Learning Together

My daughter and I went to the grocery store together today. On the way, I played an audiobook version of stories I loved as a kid, the adventures of Encyclopedia Brown.

My dad read me these stories when I was my daughter’s age. As we listened to a mystery about a mysterious tramp’s attack on a pickup truck driver, all the details I had long forgotten came back to me.

• Idaville, Encyclopedia’s hometown
• Leroy, Encyclopedia’s real name
• The Tigers, the gang Bugs Meany leads
• Corned beef and cabbage, Encycopedia’s father’s favorite meal
• $.25, Encyclopedia’s daily fee

My daughter loved the two stories we listened to. She was upset that she couldn’t solve them. “Don’t worry,” I told her. “I couldn’t solve them either when I was your age. Just wait until you’re in fifth grade!”

Today at school, I picked up trash on campus as part of our Annual Service Day. When I got home, my daughter wanted us to clean up our street.

So, for ten minutes, we walked out to our country road, and she picked up trash with socks on her hands instead of gloves. We found empty soda and beer cans, containers for drinks and pizza, and various paper products.

I was proud of her willingness to serve, so tonight, I gave her the first STAR CARD I’ve handed out at home.

I circled the word CARING and wrote, “Thanks for caring for God’s creation!!”

Postscript: My daughter has just made a STAR CARD for me for picking up trash at my school.

Post-postscript: My daughter has just made a STAR CARD for my wife for all things she does. “I love the way you love me,” writes my daughter.

On Thursdays, my wife takes our daughter out for the evening. They either visit my wife’s aunt or go to a monthly 4-H meeting. I get the evening alone.

Then, when my wife and daughter return, I get my daughter ready for bed and get to read her a night-time book. Tonight, we read her latest checkout from the school library, Lion Lessons.

A boy recounts the seven lessons his lion coach taught him. My daughter dug it, and she was rereading it as soon as it left my hands.

My favorite moment? After I prayed for her, she told me that her class read a book about Lily, a girl who always had her nose in a library book. “That’s me,” she said.

It was a beautiful Wednesday afternoon, so my daughter spent time outside.

She was making cakes out of dirt, but her dish would stand up to slicing or dicing.

Instead of throwing a fit, she walked around the yard saying, “I’ve got to think of an answer.”

I can’t claim responsibility for this small bit of maturity, but it was a blessing to see.

Today was the 100th day of the school year. My daughter and her classmates were supposed to dress up as though they were 100 years old and bring 100 of a particular item.

My daughter looked less like a centenarian than a stereotypical elderly librarian. I got her to say, “Where’s the beef?” in a kind of cranky, crone voice. She referred to various people as “dearie,” which made me laugh. For her 100 items, she brought 100 plastic beads. Apparently, one of her classmates brought 100 dog biscuits.

This is a bizarre celebration, but it makes sense. The school year is over half over, and the students were celebrating. It got my daughter excited about going to school. I will definitely have to incorporate some special days into her break.

Today, my daughter received a “star card” at school for obeying directions. This led to my wife and me making the same joke: “What if you obeyed directions at home?”

I realized that my daughter’s teachers are positively reinforcing good behavior. It might not be a bad idea for me to do the same. While cash or toys are typical rewards, I’m thinking more of some kind of essential recognition when I see out-of-the-ordinary or beyond-the-call-of-duty effort on her part.

I want to type the award up, so I have something to hand to her. The “star card” is appealing because it’s a physical token of recognition. My first-draft name? HOME HEROICS. Now to come up with the actions that merit recognition.

Today, my daughter and I listened to a podcast filled with Bible verses to listen to when you can’t sleep or feel afraid at night.

My daughter just woke up with a bad dream. I walked in and prayed with her and recited Psalm 23.

I nearly cried when saying the chapter’s final verse: “Surely your goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

When we drive to school on Wednesday (mama has carpooling duty tomorrow), I will play this song.

My daughter had another snow day. I did not. She came to campus with me and hung out in my office while I taught and attended chapel with me too.

While she’s usually peripatetic, she stayed still for fifty minutes during a worship service and sermon. She was good the entire day, and it was great to get to share one of the perks of campus with her.

We get to have church on campus twice a week, and today my daughter had the chance to worship and hear God’s word. That’s a pretty good school day.

My daughter had a snow day today that was officially designated an e-learning session. Most of the learning happened via my wife and me. My daughter’s tasks included:

• Catch (P.E.)
• Finishing a chapter book (Language Arts)
• Getting the chicken’s eggs (Biology)
• Making a volcano with baking soda, citric acid, and water (Science)
• Creating a game thatn involved singing and dancing (Music)
• Praying (Bible)

The one thing we probably need to work on? A schedule.