the ELLA echo

it IS a race

 
 

but not the one you think it is.

when you first start homeschooling, it is easy to fall into the belief that the goal is to pack as much learning as possible into every single day.  in fact, that is often mentioned by homeschooling parents as a reason they choose to homeschool--they don't want their child to be held back by a teacher or a school system.  this sometimes leads parents to believe that they must conjure up all kinds of learning opportunities, take advantage of the "teachable moments" (lord help me, i detest that phrase).  and thus the journey of homeschooling can resemble a sprint to a finish line, with other children (or often, their parents) as competitors for a prize.

then sooner or later you run into an unexpected obstacle on the race course--it could be that your child shows a sincere and unapologetic disinterest in something you feel is important to study--it could be that you fear you are not up to the task of teaching something you child desperately wishes to learn--it could be that you all come down with the flu and the household falls apart for a couple of weeks.  whatever it is, you come to believe that it isn't a sprint after all, it is a marathon, and that your strategy for winning has to change. depending on your personality and the relationship you have with your child, you might decide you need to buckle down, you might decide you need to lighten up, you might decide you need to work it out together.  whatever you choose, you begin to understand that the prize goes not always to the swiftest, but to those who keep on running.

and then one day, you realize that you aren't racing alone.  your child is right there with you, is your teammate and companion, and has as much interest in going the distance as you do, because ultimately the prize goes not to you, but to her, in the form of dreams undeffered and potential made real.  it is in that moment you realize that this is actually a relay race, one in which you make the start but eventually you have to hand the baton to your child and let her go on without you.  when that happens--when you let go and see that she really does have it firmly in hand--you get to watch with pride and satisfaction, knowing that you gave her a good lead and she will be able to get the rest of the way on her own.

in that moment, you will have your prize.

my work here is done, first installment

 whenever ella is sick, she shares her medicine with her dollies.  
 this is bear-bear, who she has taken care of since she was able to walk.
 

a few days ago while driving home from a field trip, ella was very quiet in the backseat for some time and then suddenly she said, "mama, i know why god sent me here." 

me: "god sent you here?"

ella:  "yes, he sent me here to help take care of his creatures."

after a moment of my stunned silence she continued, "i believe i am supposed to be a vet.  i think that is what god wants me to do, so i can take care of sick and wounded animals.  i will be the best vet ever, because i will never turn down any animal.  and i will give them a safe place to stay and i will help the homeless animals find a place to live."

 
this is ella with our beloved dog athena, whom ella called "sheen".  
 ella was 19 months old in this picture.  she was 3 years old when sheen died.

of course, the career goal could change, but i am awed by the knowledge that my SIX-YEAR-OLD has discerned that there is a purpose for her life.

by whatever process, ella has discovered she has a mission--a reason to get up in the morning.  how did this happen?  how does a small child come to know that she has something of value to contribute to her community, to her world?  how does she find the confidence to embrace it so fully?

naturally i'd like to think rudi and i have been part of the process.  we've never hindered her from trying things, we've never discounted something that seemed important to her, even if to us it was insignificant.  and i'd like to think that has made a difference.

but there is certainly a chance that she was sent here.  i happen to believe she was.  i believe her mission as she perceives it is a metaphor for a greater purpose--that her sense of duty toward god's creatures expresses a deeper understanding of our universal human mission to take care of each other, to never turn away someone in need.  to do what, as a christian, i believe the shepherd calls us to do.

so this is how we are progressing thru our lent--by listening for the voice in the wilderness.  i'm thankful for the quiet times that let the voice be heard without shouting.

thing #44: harmonicas

ella:  "mama, how come the only instrument in jail is a harmonica?"

me:  "because it's small, it isn't too loud, and lots of people can learn to play the harmonica pretty quickly."

ella:  "how come most people try to get out of jail?"

me:  "because it's no fun.  you don't have your family, you don't have a tv or phone or computer, you don't have books, you only have a bed and a place to go potty."

ella:  "AND a harmonica."  

field trip: cookeville children's museum

NOTE!  since originally publishing this post, the cookeville children's museum has changed it's name to the kiwanis cookeville children's museum.  the logo has changed as well, so when you click over to visit their website, you'll see the new website but it is still the same wonderful playland!

 

 

 

whenever possible, ella and i go with rudi when he has business out of town. one of our favorite trips is when he goes to cookeville, TN, which is only about 90 minutes from nashville, and where we recently discovered the marvelous cookeville children's museum.  on first seeing the website i was a little dubious, but i was completely won over on our visit.

the permanent section of the museum is an area devoted to imaginative play in various occupations, such as farming, veterinary care, homemaking, even the circus!  everything is so well thought out--for example, there is an apple tree where a child can really "pick" apples, and a garden where the child can harvest carrots, corn, etc.  there is a farm with chickens on nests that have eggs the children can collect, and there is a check out stand for the farmer's market.  

 

on the day we were there, the revolving section of the museum had all sorts of activities relating to the theme of "communication".  there was a typewriter the kids could really type on--a typesetting area where they could set up a page to print--a morse code table where two people could sit across from each other and send messages with real telegraph equipment--a mail sorting station where kids could learn how to properly address an envelope--even a video station where kids could learn american sign language.  

