Don't Stifle the Creative Spirit

I had forgotten just how creative my children could be.  They are each given a chore or two to do each day before they can have any screen time.  Although they've chosen to go without screen time for most of the week, they have been "working" today.  They chose to work together and there has been an awful lot of giggling coming from their rooms.  They have been inventing games to make cleaning more fun.  Sure wish I could learn some of those games.  :)

There have also been some other creative activities taking place.  Every few minutes this afternoon our daughter ran to record a new verse of her song.  She was inspired suddenly this afternoon and every little bit she was inspired even more.  The day ended with a complete song, recorded on a cell phone.  When she played it for her dad this afternoon, even I knew most of the song.  We have a song writer on our hands.

May I never stifle this creativity  I know part of the inspiration was cleaning their rooms and finding precious treasures that had been missing for weeks/months (like a microphone).  I've always said, if something is lost, spend some time cleaning and you'll be amazed what you can find.  ;)  May I never let cleanliness and order take priority over creativity.  How do you balance order and creativity?  How do you make sure kids have the freedom to express themselves and maintain a sense of family responsibility?  How do I make sure the kiddos have a fun summer and the ability to express their creativity while not turning the house into a junk yard?   Maybe, they just have too much STUFF and not enough "blank space" to really encourage creativity.  Maybe our garage sale this weekend will help them find more "blank space." 

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Memorial Day

Summer Vacation

And so it begins . . .

Summer vacation is here.  No more getting up to get ready for school bright and early in the morning.  No more homework.  No more Spelling City.  No more daily routine we've had for the past nine months.  You might think that would lead to more relaxation, more freedom, and more rest.  You might think that, but I'm not sure it is going to be true.  I sat down this week to make our summer schedule.  It is CRAZY!!!  For the month of June, there was one day on the calendar with nothing on it.  Now, granted some of those activities are vacations, time with grandparents, and other fun stuff.  STILL--CRAZY!!!

The CRAZINESS started today with picking them up after school ended at noon and heading straight to the Kick Off Party for the Summer Reading Program and the Hays Public Library.  That may be the activity I'm most excited about for the summer.  They have all kinds of fun things planned--too bad we won't make it to everything we want.  Once a week will be enough for us when we're around.  I'm just excited our daughter will get to participate in a special program just for the In-Be-Tweens.  Check it out at www.hayspublib.org.  What could be better for my readers than fishing for books?!?  They had a great time today.  Our daughter brought home the gold seal award, a rally towel, and bookmark from the KU Reading Program.  She also won the award for the most AR points in her class--she had 305.6  points this year.  Our son has really started reading and only wants to read chapter books right now.  It was hard for me to watch him get ready for our garage sale and get rid of his "baby" books.  I'm so proud of their reading skills.  They've both had an excellent year.  Let's keep it up!!

Red Ninjago Ninja

Fortunately, the swimming pool doesn't open until Memorial Day--after our garage sale.  That also plans to be a big part of our summer and we're ALL excited--especially since I have a water chair and can get in the water too.  :)  Much to the kids chagrin, I have also worked up a schedule of chores, cooking lunches, and keeping their rooms clean.  They are not a bit excited about that and how it could negatively impact their pool time or time with electronics.

What do you have planned for your summer?  How do you keep a balance between fun and responsibility?  I'm planning to use the summer fun calendar out of Thriving Family Magazine.  We already plan to spend time enjoying the Summer Olympics and the kiddos plan to do their very own Clubhouse Olympic Challenge.  Hopefully we'll keep a good balance and keep everyones physical, mental, and spiritual fitness in shape this summer.  Any great ideas out there on how to do that?

Our summer also includes some exciting adventures, including a birthday.  Keep checking back with my blog to see what all we get to do this summer.

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"At the end of life . . ."

"At the end of life we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received, how much money we have made, how many great things we have done.  We will be judged by 'I was hungry and you gave me to eat, I was naked and you clothed me, I was homeless and you took me in.'   Hungry not only for bread--but hungry for love.  Naked not only for clothing--but naked for human dignity and respect.  Homeless not only for want of a room of bricks--but homeless because of rejection."--Mother Teresa

Band Legacy

This week, I attended the final concert of my High School Band teacher before his retirement.  It was amazing (as always) and quite bittersweet for me.  I found myself thinking back on my own band career and being deeply saddened that it doesn't look like my children will get to have that experience.

