Progress in the Pool

Full transparency: this is a #latergram of a post - I wrote most of it in one sitting, but wasn't able to finish it till about a week later.  I’d also like to preface this with an acknowledgment of the level of privilege with which I write this - privilege of time and resources and proximity and connections.  Now, back to our regularly-scheduled programming:

In this season of life, it seems that as soon as I have an inspiring seed of a thought that might blossom into a blog post, it is quickly blown into the wind of a need to be met, question to be answered, or outside thought to be heard.  And then it's gone for good.  Sometimes, these thoughts resurface in the place where I do some of my best thinking: the shower (Can you relate?).  So here I sit, after everyone else has gone to bed, to record my "shower thoughts" before they get buried by another day's worth of compost comprised of needs and questions and thoughts.  

I am blessed to have a front row seat to my children's nearly every move.  I get to watch their brains develop, their bodies become increasingly strong and able, and their senses hone.  Even then, however, milestones and new skills seem to sneak under my radar.  The kids surprise me with new abilities, expanded vocabulary, and unexpected tricks.  Whether I miss these because I’m distracted by everything else happening in our day-to-day or I’m just not looking for these developmental markers, I do not know.  Perhaps a little of both.

One skill area I have found myself keenly attuned to, however, is swimming.  For now, this is something that requires my undivided attention to them and also something we have sought help in developing (i.e. swimming lessons), so I suppose it makes sense that I would be extra aware of every glimpse of progress.

All these thoughts were put into motion earlier this evening when Jacob and Lydia jumped into the pool, unassisted, at the same time.

Jacob did not jump in unassisted and without a floatie till about a year ago.  He was hesitant to jump in to the instructor without his puddle jumper during his swimming lessons and required a floatie or someone to catch him when we swam elsewhere.  When we went to a friend's pool that had a 3-foot section, however, he was much more comfortable and gained a ton of confidence and skill after just a few swims there.  He was still pretty attached to his floatie the rest of the summer, but was ok to jump in without being caught.

Lydia, on the other hand, would've liked to jump in "all by myself" and without a floatie the first time we got in the water this season.  That said, the video of them together was taken the day she had first successfully jumped in unassisted with her floatie on (though she still would've preferred to not have to wear it...), and it happens to be at the same pool where Jacob jumped in unassisted/no floatie for the first time last year.

This summer, and esp. at this pool this past week, Jacob has gained even more confidence and skill - in jumping, swimming, surface-diving, floating, and more.  He has typically requested to have his floatie on more than not, but when we went this evening, he didn't use it at all!

I do not take for granted the fact that we rarely pay to go swimming and are often some of, if not the only, ones at a given pool.  It's difficult to say which is more valuable: the opportunity for exposure and practice or the fact that this is an activity we ALL enjoy.  Either way, I'm extremely grateful to spend so much of our summer in the water.

I am not sharing all this to brag on my kids or the fact that we have amazing, generous, and thoughtful friends with great neighborhood pools.  Rather, I share it to exemplify the vast difference in children and a caution about comparison.  Observing kiddos like Lydia when Jacob was her age made me feel insecure about my parenting and unsure about what to do to help him more quickly succeed in this area.  Knowing what I know now, though, I realize there is only so much you can do, and simple patience is required for the rest.  I always said I was thankful Jacob was (is) so cautious, because I worried less about him doing something reckless.  Not the case with Lydia...but I'm not having to coax her into the water.  🤷🏻‍♀️

All this to say, we love the water, we love making these summer memories, and we love our Bentgo lunchboxes that make post-pool picnic and/or car lunches super easy. 

Summer lovingly,

Kensy

Favorites of the day:

The spontaneous welcome home party Jacob planned for our neighbor who had been away for work for several weeks.  There was a meal, cake, gifts, games, and decorations.

Lydia reading Amelia Bedelia: 

Side-by-sides like this... 🥰
(I realize the irony in sharing this at the end of a post cautioning against comparison…haha.)

