Bunch of Things

First off, my thoughts (before I forget). We get Ode magazine. We REALLY enjoy it. Perhaps more than any other magazine. The articles are on important issues, but they are often hopeful. They are about people who are trying to make a difference or bring about change. Anyway, the last issue had an article by John Taylor Gatto about education that really clicked with me as I anticipate educating my little ones at home. You can read it here. It concisely described a few of my own reasons for choosing this and was inspiring with how I do want to educate my children. There is one paragraph of the article that keeps running through my head (and it doesn't have anything to do with education).

Gatto says, "One afternoon when I was 7, I complained to [my grandfather] of boredom, and he batted me hard on the head. He told me I was never to use that term in his presence again, that if I was bored it was my fault and no one else's. The obligation to amuse and instruct myself was entirely my own, he said, and those who didn't know that were childish people, to be avoided if possible." Wow.

Our generation has become a collective who waits to be served, to be entertained, to be taught, to be preached to,... Is it laziness? What is it? Why have we stopped taking initiative and taking responsibility? I just thought it was powerful. I hope that this is something that I can teach my own children. I want to guide them and encourage their curiousity-their delight, but I do not want to be solely responsible for their amusement. And better for them.

Secondly, congratulations are in order. Mike proposed to my sister Laura on Saturday at Albion's homecoming!! You can read the whole story here. We are so happy for you both, and cannot wait to truly have Mike in our family. There is no date yet, and it may be a while yet as they both want to finish their schooling.

Thirdly, I just wanted to remark on what a great big sister Elinore is. She loves going for wagon rides and holding onto her brother. She really has been so helpful lately, wanting to help make dinner, take care of Tobin, help me clean,... I just love them both so much