Homeschool in a Minivan...Part 4
After many months of crazy travel life is settling down to a normal pace for our boys...
- Lunch at noon
- naps at 12:30
- playing in the back yard
- trips to the library
- having all of their toys in the same house!
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| Reading books on the coffee table! |
A few days off the deputation trail really showed me how much of a strain the last few months had taken on their little schedule oriented selves. As adults we often discuss the stresses that come with living out of a suitcase, always being in unfamiliar surroundings, and not having enough space for our stuff; however, our boys have no way to express those feelings of frustration that arise from time to time. I remember pulling out of the driveway on our latest journey with the van and car top carrier packed to the hilt and hearing our three year old's concerned voice cry out because he thought we had left his toy trains behind! I gently reassured him (about 12 times) that we had "everything"...or at least we had the trains.
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| Yelling something, yet holding on to that train! |
The first few days here were spent reacquainting themselves with their old toys and books, blankets, stuffed animals, and every nook and cranny of Grandma's house. If you asked my older son he would tell you that this is his home and Grandma just happens to live here too!
Our schedule is hardly ever "normal" or consistent while on the road and that makes for confused, cranky children who seem to spend their life reliving the same training sessions over and over every place we go. Imagine all of the things you've trained your children to do at home. Now imagine suddenly moving in with your extended family, or a furnished apartment for a few weeks, or a hotel where jumping on the bed is allowed? For a two and three year old, we don't expect them to remember everything, but there is one thing we always do (or strive to do)...
We try to consistently have Bible time with them on a daily basis. We don't want our children to grow up thinking that the only time you read God's Word is during a church service. Our boys love Bible time with Daddy at night. Just yesterday, our three year old fell asleep on the couch, and when my husband carried him up to bed he asked to read the Bible first. Of course, he was long gone before his head reached the pillow, but it was sweet to see that he desired to learn more about God.
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| Reading their story Bible with Daddy. |
For the month of December we have been meeting together in the morning to read verses and color ornaments for our Jesse Tree. I found some great material online here and here. We've found it works best right after breakfast when everyone is happy and seated around the table. If not in the morning, then right after dinner is our second choice. Our sons may not remember all of the moving around and church visits in a few years; but our three year old is already learning trace the story of redemption from Creation to the Cross, and that is something that can forever change his life.
We may not live an exciting life sitting in our minivan traveling up and down the highways, but we serve an exciting God, and we want our children to know Him, and love Him above all!
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