Post About Homeschooling, The First

This post has been a long time coming and is a product of finally having time and headspace to process and write.  While I often set aside and have been given the time and space to do hobby sorts of things like this, I don’t always have the headspace writing requires.  This has come as both a surprise and an annoyance to me, because I just want to finish the posts I have started, but I do not want to force it and I do want to do it well.  

All that to say, this is still not necessarily a comprehensive collection of my thoughts and feelings surrounding this decision/subject.  I am sure more will come as we continue on this journey.  In the meantime, feel free to ask any questions that you do not find answers for here!

8/22/22

My student (with a little help from his dad) brought me an apple!

We had been contemplating homeschooling for many years and just kept waiting to make the final decision till we absolutely had to do so.  Since Jacob has a summer birthday, we didn't necessarily have to make the decision this year, but because he basically started to teach himself to read this spring, we pulled the indecision plug and landed on the side of homeschooling.  Of course, I immediately began collecting books/games/curriculum/manipulatives from ALL the places - garage sales, consignment sales, curriculum sales, Prime day, etc.  I also started pooling personal and virtual resources - connections with and through friends and family, in addition to their recommendations of books, podcasts, websites, etc. 

While it was so wonderful to be collecting these things, it only added to the already-existing overwhelm that was the prospect of homeschooling.  The physical piles were a picture of the mental chaos (for lack of a better word) I was feeling.  It took a full day of finally putting things in their physical places (which could only happen after we switched the kids' rooms and moved some things around...which was also reliant on several other moving parts) for me to begin to see the path forward.  The time I spent sorting through, organizing, and housing all of the physical items also allowed me to process through if/how we were going to use those things.  It gave me time and space to determine what our days might look like, what I wanted to teach, and how I wanted to teach it.  I was literally ordering my mind as I was ordering our space.

Once I got over that hump, glimpses of excitement and readiness replaced the feelings of chaos and overwhelm.  I felt (mostly) prepared for this undertaking, and I felt good about the plans I had in place.  This also allowed me to more easily talk and share excitement about it all with Jacob.  I had it all set up prior to our California trip, but did not plan to start till afterward.  He was chomping at the bit, though, after seeing the "new set-up," as he called it.  The new things and the new arrangement excited him, which was truly an answer to prayer, as I was not sure how the transition to school would go coming off such a fun and busy summer.

We found that cube shelf - exactly what we were going to buy new - on Facebook marketplace for a fraction of the price, cube drawers and all!

This is Jacob's "station" (his word, not mine).  He loves it.
I change the message on his letter board each week. ☺

The first week, we did everything everyday.  We haven't done that since...haha.

One of my biggest concerns was how/what Lydia would do while Jacob and I were "doing school."  I needn't have worried.  She is great at independent play, is often interested in what we're doing, and she has even started to chime in when we are reciting phonogram sounds!  There are things we do that she can easily be involved in, and if not, she has several of her own toys and activities available in close proximity.  As I mentioned in the room switch post, Jacob is an early-riser, so we often have a good chunk of time to get a couple lessons out of the way before Lydia is awake (but sometimes, we still use this time to play Legos together☺).

It was a divine stroke of genius to grab this second daily calendar from a garage sale.  She happily transfers her magnets from the board to a basket to the floor to the basket and back again several times a week, if not day.  I can't imagine trying to keep her from doing this with the magnets/calendar Jacob and I use daily on the same regular basis.

There have been several really affirming days, moments, and experiences since we embarked on this journey.  There have also been several hard days, moments and experiences.  I heard both "I love doing school with you!" and "I hate school!" on the first day ("hate" was new to his vocabulary, at the time, so he was trying it on for size).  However, the times I find myself second-guessing the decision to homeschool are often followed by moments and experiences I am so grateful to be able to share with my "students."

A few examples:

• the time we interrupted/supplemented our "formal" history lessons with reading the posted history of the park we went to for recess

• being able to grant this request to sit and enjoy the view at snack time

•  snuggling up to read a chapter from our book each day

• raising a well-rounded kiddo who, during our walk downtown, comments on how much he likes this part of the city...with his "fluffy" (steamer) in hand

• fielding questions about whether or not snails can pick up radio signals with their antennae while observing the one we unintentionally brought home from a hike this summer (turns out, the "cool shell" had a resident...and we have kept it alive for several months, now!)

