We can learn from our children.
The other team said I could take a practice slide. Hmm, to show off my imbalance and lack of skill? No thanks. I think I’ll throw that 30-pound rock when I HAVE to, not anytime before.
Will I remember how to do this? (It’s been ten years.) And it wasn’t like I was headed toward stardom when I was playing a mixed league with my hubby; it was social time for me.
So what did the homeschool kids teach us?
Homeschool kids teach us a few things.
I asked the second while the rock was in play. So where did you say your daughter got her hair cut?
My question wasn’t eagerly responded to as the rock was hurtling toward us, the last rock of the end. I didn’t even understand why my teammate wouldn’t give me an answer. Turns out she was paying attention to the game!
Clearly, I wasn’t going to be much help at this family bonspiel.
My husband convinced us that since it was a family bonspiel, there would be other kids with their parents. Turns out our three girls were the youngest kiddos on the ice. The girls had been learning to curl for the last few years on Saturday mornings. Their confidence and theoretical knowledge were healthy. Mine, not so much.
My husband warned us that we would likely not win a game, but we would get some practice. And we would have a lot of fun, of course.
Our eight-year-old daughter mostly wanted to skip curling mornings — and I don’t mean BE the skip, I mean, AVOID the curling mornings altogether — so her attempt at getting that rock to the other end of the sheet was commendable, as that rock was surely half her weight. However, after a couple of ends, I substituted as the lead.
Our twelve-year-old daughter gave it her all, taking out rocks at the other end, attempting inturns, and eagerly sweeping beside me (this I could do, and have plenty of daily practice in the kitchen).
The fourteen-year-old daughter had the confidence, hearty intention, and verve to throw that rock like an up-and-coming athlete.
She was on a roll. And a little thrilled to be compared to Scottie’s 2013 champion Rachel Homan by neighboring curlers.
I was the ‘lead’ cheerleader. (When I wasn’t on the ice distracting everyone with my conversation.)
My husband was on his own as skip, and the final rock.
Quickly my girls recognized my lack of curling theory and prompted me in which direction to throw the rock. Or whether or not I was actually getting it past the hog line, or even anywhere near the house. They’d direct me on how to push myself out of the hack, how to hold the broom, and what dad, the skip, was pointing at down at the other end.
Waiting for our skip to meet us at the end, I told my eldest daughter: My favorite part of this weekend is not knowing as much as you guys.
Eyes bugging out of her head, Really?
Yup, it’s kinda nice not having to be the ringleader, the expert, or the educational director. You girls have a lot of knowledge to share and I am most glad to be learning from you.
Oh, I had plenty to teach still: that the girls needed to be less self-congratulatory while they were winning the game. And also that games turn quickly, and what will they do when they’re now losing the game?
They learned to recognize their sister’s sensitivities…that one doesn’t need any criticism…she already knows when she hasn’t thrown well.
She needs kind smiles and encouragement.
Or, no, you didn’t win, but you don’t realize who you’re playing! You’re beating yourself up over the loss against THAT team. That team’s skip won silver in the Brier before your mother was born; that man won the senior men’s provincials LAST year. And the lead and third were provincial winners in senior women’s too. You, my daughter, could not win that game. But it was a pleasure to play them, wasn’t it?
And we all learned what it is to win together.
Playing a seasoned team for our first event, we won! I threw a few phantom lead rocks. My husband was on his A-game, curling some tricky rocks into the button. My oldest daughters threw their Valentine hearts out and each banged home double rocks, with a prize awaiting them at the end of the weekend.
And I won because I could see the benefit of being my children’s student.
I might not intentionally bruise my knees and become Advil-dependent for an awfully long time again, but I will get to my morning piano practice. I decided it was time to take piano lessons, from my daughter. Madelyn, I’m coming!
“While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about”.
If you’re looking for a little encouragement or a little guidance, I’m here for you. If your goal is to thrive at home with your family or at least survive at home with your family, I can help.
Deschool your Homeschool Journaling Workbook
Deschool your homeschool journaling workbook that aids in your self-exploration, to get clear on how you can bring freedom & individualization into your homeschool.
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So true, Jacob is my go to Mr. Tech/ fix it guy when Sean is not home and when I first asked him for help he asked if I was joking! LOL Nope, I know you know a lot more about this than I do. It is so refreshing to sit back and let our kids teach us skills they have learned! I don’t think I could sit and take the time my girls have to learn how to make such fancy knotted friendship bracelets out of embroidery thread. Amazing skills our kids have time to learn!