Stop the Homework Wars
Yes, it is a good morning, in fact a glorious morning, the birds are chirping, the sun is shining – somewhere – and we are here, alive and kicking!
Many of us spend a lot of time chasing after the big things, the vacations, the I’ll be happy when I have this or that – the tomorrows and I’m here to say that we have it wrong when we spend our days in that chase after that one illusive thing, because it really is all in the little things.
For instance – Take the marvel of a toothbrush – yes, you can think of it just as an ordinary toothbrush, but you can also think of the sensations your mouth has when using the toothbrush and how refreshed your teeth feel when you run your tongue over them after brushing them.
Think about it –
Or a piece of fruit – a mandarin – you can just eat it, or you can be conscious of the juices bursting forth as you bite into each and every section. You have the opportunity to really savor each morsel, and smile for doing so.
Yes, it is in the little things that life truly happens and I intend on relishing the water coming out of the faucet, and the pen, toilet paper, light bulbs, flowers, blades of grass. The ease and pleasure these little things give us! I hope you all start relishing them too because it truly is all in the little things!
One of the little things I know I sometimes forget is to truly appreciate my children. I know when they were school age, we would often get so wrapped up in getting assignments or projects done, we sometimes lost sight of the little things, the fact that we were able to spend time together learning something.
That time spent on homework is usually a chore, but if we look at it another way, it is also an opportunity to just be together, experiencing learning together.
When you make that conscience choice or decision to look at homework as an opportunity to grow and learn together, an opportunity to foster independence, creativity, and love of learning, it isn’t quite so awful anymore is it?
Just a thought…
Bonnie Terry, M. Ed., BCET
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