Childcare

It's crazy to me how similar numbers of kids can feel so totally different depending on how well you know them, the time of day, and how old they are. This Sunday I had seventeen kids in my "small" group, and it felt like a lot for a small group, but they focused well, and we were able to all enjoy each other without anyone spiraling out of control.

Case in point: I had promised the kids that I would bring my "Africa knife" - my dad's Somali knife - not knowing that there would be quite so many kids. They all passed it around and handled it, while other people in the group were trying on different types of Kenyan clothing. And, there was no blood.

17 kids: 1 Jessica

Monday morning, we had eighteen kids in childcare and three of us working. Most of the kids are with us 2-3 days a week, so, while there were a few collisions and tears, the homeschooled kids got their homework done, and all was remarkably calm and peaceful.

Of course, that may have had something to do with the fact that E, our high school guy, isn't there on Mondays for the kids to "kill." (The favored activity of the "big kids" - and several of the "little kids," including one who doesn't walk yet - involves shooting E with Lego guns, poisoning him with the fake food/doctor's kit, dogpiling on him, and otherwise making sure that he spends 85% of his time laying flat on the ground.)

Regardless. 18 kids: 3 teachers

Last Monday night, though, we had twenty-one kids to four teachers, and it was just this side of utterly ridiculous. Twenty-one isn't really that many, but, when you are expecting ten or so... that's a large difference!