Brown Easter Eggs

Ever since I knew I would be raising children in France, I've asked myelf the question, "Can one in fact dye brown eggs?"  The answer, as you will see, is yes.  Our only regret was that I had only hard-boiled 6 eggs.  And, then you have a picture of some more food fun.

Spelling with Alina

ALINA: (Paintbrush in hand) Me going to draw one red number.  (After she is finished) See, me did draw one red L.  (Someday I'll explain to her that L is not a number.)   ME:  That's a very good L.  Now, what word starts with L?   ALINA:  Me don't know.   ME:  Lion starts with L.   ALINA: (Muttering to herself) Elephant.   ME: And what letter does elephant start with?   ALINA: (Giving an exasperated sigh) L.

Stay-at-home Mom?

Throughout human history, the prevailing family model has included a mother who does not work outside the home. Mothers for thousands of years have predominantly been concerned with taking of their households.

Yes, mothers have historically mostly been found inside the home. When they're not in the vegetable garden tending the vegetables. Or out feeding the rabbits or chickens. Or killing, plucking, or skinning the aforementioned animals. Or lending a hand in the field during harvest time. Or in the cellar churning butter. Or at the river, drawing water or washing their large family's clothes by hands in icy water. Yes, women are often found in the home. In the kitchen, in fact. Making everything their very large families need to eat. From scratch.

What's my point? I've been thinking about myself as a mother and my role in my family and outside of it. There are certain well-meaning Christians who would insist that moms should not work outside of the home. But, when they say this, they have in mind a paradigm that has really only existed for a couple of generations, and only in certain privileged parts of the world. A stay-at-home mom in rural France 2 generations ago, or a stay-at-home mom in many poorer parts of the world today, bear almost no resemblance to Mrs. Cleaver wiping her already-clean hands on her lacy apron and calling Wally and the Beav down for milk and cookies. Those women may not have worked outside the home, but the were sure busy!

So, while mom was washing, cleaning, sewing, and cooking, who was watching the kids? Often the grandparents (who, by the way, probably lived in the same house as their offspring), a spinster aunt, or an older brother or sister. Those Christians who say that a parent's duty to their children is such that care and education of the child can not be delegated to a third party seem to me to be entirely unaware of how the world has worked for milennia, and how it continues to work in many places.

Does this mean that we've given up the home schooling idea? Not at all. We still don't know what we're going to do, but this is part of my thought process. Thanks for listening.

Happy Easter!

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!   Tomorrow is Easter.  I have done no mental or spiritual preparation, it seems.  I didn't even get to attend our Good Friday service.  Alina suddenly and very randomly decided yesterday evening that she was tired.  At 6:30pm, she went upstairs, took off her shoes, got into bed, and fell asleep.   I was thinking tonight about how important Easter is.  More important than Christmas.  I took down my American hymnal and dreamed of singing "Christ the Lord is Risen Today" and "Up from the Grave He Arose."  They won't be on our order of service tomorrow.   Tonight, I read the story of Jesus' death and resurrection to Alina in her Bible storybook.  Looking at the picture of Jesus on the cross, she said, "Me was really sad when God died.  Him is my best friend."   Have a truly happy Easter.

Equal Air Time

The Peek-a-boo Attempt

The First Concert

This morning, Alina put her violin on her back and went up to her room. Then she came and got me and said, "Come to my room. Me going to play one concert. Come. There are lots of people waitin'." Tassia and I dutifully mounted the stairs. In Alina's room, we found a row of stuffed animals and coloring books lined up on the floor. "See? Them is all layin' down, waitin'." To which I replied, "Well, this must be a special concert if you can listen to it laying down." Alina answered, "Laying down, or sitting up. You sit here in the back," and indicated a spot right in front of her toy kitchen. I sat down with Tassia, and proceeded to take some blocks out of the toy stove for Tassia to play with. "NO!" Alina shrieked in horror, "My cookies is not done cookin'!" "Well, this must be a VERY special concert if we get to eat cookies at the end!"

Then the concert began. Alina began by singing "La la mi mi fa fa mi" and dancing. (Note: These are the note names for Twinkle in French, and we sing them with motions similar to "Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes") It was pretty funny to hear her singing (the correct notes sequences, by the way) and randomly touching her head, toes, etc. Then she got her violin and proceeded to play us a story. I've forgotten the plot, but there were some behind-the-bridge squeaky notes for the mouse, some low notes for the cow, some high ones for the cat...I'm sure I'm forgetting some. Then she played "La la." Then she bowed, with her feet spread apart the way we teach beginners NOT to do.

I clapped, but I never did get my cookie.