Hello and welcome to another Saturday here at the Wannaskan Almanac. Today is April 25th and we're going to rake leaves.
So, did anyone else’s kids have Cs and Fs on their midterm report cards? Or better yet a dash (-) signifying no grade exists?
We're five weeks into distance learning and here's what I've figured out: If you’re a highly motivated, disciplined person with good time management skills, you’re probably doing fine. If you’re a “perfect is good, but done is better” type who is motivated by the free time that comes from hurrying up to finish the homework so you can play the rest of the day, your grades may be a little lower than average, but overall, you’re also probably doing fine. (Or good enough.) If you’re a procrastinator who sleeps until noon, dings around until evening then rushes to catch up to get that homework in by 11:59 pm – well, how can I put this? You’rescrewed in a pickle.
We have all three types at our house. So this has been a somewhat somber week. In a way, one could say, the party's over.
Kids are hunkering down in new ways, catching up on assignments.
Cheese and Wine Hour got downgraded to Tea Time.
Kids made only one batch of cookies, while I didn't bake at all.
The beginning of the week was really cold outside which meant kids were less enthused to get outdoors.
I'm reading 1984, a dystopian novel that I find eerily relevant to today's times. Here's one excerpt that sent chills through my body. Chills, I tell you.
But, if you know me, dear Wannaskan Almanac readers and friends, I always manage to find the light through the darkness. So, perhaps instead of saying the party is over, it's more accurate to say the party has evolved. Here's this week's list:
The Second Grader and I were guilty of excessive flatulence. I dubbed us "fartners in crime."
The Second Oldest started a new routine of rising before noon and doing his homework in the kitchen. He even asked me for help on his homework and all I had to do was sit next to him.
The 8-year old and the 18-year old dressed up in fancy dresses, curled their hair, and put on makeup. While the younger one was probably imagining herself as Princess Anna from Arendelle, I'm guessing the older one was playing pretend prom.
Our family set up the trampoline last weekend. All week, I spied hubby jumping with the littles and the older kids teaching flip tricks to the younger ones. (I got some bounces in, too.)
The dishes are getting done faster. Homework is getting done sooner (and caught up on). Whether it's stacking wood or building forts, the kids work together.
The littles have been googling strange things like "500 Ways to Die on Minecraft" so I have put away the school computers once distance learning is done. This has resulted in new ways to channel that creativity, for example, said dress up activities and fort building.
On the other end of the spectrum, the older kids have bonded through Minecraft. Okay, so maybe their device time has ticked up, but when I hear them talking across the house about, um, whatever it is they're doing, I see kids getting along. And I'm okay with that.
School lunch. Our kids usually bring their own lunch to school. This past week, we've tapped into the school's free lunch program. I'm not kidding, every day it's like bringing home treasure. They eagerly open their respective sacks and marvel at the goodies they will consume. Even the cucumber slices.
School's out. "Oh, good!" shouted the Second Grader. (Disclaimer: She loves her teacher and her classmates. But she also loves being at home.)
The Toddler and I had our best adventure yet. We explored a gully filled with snow and ice and fallen trees which led to the river which we followed for at least another hour, practicing our ninja movies while making our way back home.
Even though Cheese & Wine Hour got simpler, the kids enjoyed a bag of sugary cereal that lasted a miraculous 4 days. (Who needs cheese and crackers when you've got Cap'n Crunch?)
The WAKWIR's Fort 4.0 - The living room has been relieved of its small furniture, but honestly, I don't mind.
I've lost five pounds.
And I think this one's my favorite: the Toddler likes to crawl into his big sister's lap and hold her ear, the same kind of cuddling he does with his mama.
There's a newfound collaboration and sense of calm I can't help but to celebrate. I'm so grateful for all of the love and affection that is making its way into our home and hearts during this time. Our world has slowed down enough for us to finally see each other; to not only hear, but to listen; to hold one another's hand. To really be together.
Living in a rural area is a blessing, and at the same time, I feel like I'm sitting on my hands while others are risking their own lives saving others. However, as one nurse from St. Paul assured me - staying home is the best thing I can do.
