20 years. For 20 years, I had a job, a career, a calling, a goal a dream to fulfill. 20 years of planning, reading, preparing, studying, teaching, playing, showing, sharing. I am surrounded by memories: the shelves are filled with books that are dear to us. Hundreds of them, I think. Many dozen at least. Friends in Laura Ingalls, Beatrix Potter, Tolkien, Jane Austen, and so many more! So many! So many books we never read…too many to read, we couldn’t read them all. we had ideas for learning that never happened – but I won’t allow myself to regret that; the goal of education was to retain the love of learning that every child is born with, to keep their curiosity, to allow their natural creativity, to be free of stifling.
Yes, we did not finish every book, but we can read them still. We can experiment still. Play together still. I have learned so much from them over the years. In the early years, I learned lessons of virtue: humility, patience, forgiveness, kindness. They are our ‘2.0,’ I say to their father. They’re the Tim and Lori upgrades They are kinder, more patient, more forgiving, more ‘good’ than we are. We’ve learned much from them.
In the middle years, we learned alongside them as they pursued their interests and curiosities. Our eldest especially sought out history. He has taught me much. Lately, philosophy. Our eldest daughter is fearless in projects, skills, and working with her hands. By fearless, I mean she doesn’t wait for a full plan or even necessarily instructions but will forge ahead. We did many things alongside each other, hands always moving. Our youngest son’s interest was in space and wildlife. Also, anything mechanical. I would know nothing of space or new inventions without him. Our youngest has always been focused on art since she could hold a pencil, and she teaches me concepts that have helped me much; concepts in perspective. I also learned more history alongside her. Lately, I’ve been learning nutrition with her.
When they grew older, in later high school, they became my teachers. I don’t know that I have any more knowledge than they do. Surely I must, but their ability to learn and the curiosity to seek learning keeps them in new knowledge every day. Our middle two have said they seek employment where they learn something new, and if they’re not learning, if isn’t worth doing anymore, they’ll move on to something harder.
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