Monday, June 18, 2007

Leaving the nest

My little bird has left the nest for the first time... and I survived! LOL. Cameron had his first day of Nature Awareness Camp today. Just a half day camp at a semi-local locale. But it was our first time apart... sniff... sniff. I've never just left him somewhere like that. Yesterday he had a few moments of tearful panic and begged Cassia and I to stay with him all day, but today was not even a backward glance. In fact, he barely took the time to say goodbye when I left!

As far I can tell, they went into the woods on a scavenger hunt for signs of wildlife: tracks, dens, droppings, etc. There was something about finding a den that T6 had made a long time ago (T6 was in their weekly school year homeschool nature awareness program) and leaving the things they found as gifts to the wildlife so that they would leave gifts in return. I'm not sure he completely understood that one, because I'm not sure I understand what the heck he's talking about, lol. They also played games and climbed trees and jumped on a trampoline. It really sounded like a good time though I really wish I could be there too. Not because I don't trust him alone or that I want to control the situation or anything like that... it just sounds like fun and I'm missing it! ;)

While he was gone, Greyson took a nap and Cassia and I watched Disney's The Little Mermaid. Educational, I know. ;) I was considering finding an online copy of Hans Christian Anderson's The Little Mermaid and reading that to her so that she could hear the "real" version, but before I knew it, it was time for Cameron to come home. Maybe I'll do that later in the week though, now that I've found it.

Once Cam was home, he played an hour of video games (I changed the Game Rules so that he only has to be cooperative with the things I ask him to do to get his game time and is no longer linked to whether or not he does schoolwork) and then wanted to watch a movie! I told him no way. I offered to read Harry Potter. No. I offered to help him read a Star Wars reader. No. I offered to read a Magic School Bus book. No. *sigh* After a lot of whining, I finally made them realize that a book was the only option they had as far as stories go. They agreed to a MSB because "those would be the shortest." Again *sigh*. But they did end up really enjoying the story. It was one we'd never seen/read before and I think it may have been the first one ever written! (The Magic School Bus Explores the Waterworks) Anyway, those are the times that I think that unschooling would be a much more painless way of doing things... but then again easier doesn't mean better. Anyway, I've been thinking lots on that whole topic but I will save my rants and ponderings for another day.

4 comments:

naturalmom said...

Oh, I remember Brianna's first day of nature camp! It was a milestone. She had been to preschool before that, so it wasn't the first time she'd done something away from me. Nevertheless, it *was* the first time I had dropped her off with a group of complete strangers and just said "good-bye" without staying with her for the first couple of days. The first year she did the half day like Cameron. Then last year, she did the longer day camp -- 9 am to 2:30 pm. She had to take a lunch and everything. It was a glimpse of what it would be like if she went to school every day. It seemed like such a *long* time for her to be away! She liked it though.

One way to get a more information on what they did at camp might be to take a walk at the nature center with him later this summer. When we walk at our center, Brianna always comes out with things like, "That's where we stopped for our lunch one day at camp. We chased butterflies and one boy found a toad!" She's not one to say much if you just ask her "what did you do?", so that's the only way I can get details, lol!

Stephanie

G said...

Sounds a lot like the first day C.O. went to his enrichment arts class - I felt lopsided without him.

I like Stephanie's suggestion. I had a hard time getting real answers out of C.O. regarding what he did until I spent half an hour in the class room with him during the "lunch break". In that half hour, he showed me a lot about his world "at school".

Paper Dali said...

Awww, little Cameron's growing up. ;-)

Next week, Essie and Miguel will be gone from 9 a.m. to noon at Vacation Bible School. And I'll probably feel teary about it. Like my kids are growing too fast. Yikes. I think I'm at ease, though, because my mother runs VBS and the volunteers are family friends. But. Still.

Do have an iPod? We're doing Hans Christian Andersen stories on it downloaded from Librevox. I *think* the Little Mermaid's on it ...

Anonymous said...

Hi Jenny,

Thanks so much for popping into my blog and for your kind comment! I love to read yours and always check in to see what you guys are up to! I see you've been enjoying the some of the same fine literature as we have ("What is a Wookie")...an absolutely riveting tale sure to go down in the annals of great literature..lol!

Anyway, I wanted to let you know that I moved my blog (again!). Here's the new link!

http://jennsnewblog.homeschooljournal.net/

Jenn