This morning I felt overwhelmed with the mess in the house (clothes and towels on the floor, dishes and food all over the kitchen, toys and trash here and there. ) When Jacob, Michael, and Jeff woke up they went straight outside to their “school” in the old chicken coupe before I was even out of my room. So, I was concerned about them not doing their chores and homework again this morning. Keith had just left to school on his bike and I sat down on the couch and did nothing for a while. I let myself be still and feel overwhelmed instead of pushing myself to get to work. Daniel woke up and sat by me in his pajamas. We just sat quietly cuddling. A thought came into my head that motivated me: “I want to write a blog post today.” I think it was just enough stillness and just enough purpose to help me suddenly feel like getting up and going to work. It didn’t feel forced or like a burden.
Daniel got dressed and I helped him comb his hair. He picked up his pajamas and put them in the laundry and made his bed the way a five-year-old can. Then I had him write individual phoneme sounds on a peice of lined paper and consonant blends as I spoke them. He wrote two words from the consonant blends. This is great practice for children with dyslexia. He is so blessed to be the last of five dyslexic children because I know so much better how to teach him.
Well, Jacob, Michael, and Jeff decided to get dressed for school and eat breakfast. Two minutes before it was time to go Jacob told me he wanted to do his homework. I let him try to look it up on GoogleClassroom and then told him it was time to go. I drove them to school today because we needed extra time to eat breakfast at home. I think the food they are fed in the cafeteria is contributing to their learning disabilities and eczema. I am very disturbed when I see the prepackaged, high-sugar, high-dairy food that they are feeding the kids in our entire school district. But, there isn’t a much better option. It is not realistic to feed 57,000 children organic, home-made food.
As we were getting in the car they all wrote “I love you” in the dew on the windows. When I dropped them off Michael came back and gave me a long hug. These boys have so much love for me. If I don’t nag them about the things they are doing that dissapoint me they are free to show me all that love and I am free to share it with them too. There’s always tomorrow or this afternoon for homework and chores. I am sure I will find something to motivate them.