make something

When my kids come to me bored and ask,

"What can we do?"

my response is always the same:

"Make something!"

I love to look around the house and see kids creating works of their own.  I see their wheels spinning, as they gather up materials and look for a quiet spot to "work."  I watch as they try to put something together, and sometimes fail a few times before getting the materials and structure just right.  It's an interesting process to observe, especially when kids are left alone to hammer out details and make things work.  I like to be present and available while they work on projects or inventions, but I really believe in letting them go at it alone, with as little intervention as possible.  It's amazing what they can do on their own.  And they need to find this out for themselves.  

As parents, we all tell our children that they can do or be anthing they want...if they set their mind and heart to it.  But when they begin to create works of their own, they really begin to believe in themselves.  The seeds of real self-worth are planted, and begin to grow as children work to accomplish more and more, in order to get another taste of that sweet feeling of satisfaction they have experienced in creating something of their own.

Hannah has been making friendship bracelets and doing lots of art work.  She is teaching her sisters to do all of the amazing things she likes to do.  She always has a knitting project going, and really turns out more finished projects than anyone else in the house!

This cute 4-year-old sat and embroidered this entire little sketch of a bunny all by herself.  I untied a few knots in the floss, and threaded and re-threaded her needle when necessary.  But she worked so hard on her own!  The entire project was her own idea.  Now she wants to turn it into a bunny apron for spring cooking.  Cutie!

She also raids my fabric stash regularly, along with her sisters, and makes all sorts of cool creations from colorful scraps.  While her big sister sews up some pretty things, she uses scotch tape and bobby pins to make her dolly clothes and blankets stay together.  Clever :).

I found Eliza in my studio last week, working at some fashion designs on the dress form.  Dolled up in all varieties of trim, including fur, bias tape, lace, ric-rac, and her own embroidered creation for an apron, I think this dressed-up lady has substantial style...especially for having a 6-year-old stylist!

And she's finally caught the knitting bug!  I can hardly get her to turn out her light at night...she's up in her bed knitting away.  Just like her mama!

Taylor made these delicious homemade flour tortillas for dinner yesterday.  I wasn't even around to offer a hand.  All he needed was some inspiration from a friend who just did some traveling in Central America, and a little help from good ol' youtube.  He even cleaned up his own mess...what a stud!

 Everyone loved the tortillas! 

(especially our now toothless Eliza!)

mmmmmm!

The boys have also been working at perfecting their bow and arrow design,

and making plans to fix up an old treehouse in one of the big elm trees out back.

Honestly, it amazes me what these kids can do.  All they need is some basic skills, and a little free time.  

Sometimes I worry about them.  Are they learning enough?  Are they responsible?  Are they caught up in math?  Are they going to make it in the "real world" someday?  Do they have clean socks on?  

Etc., etc...

And then I look around and see what they have created.  I see them invent and play and work and make.  I see them gather and function in teams in order to conquer a task or game.  I see them settle differences and come to agreements.  I see them do hard things.  

And then I get the feeling that they'll be just fine.

Columbus Day

First fall fire in the woodstove.

Feeling refreshed from an adult weekend away...in the Big Apple again.  Love!

A clean house, newly-learned guitar tunes, honed chess-playing skills, and 3 sets of stripey-cool painted nails, all because of some wonderfully talented babysitters.  Thanks, friends!!

Our very own reenactment of the Columbus story, dress-ups and all.

Taylor playing a mule, carrying sword-wielding Sarah as Christopher himself.  King Ferdinand (Romney) insisting on wearing a Darth Vader mask.

Older brothers pointing out countries and continents for little siblings on the map and globes.  (Wall map above from IKEA, butterfly chair from Urban Outfitters, pillow from World Market.  Basement redo still coming along...slowly!)

Listening to the children's recitation of a classic Christopher Columbus poem, and seeing even the younger ones work hard to memorize it in time for Family Home Evening.

Revisiting excerpts from Mary Poppins, Grimm's Fairy Tales, and Peter Rabbit during writing and grammar lessons.  And three little girls begging me to read the "real story" to them all day long.

Opening up a recently-arrived box of new math books, and the buzz of excitement that comes with anything new.  Just what we needed.

