Time marches on::
I know the same old story from me again about how busy we are. But, seriously, I am serious LOL! I am slowly but surely learning to embrace this new chapter in our book of life. I am for the first time in my life really living by scheduled events and not going bonkers in the process. Between gymnastics, football, and volunteer work my kids are keeping me active.
We are all doing soooo well here. I think we have spent more time as a family here since March, then we did in all four years we spent in Florida. The kids are so happy and well adjusted. They are making friends in all their activities. I think it is interesting to note though that they have all made an effort to keep "home" just for our family. I think that home is to them a safe place.
Home has become silently defined as the place where you can have your space and quiet time away from the world and the pressures of life around them. As it seems it has always been...they are just loving to be together with thier siblings. With typical little squabbles along the way of course. As I watch them together, I am reminded of one more reason that I am so grateful to be their mother. What an incredible blessing they are to me!
I am also grateful for the opportunity I have been given to learn new things every day as I live life to it's fullest with them. My children push me to new levels of wisdom and learning constantly. They challenge me daily to be a better mother and friend, to continue to keep thinking and learning free of the box. Every question asked needs an answer and for many of these questions I learn new things while guiding them to finding the answer. Did that just make sense??? It did in my head anyway.
My point is that I am sooo loving learning right along side of my children. They have taught me so much more than I would've ever dreamed. I have learned while watching them grow that you should never let anything keep me from striving for my goals and dreams. I can never thank them enough for their example of liberation and freedom. Yet they don't even know how much they deserve my gratitude.
If someone had told me before I had children that I would love the experience of being their mother as much as I do, I don't believe I would have comprehended it. The choices we have made in our lives have taught me that going against mainstream society is okay when it is what is best for my family. To do what we feel is right with our individual family has been incredibly liberating. Realizing that we are soley responsible for the outcome of the life we have chosen is a heavy, yet very precious burden of love.
Jud says timetables for different acheivements in life are silly and unfounded. Here is my by no means exhaustive list of societies timetables that we don't see as urgent and in some cases as even important:
children must/should be reading by 4-5 years old
children need to be sent to preschool to prepare for school
children need to be taught/induced/enticed to learn
children need to be in company of peers their own ages to learn social skills and about diversity
children's grades determine whether not they have learned something
children should graduate highschool around 17-18 years old and go to college
children need to learn life skills in school
children won't learn necessary math skill if they are not taught traditionally
This list could go on and on for me. And remember this list is important for our family, and may be totally out of sync with the direction you might have for your family. I am just glad that we have the right to choose what we feel is best for our individual families in this country.
Our methods may seem a little kooky to some, but for our family it has been an incredible journey in life-long learning. I could never be happier about where our family is at right now. I hope that each and every person that may read this post, feels the same freedoms in choice in raising their children, whatever the choice and path may be. But the ability to do what you feel is right with your own children is an amazing opportunity. It is so very important to do what is right for individual families rather than to lump all families into the same big box. Walking your own path is what real diversity is all about. It is what learning to be self confident individuals, young or old, is all about.
So again, our life may be unorthodox to some but for us personally, it is sooo right. We have been able to shake of the notions of society implied "right and normal" way to live life with children. Watching my children live, learn and mature in freedom has been one of the most incredible adventures I will surely ever have the priviledge to part of. I wish I would have had this opportunity as a child. Just to "be". To never have the pressure of the outside world to determine the pace at which I should reach it's goals for me. For the freedom to determine what those goals would be rather than have them assigned to me. Alas, that was not to be for me, but I am so grateful that Jud and I can do this for our children.
I hope that the closeness our life choices have fostered within our family now will continue to run the course of our lifetimes. I can't imagine it being any different than it is now, though I know growing up and independence is inevitable for my children. I know that it is not only inevitable, but that it is right and good. So rather than get caught up in those thoughts of empty-nestedness, well, I am just going to continue to focus on every single day as it comes. It helps me to really LIVE each day with the purpose of drawing every good moment out of it with my family I can. And, I we can do it at a pace that is comfortable for each one of us.
So for now I am going to go to bed and ponder on how this amazing life with these amazing people is mine to treasure. I hope that everyone is happy and content with their lives and families because I know how truly incredible it feels. Good night!
As an end note, I sincerely hope that this post didn't step on any toes, but instead gives a renewed sense of freedom and personal responsibility for charting out a course that is special to your own families.
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