We had a sort of slow rolling week productivity wise so I did the logical thing and picked a really tediously slow project to work on. : )  Due to my procrastination – and the fact that I have not tracked down the thread since we unpacked – we had accumulated 5 buttons that had fallen off various coats. Seemed like a good opportunity to teach everyone who couldn't how to sew on a button, starting with how to thread a needle.  This part took a loooooong time.  

  I did my best Jessica Hulcy impression and let them figure it out themselves with a minimum of grabbing away of needles, thread, or buttons. This, by the way, is the most important job of the home educator says Mrs. Hulcy.  She used to say that if she could give parents two things it would be a gag and handcuffs.  We jump in too early and too much.  We talk alot – explaining and correcting and offering tips ad nauseum.   She was right.  Standing by, quietly answering questions as needed, and allowing the time to work through tricky things is better than all the lengthy lessons we can offer.  They may forget what we say, but they remember what they figured out. You can't learn for anyone, after all. 

So, our coats are all in tip top shape now.  They know something they didn't. 

win – win