If it were all about teaching them to play a musical instrument, that could be worked out.  I do happen to teach piano after all.  :)  Plus, if they chose a different instrument, perhaps we could find a teacher close and make that happen.  But, it is not all about learning to play an instrument.  Although that in itself is rewarding and does have the benefit of being able to share your music with others and possible music scholarships for college, it does not begin to touch the benefits of a band legacy.

The band is like your other family.  There are experiences that happen through band that no one could possibly understand if they are not there.  There are inside jokes that no one else would find funny.  Relationships form with other members of your instrument section that may not have formed otherwise.  Friendships form that may not have just passing in the hall.  There are life experiences that happen through band that weren't typical of my other classes.  My first trip overseas was a music trip with the Kansas Ambassadors of Music.  I made friendships through band camps and district music events that lasted far beyond the week of camp or the event.  The shared experience of band bonds you with others who have that same experience whether in your school or far away.

It saddens me that it looks like my children will not get to have this experience.  Even if a band suddenly appeared at our school, it will take time to build it into a family.  I remember the question in 4th grade was not "Will I join band next year?"  It was, "What instrument will I choose?"  The family was already formed and it was a great privilege to join.  Not everyone stayed in band all through school, but if they left, their presence was missed.  When you are part of a family, your presence or absence is noticed and makes a difference.  Our band family was such a big part of my life that I still consider them my "family" years later.

I realize music education is considered a "luxury" and is not part of some schools.  I am convinced those who are making those decisions have never been part of a band "family" themselves.  It is not a luxury.  Being part of band bonded me with others who shared my love of music.  Having music in my school day kept me sane and allowed me to do well and focus in other classes.  I even planned my schedule around music classes--they were not optional for me.  http://angel-memoriesforgotten.blogspot.com/2012/02/music.html

Benefits of music in my life:
1.  Stress relief
2.  Way to volunteer and share my talents with others
3.  Activity that kept me busy and out of trouble in High School
4.  Perseverance
5.  Organization
6.  Managing a time schedule
7.  Friendships
8.  Scholarships for college
9.  Travel opportunities.
10.  "Family" relationships developed

What I want for my kiddos is to find a group of people they feel comfortable with and who will let them be themselves.  I want them to have a group of peers who will encourage them to always do their best and reach for the stars.  I want them to be challenged to continue to do better and better and have someone to celebrate with when they reach their goals

Thank you Mr. Will and my NCHS band family.

What are your memories of band?  What are some other group that might become a "family" if band is not available?

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Keeping Our Schools Safe

Every week day I entrust the safety of my children to school for approximately 7 1/2 hours.  Fortunately, I rarely worry about their safety while they are there.  Now, granted, there is some tough stuff emotionally that happens as you grow up.  Especially when you have a room full of kids all hitting puberty and hormones at about the same time.  Thankfully, our school has an anti-bullying program.  Does this keep bullying from happening?  Unfortunately, NO.  But, what it does do is help all the kiddos identify what constitutes bullying so everyone knows when it is happening and they know where to find help.  Hopefully, it also means the students stick up for each other and identify bullying when it happens to others.

One day, within the past few weeks, I heard a firetruck pass through town.  I never imagined it was headed to the school.  I never imagined they had a REAL fire.  I am so thankful they practice fire drills so that everyone was able to safely and quickly get out of the building.  I'm thankful they knew how to respond in an emergency.  I'm thankful the fire alarm was pulled quickly and teachers managed to remain calm enough to get their students to safety.  I'm thankful the fire department responded quickly and there were no injuries or major structural damage.  I'm thankful the first graders were already at PE since the fire started outside their classroom.  This was an adventure we never really want to have, but I'm thankful the school practices just in case.  I don't think anyone at that school will think fire drills are a boring waste of time.

Thank you to teachers, Principal, staff, firefighters, etc. who work so hard to keep our children safe.  Thank you to God for keeping Your Hand over the school.  I'm thankful my trust is not misplaced.  I entrust my children's safety to the school approximately 37 1/2 hours per week.  Thank you that you also take their safety so seriously.

Power of Speech

"Words of affirmation, blessing, and encouragement cost us nothing, but they can accomplish great things."--from NIV Once-A-Day 31 Days of Wisdom


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