For the first time ever in church T sang. What made the difference?

It's little things that make a difference.

I've always thought of T as my reluctant singer. When he was a toddler in story time he'd listen but not participate. After we got home he'd mimic what'd he'd seen in his own time.
At church if the music was too loud preschooler T would press his hands over his ears. Sensitive child. At home he'd bang away rhythmically on every toy instrument he could fun. What a noise.
If I tried to sing with him he'd just listen.

Eventually at four call-and-response songs began working with T (and yes he'd match notes). At five he began wanting to lead the echo songs rather than follow. He also began figuring out notes on the piano. Mary Had A Little Lamb and Twinkle Twinkle Kittle Star are both recognizable. Church changed, a little, as T began humming along to the congregation's singing. Still, in large groups he'd absorb but only copy at home.

This Sunday things were different.

This Sunday things changed.

This Sunday T sang.

Yes, sang. Sang the same words as the rest of the congregation with the congregation. Not at home later. He joined in song together. What made the difference?

His access to the words.
Words accessible to a beginning reader who needs to use his finger to follow along.
It turns out for a small reader like T just hearing isn't enough. He needs to see. And not up high, far away on the board. Right there where he can move his finger under each word and follow along reading. He's a beginner reader after all.
Would that he'd have finger access to the words of church music every week. It just might make a difference.

It's these little things that make a difference.

How I Got Blue Food Coloring Off Carpet

As those of you who read my education blog know this morning a science experiment went awry with distressing-at-the-moment consequences.
http://teneoclassicalhome.weebly.com/school-life/food-dye-on-grandmas-carpet-and-other-events-of-the-day

It all started with an attempt to conduct a messy experiment in a place where mess wouldn't matter. On the porch.

Then T stuck his entire hand in the bowl. He lifted it up. Next thing I knew both hands were coated. He'd blissfully rubbed them together.

"Let's go wash now!" I ordered, pulling open the door.

I hurried inside. As I entered the kitchen I realized he was still a room away. His movement was slow, dreamlike. He was only half listening. The texture on his hands far more interesting than water.

Then, as that realization sunk in, from behind me I heard a "Slap! Slap!" I looked, horrified, watching the blue globs fly from his hand and land on Grandma's carpet.

Cleaning it was tedious work. After a quick web search I came up with a multi-step game plan.  First I blotted every single spot I could find. Second I poured ice cold water on the spots. After letting it sit a minute I blotted again. Hope was raised as some of the smaller splotches began coming up. Hurrah! A fine tooth comb pulled up a few of the flecks. Yet not all came up. Some was still stubborn, taunting me in deep blue circles.
Third step was a cleaning solution. I mixed vinegar and liquid blue Dawn detergent with hot water. This I soaked on the remaining spots. Then I slowly started blotting some more. Gradually the blue cleared. I began to see the true carpet color. What a relief!

How I got the blue food coloring out of the carpet
------
1- Blot
2- soak 1 minute with ice water
3- Blot
4- clean with solution of 1 tbls white vinegar, 1 tbls liquid Dawn, 2 c warm water
5- blot

I found more steps on How Stuff Work but it appears they won't be necessary!

http://home.howstuffworks.com/how-to-get-food-coloring-out-of-carpet.htm

Life Learning Laundry

My poor 5 year old is learning how to do laundry.
His. Yes. His.
A boy.
Male.
My son is learning how to do his own laundry. This is a typical five year old boy. He has a strong dislike for anything relating to soap and water on his person. Yet here he is, helping me clean his clothes.

Free As The Wind Blows

We discovered a small, and rather beautiful, nature park tucked away in town. There are paths mown through tall, uncut prairie grasses and wildflowers. Through this the children ran, pausing periodically whenever some interesting caught their eyes. And oh! Such interesting things we found.

 Native to our state yet less common due to farming and suburban development that has swallowed much of the native wild prairie in the last almost 200 years of settlement. The children were so excited. It will be wonderful to return and explore with other homeschoolers -and guidebooks - soon.

What's the Purpose? Mom As Distraction?

Can mom accidentally be a hindrance, a stumbling block,  as she tries to encourage her children to delight in nature? Usually I read people advocate a more hands-on approach for mom. "Get off your phone and join your kids!" Yet here I read Charlotte Mason advocating watching from a distance, even sending your children back if they leave off observing until a natural concluding point (like the spider disappears from view).

Don't follow your child everywhere. Sit down. Watch them. Observe them observing nature. When they approach you have them create a word picture and if they can't send them back. If that's not enough she takes it further. If the create is doing what it was before also send them back. There are so many things she's wanting mom to encourage here. Yet it is such a different approach. Do you see the value? Would this really help T and F?

And what am I, the parent, supposed to be doing? Just sitting there watching? Reading up on natural science or some other topic so I'm always improving my own knowledge and call be a well of information for my children as she suggests I ought always to be striving to set an example of studiousness? There are many ways I could take this. Must ponder some more. Can I really be a distraction for my children learning attention, observation, and reverence? I have a feeling I can. It's not a good feeling either.