A Child's Wonder

I work in special education so I see many different ways of teaching. I don't teach, so it feels like a load off my shoulders, but I often mingle with those who do.

In December we had an inservice meeting where the guest speaker was a woman who runs a preschool in California. I don't want to give names or go into who she is, suffice to say she's had enough experience teaching toddlers and getting to understand them than I've ever dreamed of.

The experience of listening to her and her son-in-law was very rewarding, and I came away with many thoughts. The main one that stuck with me was when she talked about art and children. She stated that so many schools take the things out of the teaching paradigm that are what children need to learn and to grow. Many of them take out art and social interaction. She said that we've become an in-door society, but that's another subject.

I felt her ideas about art and the development in children bore mentioning as we talk and explore art.

Many teachers have a very structured classroom. The projects are dictated, and the supplies limited. They instruct the children to copy whatever is being done for the day. There is little room for those who do not follow what the teacher wants them to do.

This stifles their imagination in a way -- and I've always felt this, before I listened to the speaker. But, she pointed out that most of a child's learning is in one side of the brain when they are young, and in another when they are older. Forcing them to learn to read when they are young, basically handicaps them when they get older -- this according to her.

It made me feel better that none of mine really liked to read until they were in Jr High...grin.

Anyway, we were discussing art.

Have you ever noticed that details are not often what is important in a child's world? What is important are the major things they feel and see. People holding hands...animals that are happy and have all their limbs...or more than four. Rich colors, although not necessarily the colors you would pick. Their imaginations are boundless in how they see the world.

As we grow, for some reason, we loose some of that. Perhaps we retain our imaginations in our reading, but we loose some originality. It makes it harder to understand the child and their mind. We have a more difficult time reaching them, or being able to teach at a level they understand, because our minds are much more cluttered.

In this month of newness, January of 2009, perhaps we can all take a fresh look at the world around us. See it with new and hopeful eyes. Children have a hope we could only wish for, a faith that is inspiring to all. We need to seek it and bring it into our lives every day.

Find a child and discover the world through their eyes. It's art in it's purest form.

Return to the Neighborhood.

Grandma's Pride

Have you ever noticed that there is no one more proud of a child's abilities or accomplishment's than a grandmother? I work with several women who have multiple grandchildren, and the other day one was telling us a story about taking her daughter and family to a play.

After the play they went to a restaurant, and the grandchild had to draw grandma a picture. She only had a napkin, she she drew it on the napkin and signed the back of it. This woman couldn't be more pleased. She taped it up in front of her desk, after showing all of us of course.

Reminds me of when the children came home from school with art projects and we would tape them up on the fridge, or the bulletin board so that everyone could see how wonderful they did. I don't think I was ever that impressed with my children's efforts (I know, I'm really a terrible mother) until my youngest came home with a painting he'd done of Van Gogh's sunflowers. I was so excited! I bragged about it to the whole family. I wanted to have it framed, actually. I thought he'd done an amazing job. He has done a couple of other pieces since then, but only for school, and has shown no interest at home.

It's driving me crazy. I tried to get him to do something for the fair this year, but he just wanted to make something out of Legos.

Just think of what this world would be like if there weren't mother's and grandmother's out there to encourage the artistic talents of children? If it were up to father's, they'd say: "oh, that's nice, son." and that would be the end of it. The son would stick it on the fridge with a magnet, and then nothing more would ever be said. (of course, without moms and grandmothers, how would there be a child in the first place??? hmmmm)

It's a good thing we are proud of our children and their efforts. Where would the next master come from? He would be another tortured and bitter individual who was totally mixed up and took his own life...oh, I guess that's already happened. That's why I think it's wonderful that parents and grandparents are vocal in their praise of the efforts of the young. Perhaps we'll avoid more of this tragic artistic story.

So...how many pictures do you have on your fridge?


Return to the Neighborhood

Just when you thought it couldn't get worse...

Have you ever had a child (one in the midst of a trial so terrible they think there isn't anything worse) ask how could it get any worse?

We had that experience over the weekend. This child has made choices that has put them in the middle of a nightmare. There are many things that could be worse, but then again -- they could be lots better...

Then Sunday this same child called and decided to come clean...tell me all the things they had been trying to hide that they did wrong because they didn't feel good about lying about it anymore. Greeaaattt.... That makes me feel SO much better. NOT.

