What Timeless Warm-Weather Pleasure Floats My Kids Boats?

Making boats, of course!

The other day, Nina helped me share about a simple spring pleasure that she enjoys: making dandelion crowns. 

 

Today, I thought I'd follow up with another timeless warm-weather activity that all my children enjoy: making and floating boats.

Recent Boat-Making AdventuresTruly, on our recent trip to see my in-laws, I realized anew that boat fun is  an activity that never seems to get old for my children despite how old my oldest is getting!  In fact, of all three of my children, he seems to be the one that explores with boats the most:

  

...saving them when they crash against rocks under bridges...

...sending them adrift near gutters...

... trying to get them to cross small ponds...

Luke and his siblings also like to construct their own boats from natural materials...

They have also long-loved making boats with recyclable materials.

The material matters far less to the children than the experience of the timeless warm-weather pleasure of making and floating boats!

It's Fun AND Worthwhile

How many dandelions can the boat carry?

On small rivers, on ponds, in the ocean, in our kiddie pools, even in the sink, child-constructed boats float often around here when the weather is warm.  As they do, the children inherently:

• learn about buoyancy.
• practice the engineering and design process.
• exercise their brains and bodies.
• demonstrate focus.
• immerse themselves in sensory smart experiences.
• employ both fine and gross motor skills.
• breathe and relax.
• explore natural surroundings.

They also often end up coming together as a team and, most importantly, delight in self-directed play, usually outdoors.  That sure makes boat-making a worthwhile way to enjoy warm-weather hours for my crew How about for yours?

Do you children enjoy the timelessness of boat-making?  What other classic activities never seem to get old for them?

7 Words for This Week

H.I.I.F.

What, you do not know that acronym?

Don't worry.  I just made it up, because although I could say T.G.I.F, as in "Thank God it is Friday, (the week was so blessed!)

Instead, I find myself thinking, "How is it Friday?" as in, "Where did this week go?"  (Or, as the case may be now, H.I.I.S, since I began writing this on Friday, paused, and now find Saturday almost done!)

Truly, the week flew -- fast, fun and full of discovery! (Okay, there were moments of being frustrated, tired and whatnot, too, but let's focus on the more positive stuff!)

This past week there was...

~1~

Community

Sunday, we were blessed by spending time with part of our church collaborative community enjoying simple timelsss pastimes.  (More on that tomorrow!)

~2~

Tradition

Before I ever met Mike, I began going to Honeypot Hill with my brother, my sister and their families.  I would love it if we all could still go there together now that I have my own children, timing never works for that.  Thus, Mike, the kids and I simply continue the tradition on our own.

How we love climbing ladders to pick apples, feeding the animals, doing the mazes and appreciating the beautiful scenery! 

~3~

Animation

One thing I love about homeschooling is having time to learn alongside my children!  Part of that learning this week included the Outside the Box crew mentoring the kids and me in creating our first stop motion animation videos as a part of a DIY.org Animator badge work.

The children were so proud of their work (and I was pretty amazed by how relatively simple stop motion really is.)   

~4~

Butterflies

Nature study (insects and plants), physical education (hiking and jumping off rock walls) and faith (marveling at God's amazing creation) this week included a fabulous free monarch butterfly tagging program at Allen's Pond Wildlife Sanctuary, a place that makes me feel so lucky to live in the area I do.

Isn't it gorgeous?

~5~

Teeth

... or lack thereof!

Nina bravely pulled out another tooth this week and now has a 4-space gap that makes me laugh every time she smiles.  How she can articulate at all, I do not know, but her chatter and song have not slowed down!

In fact, Nina had her first church choir practice ever this week and came away from it beaming!  She's so excited to finally be old enough to join the church choir and has been telling me she wants to serve our church in every way she can as she grows.  Yay!

~6~

Geography

A geography club seed began germinating in my brain long ago.  It was more recently watered and fertilized by similar desires by my friend Dani and just this week grew into a seedling I am delighted by.  Children from five families got together for our inaugural meeting this week and had so much fun!

~7~

Forts

You might recall from one of the reasons I listed last week about why I am hesitant to call myself a homeschooler that my children have begin a completely self-initiated fort building project.  Well, it is not just their anymore.  

Luke recruited a friend to be in his army, using paperwork and all, and then, together with that friend, his siblings and the friend's little brother, worked happily away pounding nails, layering mud and bricks and fortifying their fort walls.