I intend to keep making the most of it.
Kim
So, did anyone else’s kids have Cs and Fs on their midterm report cards? Or better yet a dash (-) signifying no grade exists?
We're five weeks into distance learning and here's what I've figured out: If you’re a highly motivated, disciplined person with good time management skills, you’re probably doing fine. If you’re a “perfect is good, but done is better” type who is motivated by the free time that comes from hurrying up to finish the homework so you can play the rest of the day, your grades may be a little lower than average, but overall, you’re also probably doing fine. (Or good enough.) If you’re a procrastinator who sleeps until noon, dings around until evening then rushes to catch up to get that homework in by 11:59 pm – well, how can I put this? You’re
We have all three types at our house. So this has been a somewhat somber week. In a way, one could say, the party's over.
Kids are hunkering down in new ways, catching up on assignments.
Cheese and Wine Hour got downgraded to Tea Time.
Kids made only one batch of cookies, while I didn't bake at all.
The beginning of the week was really cold outside which meant kids were less enthused to get outdoors.
I'm reading 1984, a dystopian novel that I find eerily relevant to today's times. Here's one excerpt that sent chills through my body. Chills, I tell you.
"Talking to her, he realized how easy it was to present an appearance of orthodoxy while having no grasp whatever of what orthodoxy meant. In a way, the world-view of the Party imposed itself most successfully on people incapable of understanding it. They could be made to accept the most flagrant violations of reality, because they never fully grasped the enormity of what was demanded of them, and were not sufficiently interested in public events to notice what was happening. By lack of understanding, they remained sane. They simply swallowed everything, and what they did swallow did them no harm, because it left no residue behind, just as a grain of corn will pass undigested through the body of a bird."
But, if you know me, dear Wannaskan Almanac readers and friends, I always manage to find the light through the darkness. So, perhaps instead of saying the party is over, it's more accurate to say the party has evolved. Here's this week's list:
The Second Grader and I were guilty of excessive flatulence. I dubbed us "fartners in crime."
The Second Oldest started a new routine of rising before noon and doing his homework in the kitchen. He even asked me for help on his homework and all I had to do was sit next to him.
The 8-year old and the 18-year old dressed up in fancy dresses, curled their hair, and put on makeup. While the younger one was probably imagining herself as Princess Anna from Arendelle, I'm guessing the older one was playing pretend prom.
Our family set up the trampoline last weekend. All week, I spied hubby jumping with the littles and the older kids teaching flip tricks to the younger ones. (I got some bounces in, too.)
The dishes are getting done faster. Homework is getting done sooner (and caught up on). Whether it's stacking wood or building forts, the kids work together.
The littles have been googling strange things like "500 Ways to Die on Minecraft" so I have put away the school computers once distance learning is done. This has resulted in new ways to channel that creativity, for example, said dress up activities and fort building.
On the other end of the spectrum, the older kids have bonded through Minecraft. Okay, so maybe their device time has ticked up, but when I hear them talking across the house about, um, whatever it is they're doing, I see kids getting along. And I'm okay with that.
School lunch. Our kids usually bring their own lunch to school. This past week, we've tapped into the school's free lunch program. I'm not kidding, every day it's like bringing home treasure. They eagerly open their respective sacks and marvel at the goodies they will consume. Even the cucumber slices.
School's out. "Oh, good!" shouted the Second Grader. (Disclaimer: She loves her teacher and her classmates. But she also loves being at home.)
The Toddler and I had our best adventure yet. We explored a gully filled with snow and ice and fallen trees which led to the river which we followed for at least another hour, practicing our ninja movies while making our way back home.
Even though Cheese & Wine Hour got simpler, the kids enjoyed a bag of sugary cereal that lasted a miraculous 4 days. (Who needs cheese and crackers when you've got Cap'n Crunch?)
The WAKWIR's Fort 4.0 - The living room has been relieved of its small furniture, but honestly, I don't mind.
I've lost five pounds.
