Why I don't give my kids an allowance.

I have a confession.  For years I've been hiding the full extent of my parental negligence.  No more.  I'm letting the cat out of the bag.

I do not, nor have I ever, given any of my five children an "allowance".



Years ago when I was a much greener, wet behind the ears, parent I assumed that I would eventually put my children on the dole and that this would be proof my parental provision for them.  They would learn to take care of the money entrusted to them and we would all be happy with the arrangement.
That day never came.  For one reason or another I found other things to spend every last cent of our family's income on.  I squandered it on things like food, shoes that fit growing feet, and keeping the power from being shut off.

Still, I assumed I would give them an allowance someday.  Someday when we had a little more cash left over.  Someday when I'm not such a flake.  Someday when I actually have some sense of stick-to-it-ness, consistency, and follow through. Sadly that day never came...and then it just didn't seem to matter any more.  We still have no cash left over at the end of each month, I'm still a huge flaky space cadet...and somehow my kids have always had everything they need.

I started thinking about it the other day and I realized that what may have started as an unintentional circumstance became something that has actually been quite valuable.  I no longer don't give an allowance by accident...I don't do it on purpose.  If that makes any sort of sense.

I shall preface my reasoning by saying my intention isn't to publicly shame "allowance" giving families, make you feel all icky inside, but rather add perspective to this non-debate and share some observations. In the end I really don't give a flying squirrels fuzzy hiney what other families do with their money.  There is more than one way to skin a cat....or a squirrel.  You parents are quite competent enough to figure out what works for you and your kids.

First of all, not being on a parental dole has taught my kids that they are not entitled to what we have.  Our money is not their money.  This is a lesson best learned before they are expecting us to pay their phone bill when they're 30, or fighting over our inheritance when we croak (or worse yet long before we're dead)....not that there will be one, but you get the point.

They don't, by merely existing, have the right to expect a fistful of dough to be given to them on a regular basis. I want to teach my kids the opposite of entitlement, and it would seem that giving them an allowance would work contrary to that goal.  At least it would make achieving that goal more difficult.

My kids trust that we will look after their needs.  I've told my kids, from the time they could whine, that when they need something we will get it for them.  I ask them if they've ever gone without something they needed and if  they trust that we take care of them.  Often we have purchased what we know they will need (or even just sometimes want) before they even know they need or want it. Sometimes we treat them to something "extra" just because we delight in their delight. We enjoy giving them good things, but I want them to be grateful for what they have.  I want them to carry a simple sense of contentment and gratitude into adulthood with them.

They learn to value money and work for it.  I've noticed something evolving in my oldest kids.  Their rare whine for an allowance, has been replaced with complaining that they need a job.  They are constantly coming up with ways they could make a few extra bucks.  They have been known to scour the ditches for beer cans they can return, or sell lemonade on a hot summer day.  Now that my daughter is 12 she has been babysitting regularly.  She saved up money to take a babysitting course and viewed even that expense as a strategic investment into her budding childcare career.  She is working several hours per week...in fact she was out late babysitting tonight and will be babysitting all day Saturday.  She is a hard worker, she's great with kids, and she doesn't text her friends while she's on the job.  She realizes that if she does a job well it will lead to more jobs.  In the last couple months she has saved up nearly $300 by working hard, proving herself responsible, and not wasting what she did earn.  She now adds up the value of things by asking "how many hours would I have to work to pay for that?".  She doesn't ask us for things she wants, she sets a goal and then goes out and works for it.  Sometimes that goal is just a new pair of jeans.

 My 10 year old son is slightly jealous of his sisters success and is insisting I let him advertise his own lawn mowing business this summer.  I'm not so sure about that one yet, but he is chomping at the bit.   I keep reminding him that if he can prove himself responsible in the small tasks the larger "jobs" will gradually start coming.

