My personal research team..

There are times, actually a lot of them, when my kids are my best research team. When dealing with things that are not about our family they can really rock the research collectively. For example....This morning we were driving to school and got behind a school bus. As the bus made a turn at a red light in town the boy in the last row opened the window and threw out a bottle. He wasn't aiming it at anyone, but that really isn't the point. For me, I was sitting in my van, 15 feet behind the bus with 8 children who all saw what happened and all knew it was wrong. I think all my kids would say that I am a "do right" person. I am also a "hold you accountable" person. Right is right and Wrong is wrong....matters not who it is. So, with my "team" watching I asked for a pencil and wrote down the bus number. I then wrote, "Last row behind driver" and "Boy". We followed the bus a few miles to school as we drove this is what happened:

Me: Anyone know that boy?
Dan: yeah, I've seen him before.
Me: Is he in your pod?
Dan: No, I've just seen him in the bathroom.

Ryan: I think it's ****.
Me: Do you know him?
Ryan: Not really but he's in my pod.
Me: what's his last name?
Ryan: I don't know. But he's either in Mrs. xxxx or Mrs xxx homeroom.

I now have a pod, a name, a description...

Michael: I'm pretty sure that's **** ******.
Me: How do you know him?
Michael: He was in my PE class for a while.
Me: You're sure?
Michael (as the boy turns around looking out the back of the bus again): Yes.

I then asked for a clean piece of paper, supplied from the girls behind me (either Tasha or Bella) and wrote all the new information:

bus number
position
pod
name

We pull up to the school and I ask the children to have Officer Moore speak to me. I gave him the paper and it was not surprising that the name had him nodding and understanding.

I did the right thing and my children saw it...they were part of it. I was telling Scott about it when I got home. If I had ONE child I might have never figured it all out...but I have a pretty impressive team of kids:)

Scott and I are going to be on a panel at church tonight. One of the questions they sent us, that will be asked is about building a strong family. How to do that. This morning was an excellent example in my mind. 1) communication 2) common goals 3)following the rules 4) knowing you are strong collectively. When we talk, when we have goals and we stick to the rules .....THEN my children can actually SEE the stability. Our biggest resource IS our family. Every member could be strong individually but that would never mean we were strong collectively. That strength comes from working together. Not placing all the importance on one person, but realizing we need everyone! It was very nice this morning for my girls (who are usually the nosy know what's going on people) to see the boys work together. I would be willing to be anyone who repeats the story would say "WE ......." That "WE"? That's our family! To be strong....you need lots of "WE" moments!