Childhood is NOT a dress rehearsal
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The "tag line" of the accountability association I run in SC to allow
families to homeschool is "Childhood is NOT a dress rehearsal."
Unfortunately, I get reminded of this every now and then. Not that I
don't *need* to be reminded. It's just that I wish I weren't reminded
in such a harsh way.
I think most traditional, conventional parents think of something
different when they hear or read it. I think they start considering
that we only have this one chance to push our children to do better, to
be better, and to strive harder for that medical degree or career
choice or..."success" or whatever.
That's not the message I get.
I've been thinking about what to write now for several days to honor
the memory of Hannah Jenner, who died two years ago on February 24. I'd
wanted to toss out there that we really DO only have so much time to
spend with our children---and even though we *think* have the rest of
their lives to do and be with them, there's no guarantee that they
won't be taken from us a whole lot sooner than we think. The time they
spend with us should be full of joy and fun and happy, happy thoughts.
Their time with us should be filled with *our* joy in them---that they
know that our world is a better place *because* of them.
Hannah's short life is a tough reminder for me to enjoy the children I
have---and every single minute. And not a day goes by that I don't
think of Hannah (and Sam Wilkerson and Jacob Strebler). 'Cause I just
don't know what I would do without Cameron and Duncan. But sometimes,
when I'm not my best and my temper is short, I *need* that little
reminder---that this time is a gift.
Too often, parents can work so hard helping our children "become" that
we forget to enjoy Who They *Are*--right now, this minute.
Lisa Heyman's passing yesterday has stunned this community. And I just
can't imagine the pain and loss the Gauchmans are experiencing right
now. But I *know* that the girls, Roxy and Fire, will know that their
mom truly valued the time she had with them. She chose to keep the
girls close and let them grow "In Their Own Way, In Their Own Time."
That's a gift we can ALL give our children. To accept Who They
Are---and to revel in it!
We have that choice.
Lisa understood that childhood is not a dress rehearsal. Lisa worked
hard to give her girls he space they needed to grow. She gave them
inspired, joyful childhoods. There's not a doubt in my mind that Roxy
and Fire will thrive in spite of their huge, huge loss. And a big part
of that is the love and acceptance Lisa showered on them. They will
kept warm with her light.
Her passing will continue to be a reminder that *my* time with my kids
is limited as well. I can choose to make the most of each moment with
them as she did. Our world is brighter because of Lisa. And I'm glad I
got to know her.
Much Love and Many Hugs to Larry and Roxy and Fire.
~Kelly
Kelly Lovejoy
Conference Coordinator
Live and Learn Unschooling Conference
http://www.LiveandLearnConference.org
________________________________________________________________________
More new features than ever. Check out the new AOL Mail ! -
http://webmail.aol.com
families to homeschool is "Childhood is NOT a dress rehearsal."
Unfortunately, I get reminded of this every now and then. Not that I
don't *need* to be reminded. It's just that I wish I weren't reminded
in such a harsh way.
I think most traditional, conventional parents think of something
different when they hear or read it. I think they start considering
that we only have this one chance to push our children to do better, to
be better, and to strive harder for that medical degree or career
choice or..."success" or whatever.
That's not the message I get.
I've been thinking about what to write now for several days to honor
the memory of Hannah Jenner, who died two years ago on February 24. I'd
wanted to toss out there that we really DO only have so much time to
spend with our children---and even though we *think* have the rest of
their lives to do and be with them, there's no guarantee that they
won't be taken from us a whole lot sooner than we think. The time they
spend with us should be full of joy and fun and happy, happy thoughts.
Their time with us should be filled with *our* joy in them---that they
know that our world is a better place *because* of them.
Hannah's short life is a tough reminder for me to enjoy the children I
have---and every single minute. And not a day goes by that I don't
think of Hannah (and Sam Wilkerson and Jacob Strebler). 'Cause I just
don't know what I would do without Cameron and Duncan. But sometimes,
when I'm not my best and my temper is short, I *need* that little
reminder---that this time is a gift.
Too often, parents can work so hard helping our children "become" that
we forget to enjoy Who They *Are*--right now, this minute.
Lisa Heyman's passing yesterday has stunned this community. And I just
can't imagine the pain and loss the Gauchmans are experiencing right
now. But I *know* that the girls, Roxy and Fire, will know that their
mom truly valued the time she had with them. She chose to keep the
girls close and let them grow "In Their Own Way, In Their Own Time."
That's a gift we can ALL give our children. To accept Who They
Are---and to revel in it!
We have that choice.
Lisa understood that childhood is not a dress rehearsal. Lisa worked
hard to give her girls he space they needed to grow. She gave them
inspired, joyful childhoods. There's not a doubt in my mind that Roxy
and Fire will thrive in spite of their huge, huge loss. And a big part
of that is the love and acceptance Lisa showered on them. They will
kept warm with her light.
Her passing will continue to be a reminder that *my* time with my kids
is limited as well. I can choose to make the most of each moment with
them as she did. Our world is brighter because of Lisa. And I'm glad I
got to know her.
Much Love and Many Hugs to Larry and Roxy and Fire.
~Kelly
Kelly Lovejoy
Conference Coordinator
Live and Learn Unschooling Conference
http://www.LiveandLearnConference.org
________________________________________________________________________
More new features than ever. Check out the new AOL Mail ! -
http://webmail.aol.com
Sandra Dodd
-=-The "tag line" of the accountability association I run in SC to allow
families to homeschool is "Childhood is NOT a dress rehearsal."
-=-Unfortunately, I get reminded of this every now and then.... -=-
That was Kelly Lovejoy in February.
Earlier this weekend Holly and I were talking about her boyfriend
Brett. She said some of the (very few) things she doesn't like about
him are things he does even worse to me, but I don't seem to mind. I
reminded her different things bother different people.
She asked why I like him so much, and I said because I thought they
could have a really good life together.
She said "We have a really good life together right now."
I still forget sometimes, and I think of her life as starting when
she leaves home. Habits, habits, habits. I keep working to approach
the life-is-now awareness that my kids already have.
The rest of Kelly's post is here, in case anyone here needs reminders
of how important it is to live for the present.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AlwaysLearning/message/32429
Sandra
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
families to homeschool is "Childhood is NOT a dress rehearsal."
-=-Unfortunately, I get reminded of this every now and then.... -=-
That was Kelly Lovejoy in February.
Earlier this weekend Holly and I were talking about her boyfriend
Brett. She said some of the (very few) things she doesn't like about
him are things he does even worse to me, but I don't seem to mind. I
reminded her different things bother different people.
She asked why I like him so much, and I said because I thought they
could have a really good life together.
She said "We have a really good life together right now."
I still forget sometimes, and I think of her life as starting when
she leaves home. Habits, habits, habits. I keep working to approach
the life-is-now awareness that my kids already have.
The rest of Kelly's post is here, in case anyone here needs reminders
of how important it is to live for the present.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AlwaysLearning/message/32429
Sandra
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]