HOMESCHOOLING

dealing with {her} obsession

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What does this look like to you? An owl, right? Or maybe even a cat or dog…But not if you’re five and obsessed with horses. If that’s the case all you see when you look at this is a horse. Horse. Horse. Horse. And good, bad (or ugly) you’re going to give it nostrils and a pair of reins.

Emma has fantastic qualities that I love about her. She’s strong. Confident. Determined. Focused. These are amazing qualities for a little girl to have. But these same qualities are also hard at work when it comes to her obsession with horses.

And I’m struggling with it.

I have a hard time getting her to expand her curiosities, her artwork, her reading selections, her discussions in the car, her answer to "what should we do today?" ; and to show interest in other things.

Right now, I’m torn on how to handle the situation.  And since I’m homeschooling, this issue comes up a lot for me. Do I just jump in with both feet and say, "okay, we LOOOVE horses!" We’re counting and adding horses in math, horse stories for reading, horse drawings for art, horse body parts for science, horse breeds for social studies!!

Do I delicately try to move her in another direction?

Or do I enforce some ‘no horses’ rules?

Many people would say–This will pass. All girls are obsessed with horses. But with Emma, I’m not so sure. When she latches on to something, she latches on tight until her knuckles are white.

For now, I’m starting with a small step. Tomorrow we’re getting out our sketch pads and colored pencils and answering this question: "what are you curious about?" And I intend on sitting right beside her and filling up my sketch pad with my own drawings and words, too.  (Frankly, there are too many things I’d like to learn about) but maybe I can get her thinking and breathe a little fresh air into that horse brain of hers. After that….well, I’m not really sure. But I’ll be sure to sneak you a little peak at her notebook when we’re done….

*****just for you know*****I’ve changed my words a little bit in this post this morning. I wrote it late last night– tired, exhausted–you all know how that is. So this morning I’m reading it and feeling less concerned or something….or maybe just hearing the advice rolling in makes me realize that I should just embrace it, encourage it and take it seriously. Something tells me that if I don’t give her "passion", (thanks Mindy) its due attention, I’ll be breaking a little heart.  Other curiosities will come along, too.*****

P1010007

What does this look like to you? An owl, right? Or maybe even a cat or dog…But not if you’re five and obsessed with horses. If that’s the case all you see when you look at this is a horse. Horse. Horse. Horse. And good, bad (or ugly) you’re going to give it nostrils and a pair of reins.

Emma has fantastic qualities that I love about her. She’s strong. Confident. Determined. Focused. These are amazing qualities for a little girl to have. But these same qualities are also hard at work when it comes to her obsession with horses.

And I’m struggling with it.

I have a hard time getting her to expand her curiosities, her artwork, her reading selections, her discussions in the car, her answer to "what should we do today?" ; and to show interest in other things.

Right now, I’m torn on how to handle the situation.  And since I’m homeschooling, this issue comes up a lot for me. Do I just jump in with both feet and say, "okay, we LOOOVE horses!" We’re counting and adding horses in math, horse stories for reading, horse drawings for art, horse body parts for science, horse breeds for social studies!!

Do I delicately try to move her in another direction?

Or do I enforce some ‘no horses’ rules?

Many people would say–This will pass. All girls are obsessed with horses. But with Emma, I’m not so sure. When she latches on to something, she latches on tight until her knuckles are white.

For now, I’m starting with a small step. Tomorrow we’re getting out our sketch pads and colored pencils and answering this question: "what are you curious about?" And I intend on sitting right beside her and filling up my sketch pad with my own drawings and words, too.  (Frankly, there are too many things I’d like to learn about) but maybe I can get her thinking and breathe a little fresh air into that horse brain of hers. After that….well, I’m not really sure. But I’ll be sure to sneak you a little peak at her notebook when we’re done….