~Plus~

Mini-Lessons

Plus, of course, there were plenty of mini-lessons, including Nina choosing to create simple sentences, and...

(Note:  There are two Amazon links below for your convenience.  If you choose to click through them to make any purchase, we may receive compensation at no extra cost to you.  Thank you.)

Jack combining Montessori Sandpaper Numbers with a favorite open-ended toy (the awesome MindWare Q-Ba-Maze ) to practice numbers.

What a week it's been!

Did your week fly, too?  What fun and learning have you been enjoying?

Sharing at Conversion Diary, Managing Your Blessings, Pebble Pond,  Weird Socialized Homeschoolers and Home to 4 Kiddos.

Gift the Gift You've Been Given

 

This morning, before my oldest was even awake, my mom called.  

"Do we have someone serving at Mass today?" she asked.  

I confirmed that Luke was on the schedule for his third "training" as an altar server.  

A few hours later, my folks sat behind Mike, Nina, Jack and me at the front of the church.

It was a beautiful Mass as each person involved with it offered individual gifts.  

Our pastor's homily was both funny and spot-on.  He connected the day's gospel reading to stories of his own experience and, ultimately, drove home a message that the Church is more than a priest, a bishop, a cardinal or a pope.  In fact, the Church is all of the people within it.  Each person called to offer whatever he or she can -- great or small -- to keep the Church strong and vibrant.

What happened on the altar and in the pew behind me later only worked to strengthen the homily's impact on me.  

On the altar, the kind, patient young man who had "come out of altar server retirement" to train my boy did a commendable job directing Luke.  Luke himself served with care.  

Next to me, Nina was intent to pay attention, excited that her brother was serving on the altar and that she, herself, would soon have an opportunity to serve our church through joining the children's choir.  Thinking about all this, her eyes moved from Luke, to the priest's hands, to the cantor.

Nina's eyes were not the only one's on the cantor, it seems.  For after the closing song of the Mass, my parents clapped and made a point of going over to the gal who had so beautifully offered her gift of song to our Mass celebration.  They had moved by the music.

In fact, the Mass experience as a whole had apparently moved my parents.

At one point, as Luke did his duties on the altar, my father's face went red, he took in a deep breath and let out tears.  At another moment, my mother's eyes leaked as a smile played on her lips.  At both of these moments, I recalled my own cathartic cry several weeks ago when Luke had first served as an altar boy and quietly thanked God for the way He moves us.

It is amazing to me how the simple choices we each make can affect one another.  

My son chooses to be an altar boy.  My parents choose to come celebrate a Mass at which he serves.  A young man chooses to share his mentorship.  A gal chooses to share her voice.  A priest chooses to share his stories and thoughts.  The people of a parish choose to share an hour together on a Sunday morning.  Many choose to let the Spirit move in them and through them...

This morning's Mass served as a microcosm for me of how awesome things can be when each of us chooses to share forward the gifts we have been given.  

Time.  Talent.  Thoughts.  Service.  Prayer.  Community.  No person is too young to offer something to the Church -- even if it is just presence and a well-timed baby-cry (as happened with a tiny child at our church today, who cried out at just the perfect moment to add an element of laughter and joy to the service.)

What gift of yours can you gift forward today?

 

Please feel free to share about them in comment here or on our Training Happy Hearts Facebook page.  If you leave a link to an idea, I will pin it on the Training Happy Hearts: A Call to Faith Formation in Young Children Pinterest board. 
 

Encouragement for Parents of Boys that Are A Handful at Mass

Does your child "hate" Mass? Do not despair.

Forge on. Pray. Keep going and growing in your own faith and encouraging your child to go and grow, too.

You may be surprised what happens.

I certainly was!

Yes, He Really Asked to Be An Altar Boy

It was with some trepidation that in early June I drove about an hour with my children to a Latin Mass in the Rite of Braga.

Experience has proven that Mass with my boy can be anything but a reverent experience at times.  Even a quick, local Mass in English can be challenging for Luke (and his two younger siblings, as well.)  So, although the friend who had invited us to the Latin Mass assured me that the priest offering the Mass was fabulous and "gets" kids, I was hesitant to pile into our minivan to go experience what I feared might become a Mass of mayhem.

The Spirit moved me to do so, though.  And - praise God! - in the end, someone else was moved, too.

