I know that women generally don’t like to talk about their age, but to not be able to say the number is like not being able to say Voldermort. It gives your youth and your past more power than your present. To avoid, deny, or lie about one’s age is to be afraid or ashamed of aging.

As long as I can remember, I have had a shelf in my fridge labeled “Toppings”. Think ice cream. Hot chocolate. Pancakes. Kind of toppings. The shelf included whipped cream, chocolate syrup, caramel topping, vanilla creamer, syrup, jelly, and as of late, even some vanilla flavoring. It was my yummy shelf.

BUT yesterday was different. And I write about it because yesterday reminded me what is possible. It reminded me we are making progress. It reminded me to not give up. It reminded me not to worry- there was nothing that happened at school that was better than what we did together. It reminded me of my true priorities. It reminded me to stay focused. Yesterday reminded me that homeschooling is exactly what I want to be doing.

I’ve long thought that kids need to learn how to get personal revelation earlier than we let them. We control too much and take over too much, and when it becomes necessary for personal revelation they are not prepared. They don’t know what to do, how to ask, what answers feel like, etc. Kids need practice in personal revelation before the stakes are high.

The first kid looked the waitress in the eye and told her what she wanted for dinner. The next child ordered and made a modification from the menu — something along the lines of ‘hold anything healthy and add fries’. The next child asked a question to clarify the menu and then she ordered. Lastly, we got to my 5 year old. He looked at the waitress and said, “I’ll have a quesadilla, please.”

We had a fun Sunday morning yesterday. And by fun, I mean frustrating and humbling. One child did not want to fast and one child was “sick” and did not want to go to church. We had a few discussions and a few lectures, and the kids were still holding their ground.