Today was such a great day! We went to Brooksby Farm for an apple picking adventure with our homeschool group! The kids had so much fun, and so did the Moms! We got to feed the farm animals, go for a hayride, pick apples and we had cider donuts! There was also plenty of time to run and play and enjoy the beautiful, sunny fall day.
One of my favorite things about homeschooling, is how all the kids learn together... the younger kids learn by watching the older kids, and the older kids learn by teaching the younger kids. At one point today, there was a group of kids standing around a HUGE tree, just staring up at it, touching the bark, examining the fallen leaves, and I overheard one of the younger kids (age 7) ask, "But is it an elm tree?" And one of the older kids (age 12) said, "No, it's type of maple, actually. A red maple, I think." and the discussion went on for about 5 minutes, speculating on the age of the tree, etc... It was one of those lovely moments of homeschooling, where the organic nature of true learning... of curiosity and a desire for knowledge... makes itself evident. Our kids are learning because they truly want to know and understand their world, not because they need to pass a test. For them, learning new things is not a chore, it is a joyous part of life. They ask questions, and explore and experiment. And whether I am an active participant or a silent observer, I feel so blessed to be a part of that.