• this field trip to Union Station that provided a history lesson...

...as well as lots of entertainment and delight about trains of all shapes and sizes

• taking advantage of living so close to so many cool, free(!) experiences/opportunities

(When in Rome (or Crown Center)...)

The question I assume is on your mind (only because it is the first many ask when they find out we have chosen homeschool) is "Why?"  (Right? 😉)

Our answer: Our main objective is to provide quality, individualized Christian education for our children.

The next question: What about socialization?

I could refer you to many and various resources in answer to this question, but you could also likely find them on your own.  In short, I only worry about it when I allow others' questions and opinions to allow me to worry about it.  We do have a small group of homeschool friends with whom we meet for nature studies and playtime on a nearly-weekly basis.  I am also prioritizing playdates, library story time, and other trips "out into the world," esp. this kindergarten year when the academic component is less rigorous.  If Jacob has had time to develop a relationship and rapport with someone, he is happy to interact with them, share ideas, and is often considerate.  He can hold lengthy conversations with adults and is polite and generally friendly when interacting with strangers.  I think that's a good start, for now.  (In complete transparency, I could have left that answer at the first sentence.  The ones that followed are my real-time stream-of-consciousness thoughts as I continue to explain/affirm this decision in my own head.  There is probably more to be said, certainly more to be learned, and likely more to be implemented, but I will leave it at that, for now.)

Another, perhaps: "Do you enjoy it?"

Yes, I do.  I did not anticipate how much it would increase the level of purpose I feel in my/our days.  Aside from the formal curriculum we are using for a handful of subjects, our days and activities don't really look much different than they did before we were "officially" homeschooling.  Through this new homeschool lens, however, I am realizing even more that EVERYthing can be educational!  We will not have to formally document/report anything for another year or so, but I am trying to be in the practice of at least thinking about the purpose behind everything we do, and in all humility, it makes me proud of myself for having implemented so much education in our days prior to having on my "homeschool goggles."  (Is it oxymoronic to say "In all humility, I'm proud."?  Ha!  I think you know what I mean.)  

While I don't know that I enjoyed it, per se, I knew I was "all in" when I found myself researching how to pin bugs for a collection.  Who knew there was an actual, official way to do it?!  I will happily report that while they might not be quite up to specification, these dried nicely in position, and along with others, have been moved to more formal spots on a larger piece of Styrofoam...next to our collection of leaves (that are also research-based-ly preserved).

If you have more questions, I would be happy to talk and/or write more about it all.  In the meantime, thanks for continuing to follow my/our life's journey, no matter where it leads!  Appreciate you!  

Educationally,

Kensy

Favorites of the day:

recess at the pool!

all of Lydia's new words, lately

Junior Bake Off 

(J and I started watching this together (we're doing one episode a week), and it's been so, so fun!  I love sharing it with him.)

Subbing Stories

Whew!  That week sure flew by, even though it was the first full one we've had in awhile (those of us in the education world, at least...or maybe just me?  haha).


Anyway, it was a good one here - hope yours was fantastic, as well!


I got to sub for three different teachers/classrooms this week, and they were all music classes - hooray!  Thought I'd share a few things from these experiences:

• "Are we discouraging you from being a teacher?" -high school choir kids  (Of course, I said "No!")
• Jr. High lunch room duty: nothing about jr. high has changed...drama, drama, DRAMA!!!  Yikes...
• A jr. high girl who I student taught last year came into the room where I was supervising a study hall to ask me a question.  There were other students around, so she decided to write down the question.  It was, "Do you have a boyfriend?"  I answered out loud with a "Not right now," to which she replied, "What?!  But you're so pretty!" I laughed and said, "Well, thanks.  If you know someone you think I should meet, you can let him know."  She said, "Yeah - I'll tell him I know this really awesome girl who's awesome at the trumpet.  If you're interested in that, you should be interested in her!"  I made sure to tell her, "It would be ok if he were interested in other things, too."  

: )  Getting back in the classroom on occasion is such a blessing.  It's especially nice when I get to be surrounded by such great kiddos (and staff)!

