February 23, 2010

A Texas Homeschool Snow Day

lenscap-snowman

The last time it snowed like this in Austin was 1985. I am not sure I have ever made a snowman that was over knee-high in my life. We don't see a lot of the white stuff 'round these parts. I had to let the kids go outside for a few hours to play in it because I knew that it would most likely be the only chance they would get in the rest of their homeschool career.

babysnow

I couldn't deprive a little crinklenosed baby from having his very first snowflake-peppered hairdo, either. It needed to happen. Even though I know I'm going to catch it from my mother for taking him outside without a hat. [sorry Mom]

snowwatcher

I stayed inside with the cats and the baby and watched them play in the cold for the better part of the day. I tried not to think about how I was 'missing out on another school day'... because a snow like this only comes around once in ten years.

snowkidz

I beat myself up a lot when we miss school. Mainly because with baby, we've missed quite a lot. Regardless, I have found that the kids are learning anyway. They are reading, cooking, helping with the baby, growing, having new experiences ... and my 'in-the-box education' sometimes interferes with my ability to see the learning that we are doing in life as 'school'.

snowgirl2

But they can see it. They are smart cookies.

snowballfight

Some of the best advice I ever got from another homeschool mom was about the importance of play in education.

“Play is the only way the highest intelligence of humankind can unfold.”
~ Joseph Chilton Pearce

There has been a lot of research done on how play helps a kid become a better, smarter, well-rounded adult. Some other time I'll have to do a post on it. Tonight I have a baby tugging at my shirt, a house to pick up, laundry to fold, and notes to write for my conference session Thursday. [Which you are coming to, right?]

Just remember this: Play is important.

snowman10

Play is creating. Play is joy. It puts a smile on our faces.

While the kids were playing with ice, I was playing with my camera. Everyone was happy. Except maybe Minga the cat. Because she's evil and hates it when people are happy. In fact, she hates people in general. Except for her 13 year old boy-pet.

What were we talking about again? OH, yes - playing in the snow...

little-leland-in-snow

So when the snow is this deep in TEXAS, we play. I felt sorry for the kids at public school today, because they actually stayed in school while we took the day off. I saw the bus drive by with an inch of snow on top of it after the melting had already begun. I imagined all the long faces and the kids that were ready to bound off the bus and throw themselves down in to the powder creating snow angels on their pristine white yards.

snowphone-sm

So the snow day came and went while they were in their classrooms with their noses pressed to the windows every time the teacher stepped out of the room. I have no idea if that's true, but if I were them, that's what I would have been doing at public school today.

Tonight it is getting down in the 20's. That means nasty ice in the morning... and noisy tomorrow afternoon kid-sized distractions outside when we are making up for OUR time off.

berries-snow

These berries are from the Nandina bushes I have been wanting to relocate. They have nothing to do with playing or taking time off from school... or public school, or school buses. But I'm sure you are used to my tangents by now. I've been frowning on these bushes for months. I have to admit that they sure looked nice in the snow today, though.

cold-kiss

Tomorrow is the first day of the rest of our homeschool year. Back to work for us. Too bad this little guy will be gone after lunch. He was a nice distraction.




Subscribe to Sprittibee by Email

10 comments:

Meesa said...

Sweet post, mamma! I luv the snow but I luv u more!!! :)
Morganie

Dawn @ My Home Sweet Home said...

Snow trumps school any day. :-)

MarshaMarshaMarsha said...

awesome to have an entire day of snow like that! what great memories for your kids.

we, on the other hand, just had a day of rain. blah blah boring. i think it snowed east of my house but just a little. *sigh*

i think i would be sick to my stomach if i was a kid in school and had to be trapped inside with all that frosty beauty outside.

Bay said...

Don't sweat the snow day! :) Since it's so rare in your parts, it would be a crime to not let them play.

I got a big kick out of seeing your iphone weather. I wish we could go from 34 to 61 in a week! We are about to get blasted with snow here in NJ, for like, the 80th time!

Shannon Wallace said...

Hooray for the snow!! Of course it would snow in TX when I no longer live there. :( But I'm happy for you guys, and don't beat yourself up over missing school. You are totally correct...they are learning so much by the day to day living. :o)

Anonymous said...

I am so happy that you choose a "snow day", your kids (and you) will remember that day forever... wonderful memories!

We just got about 12+ inches in NH, we had a snow day today too!
Blessings Leanne

Kimberly @ RaisingOlives said...

What fun!

I love calling a homeschool day and I agree, play is important (and so is the hot chocolate when they finish building a snowman).

rural momma said...

Coming form a mom who has graduated one, has one graduating this year, and one the next I have some advice.... don't feel guilty for not doing "school". I look back over our 14 years of homeschooling and am so thankful for the time we had just to smell the flowers. My son is in college and is no worse for wear for missing some regular school days. He has lots of great memories and I can't wait to make more with my 'students' still left at home. :o) Bring on the snow days!!! :o)

Catherine Anne said...

Love them all!

Heather Lewis said...

No snow in SoCal. Shocker. Couldn't be more jealous.

The reminder about taking a day "off" for play is a good one for me. Sometimes I'm too task-oriented for my own good.

The pics are precious, too.

 

Disclosure

Some posts on this blog contain affiliate links or sponsored links. I receive a small commission whenever a product is purchased through an affiliate link. Sponsored links are paid for by a company who wishes to improve their Google ranking, but I always check to make sure these are reputable sites and never allow any links that are questionable to be placed.

The links in my "Sweet Linkage" section are either sponsored links or personal links that I find interesting (including the links to the blogs that both of my teen children run).

I occasionally run ads on my blog in exchange for money or traded advertising, or receive products in exchange for a review or giveaway posts. I also participate in campaigns by brands that offer to pay me to write about their products after using them. Any post that is sponsored will be noted as such. All opinions expressed on Sprittibee.com are my own, and any review, give-away, sponsored post, graphic ad, or product that I mention or link to are ones that I believe are reputable and worthy companies.

Stats

blog design:

blog archives