Last night I choked on my cranberry pill. Thankfully Jason was right there to help me. I am not taking those ever again, I can't believe this happened again.
I am experiencing a lot of pain and swallowing is tough.
I am taking it as easy as I can and so thankful that I am here.
I'm pretty out of it today.
So scary... Here is the link to last time.
http://learningthroughliving-stephanie.blogspot.com/2008/11/very-scary-incident.html
Monday, February 23, 2009
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Unconscious Mutterings
- Carpet :: vacuum
- William :: Will I Am
- Oh! :: shit!
- Board game :: Clue
- Sunlight :: vitamin D, I need sunlight, please sun, come out
- Delay :: rain delay
- Winner :: We are all winners
- Concubine :: slut
- Comatose :: really dang tired
- Satisfy :: satisfy me!
Want to play?
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
a little more about TV
It seems there are a few *biggies* in unschooling/parenting forums.
Math, tv, video games, food, sleep, these seem to strike fear in people.
How will they ever _____ if I don't make them _____??????
Unschooling is a philosophy that people are born with an innate desire to learn and that learning is as natural as breathing.
We trust the learning process and it is different in every person because everyone is unique.
Nobody learns the same thing at the same age, it just doesn't make sense. Yes there are averages because otherwise it's all across the board.
Straight from birth, each milestone is reached at a different age, it's reached in that child's timeframe. I'm not even sure I agree with *milestones* as it makes it out that EVERY baby will do _____.
Anyway back to TV.
My kids have never had artificial limits or rules imposed on them.
They are free to watch TV or not watch TV.
Cassie likes TV and she does have it on often, she has her favorite shows and knows when they are on.
Her TV is on a lot, it will be on while she is playing, she usually forgets it's on and leaves her room.
Once in awhile she shuts it off.
Last night was one of those times.
We cleaned her room and she loves it when it is clean.
She turned her radio on and was sitting on her bed writing in her notebook.
Be Free!!!!
Math, tv, video games, food, sleep, these seem to strike fear in people.
How will they ever _____ if I don't make them _____??????
Unschooling is a philosophy that people are born with an innate desire to learn and that learning is as natural as breathing.
We trust the learning process and it is different in every person because everyone is unique.
Nobody learns the same thing at the same age, it just doesn't make sense. Yes there are averages because otherwise it's all across the board.
Straight from birth, each milestone is reached at a different age, it's reached in that child's timeframe. I'm not even sure I agree with *milestones* as it makes it out that EVERY baby will do _____.
Anyway back to TV.
My kids have never had artificial limits or rules imposed on them.
They are free to watch TV or not watch TV.
Cassie likes TV and she does have it on often, she has her favorite shows and knows when they are on.
Her TV is on a lot, it will be on while she is playing, she usually forgets it's on and leaves her room.
Once in awhile she shuts it off.
Last night was one of those times.
We cleaned her room and she loves it when it is clean.
She turned her radio on and was sitting on her bed writing in her notebook.
Be Free!!!!
Monday, February 16, 2009
my room?
A few of my facebook buddies know that I cleaned and vacuumed my room last night.
Well....
it didn't last.
Apparantly the bad guys (Japanese) captured a good guy(American) and the mission is to save him.
Well....
it didn't last.
Apparantly the bad guys (Japanese) captured a good guy(American) and the mission is to save him.
The captured guy is hanging on my treadmill leg.
I just moved the base over so I could get to my computer.
We cleaned Cassie's room tonight so I still got to vacuum something Donna :)
Sunday, February 15, 2009
true choice
Let me backtrack a second...
Cassie has started watching the Brady Bunch and Little House on the Prairie. I get LH on Netflix for her.
TV Land plays them both on weekends starting at 2 am. Yesterday she was ecstatic that it was Saturday so she could watch Brady Bunch.
It wasn't on last night, she cried. I looked online, they don't play full episodes of it, I checked Netflix, no instant play.
I checked the listings and it is on tonight. She was still upset last night but I found a movie for her on instant play that she likes and that helped a little bit.
She is going to stay up and watch all of it tonight, 2 episodes of each that will bring her to 5 am before she goes to bed.
I asked her if she was sure about watching it all and she said yes she is planning on it.
I guess I'm just saying that it is her choice to stay up and watch and fall asleep afterwards.
That is real freedom of choice.
Cassie has started watching the Brady Bunch and Little House on the Prairie. I get LH on Netflix for her.
TV Land plays them both on weekends starting at 2 am. Yesterday she was ecstatic that it was Saturday so she could watch Brady Bunch.
It wasn't on last night, she cried. I looked online, they don't play full episodes of it, I checked Netflix, no instant play.