As Luke experienced the Rite of Braga Mass, which acted as the closing Mass to our homeschool group's year of studying Medieval times, he looked up to me and said, "Mom, I want to be an Altar Sever."

I was shocked!

My camera was not working well the day of the Medieval Mass, but I want to share this photo as it is significant.  Before the Mass began, the priest offered a brief lesson on the Rite of Braga Mass and the architecture of the church we were in.  When he asked for a volunteer to help him explain the symbolism of the building, Luke raised his hand.  He was picked and, since Luke can be quite an erratic volunteer,  I thought, "Oh no!  Now what is going to happen?"   My concern was unnecessary.  Luke not only responded to the priest's requests well, but became more interested in the Mass, and, I would guess, open to the Spirit speaking to him during the Mass.  

Joyfully Surprised

"You want to be an altar boy?!" I responded in an excited, surprised whisper to Luke when he quietly announced his desire to me during the Braga Mass.  For, prior to that Mass, when I had casually asked Luke once if he ever wanted to serve as an altar boy, he had immediately and emphatically responded, "No!"  He doesn't like to participate in Mass.  It is "boring".  It is "long".  It is a struggle for him.

I understood.  

As a "sensory kid" with attention challenges who was once on the path to an Autism spectrum diagnosis, I am thrilled that Luke makes it to - and through - Mass at all some weeks.  Regulating himself in the pew is challenge enough for Luke.  If he did not want to serve on the altar, fine.

Thus, I had never asked Luke about being an altar server again.

Yet, there was my boy bringing the possibility up to me.  

As Luke experienced Latin Mass and witnessed some of his homeschool peers serving on the altar during it, a desire kindled within him.  He voiced it, "Mom, I want to be an altar boy."

Who was I not to support him and the way the Spirit was calling him?

In the days that followed, I asked Luke several times if he had been serious about wanting to serve as an altar boy.  

Not only did Luke affirm his desire to me, but one day at Mass when our church distributed questionnaires asking what parishioners wants, needs and abilities might be, Luke took it upon himself to fill out his own form, writing on it that he wanted to serve as an altar boy.  In doing so, he shared his heart's desire publicly.

Wow!   

As Luke' s desire persisted, my joy and gratitude grew. 

Several times, I chatted with Luke about his choice to become an altar boy.  I hugged him, prayed with him, told him how delighted I was that he felt called to help our church in such a way and let him know that I would call the rectory to find out more about Altar Server training.  

And A Tad Concerned

Yet, while I was true to my words of support, excitement and gratitude, I admit, I also harbored concern.

Desire and ability are two different things.  Luke wanted to be an altar boy, but could he be?  

My question was not whether Luke be allowed to be an altar server. (I knew our parish would welcome him to try it out.)  Rather, it was whether Luke would be able to participate in Mass on the altar without causing distraction... or even disaster.

So it was that I spent time chatting with Luke about what an privilege it is to serve on the altar and how he would need to be extraordinarily respectful.  Focus on the Mass.  Sit, stand and kneel when he was supposed to.  Not complain.  Not escape to the bathroom.  Regulate himself and pray for help if he felt challenged...  Basically, in not so many words, reform his years of challenging Mass behavior.

Luke committed to doing so.

Bumps Before Becoming an Altar Boy

Commitment, though, does not always mean success.  

In the weeks between when Luke was called to be an altar server and when he actually becoming one, he made a concerted effort to "be good" at Mass.  Yet, he still struggled.  

His attention waned.  His senses processed in their own way.  His core strength flagged.  He sprawled prone on the pew.  He made bathroom trips.  He fooled around with his bother and sister.  He needed me to hold him.  He struggled to regulate himself and to participate with reverence.... and, yet, he continued to speak of his desire to serve.

So it was that I brought Luke to Altar Server training and, a week later, woke him for "the big day".

Unfortunately, the big day unfolded with a big meltdown at its start.

Although it was only a couple of weeks ago, I cannot remember what it was at breakfast that began to set Luke off.  I do recall, though, that his actions and reactions in a squabble with his siblings were not acceptable.

Then, having reset (I thought) from the small breakfast outburst, when it was time to get dressed for Mass, a full-on meltdown, reminiscent of the ones Luke used to have daily in years gone by, began.

Luke did not want to wear his button down shirt "because it itches" and his dress pants "hurt" and...  I asked Daddy to finish getting Jack and Nina ready and to get them in the car while I dealt with a 15-20 minute full-blown meltdown that I wasn't sure Luke would recover from in time to serve at Mass.

