This school year has been quite a learning experience so far. It is ironic, given the fact that I have a 14 year old who is taking Algebra 2 and Biology, that I am learning the most from my 2nd grader, Jamie.
Here are a few of the things I have learned from Jamie this year so far:
1. How to organize our time.
The 2nd graders in our school do not get nightly homework; instead, they get weekly packets that they turn in on Fridays. The first few weeks of school he (and I) had trouble organizing and budgeting our time to complete these packets in a timely fashion. Now that it’s been almost 2 months, we have set up an after-school routine that’s working. Play outside, then dinner, then homework, then reading, then bath, then play until bed.
2. How to delegate.
Every year the 2nd graders (or, more accurately, their parents) complete an assignment that involves learning more about their ancestral backgrounds. It is a sad commentary on society today that I felt way more stressed out by this assignment than Jamie did. So this year I asked my husband to take over. Larry works late most nights, so he welcomed the opportunity to work on a project and spend some time one-on-one with Jamie. And I got to slack off. It was a win-win.
3. Santa Claus is watching.
At a school event this past weekend, Jamie went inside the Haunted House. When he saw a menacing sign that said “Go Back,” he did so. Because he “didn’t want to disappoint Santa Claus.” Aside from the complete and total cuteness of that statement, I was struck by his awareness of right vs wrong, and his desire to do what’s right.
What about you? What have you learned from your kids this year?
in all honesty -I thought the Santa Claus thing was hilarious! Kids say the funniest things sometimes!