Sometimes it pays to have it in writing .....

Fiddling around on here tonight I decided to look at some old blogs that I wrote when we first came to New Zealand, while avoiding the long list of to-do jobs I have.  Goodness - did I really used to make all those foods from scratch?  Was that me writing in such an honest way? Did I really keep finding ways to save more money - well actually I believe that one as I always have been a bit tight ;)  For the most part though if it was there in black and white I really won't have believed it.

This act of procrastination has made me realise the importance of documenting our lives and the changes in it.  The mind can quickly lay aside the past as it moves forward and the memory is not always that accurate an account.  While pen and paper would have achieved the same result, here is where technology can be given every credit of enabling us to access knowledge quickly and easily.  Whether it be from the 'experts' out there or the 'expert' within us.

Herself working towards expert level hula hooping at Shantytown

Home educating as we are, often planned and more often not, I am constantly recording what we do in our diary.  It is a great record for the kids and I to see what we have been up to, changes we have made, jog our memories of good games/places/times and also to show that we are learning - all of us.  My teacher head daily wakes and thinks of what is planned for the day, my Mama heart then takes stock and listens to where I can fit the learning into the day. 

This week Daniel and Jasmine have been crafting up a storm.  Daniel in particular has been eager to sew after us finding a book on making felt toys. I guess some of the family genes are showing up from himself as Daniel has been making careful stitches towards completing the chosen 'friend'.  Of course my family genes are there too - more in the 'can this be finished now' and 'can you help me sew up this part' aspects than the sewing skills though. 

 

Carefully sewing up rabbits ears.

The main thing is that he wanted to do it so much that he persevered and sat with me the whole time when I was helping him.  His 'thank you' when each one was finished was enough to know it was worth the change in my planned day and it is great watching them fully engaged in an activity.  Days are definitely lower maintenance when I can work reading, measurement, hand/eye co-ordination, fine motor skills, sorting, matching (colours, not buttons, as evidenced below) and numeracy into craft.

Two finished and more friends to join the dance.

Hope this finds you all jotting down what a great day you are having.

Arohanui
Y
www.becominghealthy.co.nz