When Your Kids Surprise You

So last week, during our down time, I was chatting with Lauren and Jon Owen over breakfast.  We were having an earnest conversation about school at Parish -- what did they like about it?  what makes them anxious?  what do they like about their teachers?  It doesn't happen often, but that particular morning they were interested in some thoughtful responses (it was great!).

Lauren talked about how much she loved art, how good she feels when Mrs. Ross pulls her aside and tells her how talented she is, how much she loves music with Mrs. Rhoades, and how fun P.E. is with Mr. Dewell.  She also confessed that she sometimes feels stressed by the workload, and how she misses the "fun" that she had in the lower grades.

And then it was Jon Owen's turn.  He talked about how much he loved being at Parish.  How nervous he was about coming to a new school, and how quickly he got over that nervousness.  He talked warmly of all his teachers and subjects, but when pressed for his favorite, he answered......religion.  Religion?  Yes, he said, I love the stories that Mrs. Ross tells us.

And I was surprised.  Because the religion of my youth was all obligation and memorization and ritual, and never once do I remember hearing the stories of the Bible put forth in a way that was interesting or engaging.  It's one of my main complaints with Catholicism.

And so that my children love starting the morning in chapel, enjoy religion class, and sing hymns to themselves while they clean or study or play....well, it's wonderful.  It's a testament to Parish, and how they're presenting it.  And I love it.  I wish I felt it the same way.