One of the things that homeschooling allows us is time to play with friends for hours at a time on a week day. To be honest, I am so used to this I don't often think about it.
It did enter my mind today though when, a play date was gently and mutually extended to accommodate for one of the children's needs. By the time our friends departed for home, we had spent nearly five hours together. (In various configurations...the moms and two of the kids went out for awhile to have tea :-)
This kind of time together is such a great learning tool...time that allows for deep breaths, for silences as well as bursts of energy, for many, many opportunities to interact with and learn from each other, whether it's from another mom, a 2 year old, a fellow 8 year old, etc.
My deep appreciation for common meal is related to this. Our common meals usually last about 2 hours, but because they are weekly gatherings going on now for over a year, there is a depth in friendship and kinship which provides fertile ground for social learning and meaningful togetherness. For all of us, as same age and intergenerational peers.
Warm and happy times. Laughter and tears. Being together. Making memories. Learning.
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