*****just for you know*****I’ve changed my words a little bit in this post this morning. I wrote it late last night– tired, exhausted–you all know how that is. So this morning I’m reading it and feeling less concerned or something….or maybe just hearing the advice rolling in makes me realize that I should just embrace it, encourage it and take it seriously. Something tells me that if I don’t give her "passion", (thanks Mindy) its due attention, I’ll be breaking a little heart.  Other curiosities will come along, too.*****

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a different kind of 5:27pm

I’ve got one in the bedroom ‘resting’ because of some naughty behaviour(see below)
I’ve got one in my arms, getting very close to bed time and too tired to play nicely on the floor.
And I’ve got one playing harmonica while sitting naked on the counter, attempting to take a bath in the kitchen sink. (Why is it that on the day your shower is out of comission due to replaced tile, that your oldest decides to dump mud, head to toe (including eyes and mouth) on her little sister?) This 5:27 is not so relaxing.

I’ve got one in the bedroom ‘resting’ because of some naughty behaviour(see below)
I’ve got one in my arms, getting very close to bed time and too tired to play nicely on the floor.
And I’ve got one playing harmonica while sitting naked on the counter, attempting to take a bath in the kitchen sink. (Why is it that on the day your shower is out of comission due to replaced tile, that your oldest decides to dump mud, head to toe (including eyes and mouth) on her little sister?) This 5:27 is not so relaxing.

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babyhood / family

she’s goin’ easy on me

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7:30 am. me and E. snuggling in bed. everyone else is still asleep. 

I don’t know if she felt like she owed me something, after such a tough pregnancy, or if she’s just determined to be the sweetest, easiest little baby. But yesterday, I stuck my finger in her mouth only to get it chomped on by a sharp little baby tooth, shoved up all the way through those drooly pink gums. No fussing, no sleepless nights, no ear infection, no runny nose–just a tooth.
Now we did have slobber. Lots of it. The kind where every smile emits a little niagra falls pouring out of the mouth. Shirt-fronts soaked from the belly button up, neck rolls always stinky and damp, big puddles of wetness all over the crib sheets after a nap. You know, all that good stuff.
But she has a tooth! I can’t stop saying it because I’m so shocked.
Alright, I’m moving on. You know, there are people out there who make fun of "mom blogs". This is probably the exact kind of post that adds fuel to their fire.

Crafting News: none. My sewing machine is broken. (but my knitting needles aren’t!)

Yesterday Dan and I celebrated seven years. The night before, we both handed each other green Barnes and Noble bags with something special inside.  For him, this and a handy, fold-up guide for local birds. And for me, this. I’m already reading it.

It has been a good seven years. We’ve been through some testing fires and come out on the other side– still holding on to each other and even more in love. I can’t imagine anyone more perfect for me.

P1010007_2

7:30 am. me and E. snuggling in bed. everyone else is still asleep. 

I don’t know if she felt like she owed me something, after such a tough pregnancy, or if she’s just determined to be the sweetest, easiest little baby. But yesterday, I stuck my finger in her mouth only to get it chomped on by a sharp little baby tooth, shoved up all the way through those drooly pink gums. No fussing, no sleepless nights, no ear infection, no runny nose–just a tooth.
Now we did have slobber. Lots of it. The kind where every smile emits a little niagra falls pouring out of the mouth. Shirt-fronts soaked from the belly button up, neck rolls always stinky and damp, big puddles of wetness all over the crib sheets after a nap. You know, all that good stuff.
But she has a tooth! I can’t stop saying it because I’m so shocked.
Alright, I’m moving on. You know, there are people out there who make fun of "mom blogs". This is probably the exact kind of post that adds fuel to their fire.

Crafting News: none. My sewing machine is broken. (but my knitting needles aren’t!)

Yesterday Dan and I celebrated seven years. The night before, we both handed each other green Barnes and Noble bags with something special inside.  For him, this and a handy, fold-up guide for local birds. And for me, this. I’m already reading it.

It has been a good seven years. We’ve been through some testing fires and come out on the other side– still holding on to each other and even more in love. I can’t imagine anyone more perfect for me.

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