It's one of those moments where you know that they were probably mixed up in stuff that was going on, but were hoping with a mother's hope that they were smarter than that. Sigh. My hubby had suspected all along. My other children (the older ones) had suspected as well...but I had held onto the hope that my child wouldn't do something like that. The one that had lambasted the nonmember uncle when age 12 for smoking and didn't he know how terrible it was for you...yeah -- that one. (And no, this isn't just about smoking...;) )

I felt so naive, so -- stupid -- to have not seen it coming. My hubby told me that my hope was what made it bearable for him to try and have hope. While that was sweet of him, I still felt as if my feet had been knocked out from under me.

Yesterday I ended up pretty much doing nothing all day. My poor hubby didn't have that option, and tried studying his night school stuff while waiting to see if anyone needed him at a training meeting he was assigned to help. By the time dinner rolled around I was able to focus a little, and today is much better. I'm feeling a little back to normal, but I wonder if things will ever be the same. Our family will never be the same -- this will always be something in the back of our minds.

I think we need to go swimming and try and forget for a while. We just have to remember the sun block since a couple of them are still recovering from sun burns at the Young Adult trip last week. (Bear Lake is soooo known for that)

At least my wedding anniversary is tomorrow...a bright spot in the week.

They're Gone!

I'm not sure if I'm excited or not. My three oldest still at home, left this morning for a three day Single Young Adult camping trip up at Bear Lake. It's going to be REALLY quiet without them. I'm hoping they have loads of fun, make new friends, and don't get burned within an inch of their lives...sigh.

I didn't hover over them this time. I didn't pack a single thing. If they don't have it, it's their own doing. I have to remind myself that they are old enough to know what they need and what to do. right???

Anyway, so now it's just the three youngest and my hubby and me. I'm thinking it's going to be much simpler in some ways, more frustrating in others -- because those little boys LOVE playing with their older brother, especially the video games. I just aren't as good as he is...grin.

Hope everyone else is having a great month. I can't believe June is over half gone already...and no painting worth speaking of! ARGH. Okay...I'm going to knuckle down today and get some work done. I won't have as many distractions, right???...right.

Father's Day

Okay...remember my post about Mother's day and how my hubby was stressed out but the day went well anyway???

Sigh.

Let's contemplate Father's Day. I spent most of the afternoon telling my two oldest sons to stop arguing, as my dear hubby spent most of the afternoon getting the coals ready to cook dinner since we'd run out of gas for our grill and the burner had to be replaced (was his fathers day present from me...).

I was ready to shut them all in their own rooms and lock them in. We ended up eating outside on the lawn under the willow tree, and it was wonderful. The ribs turned out delicious, and the cobbler was tasty...so it ended well, but for a while there I was tempted to send him on his own little picnic so he could have some peace.

What is it about mother's and Father's day that brings out the worst in the children?? I just don't get it. They didn't even get up and make breakfast for him. My one daughter made it after we got home from church, but the other children wouldn't even help unless dragged.

My oldest daughter was the only one that got him anything, and I was pretty much ready to disown them all.

Well...at least he knows I love him. sigh. I'm looking forward to our anniversary next week...it should be nice and quiet and wonderful....hmmmm

That is if we don't melt from the heat first.. sigh. Good old summer is officially here.

Oh, What do You do in the Summertime?

Well -- today is the first day (well, school calendar wise) of summer. I informed my 12 year old son that it wasn't official until the 21st, and he gave me this confused look. I love making them confused -- at least I do it often enough that I must enjoy it...

He's the one holding his nose in the photo above -- we were at one of the smelly pots at Yellowstone that year. That's a trip we probably won't be making soon, gas prices being what they are.

Every year from the time I discovered there was a world outside of diapers and bottles and had children in school, I have had a project for them to do during the summer. One year it was painting. We went to the neighbors yard and painted the sunflowers that grew in large stalks along her fence. She loved the company, and they actually liked doing it.

One year I had them write a story in a notebook. I only had one that really took off with it, although most of them still like to write. I guess we'll see.

Last year it was weeding in the garden to earn Nintendo time... I know, the standards have sure shifted.