One nice thing about the big kids bringing in their own money is that they can buy the things that are "wants".  There is no way on God's green earth that I will buy them a smart phone, or an ipod touch...but I'm more than eager to encourage and cheer on their efforts go buy one themselves. This may sound stingy but mostly it's just reality. When you live off of one income, have five kids to feed, and have some odd priorities like "mission trips" to Mexico and international adoption, the budget gets whittled pretty narrow.  We've been forced to allow them to struggle and "go without" certain things, but now I'm realizing that that struggle is actually a really good thing. I have also noticed that they are generous with the money they earn.   Aili's babysitting money has at times been completely spent on sibling Christmas gifts, and donations to help fund adoptions.

When you work for something you appreciate the value of it, and take care of it.  When you learn to be content you are freed up to be more generous. 

I suppose you could trade an allowance for household chores and create a points system in which an allowance is earned.  I'm just not that organized.

I also think that "chores" are just part of being a family.  I do occasionally pay a child to do an "extra" sort of a non-routine job but for the most part I want my kids to learn that being part of a family, or a community, or a Church means that you serve others. You don't serve in order to get.  You serve your family out of love, and because that's what keeps everything running smoothly.  "Chores" for us constitute anything that needs to be done at any given time.  I really try to avoid the "That's not my job!" scenario.  In this house everything is everyone's job...sometimes certain jobs just get assigned to certain children depending on ability level.

Here's the big idea.  I desire that my kids develop a sense of personal and civic responsibility.  I want them to appreciate what they have and learn what real contentment is.  I want to encourage virtues like ingenuity, creativity, tenacity, and work ethic.  As far as I can tell, not giving them an allowance is just one way to make teaching those things a little easier.

If I'm wrong, they can save up their money to hire a therapist who will sympathize with them as they describe the details of their deprived childhood.





Soli Deo Gloria,

We survived week one

After a few months of free range summer kids, it felt good to try to resurrect some sense of routine and order.

Although that task doesn't come without some adjustment pains, an occasional threat of mutiny.

I'm teaching four kids at home this year (three officially registered for home education and the fourth is a tag along), and we have one doing first grade at a local public school.  

I couldn't really give you a great reason why we have one child in regular school, other than "If it ain't broke don't fix it".  We're doing what works for now. 

Elijah will be doing Kindergarten at home this year for a variety of reasons. 

Silas giving me his best first day of first grade "smile".  

Roman is doing Teaching Textbooks for math for the first time.  So far so good!  

Aili is going to stick it out with SOS for another year....even though I wish I had bought her teaching textbooks now too. 

Our Science textbook.  I like subjects that I can to together with, and adapt to kids ranging from preschool to Junior High.  The little ones color animal pictures, while the big ones learn more indepth zoology.

 Here are a few of the other resources we're using. 

Elijah and Cece are doing Kindergarten and Pre-K work with Handwriting Without Tears supplies.

I'm having lots of fun with my two little students this week.   Aili and Roman didn't start home schooling until 2nd and 4th grade and Silas went to public school Kindergarten, so I've never put any effort into PreK type of work.

Honestly I thought it wasn't really my thing....since I'm not all crafty and creative.

But it's been fun. 

It's a lot more fun than trying to keep toddlers out of mischief while teaching older kids. 

 I'm quite enjoying a toddler free school year.  Cece is only 3 1/2 she and Elijah are pretty much on the same level, so it works great to have them doing the same things.  Keeping little hands and minds busy is a good thing.

I need to go hit a dollar store and stock up on craft supplies, and fun activities to keep these little one's constructively busy.  

I feel so much more confident, and assured about educating our kids at home than I have other years.  Maybe it's the three years of experience under our belts, or maybe it's that the kids have gotten older, or maybe the fact that we're seeing the fruit of the decisions we made.  The first year or so all I could do was second guess myself, compare what we were doing to the public school, and fight nagging terror that I was wrecking my kids.   Since then I think we've found our groove, and we're really seeing the benefits of a home schooling, lots of time together, making education a part of everything we do, lifestyle.   

