I think they miss me

While starting to write this I’m listened to Over the Rainbow performed by Israel Kamakawiwo`ole which has been included in the soundtrack of a number of movies including playing during the credits of Finding Forrester. Tonight, I was just getting ready to settle in to a late night of writing when my oldest 2 showed up in the kitchen while I was getting a drink. About an hour later I got to the computer.

I had 2 conversations at once. Each waiting patiently for a break in the one that I was having with their sibling to get the conversation back to what they had on their mind. I put this in the category of unschooling adventures because even though I’ve been a parent a very long time I’m still encountering things I’ve never encountered before. I think parenting will always be that way. Although someday it’ll be grandparenting.

What made this an adventure has very little to do with what the conversations were about. It has alot to do with dear and close friends who haven’t seen each other in a while. One of the things that I expect is nearly universal about homeschooling parents is that they want to see their kids grow up. I don’t mean in the biological sense. I mean in the mature, responsible, thoughtful, etc. sense. And if they are going to do that, we have to let them. So, the relationship between parent and child has to morph through the years. It is the parent who has to allow this to happen. And, the relationship has to move from one of elder-child to one of friendship. Whether or not there may be other ways, I can certainly see no better way.

I have to say there are times when it’s tough to do. But, I can also tell you it’s worth doing. If you’ve been following along in Andrea’s blog, it’s been a difficult week. There are lots of temporary things that are there begging for attention. Likely though, in 6 months to a year, none of those things will be important. Our relationship with each other and our children will be.

Here are a few lines that I’ve excerpted from Over the Rainbow

And the dreams that you dare to,
‘oh, why? oh, why can’t I?’

Well, I see trees of green and red roses too
I’ll watch them bloom for me and you.

See friends shaking hands saying, ‘how do you do?’
They’re really saying, ‘I, I love you’

I hear babies cry and I watch them grow
they’ll learn much more than we’ll know

Some day I’ll wish upon a star
wake up where the clouds are far
…behind
where trouble melts like lemon drops
high above the chimney tops
that’s where you’ll find me