Little Helpers

There are times when I am in a hurry. I feel rushed to get the plants in the ground, to complete a chore or to cook a meal. I like for things to be done on time and I like a schedule.

Enter kids. With kids “on time” goes out the window and chores, meals and tasks are  interrupted and sometimes forgotten. I have learned to “go with the flow” and not worry so much when a schedule is broken. But, sometimes I slip and regress back to my old self.

Example. Today, Joe and I were outside gardening. I wanted to get the following done: plant peppers, plant okra, water everything. Jake was in the stroller sleeping and Joe wanted to help. He’s a great helper…just not a quick one. I felt myself getting anxious thinking of everything I wanted to get done. Joe was “helping” me plant the peppers. He was trying to pull them out of the container like I did and he was a little too rough and pulling leaves off the plants. Frustrated, I said, “Here, let me do it” and took the plant from him.

Why would I say that? He was trying to help and what’s more…he was learning. I stopped and looked at Joe and said, “Here, let me show you how to do it.” When I said that and showed him, he was so excited. I could see it on his face. I asked him to bring me another one and we planted the rest together. Not on a schedule, not rushed to get on to the next task.

I didn’t get everything I wanted to done, but I did spend time teaching Joe how to do something and welcoming the help he wanted to give. This was an important lesson for me, especially since I am considering home education. A schedule has its place, but there is something to be said for spontaneity, for taking advantage of a learning opportunity and for recognizing that opportunity when it’s right in front of you.