Bugs, Birds, & Swiss Family Robinson

 Bugs, Birds, and Swiss Family Robinson

"We are all meant to be naturalists, each in his own degree, and it is inexcusable to live in a world so full of the marvels of plant and animal life and to care for none of these things." ~Charlotte Mason

Not wanting to venture out into the East Texas summer heat for too long I sat on the porch listening to the children chatter about this or that. I look up at the roof and notice this nice little fellow sitting quietly by, listening along with me. He wore a suit of camouflage and at once, I could tell he was a gentleman, nicely folding his hands together as he waited for his dinner

I say "Oh look children! Do you see him?" The kids come bounding up the steps to have a look.
"Mom, do you think he is the one we let go?" Anna questions.

"Could be?" is my reply. I ask them if they see that he is wearing his "camo" outfit today. They giggle with glee as we discuss how he changes colors to blend into the surroundings.

"If he lands on something blue, will he turn blue?" Adam asked with hope.
"No dear, they blend into colors of nature, greens, browns and such. There isn't many blue things he would need to hide on," I answer completely amused at the minds of my children.

"One was in the car the other day," Adam mentions.

"Really? Did he turn burgundy?" I jokingly ask.

Smiling sheepishly, Adam replies, "No!"

Next, we notice an old flower pot we had hanging that Dad had taken down yesterday. Inside the basket was an abandoned bird nest with three eggs in it.
"Do you think they are still babies in the eggs?" Austin worries.

"No, these have been here for a while. The one I tried to pick up crumbled in my fingers as soon as I touched it. Most likely the cats got the parents." regretfully I answer.

"What kind of bird was it momma?" Adam says peering into the basket.

"Looks like a wren, you know the small brown birds we see all the time."

 Adam notices something scaly looking, "Is that a snake skin in there?"

"No, it is the plastic from the basket...see... I thought it was a snake skin at first too. It sure looks like it doesn't it!"

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"Mom, you have to come see what we built with daddy yesterday!" Adam says anxiously. I told him but I don't have my shoes on. He shouts "I will get them!" as scrambles off to go fetch my flip flops. We walk around the house to the wooded area by the garden. "See, this one is Daddy's" Adam says pointing.

"Oh, how neat! This looks like the houses Swiss Family Robinson lived in doesn't it?"

"Uh huh, and this one is mine, but it not so good." Adam says with disappointment.

"Well! I think it is plenty good. With your house, no one will fall through the floor. On Daddy's, I would fall right through!" I encourage.

"That one over there is Anna's"

"Oh, good she and you did the sturdy floor kind!" I talked with Adam about them and reassured him on how well he did.

I believe reading about Swiss Family Robinson is in order!

Now how could some dry text books and an over crowded classroom ever give them this kind of education? It doesn't just teach them facts, but it teaches them to respect nature and love it, to enjoy it and cherish it. We have been picked on about being treehuggers. At first it bothered Austin, but soon we all take it and wear the title as a badge of honor. As my oldest has said, "At least I care about something other than myself!" Ahhh, such words of wisdom from my teen.

The simple pleasures in life mixed with the wonder and excitement of my children confirms in my heart homeschooling was the best decision I had ever made. My children look at the world through innocent eyes and see wonder and amazement, hope and purity. God I thank you for letting me see through their eyes at times because it gives me a peek at how it was supposed to be.