Also - I don't think I've shared about this, yet (forgive me if I have):
As of the beginning of this semester, I have an adult beginning trumpet student at the studio (Harris Music Studio)!  We meet once a week, and it's been soooo fun to teach someone who is excited, self-motivated, eager to learn, and who understands concepts younger beginners can't.  Don't get me wrong - I love teaching the younger ones, but it has just been a great (and new!) experience to teach someone older.


Sorry if you're not a music or education person and were bored by this post.  Your day will come!    (If anyone ever has any requests for posts or topics of discussion, be sure to let me know!)


Enjoy the rest of the weekend!
-Kens

Favorites of the day:

the 9-yr.-old trumpet prodigy whose solo I'm accompanying (She's amazing!)

Date Delights (a.k.a. Date Balls) - here's my mom's recipe:

1 c. sugar

1 egg

1/2 c. margarine/butter

3/4 c. chopped dates

3/4 c. chopped pecans

Combine and bring to a boil.  Cook 5 min.  Remove from heat and stir in 2 c. Rice Krispies.  Cool slightly.  With buttered hands, roll in 1-in. balls and roll in powdered sugar.

Yields 4 dozen

Out of the mouths of babes...

One of the jobs I've been blessed with is to nanny (once or twice a week) for a 1-yr.-old girl (MA) and 3-yr.-old boy (JP).  They are part of a wonderful family, and I'm so thankful they have welcomed me into their home and lives.

A day spent with JP, especially, is never dull.  I've kept a list of some things he's done and said, and would like to share them with you! 

• While we're stopped for a snack on our walk, he said, "When you love your best friend, you kiss them!" and proceeded to kiss my hand three times.  (It's moments like these that more than make up for some of his less desirable actions.)
• hangabugers = hamburgers
• I was listening in on him playing with some animals.  It was time for them to go to bed, and his narration went as follows:  "When the sun settles, they all have to go to sleep." (pause) "SUN’S UP!!"
• “for your shirt can’t get dirty” = apron
• As we’re making cherry turnovers, he leans in, gives me a side hug, and says, “I love my Kensy!”
• Conversation while we were "cooking" in the play kitchen on my birthday:
  JP: Are you having a party later at your house?
  Me: Umm....maybe.  (I wasn't, but thought that might rock his world.)
  JP: You GOTTA have one!  Here - I'll make you a cake and we'll have a party.  (They have a plastic birthday cake, but he really "made" me a cake by stacking other random pieces of plastic food.)
• fishing wand = fishing pole/rod
• As he’s bringing out the Mr. Potato Head box, “Want to play Mashed Potatoes?!”
• Uncle Donald's = McDonald's  (No, he doesn't have an uncle Donald.)
• Conversation as we were playing cars ("racing" them, actually):
  JP: What's this?  A milk truck?
  Me: No, it's an ambulance.
  JP: What's that?
  Me: It takes sick people to the hospital.
  -about 5 minutes pass...we're still playing cars-
  JP: (urgently) Get your people in the amblience!
  Me: What people?
  JP: The people in your cars!
  Me: Why?
  JP: They're sick - they need to go to the hostipal!
  (Please look closely at the bolded words.)
• 1-yr.-old MA just as precious, she just isn't talking, yet.  She's getting very close, though!  Examples:
• I mentioned she's started saying "Ta-da!" which comes out as "Ba-Baa!" with the proper vocal inflections.
• She'll instruct you to "Shh!" when her babies are sleeping, complete with a finger raised to the mouth.
• For "yes," she says "Mmm hmmm!" with the pitch of her voice escalating at the end of the "hmmm!"
• While I was doing a floor puzzle with JP yesterday, MA walked over and started rubbing my back and peeking around to smile at me while she did so. 

Needless to say, I love spending time with these children.  It makes the wait till I have my own much more bearable.  haha  : )

I hope you all have a blessed Thanksgiving with lots of food, fun, and family (and safe travels and football and no conscience about calories)!

Thankfully,

Kensy

Favorites of the day:

the fact that my family is on their way to pick me up on their way to g'ma and g'pa's farm!

friends, new and old