It is only September though....all that optimism will be all used up by March...or maybe October. 

\This is my homework.  Very encouraging, empowering, and informative reading so far.

Aili is now doing 7th grade!  Wow.  Hard to believe she's a Junior Higher now. 

One perk of homeschooling is you get to choose your location while you study. 

It's been a good productive week, but it's also been challenging.  The Hubster is still working long days in the field.  The kids see him for a quick hug goodbye at breakfast time.  He gets home long after they're in bed.  It's a change from Daddy usually being home for meals and in the evenings.

Change is always hard on Elijah....by Friday afternoon he was pretty much a basket case.  It's been building up all week with Daddy away, his "twin" leaving every morning on the bus, and lots of little changes in routine.  He's just wound pretty tight, and his hyper vigilance has switched into a higher gear.  Overall he's handling things better than he did during seeding season (which I think also corresponded with a natural post honeymoon meltdown phase).  

To finish the week off strong I found out we have mice in our house.  It's been several years since we've had uninvited pets so I wasn't really expecting scurrying visitors.  

We limped our way to the finish and ended our school week with popcorn and a movie. 

After the kids were tucked into bed I had my own little 

"we made it through the first week of home school" celebration.

...and tomorrow we attempt to catch up on the yard, house, and garden work that got neglected all week.

Visitors from Mexico

This month has been a busy, fun, exhausting, action packed time of year.  Hence the dire lack of blog posts.

{Cece happy to see her little friend again}

This month we have the honor to be able to meet up with some dear friends of ours from Mexico.  They were up in Canada for a few weeks visiting family (My friend Amber is originally from Canada) and they  managed to squeeze a beach day with us into their busy schedule.   

These were the folks we hung out with while we were in Baja this past December, and the friends we met for the first time while we were on staff at an orphanage back in '09.  

It really was great to see them and their adorable kids again, and to catch up on conversation (something we never seem to lack).

My sister in law and nephew have been spending the month with us too.  That's her hiding behind the umbrella post.  Great photography I know.   

We are already dreaming about, and making plans for our next trip down to Baja.   I miss "my" kids! Seriously.  I'm going to have to do a post about them.   Amber has been kind enough to not only be looking out for them, making sure they have food etc. but also to send me the occasional photo and even letters from them.   But beyond just visiting the friends and "family" we've accumulated over the years there, we have a new venture that's been on our hearts, and in the back of our minds for a while.      

  Our passion, other than loving kids living in desperate situations,  is ministry that is discipleship based.   Ministry that does more than hands-outs with a side of religion...but deals with the core heart issues that are at the root of so much generational brokenness, addictions, poverty, neglect, abandonment, abuse etc.   We want to see people, who are often cast out of society, given the tools they need to provide for their families, live with purpose, and know their Savior.  We have a desire to see men, trained, given job skills, and pointed toward home to love and serve their families.  Something that is SO lacking.  We want to see legacies changed.  I know that's not something we can accomplish, but we serve a mighty God who brings beauty from ashes.....so with what little bit of time we have, with our limited resources, we're going to start getting our feet wet.   We'll hand Jesus our few little loaves and fishes and wait to see what he chooses to do with it.  If nothing else, it will stretch our faith even more and be another fun family adventure....and we'll get to hang out and work with our friends Amber and Saul again.  

We don't have any of the details worked out, we don't have a clue how we'll get there, or when, ....but we're hoping and praying to make it down for another 6 wks this winter.   Not a lot of time, but with everything we have on the go even getting there will be no small feat.  I'll fill y'all in when it becomes more of concrete plan.    

The little nephew I met for the first time 3 summers ago, has now morphed into a young man trying his first cup 'o Joe.  Don't let his sophisticated look fool you though, he's still as goofy as ever.  He has grown  SO much since last summer.  I love that we were able to meet him while he was still little, it's fun to look back over the last 3 summers and see how much our crew has grown.