This quote:  "It was the Lord who put into my mind (I could feel His hand upon me) the fact that it would be possible to sail from here to the Indies.  All who heard of my project rejected it with laughter, ridiculing me.  There is no question that the inspiration was from the Holy Spirit, because He comforted me with rays of marvelous inspiration from the Holy Scriptures." --Christopher Columbus, Book of Prophecies.


Hope your holiday was great!

on music in the home

 

 

Romney had a stellar performance at this year's fall strings recital.  We always try to attend  recitals and sporting events as a family, and enjoy cheering each other on...except for the little people, who get a bit wiggly and disinterested (bored), and choose to lay on the floor and color instead of pay attention to the performers.  But we love these events.  And just as much as I love to watch my kids perform and compete, I love equally the excitement and support shown by siblings as they look on.

I must say that music recitals are great moments for parents.  However, getting to the recitals can be arduous, time-consuming, and sometimes just plain torture.  Coming from a musical background, I have struggled for years with firming up my own philosophy on music training in the home.  It's one of those tricky parenting quandries, which varies from family to family and often, child to child.  Do we force our children to play a musical instrument?  Do we choose the instrument, or let them decide?  At what age should they begin formal lessons?  What if they end up hating it?  How long do we make them stick with it before giving it up?  Oh my.  Tricky, indeed.

After years of working on this in theory and practice, I have no perfect answers...but I've found that our experience with this has followed the same pattern as many of the other experiences we've had as parents.
Lots of prayer and consideration of the individual needs of each child.
Lots of experimentation and uncertainty.
Lots of trying to be patient and flexible.
Sometimes we have begun on one path, only to find out later that the chosen path was not right for that specific child.  We tried forcing the child to continue with the instrument he chose to begin with, but our relationship with him was strained by this, and we decided that the relationship was more important than the musical training.  We waited ample time (over a year), to make sure it wasn't just a rough patch, and could see that the child truly did not love playing that instrument.  It was obviously not his passion.  So we allowed him to go to his teacher and have a frank talk about quitting the lessons; and then to choose another instrument.  Our rule is that each child (over eight years old) must be learning to play at least one instrument at all times.

At first this really bothered me.  Quitting!  I felt like we had wasted so much time and money on their lessons.  And that we had let them give up, instead of sticking with what they had begun.  But as I've watched these boys, I see that they have learned discipline during these years of daily practice, in the process of figuring out which instrument suited them best.  And I feel that their early strings experience provided great ear training for their other instrumental pursuits.  All good music ties together in history, theory, and sound.  And I believe that to immerse children in the rigorous course of quality musical study, no matter the type, provides an added layer of depth to their education and refinement.  But at a certain point, we have felt the need to back off, and let the child (or youth) decide to take his practice and progress into his own hands (with our support, of course).  And if he just wasn't willing to do this, it was plain to us that it was time for him to move on to something that he could be passionate about.  

Other children of ours began playing an instrument and loved that instrument enough to stick with it.  They have still had those rough spots, where the music gets more challenging and they have had to work really hard to learn it.  However, the kids who love their instrument have worked their way through those times, and gotten past them successfully.  In other words, they don't always love practicing and going to lessons, but they do it with a good attitude, and work hard to get past the difficult times.  They show continued interest, and are willing to invest their time and energy in order to progress.  Although I may need to remind them to practice occasionally, I don't force them. These kids practice on their own, because they know that's what it takes to become great at what they love.

One thing that I feel strongly about is that in order for kids to succeed in learning and loving music, they need to be inspired to do so at home.  We play classical music and learn about composers.  We sing together.  We do family recitals and perform for one another, often inviting friends to join in.  We try to go to local concerts and musicals as often as we can.  We expose our children to different venues in which music is sung and played beautifully.  They feel of its importance.  And its power.  And I believe that this has encouraged them to want to make music a part of who they are.

So...
now it's your turn.  How have you handled music lessons in your home?  I'd love to hear your ideas on how to get your kids to practice willingly and cheerfully.  And whether you allow them to decide when to quit lessons, or make that decision as parents.
Comments, please!

in the saddle

The trend for fall at our house?

HORSES.

The girls started riding lessons this fall.

And they're having the time of their lives.

Can you tell?