Recently, I read from a post of Paige at Elemental Science about things she didn't predict as she conducted her work-at-home-mom life. Number three on her countdown of things she wished she'd known was about remembering priorities. Well, around here, we all have differing priorities, but a few things unite us. Music is very important here. Reading is essential here, whether you listen on the text-to-voice kindle or read word-for-word from the screen/page. Outside time with the lawn mower or gardening is a wonderful escape and exercise. Lego time is, dare I say, "Holy" here. There's a room dedicated to it, or mostly because the guest couch and sewing machine also live there. The Mommy on the other hand continues to aim at doing the best she can with what she has. So many lessons I learned about life from My Grams who was born in 1914. That was a tough time to be a little kid, especially one in rural Iowa amongst 8 brothers and sisters. Their parents were first generation in the United States and the Old Folks still spoke lots of harsh Swedish over their heads. The Great War and the Depression were R-E-A-L to them and she shared so much of that with me as I was the only one of my siblings to go to get my bachelor's degree back then (since then my sister who came 20 years later has done the same as me). I lived with My Grams in order to go to teacher's college. And so much of that time is very evident in how I teach, guide, cook, clean, organize, drive, all of it. Waste not, want not, so don't even think you are going to get away with dawdling.
But mostly, TRAVEL IS ESSENTIAL AND NECESSARY. It's how we think about all of our studies and church events and purchases and chores (frugal living-stewardship affords us to plan our errands to save fuel). Band participation, science lessons each week (this can fall thru the cracks if spelling seems more important) and Bible study are those hills I'm willing to die on here at Paisley Classical Academy. What would my kids say is the priority in their lives? Why is that what they classify as a priority? Take a minute to visit with them or a nature walk to discuss it.
