Cabin Fever Cures // The National Aquarium

A week in and we were getting bored. Sick of the four walls. It has been cold and gray, and I haven't had much enthusiasm for bundling up and heading outside.  But when I woke up yesterday morning, I knew we had to go. The where part was uncertain and almost irrelevant. But it had to happen.

My vote was an art museum. I've been craving visual stimulation and inspiration. I was in the mood for wacky and whimsical, but I knew that despite the polite response from Gus, it wouldn't be hitting any home runs.

When I called to invite my mom, she completely poo-pood the idea, but wasn't able to produce any viable alternatives. So I suggested that if she would foot the bill, I would be willing to take the kids to the National Aquarium in Baltimore. The truth is, I don't actually like aquariums that much. In fact, I'm not terribly interested in anything "sciencey" except when it involves nature in a natural setting. Then I can get on board. Gus, however, loves aquariums. When I told him about the change in plans, he very literally jumped for joy.

In the hour between telling the kids we were going and actually leaving, I started to have all sorts of second doubts. Actually, it was just one doubt: is visiting an aquarium ethical? I warned my children that when we got home I was going to do the research so this could very well be their last visit. My "ethics" are a pretty insufferable thing to bear. I have concerns about so many things but then don't take very strong stands, which makes me a kill-joy who is still participating in the questionable activity.

I haven't gone on to figure out if all aquariums, and probably zoos for that matter too, should be avoided. After watching the joy and curiosity that overcame my children, I'm not sure if I want to. I'm desperately hoping that when done right, both institutions provide valuable research and support conservation measures in such a way to justify their existence.

Arlo had to be pulled from each and every exhibit. He spent five minutes with his eyes locked with a puffin, his new best friend named Stinky. Later he cried when we left his even newer best friend, Sharky. Gus bounced from one exhibit to the next, identifying fish I have never heard of.  Alamae stared wide-eyed and amazed in the dramatic light, entranced by the recorded whale songs.

I'm so grateful that my mom vetoed the art museum (though I'm forcing them to go visit one with me sooner rather than later) and that she treated us to the day on the Inner Harbor. Aquariums and lunches at Shack Shack are far from free.  So thanks, mom.

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Playing Scientist

I am fond of making plans, and I am equally fond of cancelling them. Actually, that isn't true. While I frequently cancel plans, I'm always deeply dissatisfied when I do. And yet, I still do it...all the time.

Last week, I almost did it. I planned to take the kids to the Calvert Marine Museum. I had an itch to go after spying sea otters on my parents' pier for the first time in ten years, and since the museum has a pair of otters it seemed like a fun idea. Then I discovered that on Friday they were having their twice annual home school day, so it seemed perfect.

However, when I woke up Friday to snowy weather, the prospect of trying to get four kids out of the door by nine seemed impossible and completely unappealing. Plus, the last time that I tried to take my kids to a museum did not go so well. I called my mom to bag the whole thing, but then called her back three minutes later to say wait, wait, I changed my mind. Let's go.

So we went.

And I am so glad we did.

Sena, generally, loves museums of all varieties. It's easy to engage her. Her nerdiness runs deep. Gus, however, is pulled in as easily. So the fact that he loved the place meant a lot. There were lots of hands on activities, and the museum had undergone massive growth since the last time I was there when Gus was a baby and Sena was a toddler. The giant Megalodon hanging from the ceiling of the Paleo Hall was definitely a highlight. And Arlo enjoyed pushing any and all buttons he could find.

It's pretty awesome having such a beautiful museum dedicated to our specific part of the Chesapeake. I think that was part of the appeal for Gus; he wasn't learning about far off places that he can't particularly relate to. He was learning about his backyard.

The weather did keep us from checking out the sea otters though, so we are going to have to head back once warm weather comes round these parts in earnest.

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This Weekend We

The weekend was full of community theater plays, and thirty-first birthdays.

It was full of pushing formerly electric cars up hills and letting them roll down. 

And it was full of nature walks, nature journals, and colored pencil drawings. 

And in the moments in between, we started packing up forgotten corners of our house- giving away, throwing away, organizing.

And after all that, Tom woke up Sunday in the mood for "spontaneity and adventure,"  so we packed a lunch and headed to the zoo.

And when I think back on this weekend, this exhausting and wonderful spring weekend, I will do everything in my power to erase the memory of our hellacious drive home from Washington DC. I try to like that city, I really do, but boy does it make it ever hard.

P.S. The community theater play was Neil Simon's Rumors and my good ole dad starred it in. And let me tell you, he was pretty funny. One reviewer claimed he was "naturally hilarious." He has a family full of tough women not ready to fully support that claim, not when he's around to hear us at least, but when he's not listening, I just might be honest and agree. 

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Why I Homeschool: Part 3

Because it's all about family.

And family doesn't just mean blood; it means the people who love you.
I homeschool my kids because I want the majority of their day to be spent with family, the people who love them, the people who they love.
I want Sena and Gus to sit together with their oma learning about ancient civilizations, and I want my dad to read them kid's versions of The Iliad and The Odyssey. I want their father to help them make lemon powered batteries, and I want to take them on nature walks. We love these kids, and these kids love us, and that's who I want them to spend the day with.

It melts my heart watching these two work together, elbow to elbow, 

identifying houseplants or learning about famous artists or doing their math. 

Part 1

Part 2

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At School

Exploring the beach at low tide. 

Collecting, categorizing, organizing. 

Playing scientist.

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