Thoughts: I had another great reminder recently about respect. I am always learning, and will continue to learn, what it means to show respect in various ways (to adults, to children, to fellow parents, to those in authority etc.). It’s … Continue reading
Last Friday I saw courage.
I saw courage in my daughter’s eyes.
I saw courage in my daughter’s steps.
I saw courage in my daughter’s face.
I saw courage in my daughter and it was beautiful.
It was an evening of pies and poems for our home school group. Each child came up on stage, in front of a mic, in front of 100 people, and said their poem.
It was the first time my daughter had ever been on stage alone. She was scared all week but determined to do it when the time came. There was no pressure from us, just encouragement to try if she could. She boldly approached the stage when the time came but as the words came out, the tears did as well, and she shook her head as to say “no”, she was not going to do it and then left the stage while everyone clapped for the effort that was put forth.
Her father and I quickly followed her out the door and joined her in the hallway to comfort her and tell her we were proud of her for trying but understood it was a scary thing to do. Quickly her friends came out to join her and comfort her. One sweet girl pointed out that God would always be with her to give her strength and she would never be alone.
We eventually all came back in side to finish the rest of the evening, but as we did, I saw my daughter, walk up to the lady in charge of the event and ask if she could try again. I was shocked, but so very proud. That sweet, brave girl, marched back up to that stage, spoke boldly into that microphone, and said her complete poem from start to finish. The crowd applauded in a loud applause, recognizing the courage it took for her to return.
What a proud mama I was! What a gift for Mother’s Day weekend it was.
Last Friday, I saw courage in my daughter and it was beautiful!
This summer our family went on a trip to the east coast. We started in Boston, Massachusetts and then ended in Yorktown, Virgina. It was one of my favorite things we have ever done. Our children have been studying US History via A Living History of Our World series by Angela O’Dell. They studied the Civil War through the Revolutionary war last year and so we took them on a grand field trip of sorts to see those places they studied. What an experience it was. One of my favorite stops on the route was Salem, Massachusetts. We studied the famous witch trials that took place there and so we decided to make that one of our stops. The memorial of the trial was sad and a wonderful reminder of how important it is to learn of our history in order to not let it repeat itself. The witch trials and all of the “witch” themed places however, were not the reason that it became a favorite. I am from a state and town where not much history is preserved and so the appreciation of that preservation is huge in my book. Such a quaint town Salem turned out to be. So many old cobblestone roads, original houses of the many sailors and captains that lived in them hundreds of years a go, and such a peaceful, calm air within the town which I find not only refreshing but ironic due to the town’s history of pain and chaos. Another gem of the town was the fact that the Nathaniel Bowditch family lived there. If you haven’t read the 6th grade book of Carry On Mr. Bowditch, I encourage you to do that. He was an amazing man who was self-taught and saved many a sailor’s life. I encourage you to not take for granted the hidden history that may be in your backyard!
* A Living History of Our World can be purchased online at https://www.queenshomeschooling.com/
* Carry On Mr. Bowditch was written by Jean Lee Latham
Waters of Salem
the attic awaits 