I checked the listings and it is on tonight. She was still upset last night but I found a movie for her on instant play that she likes and that helped a little bit.
She is going to stay up and watch all of it tonight, 2 episodes of each that will bring her to 5 am before she goes to bed.
I asked her if she was sure about watching it all and she said yes she is planning on it.
I guess I'm just saying that it is her choice to stay up and watch and fall asleep afterwards.
That is real freedom of choice.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Unconscious Mutterings
- Be mine :: valentine
- Ecstatic :: that is what happens when I vacuum
- Orderly :: Disorderly conduct
- Sebastian :: Bach
- Sore :: throat
- Don’t need :: government hand outs
- Rockstar :: Nickleback
- Tinfoil :: aluminum
- Addiction :: obsession
- Where? :: who, what where, when, why and how?
Want to play?
I blew it
I obviously bombed NaBloPoMo this time.
I caught a virus and I just couldn't keep up with it.
Oh well, I'm going to take a break from it. I'll post when I feel like it :)
I'm also working on a new blog so that I can keep the focus here on Learning Through Living.
My new blog is private and can only be viewed by people I allow.
I caught a virus and I just couldn't keep up with it.
Oh well, I'm going to take a break from it. I'll post when I feel like it :)
I'm also working on a new blog so that I can keep the focus here on Learning Through Living.
My new blog is private and can only be viewed by people I allow.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Latest wish list
This is Jared's list of Star Wars action figures that he wants to get.He is 6 in case you didn't know :)
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
sensitive emotions
My daughter is very intuitive, she feels deeply, she is full of emotions.
Last year she knew that Caramel, her guinea pig was going to die, she dreamed it.
Last night we were going through some of my sister's things. My sister died at the ripe old age of 21.
I have just a few of her belongings and some of them are for Cassie.
Last night she wanted to play with the porcelain dolls. I got them out for her and she started asking questions about Aunt Tiffany.
Then when it was like 2:30 am she said she felt nervous and scared and sad.
We talked a bit, she had some fears and she said she felt sad because she didn't get to meet my sister. She also misses Caramel terribly. The kids were playing around and they went over to where she is buried. I told Cassie she can visit Caramel and talk to her if she wants to.
I stayed with her, listened, validated and prayed over her. Her stomach was a bag of nerves.
She gets that from me...
I didn't finish this post last night because she was upset again.
I really listened to her and tried to console her and ease her nerves.
It is hard to see her so upset about this.
I honestly can't do anything about it, I can't fix it.
I'm a fixer, I like to solve people's problems, give them advice etc.
When we are talking about feelings, it is what is is, she has to feel what she feels.
When I was a kid, I would have been told how ridiculous I was being and would not have been validated in my feelings. It's probably why I internalized everything and become hard to protect myself.
The downfall of that is now I'm learning how to deal with resurfacing emotions and I have serious gut problems.
Kids are very intuitive, if we listen to them, they are wise.
Last year she knew that Caramel, her guinea pig was going to die, she dreamed it.
Last night we were going through some of my sister's things. My sister died at the ripe old age of 21.
I have just a few of her belongings and some of them are for Cassie.
Last night she wanted to play with the porcelain dolls. I got them out for her and she started asking questions about Aunt Tiffany.
Then when it was like 2:30 am she said she felt nervous and scared and sad.
We talked a bit, she had some fears and she said she felt sad because she didn't get to meet my sister. She also misses Caramel terribly. The kids were playing around and they went over to where she is buried. I told Cassie she can visit Caramel and talk to her if she wants to.
I stayed with her, listened, validated and prayed over her. Her stomach was a bag of nerves.
She gets that from me...
I didn't finish this post last night because she was upset again.
I really listened to her and tried to console her and ease her nerves.
It is hard to see her so upset about this.
I honestly can't do anything about it, I can't fix it.
I'm a fixer, I like to solve people's problems, give them advice etc.
When we are talking about feelings, it is what is is, she has to feel what she feels.
When I was a kid, I would have been told how ridiculous I was being and would not have been validated in my feelings. It's probably why I internalized everything and become hard to protect myself.
The downfall of that is now I'm learning how to deal with resurfacing emotions and I have serious gut problems.
Kids are very intuitive, if we listen to them, they are wise.
Sunday, February 08, 2009
Old tv show and mice
I thought our mice saga was over, it was for a short time.
Lately I've been seeing evidence under the kitchen sink and I told Jay about it.
I asked him to set the trap but in his defense he has been sick for 2 weeks.
The other night the kids woke me up to tell me that Brenny stepped on a mouse in the hallway and it ran into my room.
