LIFE = LEARNING WHEREVER YOU ARE

LIFE =
LEARNING
WHEREVER YOU ARE!

That is our company motto, and we believe it to be true, but somehow
when it proves to be true, there is something pleasantly surprising
about it.

We were at the Ann Arbor Book Festival last weekend as managed to
plan a free field trip to the DIA (Detroit Institute of Arts). I normally
put together lesson plans and activities around our educational
destinations (thus, the products available at vacationeducationbooks.com - we
even thought about writing one for the DIA - maybe someday).
Sometimes, I get caught unprepared on a field trip, and then I have
to rely on our motto to be true.
As usual, I noticed many educational elements of the Museum, but
being unprepared to discuss them, all I could do was take a mental note to
get more information once we were at home.

But, without any effort on my part - this field trip taught us all
something very important all on its own.

We saw many paintings, and as part of the DIA's new additions and
remodeling, the artwork often includes an explanation. One painting in
particular caught our attention. It was of "Echo", a woman, rejected,
flying through the air as though she'd been thrown. The despair on her face
was undeniable. Her story goes something like this...

Echo was in love with Narcissus, but because she was destined to only
repeat that which was spoken to her, could never tell Narcissus of her
love for him, and was rejected by him.

So, we had a long and "educational" discussion about not wanting to
be like Narcissus (narcissistic) and turning away those who would love
us because we never expressed love towards them. Also, we would want to
avoid being like Echo; always waiting for someone else to express love
to us first.

We learned a great deal about history, architecture, and art; not
just through paintings, but also pottery, sculpture, jewelry and furniture
from around the world. There is much to be learned from the exhibits
at the DIA, and I could have prepared much, but it's those unexpected
moments that remind us that all we have to do to be good teachers to our
children, is to BE THERE for those moments, because LIFE really does =
LEARNING WHEREVER YOU ARE.

From my family to yours,
Corinne Johnson, author, vacationeducationbooks.com