Two things have wowed me so far today.
One, Eli hopped out of bed, made his bed (without being asked), put his dirty clothes into his hamper, begged to feed the cats, and asked if there were any other chores he could do before breakfast. 😯
I picked up the phone, dialed the Alien Abduction Hotline and reported a missing child. Because that creature, despite looking exactly like Eli, could not possibly be my offspring. I just know that at this very moment, in a galaxy far, far away, my Eli is demolishing the interior of a UFO and the aliens are wringing their hands over what to do with him.
Ok, all joking aside…this chore-reward system is what made the difference: Handipoints Chore Charts Can’t really explain what it’s all about, but my kids love it and you just have to give it a try.
And now to the second WOW! moment of the day…the Today show did an awesome segment about how much our kids need free time and unstructured play. Watch the video here.
As I watched this clip, I couldn’t help thinking that it explains why my kids are so much happier, more creative, and better-behaved now that we homeschool. They do their 4.5 hours required by law, and the rest of the day is theirs. I am just so thankful to be able to teach them at home, and provide them with the unstructured free time they need to reach their full potential.
I know my kids have their moments, as all kids do, (see post below!) but overall, it truly is a blessing to live this homeschooling lifestyle. I just wish we’d have started when Zachary was small…it’s been so good for all of us.