Pleasant!
Thanks, it's 3:30 am and I have to pee and I'm afraid to get up because I don't want to step on the mouse.
I know it's crazy, but if that happened to me, I wouldn't recover, I told the kids they would have to put me in the looney bin.
So Jason set the trap and guess what? He ate the peanut butter and ran.
Oh the joys!
Cassie has been watching The Brady Bunch on TV Land and I sat and watched with her last night.
I told her that I used to watch this everyday after school. She really likes it.
Guess what episode it was?
Yep!
Greg's science project, he brought home a mouse to train in a maze. The mouse escaped and was wandering around the house.
Of course they make it look all cute and innocent, it was a white mouse too, not the little grey buggers we get.
So Alice jumped up on the chair screaming and I just laughed because I freak out like that too.
Go figure.
Lately I've been seeing evidence under the kitchen sink and I told Jay about it.
I asked him to set the trap but in his defense he has been sick for 2 weeks.
The other night the kids woke me up to tell me that Brenny stepped on a mouse in the hallway and it ran into my room.
Pleasant!
Thanks, it's 3:30 am and I have to pee and I'm afraid to get up because I don't want to step on the mouse.
I know it's crazy, but if that happened to me, I wouldn't recover, I told the kids they would have to put me in the looney bin.
So Jason set the trap and guess what? He ate the peanut butter and ran.
Oh the joys!
Cassie has been watching The Brady Bunch on TV Land and I sat and watched with her last night.
I told her that I used to watch this everyday after school. She really likes it.
Guess what episode it was?
Yep!
Greg's science project, he brought home a mouse to train in a maze. The mouse escaped and was wandering around the house.
Of course they make it look all cute and innocent, it was a white mouse too, not the little grey buggers we get.
So Alice jumped up on the chair screaming and I just laughed because I freak out like that too.
Go figure.
Saturday, February 07, 2009
Unconscious Mutterings
- Cups :: tea cups
- Brilliant :: bright, intelligent
- Disobey :: don't disobey me (ha ha)
- Abstain :: from sex
- Daily :: double
- You make me :: laugh
- Hurl :: vomit
- Intensify :: feelings
- Fuck! :: off
- Race :: Piston Cup
Want to play?
Friday, February 06, 2009
Friday
Today we had beautiful spring weather, abundant sunshine, blue skies, light breeze and temps in the low 60's.
It was heavenly considering two days ago the high was in the 20's.
I spent some time sitting out in the sun, it's important to get natural vitamin D and there hasn't been much opportunity lately.
I've also come down with some stupid virus so I ate some chicken soup and sat in the sun.
The kids played and rode bikes and had a blast, we needed to end the cabin fever.
I started to read a book a bought awhile ago, I'm not too far into it but I can tell it's awesome.
I'm already practicing much of this style and I'm looking forward to reading the book and maybe helping me deal with my past and the tapes that run in my head.
It's Raising Our Children, Raising Ourselves by Naomi Aldort
It was heavenly considering two days ago the high was in the 20's.
I spent some time sitting out in the sun, it's important to get natural vitamin D and there hasn't been much opportunity lately.
I've also come down with some stupid virus so I ate some chicken soup and sat in the sun.
The kids played and rode bikes and had a blast, we needed to end the cabin fever.
I started to read a book a bought awhile ago, I'm not too far into it but I can tell it's awesome.
I'm already practicing much of this style and I'm looking forward to reading the book and maybe helping me deal with my past and the tapes that run in my head.
It's Raising Our Children, Raising Ourselves by Naomi Aldort
Thursday, February 05, 2009
nurturing, unschooling,independence
I have been observing my kids all of their lives.
My kids have never been schooled.
They all have different interests, abilities, learning styles and personalities.
I have spent all of my time with them, I have taken care of them since birth.
They have always been unschooled.
They have never had their time controlled by bells and teachers and rules and tests and homework and grades and everything that school has to offer.
I am their mother, I nurture them, I love them, I listen to them, I observe, I talk to them, I spend time with them, I play with them, I respect them, I give them time, space and freedom.
I also facilitate and by that I mean answer questions, look things up, take them places, offer suggestions, ideas and pretty much just help them figure out their world.
As they grow they become more and more independent of me.
They can bathe themselves, feed themselves, look up info themselves and spend their time doing what they want.
I have noticed more recently, probably because I haven't been feeling great that they are growing up on me.
What I mean is they aren't totally dependent on me like they were as babies and toddlers.
They spend their days playing and learning and developing thoughts, ideas, games. They use their minds, they create things, their imaginations are huge.
