“I write because I don’t know what I think until I read what I say.” ~ Flannery O’Connor
Every fall when we’ve settled into something of a school year routine I get reflective and melancholy and basically unable to write about everyday life because the everyday starts to feel insignificant. Of what worth is a trivial blog post when so much is going on in the world around us? There are natural disasters, national discord, political strife, and all manner of serious concerns here close to home. Five minutes on social media or watching the national news, and it’s hard not to feel hopeless and helpless about the state of affairs and our place in it all.
In seasons where the news is heavy I have to lean into quotes like this one by Kristin Armstrong that I keep stored in the notes on my phone:
When everything is moving and shifting, the only way to counteract chaos is stillness. When things feel extraordinary, strive for ordinary. When the surface is wavy, dive deeper for quieter waters.”
Maybe sometimes the best antidote for the anxiety that comes with thinking about all that is going on around us is simply being still and focusing on what is directly in front of us… even if that feels incredibly ordinary. The practice of coming here to type thoughts out on a keyboard and sharing them in community with you is one of the best ways I know of to practice being still.
So without further adieu, I’m going to sit here long enough to flesh out a few very ordinary thoughts with you:
Homework is hard. In fact, it may be the bane of our existence right now, primarily because I have no patience. Something I’m continuously learning about guiding children with different personalities and strengths and weaknesses is that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to parenting. One child rarely needs help with her homework; another child would prefer I do her homework for her; and one child isn’t even aware she has homework because she was too busy socializing to notice.
If I could go back to college for even just a semester I would take a load of child development and education classes because right now “Fundamentals of Graphic Design” isn’t doing a lot for us. The two things that are helping us tremendously are pattern blocks and Google, which I have to refer to several times a week for help with fourth grade math. I can tell you with certainty that in terms of the pace of learning, elementary school isn’t what it used to be.
Everyone needs a label maker. The 4th Grader got one for her birthday last month and has been putting it to good use. While most people think of labels as an organizational tool, she views it more as a means of communication. In fact, it’s like her own version of texting. A few weeks ago there was something she wasn’t looking forward to at school, and we found these messages printed out for us at the breakfast bar:
Sometimes she uses it at bedtime:
I’ve also found ones that say, “DO NOT EAT MY CHOCKLATE!” and “WHAT ARE WE DOING TODAY???”
I’m just glad to know we can hold off on a phone for several more years since this is working so well for everyone.
Leaf blowing is therapeutic. Wielding an electric leaf blower was one of my dad’s favorite pastimes. Growing up we always lived in wooded areas, and I remember him spending countless Saturdays out in the driveway or the yard blowing leaves from one place to another. It was a mystery to me why he found this so important to do. But, a few weekends ago I decided to use ours for the first time to clean up our garage and backyard. I had no idea what I have been missing all these years. If you’re looking for a weekend project that makes you feel like you’re really accomplishing something, I highly recommend blowing leaves or debris around with one of these handheld tools. It might be my new favorite hobby. I’m in the market for one powerful enough to blow Barbies around, and then I can start using it to clean up the playroom, too.
Games are good for bringing everyone down a few notches in the morning. I’m not typically chipper on our drive to school in the mornings. I’ve not had enough coffee or enough daylight to be jovial or chatty. So, I usually just focus on driving and traffic to get us there safely and on time each day. But, one morning this week the girls were going back and forth with tongue twisters and riddles. Most of them I had heard before until they got to this one: toy boat. All you have to do is say “toy boat” consistently five times in a row. I rolled my eyes ready to prove to them how simple this is.
Only it’s impossible. I wind up saying something along the lines of “toy boot” with a perfect Australian accent every time. If you can do it, kudos to you because it’s not as easy as it seems!
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Happy fall break!
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