I heard on the news that I’d be able to see a total lunar eclipse at about 4am my time. Given that the sky was clear then, and every other time we’ve completely eclipsed the moon it’s been too cloudy to see anything, I had to watch it.
And then I had to decide whether I wanted to wake up the kids so THEY could see it too. Wouldn’t a good mother rather make sure they get a full night’s rest so they can concentrate in school? Well, I am not that kind of mom, so I had them awake for just about an hour between 3:30 and 4:30.
While we watched the eclipse we talked about eclipses, as well moon phases, and planets, the universe, the milky way, what makes the moon shine, what makes the sun work… and dozens of other topics there in the dark. Ethan saw a shooting star, and Mary, queen of out-of-the-box thinking, observed that the fully occluded moon looked just like the cookies daddy had burned that night.
For all you who read my frustrated comment about school last week, know that aside from a hectic schedule, things are going really, really well now. Ethan and Mary started at a charter school, and while it’s an inconvenient distance from our house, it’s great to have the kids come home with their minds fully charged. They don’t stop talking about their funny Spanish teachers, or the crystals in science class, or the stories their teachers read.
Just before Ethan went to bed last night he told me he’s going to ask his teacher if she can make the math a little harder. I think she won’t mind him asking, and I think he knows it too. Just before he closed his eyes he said, “I love school.” What a difference from his attitude in kindergarten. And Mary loves it too. There’s nothing more exciting for me than seeing my kids so excited about learning. Except maybe a total Solar eclipse. Here’s hoping we’ll get to watch it together — maybe even with their own kids — in 2045 😀
Legend of Velda 