Praise God, though, somehow we did it.  Luke got dressed.  He reset.  And, we all got to Mass 10-15 minutes early so he could go to the sacristy to prepare.

 

Luke responded wonderfully to the altar server assigned to mentor him on his first day on the altar.  There were no more tears nor protests as she helped him pick out a robe, find a red cincture and put on a cross to wear.

Smiles and Tears

I cannot express the joy, gratitude and allayed apprehension I experienced as Luke served for the first time as an altar boy.

Our pastor Father John is awesome, as were the veteran altar servers that mentored Luke that day.  With their guidance, Luke's own desire and, of course, the work of the Holy Spirit, Luke not only made it all the way through Mass as an altar server, but he did so with a spirit of enthusiasm and focus that amazed me.  

To be honest, particularly after Luke's pre-Mass meltdown, I was not confident that he would succeed at staying on the altar for an entire Mass, much less honoring our Lord and the responsibilities of being an altar server.  Yet, Luke did.

It was a beautiful, incredible, affirming thing to witness.

Miracles Do Happen

So many times throughout the years, I have wondered whether taking Luke to Mass was even "worth it".  Of course, I always knew it was, but sometimes the challenge and frustrations of doing so were so great that doubt crept in.  

Frustration, anger, despair...  They all reared their ugly heads.

Then, that Sunday, all that negativity was extinguished.  During Mass, a tear or two of relief, release, affirmation and joy rolled down to the corners of my smile.  My son's eye caught mine.  Then, I looked up to the stain-glass window that depicted Jesus on the cross and Mary next to him.

I thought of all the suffering I had offered to Jesus while looking at the window over the years and all the words I had spoken to Our Lady asking her to help me be a better, gentler, more accepting and more trusting mom.  Then, I looked at my husband, who has stood by my side through every joy and challenge, at our other children, at the parishioners around me and back to the altar.  I was overwhelmed with thanksgiving.

After Mass, as Luke delighted in his final job of the day, gratitude, hope and all that is good beamed brightly.

Luke is an altar boy (and no fires were started!)  

If you asked me back when I wrote about how Luke at Mass engenders prayer, trust and reaching out if I'd ever be saying that, I might have said, "It would take a miracle."

Well, miracles happen. 

May the testimony of my son's call (and success!) to become an altar boy encourage you.  I would love to hear about your personal struggles and successes regarding children and church.

Please feel free to share about them in comment here or on our Training Happy Hearts Facebook page.  If you leave a link to an idea, I will pin it on the Training Happy Hearts: A Call to Faith Formation in Young Children Pinterest board. 
 

Rolling with It: A Mother's Reflection

The other day we joined a bunch of other homeschoolers for a Basic First Aid Class.  During the first class break, as I spoke with the class facilitator for a few moments, the children ran off with friends.

A few minutes later, when I joined them, they were doing this:

They had found a huge, old tire which was far more interesting to them at that moment than the more obvious playground equipment and climbing trees were.  It had sparked their imagination and curiosity and, with no adult prompting, they had taken it upon themselves to give each other turns rolling inside the tire across a field.

Seeing my Luke inside that tire with a smile on his face seemed so fitting to me as another mom made her way over to ask me about Sensory Processing Disorder, related issues, and the steps our family has taken to, first, seek diagnosis and formal therapies and, then, to realize that we've got things covered on our own.  We could stop the dx road and all the formal therapies. God's good grace, practical applications of research we had done and acceptance that our son was created the way he is for a purpose made that clear to us.  We realize our road no longer needed to be through labels and recommended treatments, but through embracing our boy for who he is and focusing on approaches that allow him be the best him he can be without attempting to "fix" him or make him like anyone else.

In fact, it was an absolute delight for me to look a Luke taking turns, laughing through the heavy work of pushing the tire and delighting in the vestibular and proprioceptive input of hanging inside the tire as I recounted for the other mom how challenging any playground dates and vestibular stimulation used to be for him and how much time I used to spend at seeing specialists.  Wow!  We have come so far and become so free.  

That is how we roll... 

   
Equally delightful was seeing Nina's tooth-gap grin as she partook in the merriment.

Our newly seven year old lost her first tooth just days before her birthday.  The next morning, instead of diving under her pillow to see what might be there, she sent her brother  out to get me and, when I arrived at the bedside, said to me, "I wanted to wait for you to see this, Mom."  

