The Joy of Field Trips

Academy of Natural Sciences

Nothing philosophical today simply a sharing of the joy that is the field trip. I did not take advantage as much last year and have been trying to make up for lost time. We went up to the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia on Friday ( near to the more well known Franklin Institute) and while small and easily seen in a few hours we had s great time. The kids were able to see the Dioramas of the animals ( moose and lions and bears and stuff) and best of all we spent quite a bit of time in the butterfly room. It was really fun to see all the different varieties, look at them eat. and they were everywhere, the walls and floors ( we had to tread carefully), so many colors and sizes. Jenny and Matthew semed to enjoy it the most. They also got to spend time a room called "Outside IN" with some live animals, animal bones, and hides, lots of things to touc and explore. Puzzles to do and all sorts of creepy crawly things to touch and see.

McFadden Glass Blowing



Then yesterday we went to a glass blowing shop, small and quaint in the garage of a guy. 20 active homeschoolers attended and everyone got to make either a pendant or a marble. And yes, they allowed the 4 year old monster ( aka Nate) to actually use a rod to get molton glass, and (with help ) pick colors and form it into a marble. Jenny got to make a pendant and I have to say, Really was one of our best field trips ever. No way would they ever do this in public school.

First they got the molton glass out of the furnace, then dabbed it in the additional colors they wanted. After placing it back in the rewarming furnace, they then they rolled it on a table, back to rewarm, then using the tongs, formed it into the shape and then knocked it off the rod. After placing it in insulation to cool, the rod goes into to barrel to cool off which pops off the extra glass from the rod. After 15-20 minutes the marble is cool enough to handle and the nub gets ground down to make it all smooth. It really was fun and different. This is the stuff that makes homeschooling worth it.

Fabulous Days.

Running around Homeschooling

I have been thinking a lot about homeschooling and running, and the parallel between them. For me, I approached both of these insane ideas with the same sort of resolute trepidation. OK, this is something that you must do, it is in your (and the kids) best interest. It will be something that you just have to endure.... and with both, I was surprised to discover, not only that I CAN do it, but there are benefits that I actually enjoy, and ( dare I say) that it is sometimes .....fun.

Now, there are many days that I simply would rather have a bikini wax than homeschool. I sometimes ponder the desire to skip a day ( or week) and just goof off. But, I gear up and settle everyone down to do as they should, and I slide into the familiar and BAM, before I know the day is done and we have accomplished everything that was scheduled ( well, more or less, I mean I am not Anne Sullivan). How does this happen? Besides simple ( ha ha- simple?) will power, I attribute this to a few things, I am getting better at motivating and scheduling the kids. They know what is expected, I have rewards and consequences and it is our routine. Also, I have great hubby who wants this for our family. While he doesn't necessarily know the day to day drama, he is glad I am doing this and allows me to freak out about it every now and then with love, support, and encouragement. I have the benefit ( and consequence) of being with my kids almost all the time, I really, really know them (and they me) the good, the bad, and the ugly. We have fun, we laugh, we play, we discuss the grammatical ways in which to use the word "fart" ( Did you know that "farting" is a present participle?). Also, I find that my kids have a fun knowledge of the obscure, are serious about reading, enjoy different experiences, are confident, are kind ( well not always to each other), and generally they are pretty good kids.

Now running, again, lots of similarities, I rarely want to do it ( but will admit that I have caught myself looking forward to it, once). I get up, get dressed, I put on my sneaks, and head out the door. Usually I am operating on routine, as I want nothing at all to do with crawling out of bed. ( Have I mentioned my pride at being a night owl and morning hater?) All the while, I am quietly being negative about it all ( hmmm lowering expectations?) convincing myself that today I am not going to run far, that I am never going to make it all the way this morning, that it is OK to slack a bit once in a while, that perhaps today I will walk some hills instead of running 4 miles. etc. etc. etc. But I start and then, BAM before I know it, its done. How does this happen? Well, same things, I am getting more conditioned and my body is able to achieve more ( and feel more, as the almost 42 year old knees seem to be giving me some trouble lately). Also, I have a supportive husband who praises my efforts, encourages me to keep at it, and balances the right amount of neutrality to my negativity and positive support to my enthusiasm. Finally, I also have a running partner, who I, quite literally, ran into one day. And as we had the same schedule and pace, we seemed to fall into a nice routine which sometimes proves to be the little extra I need to get out there and get going in the morning.

