“Mom, there’s just seven more days until the
first day of fall!” My six year old son announced, giving me the usual morning
fall countdown. “How are we going to celebrate? Can we jump in the leaves?”
“You bet!” I responded. “How about jumping in
the leaves and making caramel apples?”
“Hurray!!!” He cheered, with his younger sisters
jumping in on the excitement…
That was autumn – two years ago.
This was autumn last year….
“Look, Ben,” I said. We just raked the first
pile of leaves. Would you like to jump with us?”
“No. I don’t want to jump in the leaves.” My son
responded flatly, barely looking up at us or the giant leaf pile. His sisters
and I played while he just looked at his feet. My heart broke to see a boy of
such enthusiasm and spirit become a boy filled with disinterest.
What happened? Is the age jump from six to seven
so drastic that a boy who once got so excited about jumping in the leaves with
his sisters, no longer cares? I doubt it. In my opinion, what happened was
school....
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Nikki Schaefer is a wife and mother
to four life learning children ages 8, 7, 4, and 8 months. She is also a
licensed clinical social worker and former art therapist. Currently, in between
doing loads of laundry, diaper changing, song singing and park playing, Nikki
writes and illustrates articles and stories. She has written for several
parenting and homeschooling publications, illustrated for authors, and has five
picture books of her own that she is seeking a publisher for. To view Nikki’s
work or read her home schooling blog, go to
www.nikkischaefer.com.
