Tips for Supplementing Your Child's Education

CEO of the House

by Laurie McDermott

"How was your day?" "Great! Mom, I love school!"

I stared at my 7-year-old son, Ty, smiling at me with huge toothy gaps where 'forever' teeth would soon be appearing and I cherished his innocence. It would only be a matter of time before we'll go to war over his routine comments, "NOOOOO! I'm not getting up or dressed, I hate school! I hate it!" I remember my parents taking my brother and I to Mexico at age 8 and 9, "See those cardboard boxes? If you don't go to school and work hard, you end up living in one of those." My brother and I peered out the window and envisioned living on our own in taped-together refrigerator and appliance boxes and said, "Cool!"

I hated school. The stupid rules, being forced to listen to adults that look like they dressed in the dark, mean kids, homework, teachers that obviously wanted to do something else with their lives...and the prison wall clocks. I spent years staring at the 3rd hand on those black and white clocks, begging time to tick faster. Today, a whole day will flash by before I've even scratched one thing off my to-do list.

How do you make kids realize how precious time is, that life is one big lesson and that learning can be fun? For a day, I fantasized about giving my kids fun. The thought: We'll try Home Schooling! But then I realized if my kids won't listen when I tell them to pick up their dirty clothes, how will I get them to pick up a book or a pencil to write about a dead president that, well, um....uh, I know nothing about either.

So I decided to enhance my kids' education my own way: Vacations: We take two mini vacations a year - during the school year. Three reasons: 1) Like us, kids need something to look forward to. 2) They feel special. 3) There is nothing like traveling when the rest of the world is at work or school! No lines, no overpriced prices and no other annoying kids adding to the chaos of yours. Life Lessons: Instead of shoving that parking ticket in my purse, and fuming at how stupid I was. I sit my kids down right on the sidewalk, next to the bright red sign I am positive they just planted and say, "Life lesson # 1,807: If you ignore street signs you will get in trouble." Kids love knowing what adults know: That Mom isn't perfect, it's okay to make mistakes, and that maybe next time Mom forgets to check the signs, extra eyes will help. Oh, and how smart they will feel then!

Hit Days. Once or twice a year, I surprise my son around 9am, with a clearance note for his teacher, to have a special, alone day with Mom. Just the two of us, visiting a museum, the zoo, the homeless shelter, the aquarium, having lunch, talking about life, the sky, the stain on my shoe.

People are busy. When do we get time to spend, share and or just really listen to just one of our kids? The more they hear from you about life and what's really going on (good and bad), the more they will trust and feel connected to their family, as well as be open to watch the world around them. Don't worry about what they learn in school, kids will get the smarts from school, but from you....that's where they get their brains.