So, like all things that matter, achievement and success require patience, diligence, commitment, and much of the time, not too much heavy thinking. Blind adherence to routine can carry you pretty far and before you know it....You have Will Power. Will power is earned and comes not from magic fairy dust being sprinkled down from above, but from doing it, day after day. It is important to remember that when it really comes down to it, I only have today, and I had better get up, get going, and do what needs doing because you never know what tomorrow will bring....well, besides another 4 miles and a heavy school schedule.

Now if only I had the will power to blog weekly....

Thoughts on Running..... or thoughts while running.

Well a few weeks ago I said to PapaSchnuck, " I think I am going to run, everyday, for two weeks." (why 2 weeks? well, to be honest it, I just pulled it out of the air and it seemed like a reasonable time, too short to give up because of boredom, too long to claim temporary insanity). Well, being an experienced husband, he wisely bit his lip to keep the laughter from emerging and, rather noncommittally replied, "That's nice dear" ( OK, OK, he didn't really say that but it was something equally neutral and not very encouraging) I was expecting incredulity, or shock or awe, but got, nothing, or at least not much. (Hmm... I thought to myself, he is not saying anything because he doesn't think that I am really going to do it). Well, Monday morning rolled around and I asked him to wake me, but I was so worried about not getting up, I barely got any sleep that night, up checking the clock over and over. so at 7am I bounded out of bed and off I went. And the next day..and the next... ( OK truth is. the 3rd day I could barely walk, so while I did go out, I only ran about 25 yards and walked the rest of the two miles.) One day, the first week it was raining, and I put on a hat. I would be darned if I would give in to the (imagined) failure from PapaSchnuck. ( I have to admit, this was a very wise strategy on his behalf because I think he knew if I thought HE thought I wouldn't do it, even without saying anything, it would push me. And it did, thanks babe!)



So.. 6 days the first week and 6 days the next week ( yes, I took Sundays off, except when I swapped it for a Monday run) and the two weeks flew by. ( yeah right, the only time that flew by was the time between the actual runs. I would leave the house for 40 minutes or so and swear I had been out running for 3 hours). But time did elapse, and I was faced with 2 weeks down and now what... Well I am still figuring it out ( my new time frame is my birthday at the end of the month), but still running every day. Trying desperately not to 'miss' a day else I fear never starting again, silly, I know but I have always been an all or nothing kinda gal. And, needless to say, I have worked my run up to 3-4 miles a day an, consequently, have some time on my hands.....err feet, to think a bit. The primary thought every morning is, "Who the hell would ever do his willingly?" ( yes I KNOW that I am doing it, not under any coercion, but I do not consider it doing it willing, more a ....necessity.... to prevent myself from gaining any more weight, since I have proven time and time again, a complete and utter inability to control my eating ( remember that all or nothing kinda gal? I have got to keep up the exercise. Homeschooling removed my 5 day a week workout down to 2 and that is not good for my figure.)



So I have pretty much concluded that that......running sucks. Excuse my vulgarity, but the only thing that I have found, so far, about running that is good, is when it is over. I do it because I must and believe it or not that has freed up a great deal of willpower. There is a freedom in realizing, I do not have to like it ( or even love it) but I do have to do it. I have not (yet?) experienced that 'high' runners talk about or the joy or anything remotely redeeming about it. Well, except for the fact that I dropped 5lbs in 3 weeks without changing my diet at all, poof- 5 lbs gone.. ( well not poof exactly but hey).. So the decision to just do it ( sorry Nike) , and the weight loss makes it just a little bit better to lace up, get out, and lumber on down the road one more morning.



Next post: the analogy between (or is it metaphor about?) running and homeschooling .....or maybe not.