Thursday, March 4, 2010

Spicing Things Up

I thought I'd skip the bullets and get crazy and try subheadings today.

I Blame This One On Bob Costas
I can't get into American Idol this season and I think I finally figured out why. After two weeks of non-stop Olympic viewing and bouncing from bobsledding to figure skating to nordic combined (which would be much more interesting if they had to shoot while ski jumping), my brain needs a clear beginning, middle and end for my television viewing hour.

Also, I get emotionally involved with the Olympics and root for some of the athletes like they're family members. So far American Idol is a big bundle of who cares so I'm stepping out for now. Maybe I'll pop back in when there's a top ten, then again, maybe not. For what it's worth, my money's on the Jodi Foster girl.

My favorite Olympic moments: Jeanne Rochet's short program, Shaun White's freakish stunts and the American men's bobsled team winning gold. I rooted for Canada during hockey and Kim Yu-Na in figure skating because, really, who wants to disappoint their entire home country?


Because You Can't Flip A Llama Over

I took Doc and Obi Wanda on a field trip to a local Petting Farm where Obi Wanda's first question upon seeing a cow was, "What is that?" I really could've sworn we'd already covered that. Lately Obi Wanda's been fixated on whether an animal is a boy or a girl and that question isn't always so easy to anwer without closer inspection. Kind of like looking at people at the mall.

It's also a leading question because all the answers lead to more questions and I wasn't in the mood to go there today. I was already sure the other moms thought I was a terrible teacher since my kid didn't know what a cow was (I'm still stymied by that one), I certainly didn't want an audience while I clumsily explained what's so important about attracting a mate and where the big ostrich eggs came from. Oh look, pony rides!


While We're on the Subject of School
I'm pretty well settled on our direction for next year. We're going to skip the Wednesday program Doc's been going to take a more relaxed approach to our week. I've been revisiting my Charlotte Mason books and feel like I want to make next year more relaxed and purposeful. Rather than trying to do a bunch of stuff rather poorly, I want to do a few things very well with the end result being peace.

Maybe I'm the only one who feels this way, but it seems like there's a lot of pressure to teach, do, experience everything. It's as if producing a trilingual second grader who can give a 20 minute oration on how the Revolutionary War affected the breeding habits of the spotted owl is the only way to justify our decision to homeschool. Knowing I was starting to frantically succumb to that pressure, God sent me the same message from a bunch of different sources, including His Word.

The message? Chill.

So I will chill.


I had a bunch of other stuff to write about, but my mind's all a blank now. There was something about mom shorts and PB's disgust over the fact my 8th grade history teacher used "Gone With the Wind" as part of our Civil War curriculum. PB's a yankee (obviously). Anyway, it's all gone now.

Must still be that Olympic brain.

5 comments:

Lisa Hellier said...

I feel just short of rotten today. Your post has kept me from tipping right over. Cow tipping perhaps. You're a breath of fresh air. Whenever you post.

My youngest asked if it was summer the other day b/c we hit 60 degrees. I thought I'd covered seasons.

And Chill. Well, it's the homeschooling wave we're riding. Your 6 year old doesn't need to be a surgeon. Have you seen that video? I'll try and dig it up and email it later.

Rock on, sister blogger. I like that Jodi Foster type as well. But meh, on sitting through it. We DVR that stuff & whiz through all but the singing. And some of that as well.

Becks said...

um and what is wrong with "Gone with the Wind" as Civil war curriculum?? :)

oneblessedmamma said...

BWAHHHAHAHAHAHa....how DID the Revolutionary War affect the Spotted Owl...that's what I want to know! We miss you Lori! While you are chilling, why don't you chill up this way sometimes?

Tiffany said...

I love when you blog!! I am feeling much the same way about school next year and trying to figure out what to do. I was/am all set to use My Father's World again and having all three school together for History and Bible and Science but now I am not sure. I need to keep praying. I know I need to relax and enjoy my kids more though.

Cheryl said...

sounds like good advice...

 
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