 

every surface of this small but delightful place is appealing to the senses and invites touching and playing and experimenting.  even the walls were interesting, with mounted tic-tac-toe boards and magnetic marble runs and images of ART.  and there are plenty of materials scattered everywhere that the children are free to use as they wish.

the only part we didn't get to experience was the outdoor center--there was snow on the ground!--but we expect to visit this little place many times in the future, and i even dream that one day something similar could be available in nashville.  it was far more interesting and engaging that the usual indoor activites we have here (if i never see another jump/bounce gym, i will be eternally thankful).

field trip: cathedral of the incarnation

 

the cathedral of the incarnation was our third stop on our tour of nashville's major houses of worship and for the first time we were on home turf.  LOL  it happened that our field trip date fell on the first friday of lent so ella and i went to mass and then stayed to do the stations of the cross before the tour began. this was the first time i'd ever taken her to do stations--i'd only ever done them at home with her--so i wasn't sure what to expect but she was right there with us all the way.  i was very proud and so happy to have made our first journey together.

anyway, the tour was lead by either a sacristan or some other minister because she knew her building and she knew her stuff.  she told us she was born just a few blocks from the cathedral, raised all her children there, and now helps with her grandchildren's formation.  

this church is really very lovely to look at and is so full of symbolism on every surface that you could easily spend an entire day just decoding the architecture.  one of the most remarkable features is the ceiling which is like a catholic I-spy, with the south end of the nave devoted to symbols of christ's birth as the incarnation of god and the north end devoted to symbols of his death and resurrection.  

every surface of the interior is intended to remind the worshiper of the history of the church and of jesus' message of salvation.  the tour guide also let the kids put their hands on all kinds of church gear, like chalices and vestments and was very agreeable to answering any and all questions without a hint of irony.  that is a gift.

in the excitement i forgot to take pictures--in the only place that would have had no problem with me taking as many pictures as i wish.  LOL

while this is not my parish of choice--ella and i both prefer smaller, quieter churches--for sheer catholic majesty the cathedral cannot be beat.  if you want the full experience, do attend a mass and if you are there on a friday during lent stay for the stations--even the homeschoolers who had never been to a catholic church commented on how prayerful and reverent and healing it was.

field trip: islamic center of nashville

the second stop on our tour of nashville's major houses of worship was the islamic center of nashville.  this turned out to not be an actual tour, but instead we got to meet a young muslim woman named sophia who gave us a brief and very interesting history of islam and explained things like the five pillars.  she was very patient with all our questions, and seemed to genuinely appreciate our willingness to learn.  she spoke very movingly of how her faith informs her interactions with the greater community and taught us much about welcoming the human dignity of each person.

something i learned about the local islamic worship community is that there are more than one mosque in nashville.  i had no idea!   i'm hoping we'll get a chance to visit the others sometime.

again we were not allowed to take pictures inside.  i was surprised at how plain the interior of the worship space was--i guess without knowing it i was expecting something like the alhambra.  however, in the area that is under the pointy part of the building there hangs a beautiful elaborate chandelier that made rainbows all over the room.  :)

i wish i had more to report about this visit--it was very quiet, and for whatever reason we were not invited or allowed into other parts of the center.  however, the chance to speak with a woman who clearly loves her faith and who views herself as part of the world community was worth the time.

field trip: sri ganesah temple in nashville

 

during february we were privileged to enjoy several field trips to local houses of worship in nashville, beginning with one that i have always been curious about: the gorgeous sri ganesha hindu temple in west nashville.

we were welcomed by our tour guide who began by giving us a brief history of hinduism and a moving description of how her faith informs her life.  from there we got to visit the prayer hall upstairs where she gave us an overview of what each monument represents and the various ways in which believers worship.  we were surprised to learn that worship is an individual event, rather than communal, and that anyone is invited to pray there.  we were fortunate to be present during the chanting of the 1000 names of vishnu and to also see ganesha after he was ritually bathed and dressed.

there are no photos or videos allowed in the prayer hall, but i did get a shot of ella with a relief of the animal that ella believes is her spirit guide, the elephant, just outside the entrance to the temple.

 

when the tour was over we were invited to spend as much time as we wished to further study the monuments, so ella and i took the opportunity to do so.  we also found a bowl of something that looked a bit like popcorn balls.  i wish i could tell you what these were called, they are made from some kind of grain (no, not rice, not barley, not quinoa, the word told to us was unknown to me and the attendant did not know the translation), honey, raisins, and nuts--the balls are made from offerings left by worshipers and are available for purchase by visitors.  we learned from the tour that food offerings are to be consumed, as they are believed to confer on the eater the blessings of the deity to whom they are offered.  naturally we bought one to share with rudi since he hardly ever gets to go on field trips with us.  we all took just a tiny bite--and agreed that the flavor of incense is probably an acquired taste.  :)

 

due in part to ella's visit to this temple she was inspired to create her own royal indian palace, and naturally she needed a sari and a royal walkway.

 

when the tour guide asked at the end of the tour if we had any questions, i said, "oh, about 1,000."  but one thing i did learn from this trip is this:  i believe it is possible that i am a catholic hindu.