August 23: Nature day at Biddle Park

little girls at play while big kids math out

We've been in full reorganize-our-life mode here at FDR HQ. There are lots of new rule and consequence lists, stepped up expectations, and, thankfully, a concomitant level of peace and good cheer. It takes a good deal of structure to hold up a family this large, and it turns out that some of the bigger ones weren't quite lifting their shares.

copywork

So we're starting this week - which is NOT back-to-school-week, but also kind-of back-to-school-week - with a renewed sense of order. It does this INTJ mama a lot of good. And while the older children might not get revved up over piano practice at 7:30 a.m., they have expressed sincere relief in the late afternoon when they realize that they've already done that task which causes no small amount of family strife.*

We're also easing into a new school routine. We found a great rhythm last spring, only to be thrown off the tracks by Lucy's daytime gymnastics workouts. Now that our weekday hours are ours again, we can return to our morning basket and a little table work before heading out on adventures.

when your friends have a truck, every day is a parade

One new part of our routine is participating in a local nature explorers group. I'm on the fence with this one, but it hits our sweet spots well, those spots being nature and outside and unstructured play. The kids have a nascent sort of connection with a few of the group's members, so we're going to give it a solid 8 visits before reassessing. So much of friendship formation at this age is simply familiarity.

THIS BABY!

Today's event took us to a new-to-us park in Arroyo Grande. It was the type of environment I forget exists here on the Central Coast,** which are giant trees whose leaves promise fall colors, dappled shade in crunchy-floored forests, and flies. Also mosquitoes. 

studies in centrifugal force

But for 10 minutes, this was a spectacular visit. Kids were reasonably happy, entertained, and kind. Even Mary, who historically struggles in playing with girls her age, was pleasantly engaged with peers.

Then lots of bad stuff happened, mostly resolving around Thomas's failure to read social clues, desire to play guarding games, and sticks. STICKS! It's enough to make us stay at the treeless beach forever.

We escaped the park and headed back to SLO, where we dropped off a trunkload of too-small clothes and found some solid deals, including sparkly red little heels for one lucky little girl. (Not me.)

*Sample conversation: "JUST PLAY YOUR PIANO." (terrible, rushed and messy practice follows.) "AAAAAHHHH! PERFECT PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT!" Also in this cacophony: fussy baby, cranky toddler, dinner boiling over...

**Because I don't like to travel father than 10 miles from the ocean.