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from Natural Life magazine,
September/October 2008 “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.... To read the rest of this article, subscribe to Natural Life's online edition. 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. |
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