to my dearest son, (the older one).....

excuse me....

Is it bad that I am now excited about the idea of daycare for the babies? I am sometimes also very sad about aspects of it, but I expect the negative aspect of it to be minimal and mostly offset. I don't expect the "rushed" lifestyle to return completely, because I am not trying to fit in 8 or 9 (or 12) hours of work, only a few hours of school. Also, the house will not need as much attention and the kitchen will get a break in the afternoon. One thing that I neglected to acknowledge in the past is that there is still the same amount of laundry, and the evening schedule is still the same. But, I expect the school schedule will allow enough extra time to handle those two constants. I suppose it is just replacing some "chasing babies" time with classes and cleaning house with studying, but if you've had your fill of boring housework, it is a welcome replacement. I will miss the babies and their games and laughter, but it isn't always games and laughter and I will still have plenty of time in the afternoons to spend with them. It will not be like it was when I worked until even just 5pm. (I have to keep reassuring myself that the maddness of "working mom" is not returning yet. I want to postpone that for a while longer.) My sheltered little world of "not having to balance" has been forever disrupted and now I am weighing my "teaching" with my "learning", and trying to carefully balance it. I can't imagine the stress my body and mind would be under if I had to also "work". Excuse me from my excuses, I have to untangle a slinky and build a clay "creature".

tidbit about class...

Tonight's class got into a tiny little debate over the definition of love. Most of the class took great offense to the idea that "love does not exist" as the professor phrased it. I understood his point that the "romantic notion" of love that most of the class (pretty much all except me) agreed with and defended. Every one of their arguments were easily countered with either neurological explanations or cross-cultural comparisons, but it seemed that the loudest defender was hung up on the idea that by even mentioning this idea the teacher was somehow trying to make us all conform to his way of viewing it. (shaking my head) It seemed too pointless to debate anything after that disturbing diversion into "not getting it land". However, I think that his point that as a scientist analyzing culture "love" as many Americans believe in it is not a universal idea, was completely lost to all but a few. I am certain that my view that "love is a choice" and even worse that you shouldn't base your belief in love on "biological responses" defined me as evil to a few in the class. Well, maybe not, but it was fun to debate. Only the smallest portion of the class seemed totally appalled.

return of the "environmental" blog...

I am sitting with the babies watching this movie and it is fantastic and possibly eye opening. I can't help myself, here is the link. The images are breathtaking and the information is also accurate and straitforward. The entire movie is available online also, it seems.

on reassurance...

Gabe and Mandy stopped by tonight because we didn't have any children and Mandy has never been to visit since we moved. And, she just happens to teach fifth grade. While checking out our classroom, she read over a summary paragraph that Taylor left on the wipe-off board on the wall. I am confident that I understand the ultimate goal, for writing, by the end of high school. But, I am not sure about where in the learning process we "should" be by 5th grade. However, after a short conversation about what we are learning and seeing what Taylor is capable of on his own, she has assured me that he is slightly ahead of the fifth grade goals. That is great to hear, because it is one of the few things that I was less confident about with our schooling style. So, with a friendly visit, came some welcome reassurance. Of course, she coupled it with some less comforting woes, as she is working on her masters, and I am facing that in a few years. It is frightening to hear her worries about the workload and time involved, as they do not have children and I am up to my elbows in them. Still, at least I can anticipate and prepare. Fun night, great advice, and fantastic conversation. And now, a quiet, empty house, I may just stay up late to enjoy it longer. Buenos noche.