Growing up, remaining compassionate and developing patience even during moments of enthusiasm.  That's my girl.  She was able to wait because she knows I like to share in her special moments.

Special moments come every day for us.  Some with Tooth Fairy milestones and others with extraordinary everyday snippets.  Many in the margins I increasingly remember to leave around the must-do's of life.

Yes, witnessing our motor-driven girl giggling through rounds of tire fun has me smiling with gratitude for the lifestyle we have chosen.

That is how we roll...

And Jack, dear Jack.  That boy is as rough and tumble as he is spry and smiley.  He has a vigor and delight that blesses me every day as he jumps into the fray of things with his siblings or creates his own fun.

Independent, yet loving.  Sharing in a feast of planned activities, unstructured elbow room and the blessings of both togetherness and personal time, our boy is satiated and so am I.

That is how we roll...

As I reflect upon my three children and their friends enthusiastically taking turns in their self-directed monster tire play, I see so much fruit in our lives.  I witness the value of just rolling with things...

Through the years, sometimes on purpose, but many times because that is all I could do, I have been gradually letting go of typically structured life and learning times and embracing an approach that integrates the two seamlessly as we roll through our days, helping one another to live with greater joy and purpose.

As I look ahead to the next school year, I see so many opportunities.  

Freedom.  Friendships.  Fun.  Family.  Following how the Spirit moves us in grand things and in small.  This is how we roll.

May delight be with you today as you roll along.  I'd love to hear where the Spirit is directing you.

No Fuss GFCF First Holy Communion Desserts (and Our Boy's Special Day)

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Yesterday, all three of our children were crazy, happy, silly about our oldest receiving First Holy Communion.

In fact, before Mass began, Luke bounced up and down, jumped on me, squeezed me in huge hugs, offered me kiss after kiss, and  proclaimed, "I am so excited!  I am so excited!"

 And, after Mass, he beamed with joy!

Since I wanted the day's focus to be on the sacrament, Luke and joy, I did not want to fuss with difficult meal and dessert preparations nor risk picky-eater meltdowns at Luke's celebration.  Thus, I went with old favorites prepared in new ways for our gluten-free, casein-free First Holy Communion celebratory dessert:

Juice Wiggler "Wine" with "Hosts"

Inspired by a post at Catholic Icing, in the morning, Nina helped me make juice wiggler "wine".  We put one cup of organic grape juice in a bowl and sprinkled it with  four envelopes of Knox Gelatin.  Meanwhile, we boiled another three cups of juice.  Then, we mixed all that together, stirring until the gelatin had dissolved, let it cool just a bit and poured it into eight disposable golden wine glasses.  We popped these into these into the fridge to cool.

After our main meal, I just cleared the table and put these out with a round gluten-free cracker atop each one to represent the host.  (Not that we are supposed to dip the host into wine, but the children thought it was fun to have them together like this.)

"Holy Host" Coconut "Ice Cream" Wafers

After Mass, while the kids changed into their play clothes, I took a container of So Delicious Vanilla Bean Coconut Dairy-Free Frozen Dessert out of the freezer to soften.  Then, when it was dessert time, I simply cut the container open and sliced the "ice cream" into "communion wafers".  I put each slice on its on plate and then carved a small cross into each with the tip of a knife.

Cookie Cross

Luke does not care for frosting and many of our relatives do not relish gluten-free cakes, so rather than fuss with cake-making, I simply put some Lucy's Allergen-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies, (which Luke, Nina and Jack love) into the shape of a cross.  (Yes, I could have made my own cookies, but I was all about the ease with this celebration!)

This easy-peasy dessert spread made the perfect ending to our perfect day!  A beautiful and meaningful Mass, a fun and easy celebration with extended family and a finger-licking good dessert.  We are so blessed!

 Nina is already asking for a repeat of the dessert as she anxiously awaits her First Holy communion day next spring.

Praying all of this year's first communicants everywhere continue to grow in wisdom and stature as they are strengthened by the Eucharist.  May any family celebrating this special occasion be blessed with as ideal a day as we had!

What are your favorite First Holy Communion celebration recipes and ideas?

  Feel free to share in comment or on our Training Happy Hearts Facebook page.  If you leave a link to an idea, I will pin it on the Training Happy Hearts: A Call to Faith Formation in Young Children Pinterest board.