5 x 1=6 and Trampolines...

My day didn't start off like this, like every homeschool mom dreams...children sitting in front of the fire, quietly reading a sweet book about pilgrims. No, it was a 5 x 1=6 morning.

Levi is a very bright boy. But, at times (ok...at least half the time), he can tend to approach school with a less than stellar attitude. When he does this, as I've talked with him about many times, his mind gets all jumbled up, and he doesn't seem to remember anything. We were working on long division and he could not recall any of my instructions from one second to the next. Pointing out each part of the problem, step-by-step, I say, "OK...and what is 5 X 1?" (Easy stuff for him!) In frustration he answers, "Six". Ughhhh. This goes on for at least twenty minutes, all the while, he is nearing tears because his math just seems too hard, and I'm having to take deep breaths to maintain my composure. I write on the board, "A cheerful (joyful) heart is good medicine." (Prov 17:22). Reminding him that sometimes we have to choose a good attitude, we have to choose joy. Prick, prick. The Lord is speaking these words to me as I am saying them out loud to Levi. Another deep breath. OK, surely with those wise words spoken, our morning will turn around. I was encouraged. We prayed together and got back to math. Levi was still struggling. I look up, see the trampoline and say my famous line...."You need to go bounce!" He somberly made the walk out to the tramp and starts bouncing w/ a frown on his face. The Lord pricks my heart..."You need to go out there with him." I respond to the Lord, "Oh, it's so cold, Lord, that's a lot of energy for me, I'd rather just stay here by the warm fire, have a five minute break and watch him." Pause. "OK, Lord." Off I go to join my son. And wouldn't you know it. As soon as he saw me approaching, his smile was as wide as his face. We bounced for a few minutes together, had a great time, laughed, came in and warmed our cold feet by the fire, and then proceeded to do math with ease.

If there is one thing that I have learned is that sometimes my boys just need a little physical activity for their brains to work. That's where I will continue to contend that our trampoline we invested in a few years ago, is worth its weight in gold. On many days, a little jump is all that's needed to clear the mind, help a bad attitude, or just get out that energy. (Yesterday afternoon I had three of them out bouncing in 50 degree weather, with their swimsuits on, asking for me to set the sprinkler up on it...Oregon rain wasn't enough for them. :))

But even more important, in my dealing of the day, the Lord was reminding me that I need to choose joy in my circumstances. Equally important, that sometimes my children just need me to laugh and play with them. Levi just needed ME. Just laughing and playing together turned his day around. The sweet smile on his face in the picture at the top is proof.

Just for the record, I wasn't the only one having a "morning". Matt fished another car from the toilet (he was just thankful he didn't have to pull the whole toilet this time as it was actually flushed w/ a car), and later a toothbrush. Not to mention a whole container of fish food was poured on the carpet and in the midst of it, Zoey decides she's going to work on her potty training. :)

Thank you, Lord, for the joy in the midst of craziness!