My friend and sister in law with my daughter while we were at Family Camp (our traditional place to go for a week when Brook is staying with us).   

Between lake days, camp, and visiting friends is a whole lot of laundry, weed pulling, berry picking, lawn mowing, packing/ unpacking, and garden produce picking.   Not a lot of time for posting, but I miss doing it...and I don't want summer to go by completely unrecorded (my secret reason for blogging is my senility).  Another couple weeks of summer and we'll be into Harvest season.  This summer is going by way too fast!

What works for us - Home School review pt. 2

Every  family is unique, and every child is different so it only makes sense that every home schooling family does what works for them.  That is the beauty of home based education, the freedom to customize each childs education acorrding to their learning styles, interests, and personality.  We also customize how we do "school" around our family dynamics.

I'll save the specifics of curriculum for another post but I wanted to share a little about what home schooling looks like for us.

When I first began a couple years ago I knew nothing about educational philosophies, I had never heard of Charlotte Mason, and I didn't know the names of any common curriculum suppliers.

I researched, read blogs, and printed out all kinds of charts, schedules, and ways to keep us "on track" and motivated.  I scrutinized the public school grade lists to be sure we would cover the exact same material.

Only a few months into the school year our schedules were scrapped out of frustration or they were just plain forgotten about. Feeling like a failure,  I examined other home schooler's daily schedules broken into 15 minute time frames that lasted all day filled in with things like Latin, studying famous painters, and  craft time.  My heart raced just looking at a day like that.  Not my cup 'o tea.  Then I realized that we didn't have to look like anyone else and that there really is no "right" way to home school.  I eventually realized that I needed to start thinking differently about education, rather than just trying to do school in a new location.

We are not a structured family.   Neither mine, my husband's, nor our children's (except maybe 1 of them) personalities lend themselves to rigid scheduling or structure.  It makes us miserable.  Learning shouldn't be miserable, challenging yes, but misery no.

After doing some reading about different philosophies of education, "styles", methods, and 2 years of trial and error....we fall into some kind of ecclectic combination of  "Leadership Education" (You can find more arictles on Leadership Education (here and here.) and  "Literature based Education".... all tied together with an unschooling/ interest led education bow.  Not that we "unschool" but we are casual and non structured enough to warrant a slight aura of unschooling, at least a polite nod to our unschooling comrades.  With a couple subjects we are more or less traditionalists, and have assigned work to complete each day.    We are far from puritans to any one system or philosphy...heck we aren't even puritans to home schooling.   My son is at his public school Kindergarten orientation at this moment.    We do what works for each child, and that changes from year to year.  That's the only method I'm loyal to...finding what works and doing it.

I agree with some of the tenants of "Leadership Education" in that earlier is not always better and I like to keep the preschool  and early elementary years as unstructured and focused on creative, learning play as possible.  My son Roman certainly falls into this type of learning.  He was SO not wired to sit in a desk at 5 years old...even now in 3rd grade he has only 2 subject to complete in a day.  He has formal curriculum for math and for reading/ phonics.  The rest he learns as he experiments, plays, asks questions, and reads books.  We  do social studies out of a curriculum read aloud book but we don't do it every day.

My daughter who is finishing up 5th grade this year added a  Science curriculum to her Language Arts and Math line up from last year.   She also does a ton of reading, researching what ever she's interested in, writing, and creative play.

We are minimalists as far as formal, sit down, "buy a curriculum" book work.   I view education as a life long process, and part of what I want them to learn is a love of learning.  Their schooling should never interrupt their education.  I also view their "School years" as a 13 year process, with lots of time to fill in any "holes" or to learn what they need to learn by the time they graduate.   For example we haven't started learning French (like most Canadian kids do by 4th grade) but we will buy her a Rosetta Stone or some other curriculum in her teen years and she will be motivated by the desire to learn another language.  By then she will have a sense of purpose for wanting to learn French (she already talks about the various countries she wants to travel to) ,she will learn it more quickly, she will retain more of it and she will see the value of it.   Our kids already have a start on Spanish, but I know a desire to communicate better with their Mexican friends will inspire a more diligent study of the language at some point in the future.  I've stopped scrutinizing the list of what their public school counter parts are learning each year to ensure that we line up perfectly.

