I get the greatest sense of wonder from my kids. I have to constantly work at putting aside frustrations with them and with daily life, so that I can enjoy that wonder. It’s entirely too easy to get caught up in chores done or not done, schoolwork done or not done, good/bad behavior. I have to consciously step back, and then I can think, Wow! There this whole other person there, and they came from that little baby way back when, and they have their own view of the world. Trying to connect each child with the baby I remember just forces a sense of awe and wonder. We’ve done it four times now, with six kids, and I still can’t quite believe that those tiny little helpless babies turn into these beings with personality and will.
My children’s ability to learn inspires wonder, too. They learn so many things just by living and exercising their natural curiosity. Sometimes I think we could get away with unschooling, but I couldn’t trust it enough. Still, watching Kender naturally develop all these skills of blindness, without being taught, is amazing. Watching Liam teach himself multiplication is amazing. Watching Jarod learn how to count and add just from watching others is amazing.