Kids who are not schooled do not look for school. They have friends who are homeschooled and public schooled.
When they have a want, need or desire to learn something they don't look to traditional ways. They don't ask for curriculum or classes or tests or grades.
While those things can be used by unschoolers if the person decides that is the way to go but it certainly isn't the first option.
Watching the natural learning process unfold and connect is priceless.
It's hard to convey to people who are so engrained with traditional school in a box. I have the privilege of living with 4 real, natural learners who have not been indoctrinated.
I presume that only other real unschoolers will get what I'm trying to say.
My kids blow me away on a regular basis.
They are bright and articulate and have a vast knowledge of various things.
They ask tons of questions, some are regular questions like what is 32+26.
Some are normal like how far away is the sun.
Some are challenging like who created God and what are sexual themes?
Those are the fun ones :)
Unschooling is natural and schooling is artificial.
My kids have never been schooled.
They all have different interests, abilities, learning styles and personalities.
I have spent all of my time with them, I have taken care of them since birth.
They have always been unschooled.
They have never had their time controlled by bells and teachers and rules and tests and homework and grades and everything that school has to offer.
I am their mother, I nurture them, I love them, I listen to them, I observe, I talk to them, I spend time with them, I play with them, I respect them, I give them time, space and freedom.
I also facilitate and by that I mean answer questions, look things up, take them places, offer suggestions, ideas and pretty much just help them figure out their world.
As they grow they become more and more independent of me.
They can bathe themselves, feed themselves, look up info themselves and spend their time doing what they want.
I have noticed more recently, probably because I haven't been feeling great that they are growing up on me.
What I mean is they aren't totally dependent on me like they were as babies and toddlers.
They spend their days playing and learning and developing thoughts, ideas, games. They use their minds, they create things, their imaginations are huge.
Kids who are not schooled do not look for school. They have friends who are homeschooled and public schooled.
When they have a want, need or desire to learn something they don't look to traditional ways. They don't ask for curriculum or classes or tests or grades.
While those things can be used by unschoolers if the person decides that is the way to go but it certainly isn't the first option.
Watching the natural learning process unfold and connect is priceless.
It's hard to convey to people who are so engrained with traditional school in a box. I have the privilege of living with 4 real, natural learners who have not been indoctrinated.
I presume that only other real unschoolers will get what I'm trying to say.
My kids blow me away on a regular basis.
They are bright and articulate and have a vast knowledge of various things.
They ask tons of questions, some are regular questions like what is 32+26.
Some are normal like how far away is the sun.
Some are challenging like who created God and what are sexual themes?
Those are the fun ones :)
Unschooling is natural and schooling is artificial.
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
a matter of principle
My mind can come up with several things relative to the title but this is actually about something happening to us right now.
My husband performed a service on good faith and still hasn't been paid for it.
Before your mind wanders...
He is a mechanic and he fixed someone's vehicle.
This couple has actually given him grief in the past, there was a miscommunication about what he was supposed to fix.
The wife chewed him out and he took the high road and fixed the other concern at no charge. It wasn't his fault or his problem but he took care of it because that is the kind of guy he is.
So 3 weeks ago they call with another issue. He was pretty sure what the problem was by the description and they had the vehicle towed to our house.
Jason got the part and fixed it the next day. They didn't pick it up until the following week and they asked if he would take a post dated check.
He said it was fine, we know what it's like to be in a bind, people have helped us out in the past.
It was dated for a week later, on that day he called and asked him to hold it a few more days.
That was 10 days ago.
No communication, Jason has called and left messages with no response.
Now we are in a position where we need this money, we have a check that is probably worthless.
The thing is we expect honesty and communication. We can work it out if we know what we are working with.
This is irresponsible and just plain rude.
It bothers me when people don't take responsibility for their actions.
One action affects another and a whole turn of events can take place from one decision or action and it impacts many people.
Responsibility is an important principle that seems to get tossed aside for someone else to take care of.
Grow up people!!!!
My husband performed a service on good faith and still hasn't been paid for it.
Before your mind wanders...
He is a mechanic and he fixed someone's vehicle.
This couple has actually given him grief in the past, there was a miscommunication about what he was supposed to fix.
The wife chewed him out and he took the high road and fixed the other concern at no charge. It wasn't his fault or his problem but he took care of it because that is the kind of guy he is.
So 3 weeks ago they call with another issue. He was pretty sure what the problem was by the description and they had the vehicle towed to our house.
Jason got the part and fixed it the next day. They didn't pick it up until the following week and they asked if he would take a post dated check.
He said it was fine, we know what it's like to be in a bind, people have helped us out in the past.