{examining the geometry of an empty wasps nest}

So much of what kids learn in "subjects" at school...health, Phys.Ed, Home Ec.  etc.  are the things kids can learn by being part of an intentional family.  We learn health by talking about how our bodies work, and why we need to keep them healthy.  We learn about nutrition by eating nutritious meals, we learn sports by playing,  we learn what it means to be a part of a family and community by being a part of a family and community...no crossword puzzles, busy work, and "center" activity sheets needed.


The subject we focus on the most is math.   That was a difficult subject for me as a child and it was so easy to just get left behind, perpetually lost.   The benefit of home schooling for my kids has been that we work on things until we have them mastered, and then we move on with confidence.   We are not on a timeline or trying to keep up with any one else.  We work until we "get it".  If something comes easy to them we can fly through their lessons and skip ahead grades, if something is a struggle we can work at it as long as they need without fear of being left behind.  If we only have time in a day to complete one subject we start with math.

{sibling closeness has been a wonderful side effect of home schooling}

 I guess the biggest thing I've learned this year, other than a better understanding of why and how I want to educate my kids, is just to relax.  I'm not in a competition with the public school,  I don't have anything to prove,  and I don't have my pride wrapped up in my kids academic achievements.   They have the freedom to enjoy learning, and I have the freedom to enjoy them.

{my kids beg to do history lessons, and they are fascinated by maps}

My goal is to encourage and develop each of my child's unique strengths to the fullest potential, while at the same time helping them to overcome, compensate for or just steward well the areas that are a challenge for them.

The funny thing about deficits, learning disabilities, or weaknesses is that, rather than something to be crushed or squelched, they are often a valuable gift that just need to be patiently unwrapped.

Perhaps I'll write more about those gifts in part 3.

{A ceremonial mask, made while we studied ancient India and the people of Mohenjo-Daro}

The "S" word - Rookie Home School Review part 1

We're winding up another school year so I decided I should write down some of what I'm learning as I go.

A topic on my mind today is the "S" word...socialization.

As a family that chose to begin home schooling a couple years ago, I hear the word "socialization" quite often.  Usually in the middle of an concerned observation, or line of questioning.  Over the past few years my internal reaction has ranged from fear "oh my, I had better make sure my kids are properly "socialized", to wondering "what the heck is socialization anyway?", to irritation at the continuing myth that somehow children who grow up being home schooled lack the ability to function as part of society.   

I grew up in conventional public schools, so did my husband.  We knew few people who home schooled and it seemed very foreign to us.  Very fringe. It brought up mental images of denim jumpers and awkward children in high water pants.

  

 As we continued in our adult life and began meeting all kinds of new people we began to realize that some of the most incredible young adults we came across had been "home schooled". We met real families that home schooled and noticed something different in their dynamics, priorities and structure.  This really caused me to question the stereo types I held in my mind.  

We began our own home schooling adventure 2 years ago, not out of fear or judgement of the public school (in fact our kids attended a very good small school), but out of desire and necessity.   The only "fear" involved was the dread of all the responsibility for our children's education being placed back on our shoulders.

We wanted something different that better suited the unique needs of our kids, our family based priorities, and our flexible lifestyle.  

After being in the "system" my whole life, and having my children in it for 4 years...It took a solid year to shed my own in the box thinking about education.  It is a scary place to venture out of, but at the same time so freeing.  Home schooling has become more than the place we "do school" but an entire lifestyle of learning and a new philosophy of education.

