If I ever learn any life lessons, I think one of them is balance.  It, like patience, is a tough lesson to learn.  Today I feel like I needed to have balance. 

This morning when I walked the dog--it was drizzling--pretty bad.  The dog ended up wet and had a bad hair-do and I had a wet coat and shoes.  I came home, showered, got breakfast going and then commenced to do schoolwork.  As I saw the day brightening, I thought that today would end up a pretty day afterall.  By lunch time I was convinced that today would be a pretty day.  I sent the kids out while I made lunch.

Hubby got home and we compared notes on what the weather would be like for the remaining of the week.  He said he heard snow on the news.  I groaned because while I was fixing lunch I decided I wanted to get the big heavy coats out of the hall closet and get them down to the basement for the summer.  I was again glad I sent the kids outside for a little.

After lunch is cleaned up I normally get the kids started on more book work.  Today I looked at them and gave them a choice--"You can either stay inside and do schoolwork or you can go outside and play."  Being red-blooded, All-American kids they chose the outside.  I don't blame them.  I see the value in teaching them their times tables and grammar rules but I also realize how short their days are as carefree kids.  I often stop and think about when I was their age and it never occured to me that things at the house needed fixed or worried about what we will make for supper.  I was a kid who loved to play outside and enjoyed log-rolling down a grassy hill.

This is my thought about balance for today.  I need to have balance of what my children do that is serious and that which is fun.  Balance of schoolwork and the learning that only takes place outside when you make a teepee out of sticks in the backyard.  Balance of housework and sitting down to read my children a book.  Balance of discipline and love.  Balance of responsibility and living barefoot and fancy free.  Balance.

And considering we live in good ol' Ohio and the weather is sure to change in just a matter of days, I know there will be a better day for staying in the house and doing bookwork.  I think somehow I'm going against the moral code of homeschooling if I insist my children stay in the house on a beautiful day like today just for the principle that we "aren't out of school yet for the year."  Phooey on dates and calendars.  Today is a day to be lived and enjoyed.  When it is cold next week and if the snow does fly, I will be glad that I took this opportunity to let the children play in the sunshine.  That day we can be productive on some bookwork.  Today just isn't that sort of day.

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