Amazing Children
Today our homeschool co-op had a mini Olympics field day at the park across the street from my house. The day was cool and clear and we had a good showing with about fifteen of our twenty five or so kids. This is the first year for my co-op, an idea started with two good friends last spring when we knew that the personal demands of our current co-op were putting too much strain on our already overburdened lives. We set the plan in motion, arranged for classes at my church and managed to acquire twelve of the most wonderful homeschooling families, quite by sheer circumstance, and got the co-op off the ground in September. It has been successful beyond my wildest dreams and exactly what I was looking for. We have lost a few members and gained a few, but still manage to have great cohesiveness.
Today we met at the park and the kids ran off to play, all fifteen of them, ranging in age from two to ten. No one is left out. No ugly words are ever said. This is a group of great kids who are excellent examples of the best traits that homeschooling brings out in children. We moms chatted for a bit and laid out a loose plan for our planned activities. These moms....I can't really put into words how grateful I am to them. They are really why we are a success. First, of course, they are raising these wonderful kids. They are doing it right and our group is reaping the benefits. Second, they have managed to take the burden off this micromanaging maniac of a woman that I am and allow me to really enjoy the experience. Everyone steps up. Every time. We have managed to create a true cooperative, everyone pulling their own weight.
After about 30 minutes, one mom brought the kids together at the pavilion and talked to them about the history of the Olympics. The rest of us set up stations around the area. We had jump rope, hula hoops, long jump, football toss, bean bag toss, three legged race and frisbee toss. We set the kids free (no need for grouping them or micromanaging them either, because they "get it" and hit all the stations on their own schedule) and we spent the next two hours having fun. I was at the long jump station and I was happy to see the kids so interested in something so incredibly simple. They got in line, made some practice jumps and then made two measured jumps, trying to best their own length. Frisbee throwing was another huge success and they were so funny to watch as they learned about three legged racing. I think we will make this field day a tradition! Great kids! Great parents! Great day!
Today we met at the park and the kids ran off to play, all fifteen of them, ranging in age from two to ten. No one is left out. No ugly words are ever said. This is a group of great kids who are excellent examples of the best traits that homeschooling brings out in children. We moms chatted for a bit and laid out a loose plan for our planned activities. These moms....I can't really put into words how grateful I am to them. They are really why we are a success. First, of course, they are raising these wonderful kids. They are doing it right and our group is reaping the benefits. Second, they have managed to take the burden off this micromanaging maniac of a woman that I am and allow me to really enjoy the experience. Everyone steps up. Every time. We have managed to create a true cooperative, everyone pulling their own weight.
After about 30 minutes, one mom brought the kids together at the pavilion and talked to them about the history of the Olympics. The rest of us set up stations around the area. We had jump rope, hula hoops, long jump, football toss, bean bag toss, three legged race and frisbee toss. We set the kids free (no need for grouping them or micromanaging them either, because they "get it" and hit all the stations on their own schedule) and we spent the next two hours having fun. I was at the long jump station and I was happy to see the kids so interested in something so incredibly simple. They got in line, made some practice jumps and then made two measured jumps, trying to best their own length. Frisbee throwing was another huge success and they were so funny to watch as they learned about three legged racing. I think we will make this field day a tradition! Great kids! Great parents! Great day!
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