With only a little over four months to go, my girls are enthusiastically making Christmas gifts. They have lists and plans. Who will get a handmade gift, and who gets store bought. They did not inherit this sense of planning and purpose from me. On second thought, maybe they did. It’s just that I can’t think that far ahead right now. At the moment, I am frantically planning out a school year for six children, three of them high school aged. School starts in…a little over two weeks. So, Christmas? I’ll be ready to think about that in November. Maybe.
Beatrix recently completed her first gift, and first ever large scale knitting project. She’s a little impatient, and tried her hardest to convince me that she didn’t need to use up her entire ball of yarn on this scarf. She really just wanted to be done. “It’s plenty long,” she’d tell me, wrapping it around her neck and tying it in a knot. “But Beatrix,” I’d say, “You aren’t the one who will be wearing it. Daddy will, and he’s a little bit taller than you.” Larkspur and I contributed a few rows here and there to help the scarf grow more quickly until Bea was finally able to bind off, all by herself.
Last week, in the spirit of all this new independence, Beatrix received her very own library card. She practiced for the big moment in the days beforehand, writing her name as neatly as she could. When the time came, and the librarian passed her the shiny new card, she ever so carefully penned her autograph. Then it was time to select her books. Rather than the usual giant stack, she selected only three, telling me that she wanted to be sure that she could keep up with all that she borrowed. When did she get so grown up?
Back at the checkout counter, having scanned Bea’s new card and her books, the librarian told her, “Have a nice day!” To which Bea replied, “I will.” The librarian and I exchanged smiles and I decided that rather than telling Bea that she should have said either, “Thanks,” or “You too,” I might instead try to emulate her overwhelmingly positive outlook.
I have lots of plans for today, one of which is to simply have a nice day. With the right attitude, I’m sure I can do it.
Katie says
Loved reading this post!!
Would love to hear about your homeschool plans especially for your younger ones!
Laura says
This post made me think of Ramona Quimby! My family loved that audio series and the whole getting the library card and her “I will!” reminded me of Ramona’s spunk! Congrats to Beatrix on finishing the scarf – that is quite the task. And I love her haircut (though maybe it’s been short a while and I somehow missed that!)
karen says
I remember when she was little and painting your windows with mud and using markers on her face. Somehow her response is the perfect one! So exciting when they get their own library card!!
Bee says
“I will,” I love that! Good for her for becoming so independent and conscientious (and spunky!).
Also, nice new haircut! 🙂
thecrazysheeplady says
I have to own up to initially not thinking anything about her answer other than it was cute. I guess “Thank you. I will.” might have been better, but I love the spirit of honest response rather than the rote :-).
Matushka Anna says
One of my daughters is already crosstitching handkerchiefs for Christmas gifts. If I were smart I would be enacting similar plans, but it’s so hard to think about Christmas when the heat index is over 105 every day!
Antonia says
Dear Ginny,
this post made me smile.
A minute after reading it I stumbled upon one of your old blog posts (https://gsheller.com/2011/05/celebrating-gabriel.html) where you wrote about Gabriel: “He has always adored Beatrix. (although he says that this new baby will most likely be nothing but trouble.)”
Which is quite funny in the context of this newest post of yours about Beatrix, haha 🙂
All the best from a Czech girl who is now volunteering in Slovenia x
Clémence says
These pictures are wonderful, planning Christmas now, what an excellent idea : ) Actually I just made a batch of 20 something jars of rhubarb chutney, to share and to have with poultry, so I must just be as inspired as your daughters!
Heather says
I feel like you may have written about this before – but I would love to know what resources you use to teach your children to knit. My kids all want to knit, and I can’t figure out how to teach them…youtube videos, books, anything?!
April says
First of all, I love your new blog design, it makes me so happy every time I wander to this little space of yours. This story makes me smile, I love her spirit, maybe a bit like Anne of Green Gables? I have a sense they would get along perfectly.
Ginny says
Thanks! I’m glad you like the new design! And yes, Beatrix is a good bit like Anne! They would definitely be bosom friends. 🙂
Kelli Ann Wilson says
Such innocence! I love her response — freely given.
Anne Marie says
“I WILL!” I love it!!
Wendy says
We have a lot in common! I have seven children that we homeschool and I’ve two in high school. We are using Kolbe for them. I wondered which curriculum you use for the high schoolers?
I really enjoy your blog. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
Ginny says
Hi Wendy! My oldest son uses Kolbe. I’m putting together something different for my two 9th graders–more along the line of CHC’s High School of Your Dreams but I will pull a little from Kolbe for them as well. 🙂