Really cool!
Your children will be GRAND because of one thing, you LOVE them!

[Molly]

So much of education is up to the educatee... that's not a word, but we're going to pretend like it is. If there is passion, there will be learning. As proved here.

[Molly]

So much of education is up to the educatee... that's not a word, but we're going to pretend like it is. If there is passion, there will be learning. As proved here.

[Julie @ Letter9]

Parenting is definitely the most "one day at a time" thing I've ever done. In fact, some days, I can only think of the next two hours and I just have to have faith that the two hours after that will be OK.