Chapter 3:
Editor's note: About two years ago, this online "book" was started. Due to time constraints the authors put the project on the back burner. They now continue the story, writing more about the day-to-day life of homeschool mothers that use the Internet as a form of communication and as a resource. Enjoy!
Out the WindowThe month was February, but spring was in the air. Warm temperatures and sunny skies begged for everyone's attention. The first daffodils peeping out of the ground were beginning to bloom. After the long, cold, white winter, everyone felt they deserved a day like this.
The first thing that would have to go was Anna's carefully planned schedule. Let's see, it went something like this ... a lesson of Saxon, a day of Daily Grams, a chapter of history, a discussion about writing short stories, an essay question on loyalty, a review of misspelled words, and on it seemed to rattle. The reward at the end of the long list was reading aloud the next chapter of The Saturdays.
Anna sat at the kitchen table, staring out the window at the dogwood tree. She could just make out the buds on the end of the branches. How exciting! She needed to rake out the rest of the leaves that had fallen on the perennial bed. What new flowers should she add to the bed this year? The crepe myrtle had spread its branches into the garden path and needed to be cut back soon. Anna's mind was in her garden.
"Mom, I'm done! Mom??!!" Sandy, ten years old, shouted more desperately this time, "MOM! STOP the timer!"
Awakened from her garden plans, Anna fumbled for the timer and hit the stop button. "I'm so sorry, Sandy. I was thinking about all the work that needs to be done in the garden."
"But what about my time for my test? You took an hour to stop the timer!", Sandy moaned.
"Oh, let me just subtract 30 seconds. Here, this is your time," said Anna, as she wrote down the reasonable time. It seemed silly to be cooped up in the house, doing work they could do any day, when they could be outside enjoying the first warm, sunny day of the year. Anna jumped up from the table and declared, "That's it! We're going on a field trip to the land out the window! Shut your books, put down your pencils, and let's go!"
Books slammed shut, chairs pushed back, shouts were heard across the house, "I can't find any clean socks!", "I've outgrown my favorite shorts!", "Do you remember that hiking hat I used to wear?" The only thing on Jonah's mind, this was their 1 year old dog, was whether he'd get to dig in the garden. He waited patiently by the door, his tail thumping against the floor, while his people got themselves noisily ready.
A few hours later, Anna was sitting at the computer, chatting with her sister, Polly.
Anna: Do you know the origin of "Gladiola?"
Polly: What? And was that on your schedule today?Anna reported that she had spent the morning working in the garden with the children. Well, doing a little work, but having a lot of fun learning, too. Six year old Murray had asked why a daffodil was called "daffodil." Rod, who at age 12 was now taller than his mother, ran inside to grab the field guide, but spotted a book about where flowers got their names. One of the things they had read was that gladiolus came from the Latin gladius which means "a sword."
Anna: Pretty interesting, huh? Should we tell Grandma Gladiola?
Polly: LOL!
Anna: LOL!Polly's laugh had a good mixture of relief in it. She was so glad Anna had been flexible today. Back in January, when Anna had complained that no schoolwork was getting done, Polly had cautioned her to not become a slave to any schedule.
Polly: You know, Sis, I have to admit I'm relieved. ...
Polly: As homeschooling mothers, we have to be careful we don't get consumed with the academic achievement (or lack of achievement <g>) of our children and miss out on precious times together, like you had this morning. I've been praying that your schedule would help all of you get a fresh excitement for learning. I've also hoped that your schedule wouldn't cause you to get caught up in academics, possibly burn out, and forget the reason you teach your own children.
Polly: Enough big sister talk. What are you planning to do on this beautiful afternoon?
Anna: Well, since I can't drive over to your house, sit on the porch, and sip tea while our children play together, <sniff, sniff> I came up with another plan. ...
Anna: Do you remember when we would spend the afternoon on a quilt in the backyard reading, working on crafts, sleeping, or just talking? We would lay out that quilt, the one Aunt Mattie made, next to the big pine tree in the back corner of the yard. Well, that's what we're going to do. ...
Anna: Did you know I took that quilt when I moved away? :-) And there is a big pine tree in our backyard. We're going to read the next chapter of The Saturdays. I think it's the chapter where they find the dog.Hesitant to say good-bye to each other, the sisters stared at their screens which had for a time melted away the 500 miles separating them. Anna wiped away her tears and sent Polly a cyberhug.
Anna: (((((Polly))))) I love you Sis! ... previous chapter • next chapter ...
"And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord;
and great shall be the peace of thy children."
Isaiah 54:13