Local First Day of School

August 31st was the first day of school for many of the children around here. While they were lined up for the bus early in the morning, my son Dusty was walking to the place he has come to love. Hidden Valley Ranch. They raise Paint horses and he goes there two days a week to work in exchange for riding privileges.
His spirit free and happy doing what he enjoys, while the numerous children looked sort of downcast and tired for their first day. I am sure they were wishing that the summer had not ended.
As for Rhett's day, we spent the day in the garden, reading books and playing hide and seek. We caught grasshoppers and looked for a Praying Mantis that had found its way into our yard.
He is asking me to spell everything for him now, so we spend the days spelling out words and of course I must not go fast or he tells me to "do it more slowly..." You can see his little mind working as he tries to picture the letter in his mind as I spell it out.

So while the children were sitting at desks inside a building, my boys were outside enjoying the things they do best...being themselves, learning the way they want and what they want. I feel this is part of raising a holistically healthy child.