The first year was a transition year for all of us, and I have the ulcer to prove it.  My kids never, ever asked to be put back in school but I did find myself fantasizing about it on occasion.  This second year has been so much different.  The biggest change is we're relaxed.  We certainly don't have it all figured out, but I'm so much more relaxed and confident.  We're figuring out what works for us...not for any family....but for us.

So back to my question about "socialization".   I decided to look up some definitions of it.  

socialization - the adoption of the behavior patterns of the surrounding culture; "the socialization of children to the norms of their culture"

That definition causes me to actually question if this is a good thing.  Have you seen the behavior patterns of the our surrounding culture?  Seriously?  Have you watched the news or reality tv?  Have you noticed the adults stuck in endless childhood? ... the selfishness, the sense of entitlement, the whining, the dysfunction all around us?  Have you ever hung out with a whole pack of kids and observed the social structure and behavioral norms?  The rampant bullying, bratiness, disrespect, manipulation, lying, and rudeness?  These aren't just isolated examples.  It's human nature.   As Christians are we supposed to be conforming to the patterns of this world...to be blending in seamlessly?  I think not.

So that being said, although there are many exceptions in our society and schools, I would dare say that the "norms" and the pattern of our world culture isn't something I want deeply ingrained into my child's development.  Socialization as a way to conform to society doesn't seem like a virtue to aspire to.  

I'm far from a helicopter parent and I don't "shelter" my kids from the harsh realities of the world.  The difference is I am with my children walking them through it. My children have soothed drug addicted babies, visited Mexican rehab centres, befriended children with lice filled hair living in cardboard houses...not exactly a "bubble".

  Another difference is that they are not immersed in and being shaped by the values and the "norms of culture" day in and day out.  

v. so·cial·ized, so·cial·iz·ing, so·cial·iz·es

v.tr.

1. To place under government or group ownership or control.

2. To make fit for companionship with others; make sociable.

3. To convert or adapt to the needs of society.

v.intr.

To take part in social activities.

---

social·i·zation (-sh-l-zshn) n.

I think the first definition although arguably a different take on the word "socialize" kind of hits the nail on the head.   Who is doing the bulk of the training, the molding, and shaping of my child?   Is it the world system, the government, the professionals, peers....or is it the parents who love them?   Where is my child's time spent?  Have I unknowlingly relinquished my own responsibility over to the government, or group ownership? 

Once again, I know this will ruffle feathers and put people on the defensive so I will say again that i am not out right opposed to conventional schooling...in fact my youngest son is signed up for kindergarten this fall...but as a parent (especially one with a different value system than the world) these questions must be asked.  We have to question the things that are assumed.  Of course home based education isn't ideal or possible for all families or all children...but that is something each family has to decide for themselves with as much knowledge as possible. 

socialization

the establishment of socialist government; the nationalization of industry and other national resources.

Socialization is thus ‘the means by which social and cultural continuity are attained’.^{[1][2]  (Wikipedia)}

^{"Socialization is the means by which human infants begin to acquire the skills necessary to perform as a functioning member of their society, and is the most influential learning process one can experience"}

This last definition is one I can hang my hat on.   From the time infants are born they are learning, absorbing, and discovering.   As a parent what is my role in that learning?  Where does that end, where does it begin and what is that going to look like practically?

With the understanding that my children do need to learn social skills, and develop character, I have had to ask myself (as I weighed our options)  is conventional school and classrooms the only or even ideal place to learn those skills?   When, in history, did our modern "schools" develop and why?   Are there other ways for children to develop healthy friendships and learn to interact with their world?

 Every parent might answer those questions differently but they are important questions.  So before we assume that children need classroom "socialization" which by definition is conforming to culture, talk to and observe some freakishly unsocialized home schooling families.  What you see might be surprising, chances are they don't even wear matching denim jumpers.

Over the last couple years since bringing my kids back home,  there are a few things that have surprisingly discovered.  

