Hannah, Jerusha, and Eli were driving home with their Dad when he asked them, “What did you do at school this week?” Their Dad later relayed their responses to me - “I don’t know,” and “I can’t remember,” and the dreaded, “Nothing.” So he asked me, “What did they do at school today?” I paused and thought back through the day, searching to remember what my children did at school. I saw Hannah on her laptop and passed Jerusha in the kitchen and I saw Eli out a window playing with a group of children outside. Next I scanned through my day at school. I responded, “Um, I don’t know. Yeah, I can’t remember. Oh, nothing,” I smiled. “Nothing?” he asked. “Yup,” I nodded, “absolutely nothing.” Nothing is hopping on the bus with five students to go see the “leaves change” because a 4 year old brought the idea to School Meeting. Nothing is baking homemade brownies for a school fundraiser organized by the 11 year old Cooking Corporation President and her committee. Nothing is teaching an 8 year old boy to knit, watching him practice all day and at the end of the day he asked if he could check out the needles and yarn to practice at home. Nothing is making fraction pizzas with a 5 year old and selling the pizzas for a pretend dollar. Nothing is attending an animal yoga class taught by a 4 year old. Nothing is debating the pros and cons of Television and Beauty Pageants while being judged by a panel of peers.

Oh, and nothing is teaching reading classes in the tree house while sitting side by side and speaking only when asked. Nothing is taking a guitar class from a 13 year old student and receiving homework assignments. Nothing is taking a spontaneous walk in the snow and stopping at the park to push 4 students on the tire swing and watching as they spin and squeal. Nothing is discussions in the kitchen as we cook and eat together. Nothing is making homemade canvases and then assisting the students as they create masterpieces. Nothing is sitting in sunroom all day writing. Nothing is playing marbles with three boys on a homemade marble mat. Nothing is making paper airplanes and researching paper airplane physics to improve design. Nothing is playing on the computer and collecting LOL cats. Nothing is playing Clue and Othello and Connect Four and Bingo. Nothing is climbing trees and lazily chatting in the limbs. Nothing is Nerf gun wars and learning the rules to Infection and screaming while I’m being chased by a horde of zombies. Nothing is comparing Lego creations and a 5 year old offering me suggestions to improve my Lego submarine. Nothing is reading Are You My Mother and Green Eggs in Ham over and over and over and over again. Nothing is trading my peanut butter and jelly sandwich for macaroni and cheese. Nothing is asking a 12 year old to proof read this article. Could nothing be everything? Hmmm, we’ll discuss it at our next Philosophy meeting.

- Rebecca Cobb, Staff