Round Up

I'm told it's "kindergarten round-up" time. Some of our friends are participating in this ritual; parents trying to convince their little ones that it will be really fun- wondering how the time went by so quickly and their child is growing up so fast. Soon their child will spend most of her day time with other people.

Ready or not, drop 'em off. Don't stay to "coddle" them--they'll get over it.

Schedules and routines will change. There will be new standards of behavior to adhere to, new lables assigned. Will their child become the "smart one", the "cooperative one", the "stubborn one", the "kid whose parents are annoying", the "student who's too sensitive", the "hyper kid who needs medication", the "bully", the "math whiz"...

We've decided not to throw our hats into this ring at this time. Just the name "round-up" brings to my mind images of cattle being herded.

We've decided to continue to grow together at our own pace, surrounded by the loving encouragement of family, friends and mentors. We will sit in the sunshine, observing nature. We will play in the rain, and watch clouds, and gaze at stars while we gain knowledge about weather, seasons, science, astronomy, astrology, and mythology. We will examine snowflakes and leaves and bugs and plants while we drink tea and eat treats we've made during our math learning.

We will play with our dog while reading interesting books, then finger knit or finger paint. We will run in the halls without a hall pass, go to the restroom and get a drink without asking permission (and possibly being denied it), eat healthy food that we prepare and perhaps even grow ourselves. We will do these things for as long as we like without the interuption of a bell that signals switching to a new activity like musical chairs.

We will visit the places we love and explore new places too. We'll go to actual places of history and see them first hand. We will not be chastised for working ahead, or for lagging behind. We will socialize with people of all ages and all walks of life, not just those in our same age group or neighborhood ("district"). We'll listen to our favorite music, dance, and sing at the tops of our lungs without consequence.

We wish the best for our friends who are being rounded up. We're gonna sit this one out for now.