My children still have friends.  A benefit of home schooling is that we can choose to spend time with the people that we enjoy.   "Friends" no longer mean classmates who are "friends" one day and cruel bullies the next.  Friendships are deeper and more meaningful as my kids social circle has become more intentional and somewhat smaller.   We have many family friends with kids of all ages,  my children go to other children's homes, play with neighborhood kids, and have activities outside our home. 

My children are each other's best friends.   I once had someone shake their head in pity that our children's closest friends seem to be their siblings.  Of course like anyone else we have off moments, and off days, my children like myself are little sinners who sometimes struggle to put other's needs ahead of their own.  On a whole, one of the most surprising and refreshing changes in our family dynamics, as a direct result of our home based education, is closer sibling relationships.  They learn to take care of each other, to be loyal to each other, and to interact with (tolerate, make peace with, and enjoy)  a house full of different personalities and ages.  It seems to me that this practice at home reflects the skills they will need in the big wide world.  They are gaining the ability to care for others who are weaker, learning from those who are more mature,  and to learning to engage and resolve conflict in a healthy constructive way with people of different ages.

My Children are learning about the world by being in it.   Rather than being in a classroom every day, they have time to ride along with Dad as he works and does business, and spend time running errands with mom while interacting with various adults in a variety of situations.  In reality, home schooled kids learn a variety of social interactions by being out in the world in stead of cooped up with a group of 30 kids their same age all day.  We have even more time and freedom to travel, to volunteer, to be involved in society.  I was so worried a few years ago that my children would miss out on "socialization" by not being in school...but in reality healthy "socialization" (defined by me as having a healthy foundation of character qualities, conflict resolution skills, and the ability to function as a productive member of society)  ,can happen in a variety of ways, in a variety of places, and most effectively by interacting with a wide range of people.  

My kids are a work in progress.  When they avoid eye contact, chew with their mouth open, or ask much too loudly in a grocery store why "that man is so fat".....I must remind myself that there is no quick fix when it comes to children.   Etiquette and social graces are no different.  It will take many years of correcting, reminding, encouraging, correcting, reminding and teaching...and more reminding and more correction and even more encouraging.

So there you have it,  just a few of my thoughts on the dreaded "S" word  and my discoveries as a relatively new home school mom.   

In reality I don't think much about the "S" word we're too busy living out our lives in the naturally social environments of home and community...to stop and ask "did I socialize my kids today?"

Here's a pretty cool article I found while looking for some funny pictures for this post.

Home-Schooling: Socialization not a problem.

{This one is just because life is best when we have the ability to laugh at ourselves!}

Monkey Kids Show Day

I love this handsome little face!  Although the boy it belongs to is growing up awfully fast.  

Here is spider boy in his element.

We're not fans of being overly busy with activities and sports.  Our family is minimalist when it comes to  signing them up and running them around.  I suspect it's a combination of cheapness, laziness, a general disdain for structured business,  and fundamentally different priorities that contribute to the preservation of family home time and unstructured childhood play.  However, they usually do one sport type activity during the school year.  Gymnastics was a great fit for us this winter.  One day a week we drove  40 minutes to town where all three took a gymnastics class.  Cece and I did our grocery shopping while the kids worked on their flexibility, balance and most importantly burned off some energy.   It was inexpensive, and convenient.  They really enjoyed their first year in this gymnastics program.   The last class of the year the parents were invited to come and watch the kids show off their skills.

Roman is a natural gymnast.  He LOVED it.  The more he can throw him self around the better.

It was so good for this lanky, vestibularly challenged girl to work on the things that don't come so naturally to her.  

It was a challenge for Silas to stick it out and get through the year but it was good for his courage.  There were a few weeks he didn't make it past the front door, but most days he looked forward to it.  He is mister competitive and took his "show day" very seriously.  He practically ran across the balance beam so he could "win"... because it's always about speed. 

They made their mama proud.