Our kids...

... are interesting people. They have lots of ideas. Some of them are good; some are not so good. They're really ambitious- they have that optimism that we all had when we were young: that we can do anything if we try hard enough. Sometimes we let them run with their ideas and projects, and sometimes we don't even let them get started (you know, if their idea might damage themselves, other people, or our property, lol.)

One thing they've been wanting to do for a very long time is dig a fish pond. Mitchell has probably been asking us to let him dig one for two years (if not longer.) Then his brothers and sister began asking. Rob and I envisioned muddy, half dug holes in our yard that would be abandoned once the digging got old. And we said NO, NO, NO. NO FISH PONDS...

...until we met another family of homeschoolers and visited their farm. They had not one but TWO ponds that their teenage son had dug. They weren't perfect, but they were really nice, and we could tell how proud he and his family were of them. And we got to thinking that we should probably lighten up a little and let the kids work on their fish pond idea. We had to adjust our thinking, stand back and realize that our kids aren't babies anymore, and trust that they're capable individuals. Instead of expecting the worst, we told them that they had permission to dig, and we sat back and expected the best.

Before I post pictures of the pond, let me say that Rob and I did not work on this pond at all. We did not dig on it, we did not line it, we did not move the rocks. All we did was offer advice if they asked us (we set limits on the size up front) and buy what they needed (liner, plants, fish, lights, and pump.) All of this was a collaborative effort on their part, from the oldest (almost 15) to the youngest (not quite 6.) We are super, super proud. They got the lights and pump set up (themselves) late this evening, and we all stood back to admire their work.



Is this pond perfect? No, it's not. Professionals did not build it. Our kids did, on their own, and we love it so much.



Joanna couldn't resist dipping her toes in the water...



...and neither could Hannah =0).

Rob and I are thrilled with the pond because the kids cooperated with one another, they saw it through to the end, and they did an excellent job. No cutting corners, no fighting amongst themselves, etc. They're proud of their accomplishment, and we're glad to see them feeling pride in a job well done. Plus, they just think the pond is cool, and stayed out there until waaay after dark... looking at the fish, and enjoying themselves.



And we think that's cool.