Unintended Consequences

Reform #1 – Vigorous Exercise Before Homeschool. Here’s how it went today…

At 9:30, I bundled everybody up in thermal underwear and puffy coats. (Yes, I know I was supposed to do it before the 8:30 school start, but at least we were doing it.)  We hopped on bikes, road down to the BU Bridge and along the Charles River before we came back along Mass Ave.  It was only thirty minutes, but the boys loved it.  They love to shout out the Boston landmarks from across the river as they become visible.  It’s a view that never gets old.

When we got home, everyone was tired.  Mission accomplished.

School was mildly better today as far as the boys go.  They stayed on task a few seconds longer.  Ezra only scratched Zach once.  Zach only told Ezra that he was doing “baby work” once.  And each boy only cried once.  That’s not nothin’.

But here’s what was best about it: I loved it!!!!

In social sciences, it’s called an unintended consequence of the intervention. Luckily for us, this one was positive.  (We very nearly had an exceptionally negative one as Zach was careening down the middle of a lane of oncoming traffic.  But we’re not going to focus on that now, and my father should refrain from calling with dire warnings.)

I still feel great four hours later.  Mommy didn’t glare at anyone all day. Mommy didn’t have to step out of the room to practice her breath prayers. Mommy didn’t hear Zach warning, “She’s about to lose her temper, Ez.”

So whether or not the boys see much benefit from Reform #1, it’s here to stay. At least until it gets too cold.  Then I may have to reconsider reforms of a pharmaceutical nature.