I Love Little Kids . . .

OK, that may seem obvious from a mother of many, but it really goes against my nature. Let me clarify -- I'm NOT a kid person. Some may be scratching their head in wonder at that statement (please reply if you *actually* scratched your head), but it's true. Kids go against my nature.

Of course, God knows this. He knows that I grew up the oldest of 7 siblings and that we were nothing like the Waltons. (I do love the Waltons . . .) He also knows that DH grew up with just ONE sibling. Just a brother. Just him and his brother -- doing and getting pretty much anything they wanted. And not in a Christian home, either. No burden of religious instruction there (my parents are, though, and worked pretty hard -- along with the Baptist Church -- to indoctrinate us. Well, actually, my Mom worked pretty hard. Which leads me to wonder how my DH could end up with a BETTER faith in the end? OK, that's another post . . . )

So, God (who, remember, has a great sense or humor) decided (probably long before I was born) to give us a lot of children. DH laughs because you can't be selfish with a lot of children. I watch in amazement as I realize that a large family does NOT have to be dysfunction (well, not very), and I come to realize how much I enjoy little kids!

When I went to college and decided to become a teacher, I wrinkled my nose (probably literally) at the thought of elementary education -- or worse, early elementary education. ::shudder:: No, no -- it was secondary for me! I could only tolerate wasting my time on kids who can THINK!

But, God knew again that I would be the object of mirth as so many years later I would be homeschooling several children from birth. I remember hearing a mother say once, "Teach them to read and I'll take over from there." That's how I started out with homeschooling -- my school-aged children had gone to public school just long enough for that (3 of them at the time.) But not anymore. My 4th on down are going from the beginning and it's ALL up to me.

And it's FUN!

SECONDARY?! HA! Those brooding teenagers . . . those resisters of learning . . . cracking the whip . . . threatening them with bodily harm . . . BAH!

Nope. There's nothing like the eager joy of Little Kids who come running to the table to "work" in their binders. There is nothing like their shining eyes when they have completed a project especially well and I give them their choice of -- sticker! There is nothing like that big smile of accomplishment when they realize that "I finished the whole workbook!" and they get a BRAND-NEW one! There is nothing like the excitement of holidays, coloring, and crafts . . . and if it involves cutting-and-pasting, all the better!

To think, I could have sent these kids to school as well and missed out on all this fun! . . .