My hubby and I had the enjoyment of taking our two middle grandchildren to the Paw Patrol Live! The Great Pirate Adventure last Wednesday in Sioux Falls, SD. What a fun, interactive show it was. I think grandma and grandpa had just as much fun (if not more) as the kids did, waving our Jolly Rogers and yelling “PIRATE PARROT” every time we’d spot that sneaky little bird. It was 85-minutes of adventure that kept our eyes on the stage.
After the show was over, we let the 3 and 4 year old choose where they’d like to have lunch. Of course they picked McDonald’s. 😉🍟🍔
I share this little story because later that evening, sitting by the fireplace, my husband and I began to share memories of when we were younger. He said he could count on one hand how many times he had been to McDonald’s as a kid. For me, it was never. And off we went down memory lane sharing many interesting facts about the homes that built us.
I think my favorite story of his was about where his childhood home came from. His mom and dad moved an old country school house onto their home place and added a basement, a kitchen, and remodeled inside. My mother-in-law was a school teacher back in the early 50’s, married in the 50’s to a gentleman with the last name of Schoolmeester, then went back to teaching after her 6th child left home.
So…think about that. It just makes my heart smile. 😍 My beautiful, God-loving mother-in-law was a school teacher living in an old country school house whose last name was Schoolmeester. That was a whole lot of schools right there. I adored her.
One more story my hubby shared that I found intriguing was his bedroom was on the third floor of that old country school house, and it was cold up there. He liked the fact that his bedroom had a clothes shoot in it. He would head to the basement, open the clothes shoot down there so the heat from the wood burning stove would meander up to his bedroom.
Our homes we grew up in have helped shape who we are today. I’m sure you’ve started to think of many memories from your home. Maybe some good and maybe some not so good.
I’d like to share an activity I’ve used in my Children’s Literature course to allow my teacher candidates the opportunity to share memories of their homes, and how those homes have shaped them into who they are today as a future teacher.
After reading a favorite Little Golden Book classic called The House that Jack Built, I ask my students to flip around the last two words in the title and fill in the blank with their name: The House that Built ____________. As best as they can, they rewrite the story using the same format as the book, sharing with us about the house that built them into the person they are now.
Even though this can be a challenging assignment for college kids, I believe it is one that elementary children could be successful with. Their success will depend on OUR delivery of the assignment. 😊👍
Take a few moments today and enjoy memories of the house that built you. And, if you ever get a chance to go to Paw Patrol Live! The Great Pirate Adventure it is worth every minute!!! Argh…⚓😊
Stay Calm & Remember!
Profs Dr. Wendy. & Dr. V.
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