I remember the moment clearly when it clicked for me. I was sitting on the couch with my three-year-old two weeks ago. We were both happy. Him watching Toy Story 2. Me sitting next to him. He reached out and grabbed my hand. For the next three minutes he held it. We didn't say a word. We didn't need to. We just shared a blanket, enjoyed each others' proximity, and what was on TV.
As an often nervous parent, I am prone to over-analyzing situations involving my children. I will run through a litany of questions, chief among them: Are they happy? Are they safe? Am I doing the right thing as a parent? These, and a multitude of other questions, often blind me to what's in front of me—two healthy, happy little boys, eager to experiment with the world and all the things within it. It is my neurosis that gets in their way.
As Jake held my hand and we watched the movie, the whispers I often hear did not creep into my
1-8-14 THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG - The Why Question — Whole Child Education
The Why Question — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOGThe Why QuestionJanuary 8, 2014 by John HinesAlong with my schedule of social studies classes, I also serve as an advisor for 15 students once a week. Through advisory I spend time looking at their grades, checking in with their lives, and mostly building relationships that are often lost between teachers and students in high school. Wh