An Ode to Lego

You're colorful spread,
you're sizes and shape;
have often turned my sons' rooms into
a jumbled landscape.

A block with two bumps;
so innocent and small,
the simplicity and enticement
bring out the creativity of all.

Your defence mechanism is truly
effective,
for shooting pain in my foot,
makes my stepping selective.

Hours of silence,
creativity and fun,
you have managed to do,
what nothing else had done.

Gotta love Legos.

What am I worth?

Maybe it's the cold grey skies, or the tax guy telling me I'm not worth anything, or that small voice that sometimes tells me the lie that if I stay at home with my children and don't earn money... somehow my worth is less. It's popular to be labeled by what you're "worth"... especially when you're preparing the taxes.

I'm past 40 and this often brings me to reflect on how I'm doing in my life. So what am I worth? I stay at home with my 3 kids, I teach them basics of life and their education comes from me. How does that add up to worth?


I can't imagine a better job, I can imagine better pay! These days are paid in wet, sloppy kisses, millions of drawings of castles and pirates, a warm, small hand slipped in mine, nature walks, complete exposure to real life and a dose of bodialy function jokes. It's pretty good pay till the tax forms need to be filled out.

I'm worth more than my "bottom line", thank God for that. I am investing in my children's future. I'm giving quality and quantity time. I can see the light in their eyes as they finally understand a concept and I was part of that. I teach them about nature, it's benefits, to respect it and all the lessons it holds for all who take time to look. I am the stable, foundational force that my family grows on... I am worth... alot.

It may seem elementary but ... somedays moms who stay at home .. we forget what we are worth ... so I'm taking time out from a mid life crisis to remind myself. My children's lives, my husband's life would be completely different (and I think lacking) with out me.. that's my worth.

At Home: Everyone is learning.

Our journey in Home Education has been one of many changes, many tears, many laughs and many discoveries. I wouldn't change it for anything. Somedays I feel like we're "Swiss Family Robinson" and we have to re-invent everything. Somedays I feel like we're at the zoo and everyone is a little wild, and waiting to be fed. Somedays I'm sure I've birthed the next Einstien and someday the world will thank me. Most days, I'm just mom .. the one everyone needs in order to function. Somedays... I want to change my name to Dad ... since he doesn't get interupted as often.

The amazing thing is that I am the one who has learned so much. Oh, they learn too but I have learned to develop my own character and education as I've prepped and taught my kids. The light of understanding is not just for those who require the knowledge to prepare them for life, but it is also for us who... realize education never was about the teacher... it's about taking responsiblity to love the process of learning. Education never ends.

Recently my son asked "what do beggers do with our arms? Who wants a bloody stump?" I felt that strange buzzing in my head when I'm really trying to get on the same frequency as this child's thinking ... but no .. nothing. Somewhere I'd lost the connection.

"What ARE we talking about?"

"You know, what do they do with the arms? When they say 'Arms for the poor'?"

ohhhhhh

This was followed by a discussion about a new part of his vocabulary; alms.

When did I have the time to wonder?
When did I sit in silence and consider such weighty matters?

There is nothing like a child to open our world to new horizions...
these are the days of learning
these are the days when I realize my educaiton lacked
at no fault of my teachers
for my teachers are my children
my husband
my trials
my garden
my life at home.