And I think this one's my favorite: the Toddler likes to crawl into his big sister's lap and hold her ear, the same kind of cuddling he does with his mama.
There's a newfound collaboration and sense of calm I can't help but to celebrate. I'm so grateful for all of the love and affection that is making its way into our home and hearts during this time. Our world has slowed down enough for us to finally see each other; to not only hear, but to listen; to hold one another's hand. To really be together.
Living in a rural area is a blessing, and at the same time, I feel like I'm sitting on my hands while others are risking their own lives saving others. However, as one nurse from St. Paul assured me - staying home is the best thing I can do.
I intend to keep making the most of it.
On This Day
Historic Highlights (credits)
2011 - The largest tornado outbreak ever recorded hits the U.S.
348 people in six states were killed during the outbreak, which encompassed a total of 358 confirmed tornadoes.
1983 - The German news magazine, Stern, announces discovery of Hitler's diaries
The documents were later exposed as forgeries, triggering one of the most spectacular media scandals in history. Experts believe that Hitler never kept a diary.
1974 - In Portugal, the fascist Estado Novo is overthrown in a bloodless coup
The leftist Carnation Revolution was led by military officers and supported by widespread civil resistance.
1953 - The double helix structure of DNA described for the first time
Francis Crick and James D. Watson published their groundbreaking findings about the molecule containing genetic information was in Nature that day.
1859 - Construction of the Suez Canal begins
The waterway connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea became the shortest sea link between Europe and Asia.
348 people in six states were killed during the outbreak, which encompassed a total of 358 confirmed tornadoes.
1983 - The German news magazine, Stern, announces discovery of Hitler's diaries
The documents were later exposed as forgeries, triggering one of the most spectacular media scandals in history. Experts believe that Hitler never kept a diary.
1974 - In Portugal, the fascist Estado Novo is overthrown in a bloodless coup
The leftist Carnation Revolution was led by military officers and supported by widespread civil resistance.
1953 - The double helix structure of DNA described for the first time
Francis Crick and James D. Watson published their groundbreaking findings about the molecule containing genetic information was in Nature that day.
1859 - Construction of the Suez Canal begins
The waterway connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea became the shortest sea link between Europe and Asia.
Happy Birthday to You!🎶
1940 - Al Pacino, American actor, director
1928 - Cy Twombly, American/Italian painter, sculptor
1917 - Ella Fitzgerald, American singer
1874 - Guglielmo Marconi, Italian businessman, inventor, developed Marconi's law, Nobel Prize laureate
1599 - Oliver Cromwell, English general, politician
1928 - Cy Twombly, American/Italian painter, sculptor
1917 - Ella Fitzgerald, American singer
1874 - Guglielmo Marconi, Italian businessman, inventor, developed Marconi's law, Nobel Prize laureate
1599 - Oliver Cromwell, English general, politician
Remembering You
2008 - Humphrey Lyttelton, English trumpet player, composer
2006 - Jane Jacobs, American/Canadian journalist, author, activist
2001 - Michele Alboreto, Italian race car driver
1944 - George Herriman, American cartoonist
1744 - Anders Celsius, Swedish astronomer
2006 - Jane Jacobs, American/Canadian journalist, author, activist
2001 - Michele Alboreto, Italian race car driver
1944 - George Herriman, American cartoonist
1744 - Anders Celsius, Swedish astronomer
Stay home, stay safe, stay strong, and make it a great Saturday!
Kim
ReplyDeleteYour family is seeing each other the way the people of Wuhan are finally seeing the stars.
FANTASTIC.
ReplyDeleteOne of your best posts. Appears your household is a first-rate example of how to "hunkerdown." JP Savage
ReplyDeleteThank you all so much! We're a good crew. ;)
ReplyDeleteKim,
ReplyDeleteI cannot believe anyone in your household was in a pickle!
Sounds to me like everyone decided to have a blast, finding joy in spite of having to deal with "distance schooling" and associated calamities.
Wahoo for the Hrubas!
Danie