Look It Up!

As most of you know, I am homeschooling both of my kids. The journey is interesting, to say the least, and I'm learning how different the world is from when I was a child.

I remember asking my dad questions such as, "What does ________ mean?" or "How do you spell _______?" To which he would always reply, "Look it up."
This taught me how to use the dictionary very well because if I wanted to know something, I had to look it up in the dictionary, thesaurus, or one of those big red encyclopedias.

Fast forward to me as the parent. Do I send my son to look something up whenever he has a question? You bet I do! Does it drive him crazy? You bet it does! But, is he learning how to effectively learn for himself? Most definitely.

The problem comes in when he sees me run to the almighty "Google" to find answers! He has even seen me use dictionary.com for reference. Of course, this leads me to explain myself... or justify my actions. I have explained that I had to learn the way he is learning first.
But he wants to know why that is important?
Well, because if the electricity is out and you want to know a definition, that is how you find it! Or, if you are shipwrecked with only a dictionary and big red encyclopedias, you will know how to effectively pass the time.

The reality is that times are different but knowledge comes in all forms. Sometimes, I think we all tend to take the easy way out and forget the days of the library catalog.

Remember the days when we would ask a friend for her awesome casserole recipe? Now, we simply type a few words and click enter and we are inundated with several to choose from.

I remember going to the library searching the shelves for a good read. Now, we have book readers and the instant gratification is right at our fingertips.

Dinner on the fly instead of around the table with my family.

Even in my faith, I find myself settling for a McVerse- quick and easy instead of digging into The Word.

Is technology a bad thing? Mercy no! I love my dishwasher, washing machine, and dryer. I can't imagine having a huge hunk of ice in a box instead of my refrigerator. I am so thankful for electricity to keep me toasty in Winter and cool in Summer.

Even though I love modern conveniences, I have a feeling that there will always be a dictionary on my shelf waiting to have its pages flipped as the words look it up ring through my house.

Smile :) donnamusing