I haven't come up with anything yet this year, and my hubby asked me last night if I had a list of things for the kids to do or if I was just going to wing it. Right. As if I wanted to contemplate the looming summer months any sooner than I had to? He's somewhat jealous, you see, although it's more a mix between jealousy and relief. He's jealous that my job has me off in the summer (though we'd LOVE to find something that paid all summer long...) while he has to work, and relief that it's me getting to deal with the kids all day and not him.

Don't get me wrong -- he loves our children, he's the one that worries about them when we go on dates or short weekends and leave them at home. It's a very endearing quality. But he knows what summer gets like. There have been times in the past that I've called and begged him to come home early before I strung them all up by their toes, confined them all to their rooms for the rest of the summer, committed Hari Kari or something like it.

This summer is going to be a change, and it's going to be hard. Our oldest son goes to boot camp, and won't be around at all. Our next oldest son is working at the local amusement park so he'll be gone most of the time, and our two daughters that are still home will be working and going to school part time.

That leaves my youngest two sons with the benefit of having mom be on their cases all day and trying to encourage thoughtful behavior. sigh. It's usually a struggle to get them doing chores and some kind of homework so their brains don't atrophy during the summer months.

My 14 year old is autistic. What this means to the average person, is that he's not real good in social circles. He'd rather do what he wants to do, regardless of what anyone else wants to do. He is also very artistic. He can copy things that amaze you. His favorite thing is enlarging maps from books. He loves maps.

I'm thinking this year perhaps I could get him to enter something in the fair. He might be willing, he might not. I guess I'll have to see. I know he has it in him.

My 12 year old, doesn't really care about art, though he has done some great work in school. I'm thinking my project this summer will be for them to create something that they can both enter in the county fair. It will give them time to do more than one thing, if they aren't happy with their first creation.

This way I can get them to experiment with all the different types of medium -- this could really be fun! I can just see Randy with acrylics...well, maybe not. This will definitely be something we'll be doing OUTSIDE. We'll have to hook up the cd players so that we have nice inspirational music playing and both of them wearing large OLD shirts that can be tossed when they're done.

Speaking of music...have you visited the neighborhood juke box? This is soo cool! I was excited when I found it, because I love music, and listening to it while I write or paint is just an extension of heaven...grin. Anyway, I love the choices they have, and that not only can you listen to music on the computer, but if you are a musician, you can get your music to the site! Talk about promotion!

My favorite section is the instrumental, and today I'm listening to Fireflies. Hmmmm... Check it out -- It's great stuff.

Anyway, back to summer and art and fairs. I'll let you know how the project goes -- and I'll post pictures so you can see them. It should prove interesting. I'm hoping I can convince Randy to paint something other than a map...

Return to the Neighborhood.

And the Beat Goes On

Well, I decided that I love having children. Not necessarily because they bring me joy, (which they do sometimes) or that they are a blessing (which I usually consider them as) or that they are brilliant and funny - well most of the time. I love having my children because they are so convenient to order around.

It's like having a built in slave, but one that is not quite as willing to be one. It's also, kind of pay back for my parents. I know everyone has heard the phrase, 'I hope you have a kid just like you,' said by every frustrated mother in the world. Well, it usually happens, which is really sad, when you think about it, because you always hope your children are going to be BETTER than you were.

sigh. But what cracks me up, is the conversations are just about the same. I say things I remember my mom saying to me, and it's like de ja vu. (however you spell it) I hear my husband say things to the children, and shake my head while laughing - that's exactly what my dad used to say! My brother has discovered the same thing. He remembers our dad lecturing us on turning off the lights. In fact, he was talking about this the other day, how he would round us all up and make us all go turn off three lights in the house. He remembers this so vividly, because he is doing the same thing with his own! It's way funny.

There are some changes. I heard a conversation with my son and husband the other day that filled me with hope.

Dad: Hey, you need to go out and get mowing those weeds so we can plow the garden.
son: And I want to do that, why?
Dad: Because you like eating and sleeping indoors.
son: I don't know, I kind of like sleeping outside.
Dad: Not where you'll be sleeping.

I like the fact that he reminds them they like eating and sleeping indoors. It brings a bit of reality back into the equation. Gives them something to have to say to their children that won't be the same old - brush your teeth, wear deodorant and don't tie strings to the cat's tail!