Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

Soooooo tempting! (I kid).

This quote is attributed to Albert Einstein, who never actually spent time with his children. 

Big Friday night and I wanted to go out for dinner. It’s a chance for us to speak with the locals and experience French culture, so I’m big on eating out once a day here. Usually it’s lunch, because my kids have a little popper like the butterball turkeys. When it pops up, it’s done. As I mentioned in an earlier post, that’s usually the peak dinner hour in France, so I have avoided going out like a werewolf’s girlfriend. The boys convinced me they would be on their best behavior, so I relented and took them to the place we first went to a week ago when we arrived. The servers recognized us and were so kind, but the popper popped and it was a disaster. 

I ushered them out to run around outside in the square with strangers rather than make any more noise in the restaurant. I am sparing the details friends. OK— one detail. Cooper thought he saw ice in the bottom of the blue wine bottle used as a water carafe, but it was just the concave bottom poking up from the bottom, which was not blue, but clear. He had a loud fit, we all started laughing, which just made it worse. It escalated from there and the hits just kept on coming!

Anyway— I knew better!!! What was I thinking?! Dinner at 8— ! Who does that?

Today I succumbed to another exercise in insanity. Based on my experience in Sancerre, I can go it carefree and easy for about 4.65 days before caving in to the sense of dread that I am not doing enough for my children. In Sancerre, I found art classes for them; today I interviewed a tutor. With us homeschooling each morning in English and speaking English at home each night, my kids are not getting enough experience speaking French. Our French speaking is mostly going out to lunch and playing at the park. I figure instead of spending 30 euros on lunch, which for my kids is pasta with butter and french bread, with a crepe or waffle for dessert (all white food groups represented!), I can spend 60 euros on a tutor, not waste a bunch of food and perhaps sneak in a glass of wine for myself in the afternoons! 

I realize I am racing to nowhere and filling up our time with more structure, but I compromised with myself (just like in Sancerre) and only scheduled two sessions per week. Hopefully it’ll boost their French without overloading our schedules.

I wish there was a box to put that mommy panic in, but I carry it around with me. I try to expose them to everything; don’t want to pass up any opportunities. Most of the time they just want to be left alone! But I am not happy with the choices they make on their own, so I keep filling their time with my choices until they can learn to see a little bigger picture, a little longer view. Isn’t that what moms are supposed to do? (please say yes, please say yes).

Homeschool got easier as the week went on. I’ve learned to get Samuel (12) on his independent work first thing to get him out of my hair. Then I put Cooper (7) on a workbook for ten minutes so I can get Bennett (9) up and running, then I go back to Cooper. I’ve been reading out loud to Cooper for history and that is going swimmingly. I think no matter how old they are, they still enjoy getting a story read to them. Best thing is— and I know more seasoned homeschoolers already know this and Montessori teachers too— as I read to Cooper, Bennett is listening in. Although Samuel is working on his own stuff, he often chimes in with facts (or in his case, corrections of facts I get wrong! or sidebar facts he learned in a podcast!). The curriculum I use advocates repeating the same four-year cycle three times so that by the time the child progresses through, he or she has heard it three times. Cooper caught up with his class today for math via their on-line supplemental program, and I think he was really proud of himself. I also think it helped him feel connected that he was doing the same work they are. He is not doing much with French right now because the curriculum is over his head, but he’s been a little champion at the park everyday. He already has a little gaggle of friends and they play soccer together. He doesn’t speak too much to them, but he is right in the mix. He said he can’t tell them his favorite joke, because they don’t understand why it’s funny. I can’t remember the whole thing but the punch line, so I’ll have to ask him and post next time.

Planning Fort Carre tomorrow— kids vetoed my plan today in favor of picnic in NEW park with tarts for Pi Day. Hopefully some great sea views and Fort pics tomorrow.

Pi Day en France: les tartlettes. I explained Pi Day in French to the lady at the Patisserie and
either I did a very good job or she was laughing at me. Thinking I did a good job!

Enjoying Pi Day at our new park. So glad we have so many to choose from; this one was nicer,
but not as many kids to play with, and not as close to our house.