Then at some point, not too much later, our day just started to flow. I just kept working with Nathan and then I noticed Emma went and sat down and wrote out her own addition problems and worked them out alone with the marble manipulatives. Then I noticed Evan had gotten the Spanish book and cd and was listening to the dialogs and songs and practicing his Spanish reading and pronunciation. Brianna was at the computer working on devotions and her government workbook.

It was so neat to look around the room and see all four kids actively doing school so diligently. We went from one subject to the next in a rhythmic pattern, myself moving from one child to the next as they needed me and/or wanted questions answered. Evan, who usually balks about writing and vocabulary, went to write out the new vocabulary words for the week without balking or dawdling. He even helped me look up the words in the dictionary and then spent time looking up words on his own.

The day became a home school mom’s dream! It went from bad to what a good home school day looks like in those fancy books about home schooling. The kids were eager, diligent, happy, and went above and beyond my expectations of the work I had planned for them to accomplish.

Some other highlights of the day include: Nathan, Evan, & Emma (since she did not want to be left out of what her brothers get to do) began with cursive writing. They wrote letters on a printout page. Evan worked on the world map puzzle for probably the tenth time in two days. Emma sounded out all of her own words when we played the Mouse & Cheese word builder game. We finished reading the Diary of an Early American Boy book for history and the boys said they want to read it again! Also, instead of just jumping up as soon as we were done reading, they stayed on the couch with me and they talked about their favorite parts of the book. (Wow! An impromptu oral book report!) Then Nathan and Evan looked at the Mother Earth News magazine together and talked about some of the tractors listed on the ads and about an article on types of compost tumblers. Evan had read a book about food and so when we were making lunch and snacks for the day, he was critiquing the food choices we were making.

The only drawback to the day was when Brianna went off with Emma for a time and read books with her, played house with her, and listened and danced to some music with her. Brianna could have been working more with her own work instead of being with Emma. I did not get on her though because I know how much she enjoys spending time with Emma. She used to do the same with Evan when he was younger. When she spends time with Emma it is like a child development class really. She learns how to interact with young children and is ultimately learning how to be a mom. She is learning how challenging it can be to be involved in the life of a young child. She is learning listening skills and patience. And she will grow up and become a great mom because of these experiences now!

Well, we ended our day yesterday with going to midweek service at church, watching some tv, and reading before bed. Now I can only hope that every day until the end of the school year will be just as great as yesterday! I know they won’t, but I can hope! And I can know in my heart that one great day like yesterday makes up for many of those days that have extra bumps in the road!