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| Baby Einstein |
Pearl of the Day: Happy Homework
In gearing up for another school year, the pearl by Will Durant, “education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance," struck a chord.
After law school, I’d joke how I’ve forgotten more than other people learned yet with children I’m reminded of just how little I know.
At the first sonogram confirming that I was going to be a mommy, “my baby” was no larger than a pea. I couldn’t even begin to comprehend how my body was going to turn this pea into a person and how I would bear witness to its evolution.
I am consistently amazed at my children. What they know, how they learn it and what they gravitate towards. Some things that I think fly right over their little heads, they come out with later on. Things that I swear they get, they don’t. I often feel like an oaf when I see my children’s teachers or other parents get a point across to them that I have been trying to figure out how to get across.
My main focus as a mom is to keep my kids delicious and happy. I figure the rest would naturally fall into place. If I keep my kids happy then they’d fall within the category of "people who are in good moods are better at inductive reasoning and creative problem solving." --From Emotion, Disclosure, and Health, 1995 (Salovey, Mayer, Goldman, Turvey & Palfai) Yet for my kids to learn, I must actively teach. I’m not a teacher, but guess what, I play one every day at home, whether it’s to point out new foods, new words, new colors, “how to” do everything in our little worlds, how to react to distress and all about love. Unconditional love, is always at the top of my homework list.
Children are sponges and I love watching their eyes light up at a new place or new activity. You can see my son’s wheels turning when he’s thinking or problem solving. My daughter is like a parrot and will repeat and understand everything you say. Keeping them engaged in learning and in the wonder of the world is a skill in and of itself. They are like open windows welcoming the breeze. One day they may be tempted to close the window, it may be a hail storm of algebra that does it. How do we help them keep it cracked?
I remember being easily distracted in school. Boys. Damn boys! I had lots of school crushes, some of whom swayed me towards academics and others not so much. My mom remembers when I was in High School, telling me to go study and I’d head off to my room, an hour would pass and I’d come out with a new hairdo, outfit and makeup application ready for a snack.
I still prefer to work at night and can’t force myself into doing something. I have to be ready. Likewise, I’m learning how my kids learn best and are most receptive. Like your children’s health care, your child’s education takes teamwork. You are an active participant in their learning process and I always chat with their teachers. I like to infuse what’s happening naturally but found my son actually likes being ‘taught to.’ It signals to him that it’s important. My daughter will go with the natural flow and learn as we go.
I began 1st grade as a pirate. I had a weak muscle in my right eye and had to wear an eye patch. I remember feeling incredibly anxious and clutching onto my mom as we approached my classroom doorway. I peered in with my one eye and the kid’s were staring at me and their jaws dropped. It could have simply been because we were late (shocker) but more likely it was because of my freak show. While I feared my teacher would make me walk the plank, she held me by the hand and led me into the classroom. I will never forget those few moments and neither will my elementary school friends.
Our children are building memories together. They are learning together and from one another. I love any type of “reunion” for this reason. You get to see what everyone remembers and how you’ve affected them and vice versa. Trips down memory lane are just as interesting of a learning experience as the first time around.
I learn and relearn with my children every day. Seeing how they are schooled is fascinating. The colors, letters and social skills are the true stepping stones to our knowledge base. The early years are setting the building blocks for them to absorb even more knowledge and resources to cope with life as they age.
Yet I loathe having to relearn math and science labs but am excited to embark on historic and writing dramas with my children and have them act out scenes from history. Perhaps I need to write a script for the multiplication table.
We are constant role models for our children and the more we can model our world for them, the more they will be engaged in the world and educational process without it feeling like homework.
Keeping learning happy for your children is something you will learn!!
Mommas Pearls Radio Show: Pea Brain, we chat with Ellen Galinsky, author of "Mind in the Making"
Copyright © 2010 Cynthia Litman d/b/a Tigris Imprints. All Rights Reserved.