Mommy School 2011-12: What I Learned from Thursdays

When school started in August, I made a decision.

After assessing the schedules of tumbling practice, piano lessons, homework patterns, Church activities and sports, I decided that Thursdays would be Denton-only days.  No friends.  No TV or computer. 

Occasionally something would creep into my carefully protected Thursdays that kids had to do--birthday parties, extra practices, school projects--but those Thursdays were the exception.  The kids learned that begging for friends or TV would fall flat, so they eventually walked through the door on Thursday afternoons with a slight sigh on their lips as they asked, "What are we doing today?"  Most of the time I have to say that they got excited about the activities I had planned.


The first Thursday, way back in August, we just swam together and ate otter pops.  Another Thursday I took them all to a dollar movie right when school got out. One time we got ice cream and played at the park.  One Thursday afternoon we all made nests out of pillows and blankets and we lounged around reading and eating popcorn all afternoon. Once we even invited friends and spent a few hours at the zoo.  Other times, we cleaned out the game cupboards or toy closets (these activities didn't go over quite so well, but Micah actually remarked that it was actually fun to do it together--who knew?).

I searched pinterest and marked crafts and science experiments to try--

Some were successful, like tracing all of our upper bodies with arms outstretched, one on top of the other, to send to Tucker for his birthday.

Others were not, like the time we tried to replicate these glowing jars. I would not suggest using glow-in-the-dark fabric paint as an alternative to the paint she suggests.  Doesn't work.

Since Brad and Ben were both out of town for the last Thursday of the school year, I surprised them with a trip to Barnes and Noble (one book each), Nielsen's hamburgers and frozen custard for dinner, then home to watch American Idol's final three on DVR.  Lily said it was the best Thursday ever.


They saw Thursday as a punishment--one whole day every week where they couldn't play with friends. A daylong sentence spent with siblings and Mom.  I saw Thursday as a gift--a gift of time with my four littlest kids that I will never get back.  Lily moves on to junior high in the fall, and because her release time from school will be so much later, she will no longer be part of our Thursday escapades.

When the beginning of August rolls around this year, you can bet I will reserve one day each week to enjoy my kids. 

And that's the most important thing I learned all school year--enjoying the journey.