Pushing Buttons

You may have noticed that I posted my first pictures last week.  Now that I know how to do it, it’s no big deal, right?  Why is technology like that – for me anyway?

I didn’t use a breast milk pump for six months because just staring at the machine made me feel anxious.  Then I had to do it, and found out that a 5th grader could set it up.

I was overwhelmed at the thought of starting a blog.  Then I decided to try it anyway and found out that it’s like using Word and hitting the word publish. And pictures – there is a little button you push, choose a file, and hit another button.  It’s amazing what you can do when you stay calm and push some buttons until you find the right one.  So you can now see pictures of the boys’ first Chinese brush paintings and their salt and flour maps.

I have to keep remembering this every time we sit down to do something new for homeschool.  Ezra starts to cry before nearly every math problem. And then he figures it out and acts like he always knew how to do it.  Zach is the same way with puzzles.  Lots and lots of tears and resistance, a few moments of calm during which we can try to push a few buttons, utilizing our Essential Skills and prayer.

Actually, only Ezra and I pray.  Zach defers to us on matters spiritual at this point.  But that’s another post.