Alison Hodgson

Expert on the etiquette of perilous times.

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It’s been a long week.  Lydia started a new school too – sixth grade.  It hasn’t been easy being the new kid and being her mom hasn’t been a cake walk either.  I haven’t blogged, because it takes time getting up early, packing lunches, waiting for buses, driving Kindergartners to school, neducating homeschoolers, praying on the hour for lonely girls, rejecting plans to beat up would be mean girls and such.

We’re tired.
All of us are seeking comfort and rest in our own particular way:  Eden and Christopher are playing Star Wars Legos on the Wii, Lydia is baking and Paul and I are lounging on our bed laptops propped on our legs.
“Are we being terrible parents?”  I asked Paul.
He paused from his typing for a second to mumble, “No.”
He didn’t recommend taking the long view here, but it was implied.

https://alisonhodgson.com/2008/09/396/

First Day of School – Ever!

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Here is a sweet little Kindergartner.  She carefully selected this spot in front of an upturned and half painted doghouse for her first portrait.  Questionable taste in back drops aside, this kid is perfect.
She was a little distressed that people were lumping her siblings in on her first day.  I had to explain to her that, though they had both been in school previously, today WAS their first day back, but that it was her first day EVER.  This explanation satisfied.  Please note the giant name tag that she will be wearing until her teacher is comfortable with everyone’s name.  Eden was not pleased that it featured Curious George.  I asked why.

“I don’t like monkeys,” she leveled her gaze, “because of their bottoms.”
Can you blame her?
“I know some kids like monkeys because they don’t know about the bottoms.  The kids who have been to school before have apples (she had noted the first graders’ name tags) but I think we have Curious George because we’re curious about learning.”  There was a tone of respect for the purpose behind the mascot (pun unintended) if not for George himself.  

Here’s a side view of her gigantic Hello Kitty backpack that only some fast and deft P.R. on my part replaced the My Little Pony one, she had her eye on initially.  
You can’t fathom the horror.

Today

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School is about to be back in session.

No P2-ty yet.

It’s foggy and wet here, but mid 50’s. Paul and I were out early this morning walking Jack and I had on a light jacket and a hat, gloves and boots weren’t necessary. I still slipped on a thick patch of ice and torked my shoulder. I felt like a chicken who had a wing pulled off. I am so thankful for Jack. If not for him, I might have missed the warmth of this day.

And now I get to go do school.

Seebateekul

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Although it’s been quiet here at Older Than Jesus you know it’s never quiet in our real world.

I had quite a big week last week, was gone a couple days and then Paul, just to remind me who the real traveler is in this family, left for four the minute I returned. He’s back now, safe and sound.

The homeschoolers are taking the week off. I built this into the schedule this summer, knowing I would crash after my conference. At odd moments I will think, “We’ve got to get back to it!” before remembering that this break is sanctioned. We are all unwinding.

Remind me to tell you about:

Eden, thumb sucker no more
the creative process
community
a horrific story about Jack
some thoughts on home education
A Ukrainian Tragedy

I will consider expressions of interest in my prioritization.

Hope everyone is well.

If I had to leave you for so long, didn’t I leave you with a nice picture? Eden thinks so. “I love that picture of me.” She said when she saw it the other day.

Who doesn’t?