Oh, the places they’ll go. . .*



If your kids could go anywhere in the world, where would they go? In a couple of years, we will find out.


When my oldest was about five, my husband and I had an idea that we thought could tie into their homeschooling education: At the age of 13, each child will be given a budget, some guidelines, and then given free reign to plan our family vacation for that year.


Planning will include picking the country or area of the world, researching things to do, learning about local customs, and even comparing transportation costs. Oh, and learning a bit of the language so we can ask “Where is the public bathroom?” wherever we are.


We picked the age of thirteen because it means that my oldest will be 17 and still home when our youngest son is planning his trip. 


Are we crazy? I’m actually really looking forward to this, especially since we are now–gulp–only two years away from my oldest hitting thirteen. 


She is excited too and has talked about this for years. If she had to pick right now, she’d choose an island (hey, it’s cold in New England right now), though other years, she has brought up France, Italy and even South Dakota to visit Laura Ingalls’ homestead.


Now, just to clear up: We are not rolling in extra money, nor do we plan to mortgage the house to do this. But, if the comments I read to my “five-dollar savings plan” post are true, I believe that almost anyone can save a significant amount of money with some planning and discipline. 


And there are plenty of ways to do this on a smaller scale, which is something we may have to consider if, for instance, my husband’s work situation changes. We could tell the kids they have to pick a place in the contiguous U.S., for instance. Or, nothing that requires an airline flight or a passport. Or just give them a budget to plan a few day-trips during a regular family vacation.


And, not to be a snob, but I do have some rules: No Disney or theme park trips, no cruises or all-inclusive resorts where you don’t go anywhere, and no city-to-city-following-Justin-Bieber’s-concert-tour.


My husband and I will also be in charge of all credit-card reservations and have the right to review and change any plans if we deem necessary. And if our kids want to go to a country that is in the midst of political upheaval, we’ll tell them to make another choice. 


But, whatever they pick, I can’t wait to see where we go. Yes, that is one more rule: They have to bring their parents.


______________
*Happy Birthday to Dr. Seuss!

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?

School Break

It’s February Vacation up here—a week off for public school kids. Or, as my sister calls it, “The Week The School Cleans Everything With Bleach Because Every Kid Has Been Sick”. 


I love when my kids’ school friends hear that we “do school” this week. They look at them in horror. But, really, what am I going to do this week? Visit a museum? Hell no! The crowds! We do all those field trips when everyone else is in school!


I also fail to mention to them that when we “do school” this week, it takes us about an hour to hit the major subjects. And we stay in our PJ’s until about 10. Or 11.


Unfortunately, our week has been even less productive than planned because my oldest got hit with the stomach bug Tuesday night. The rest of us feel fine but it’s been an excellent reason to curl up on the couch with a movie, order grocery delivery service, and drink lots of ginger ale.


And we wait to see if anyone else catches it. I just hope we aren’t sick next week. I feel like going to a museum.

Destination Imagination: A journey to the unknown



Have you ever heard of D.I., or Destination Imagination


I had only heard the words in passing from an extended-family member whose kids were involved, and I didn’t understand what the heck it was.


Now, here it is January, and I find myself in charge of a team. And I’m still not exactly sure what the heck it is. 


What I can gather from what I’ve read, the videos I’ve watched, and the day-long information seminar I attended in December, D.I. is a team competition where the adult managers are constantly warned of the dangers of “interference”. 


Ahhhh, interference. This is how I found myself managing a D.I. team. This idea that the kids have to do all the work themselves, with only my guidance—to keep them from cutting off a finger or punching a fellow team member— was appealing to me. In other words, I am discouraged from doing any of the work for them, and even giving them suggestions on how to approach their challenge is a big, fat no-no.


Little did I know that my team of four kids, ages 7-9, would pick one of the hardest, most complicated challenges to do for the big competition this spring. I’d explain it if I could do it justice, but let’s just say it involves creating a skit that involves golf balls, while also building a weight-bearing structure out of wood, glue and hope. The addition of golf balls to this year’s “structure challenge” is new and I think it was added just to shake things up and insure each manager goes a little grayer before the year is up.


My own daughter Jilly is on my team and is the biggest goofball, something I am slightly proud of at times. The other times, I want to wrap her up with duct tape, sit her in the corner and let her teammates work.


Our debut of this idea that exists only in their imagination is the 17th of March, a mere two months away. If the kids advance from regionals, we move on to states on the 31st. I refuse to even consider that they will go to the national championship.


Especially since there has not yet been any consensus on their overall idea and no development of a structure yet. I am half expecting them to enter the competition with a few handwritten notes, a structure of popsicle sticks and Elmer’s glue, and costumes made out of the remnants of our dress-up box.


Wish me luck. Actually, wish them luck. I don’t want to interfere.