Victor Hugo's Boatwave
“Learning any new skill or ability is difficult. Inertia is such a strong force to overcome. As Isaac Newton explains in Principia Mathematica: “The innate force of matter is a power of resisting by which every body endeavors to preserve its present state.” Making changes in our lives requires a stronger power of love, friendship, and truth to overcome our body and mind’s efforts to maintain the status quo.”
This powerful concept, Making a Change in your Life and Overcoming Inertia, was talked about recently by a guest blogger, Dionne Schetzel. She wrote about creating a support group while taking the Closet Mastery Program to overcome the inertia and resistance we all feel towards changing ourselves for the better.
After their last Saturday conference call, Kelly Tippetts, one of the group, wrote these beautiful, moving and inspiring comments. She shared an experience that demonstrates how joyful parenting can be. There is so much that I want to say about this powerful post but first I want you to share in Kelly’s success and the joyful experience that she and her children had last week, her joyful parenting moment. Tomorrow I will share my feeling about her experience, at Five rules to make learning fun for children and adults. Today just enjoy it!
Thanks to all the ladies that were on the conference call this morning. It was really inspiring and I came away with a lot to think about. We talked about some of the stories we tell ourselves that stifle our growth. One of my many scripts crept up today when my kids finished a movie and wanted something to do. The whole time I kept thinking, “Open the closet! Open the closet”.
I was so tired (hardly any sleep last night) and wanted them to just leave me alone. Then this thought, “You are just a planner NOT a doer.” I recognized it immediately as a script. But, it didn’t change how hard I had to work to force myself up and break that thought and “do”. But I did and that’s what matters.
Here is what we did:
Dallin pulled two art books that I got at the Library out of the Closet and we looked through them. We actually learned a lot about Victor Hugo and his works.
Have something in your Closet for inspired learning
Victor Hugo, the author of Les Miserables, was an artist too. He would use ink blots as a way to start his art work, “drawing into them to create ghostly castles, strange creatures and haunting landscapes.”
” He would toss onto a piece of paper some wine, ink, plum juice,…then he would spend a long time considering the outline of these spatters and as there is no chaos that the human gaze does not humanize, he would discover fortified castles and fountains, lions fighting, hydras, fantastic forests, an entire dream architecture powerfully lit and shadowed….” as you can see in the picture above.
I just loved that and because my kids watched Les Miserables, the musical, and LOVED it, they were inspired. I was able to teach them lines of symmetry too. Then we got out our paint and went to town.
An easy art project for kids with step by step pictorials:
First, fold your paper in half
Open it up and put some paint on only one side of your paper.
Fold your paper again on top of your paint and spread the paint around with your finger.
Open up your paper and see what it created.
Now look to find a familiar shape, a face or an animal. I see a dragon fly.
Here is another one. Do you see the Tiger face and lines of symmetry?
A picture that inspired us...
We had a healthy snack when we were done. It was really fun and the kids loved it.
I’m really happy about this class. It’s not so much about the “Closet” but a little more about how we can change ourselves for the better, to be better parents and to connect with our kids.
Kelly Tippetts and her family
It was a huge step for me to do the “doing” part. Even though I have a lot of work to do, I feel like I can change my script to “I’m a planner AND a doer”.
Kelly lives in Kearns, Utah with her husband for almost 19 years and children 16, 14, 12, 9, 7, and 3.
She has been homeschooling for 15 years and still needs inspiration to continue. She loves taking classes, reading, hiking, painting, and date night.
Possibly Related Posts:
- Why take Your Kids Camping?
- Top 10 Educational Apps for Kids
- Homeschooling Students With Dyslexia
- FOUR Outdoor Science Lessons for Warmer Weather
- 5 Creative Writing Exercises for Kids of All Ages
{ 0 comments… add one now }