I spent much of today plotting and planning our next school year's first term. All four kids are enjoying their mornings this week at a local Vacation Bible School, and I'm making the most of my quiet time, a cup'pa tea totally included and required.
When my four lovlies came home, my oldest lovely wanted to know how I had spent my time alone, as if she couldn't imagine that I would have anything to do but twiddle my thumbs--boy! Wouldn't that be nice, if only once in a while?
I told her that I spent my morning creating her schedule for fall's new term. She thought for a moment and asked, "Will I be reading The Lord of the Rings series slowly like I read The Hobbit this year, or is the series on my 'free reading' list?" I informed her while smiling--totally assuming she was feeling like "Bring it on already!"--that she was free to read the books whenever and however she wished because the series was indeed on her free reading list. She sighed.
Whaa?! What did I say wrong?
"Well, I think The Hobbit was my favorite book this year because I read it slowly; you know, my brain got to simmer and think about it for a few days before I read another chapter. I just prefer reading like that and hoped that the next books were scheduled slowly, since the books I read faster I don't really enjoy or retain as much."
Wow.
Yep.
(((thumbs way up, Charlotte Mason))) Forget the side-hug. I'm going full-virtual-frontal because I heart YOU.
...although now I have more work to do.
Wow...affirmation...a good thing!
ReplyDeleteShannon: Yep! I'm so lovin' this. :)
ReplyDeleteThat is so great! Your dd sounds like a thinker. My oldest had a love/hate relationship with reading slowly. If it was a book he didn't like he especially despised it. I realized that was one way I could exasperate my children so am careful about the books I pick for them to read this way. Sounds like you pick good ones!
ReplyDeleteI just found your blog and noticed that you have some of my favorite books on your list you have read this year! I loved When Life and Beliefs Collide. It would almost be easier to tell you which books I haven't read. :)
Wayside: She IS a thinker! So, when she complains about a book, we talk about it. Usually, she has a valid point. For instance, AO's recommended book in Year 6 for Nature Study is Rachel Carson's The Sea Around Us. It's a big and meaty book, meant to be read uber-slowly, which we did. But, halfway through the school year, I asked my daughter which book was her favorite and which her least fav. She loathed Carson's book and not for the reasons I thought she'd give, like it's too big, too long, too much new vocabulary. For her, it was too much evolutionary teaching, which went against her conviction of a much younger Earth totally formed of God's hand. She asked if she could read something else that taught more about the seas and less about evolutionary theory.
ReplyDeleteThat's a change I can get behind!
Completely and totally love those CM moments!
ReplyDelete...and good for Olivia for putting up her shield of faith. Laura, do take a look at Creation Science Evangelism's book store for a replacement.
This is so great, and totally encouraging to me. I sometimes second guess having my kids read slowly, so this is a great testament to the benefits. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteYep, Too cool!
ReplyDeleteTime for a new blog post about now, Laura-girl...
Love it...
ReplyDelete