A very common question that has been popping up in conversation recently has been...

"how is home schooling going?"

my usual answer is ... "well, how is it going for whom?"

Madyline and I have both been on a learning journey in more ways that one. I recognize that her staying home this year was immeasurably the right choice. Yes, we are doing math and science and geography (this is week Mexico... with a feast on Saturday, you should stop by and celebrate!) But more importantly to me is...she is learning to relax... to respect... to enjoy... to plan and follow through... to express herself little by little... to let herself be loved... and which liquid concoctions she likes best at each coffee shop in town.

This afternoon we spent an hour looking at poetry ... and we decided to each write a poem about being at the coffee shop. I'll let her share hers with you in her own space and time.... but maybe you want to see mine.

Starbucks at noon

and she is distracted

by colors and flavors and art on the wall.
I buy her a coffee

swirling in caramel

and we sit down to focus, but still she does fall

into the conversation beside us

and the chemistry book of the girl 'cross the way...

while poetry floats in the air all around us

not quite making it onto her page.

She sips on her coffee

and scribbles a line

when the images grab her and flow from her pen.

Curled up in the blue chair

she's lost in her poem

and I'm struck with how beautiful she truly is.