This morning was the Christmas crafting fair. Other years this has meant that I collapse upon reaching home, and order take out for dinner. It should have knocked me flat today: the craft I picked was really, really challenging, the baby had an unusual fit of "Mommyitis," the church custodian pointed out some lapses in the co-op’s clean up routine from last week (at the same moment that I had 5 children at my table trying to learn to fold paper stars), and I forgot the practice strips of paper that I’d prepared at home for the kids to learn the star folding procedure on before they tried their hand with the pretty paper.
So thank you Lord, you did answer my prayer for strength this morning. The egg I ate beside my oatmeal seems to have helped me have staying power in the hunger area, and having some soup in the freezer keeps the afternoon from getting too stressful.
I forgot my camera right next to the practice strips of paper, sorry! Just picture a group of cute kids concentrating all in a row with their tongues sticking out 2 mm past their front teeth with paper strips in their hands, and that’s my morning. Some were intrigued with the jewelry findings I’d brought to turn the stars into ornaments, one Mom figured out a way to make earings out of the ones I’d brought with me, even though I didn’t bring the regular wires with me. One little girl decorated her purse with them like little charms. I love the idea that I’ve introduced kids (and moms) to a fun thing they can take in different directions.
My friend Connie also started off the Christmas season in a big way: she gave me a Sizzits Sidekick and a snowflake die! M is rolling out snowflake from some paper scrapsfrom the "paper purse," my accordion paper scraps box, and he has been entertained the whole time I’ve been blogging. I need to find him a nice card to glue them to next, something that contrasts nicely with pale grey. K just nursed herself to sleep as I typed one handed.
I had fun seeing the moms today that haven’t been co-oping at Eagle’s Wings in a while, but some with older teens weren’t there this time. They are busy with college prep, ballet, sports, and other things. Funny how in just 5 years of homeschooling and I can see changes and trends in my local group. I was thinking that perhaps this tradition is over with for us as well, since B is more interested in chatting with friends than in making Christmas crafts, but M turned shiny eyes to me, held up his beaded pipe cleaner ornament and said, "Isn’t it beautiful Momma? I used a different pattern on each strand! See it in in the light?" So I’m guessing that I’ve got at least another 5 years to go on this one.
How do you manage your energy on special outing days? Are they worth it for your family? Does the number of kids, their ages, and the range of ages affect your decision to go to them or not? What breakfast sticks with you?
Christine,
What a great blog! A glimpse inside your homeschool co-op. I love it!
I could have used some of your stories in my book on homeschool co-ops,<i> Homeschool Co-ops: How to Start Them, Run Them and Not Burn Out</i> available at http://www.HomeschoolCo-ops.com. I plan on reading more of your posts in the future and may want to add some of your experience to my blog posts.
I heard about your blog over at Denise and Kristen's Homeschool Group Leader blog. Aren't they great?
As for energy, my homeschool co-op has two families bring in snacks each week (for moms ONLY!). I usually grab a muffin mid-morning and that ties me over.
Keep up the great work. You're doing an important service to homeschool families and I bet they don't appreciate you as much a they should!
Carol Topp, CPA
http://www.HomeschoolCPA.com Helping homeschool leaders