It was dated for a week later, on that day he called and asked him to hold it a few more days.
That was 10 days ago.
No communication, Jason has called and left messages with no response.
Now we are in a position where we need this money, we have a check that is probably worthless.
The thing is we expect honesty and communication. We can work it out if we know what we are working with.
This is irresponsible and just plain rude.
It bothers me when people don't take responsibility for their actions.
One action affects another and a whole turn of events can take place from one decision or action and it impacts many people.
Responsibility is an important principle that seems to get tossed aside for someone else to take care of.
Grow up people!!!!
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
home
I believe that home is where I live.
It's not a place I used to be in or a place I long to go back to.
I suppose home is where I make it.
I don't have a *hometown* like so many people do.
I don't equate any place in my childhood as *home*
I lived in 4 states before I was 18.
I was born in Lewiston, NY but I didn't live there.
Jason and I have lived in 4 states since we've been together.
I guess we haven't stayed anywhere long enough to build roots.
I do have many fond memories of CA and I lived there as a teen and then Jason and I lived there for 9 years and our two oldest children were born there. That was the longest I've lived anywhere.
I know some people that long to go back home and I just have never had a place call me like that.
We are coming up on 3 years here and I have no ties or roots.
I could move again, although Jason doesn't want to.
Last night I told him that AZ is warm and the homeschool laws don't suck :)
We aren't going anywhere right now but I guess I have a sort of detachment to places. It could be because I've moved so much and my parents are divorced and I never had a *real home* as a child.
I want to create that kind of home for my kids, the one they don't want to leave and the one they will always come back to when their grown.
I suppose it might be time to plant some roots and stick around for awhile.
Jason and I like it here and so do the kids.
It's not like PA where I wanted to leave as soon as I got there, that was a long, hard 7 years of my life.
I grew a lot and changed a lot and I know it was part of my journey but boy I don't want to do that again.
So I guess this is home and we'll be sticking around here.
It's not a place I used to be in or a place I long to go back to.
I suppose home is where I make it.
I don't have a *hometown* like so many people do.
I don't equate any place in my childhood as *home*
I lived in 4 states before I was 18.
I was born in Lewiston, NY but I didn't live there.
Jason and I have lived in 4 states since we've been together.
I guess we haven't stayed anywhere long enough to build roots.
I do have many fond memories of CA and I lived there as a teen and then Jason and I lived there for 9 years and our two oldest children were born there. That was the longest I've lived anywhere.
I know some people that long to go back home and I just have never had a place call me like that.
We are coming up on 3 years here and I have no ties or roots.
I could move again, although Jason doesn't want to.
Last night I told him that AZ is warm and the homeschool laws don't suck :)
We aren't going anywhere right now but I guess I have a sort of detachment to places. It could be because I've moved so much and my parents are divorced and I never had a *real home* as a child.
I want to create that kind of home for my kids, the one they don't want to leave and the one they will always come back to when their grown.
I suppose it might be time to plant some roots and stick around for awhile.
Jason and I like it here and so do the kids.
It's not like PA where I wanted to leave as soon as I got there, that was a long, hard 7 years of my life.
I grew a lot and changed a lot and I know it was part of my journey but boy I don't want to do that again.
So I guess this is home and we'll be sticking around here.
Monday, February 02, 2009
finding like minded people
It's time to make some new friends.
I want to find some unschoolers but relaxed homeschoolers would be great too.
It would even be better to find someone who keeps similar hours as we do so we could hang out when it's natural and not have to make ourselves get up and go before we are ready.
It seems that some things come in seasons, people in our lives are there for a bit but don't always last.
We were very close to a family a few years ago but we have drifted apart.
We are on different paths and have different interests. Our kids do different things now and quite frankly we haven't gotten together in a long time.
We don't fit into their crowd... christian homeschoolers.
I guess I want it to be easy to meet others with similar interests.
I don't want to travel far, it's not my thing.
We do have a group that we get together with once in awhile but they all have girls. That works great for only one of my kids, my boys need friends too.
I'm the only unschooler I know in person.
I want to find some unschoolers but relaxed homeschoolers would be great too.
It would even be better to find someone who keeps similar hours as we do so we could hang out when it's natural and not have to make ourselves get up and go before we are ready.
It seems that some things come in seasons, people in our lives are there for a bit but don't always last.
We were very close to a family a few years ago but we have drifted apart.
We are on different paths and have different interests. Our kids do different things now and quite frankly we haven't gotten together in a long time.
We don't fit into their crowd... christian homeschoolers.
I guess I want it to be easy to meet others with similar interests.
I don't want to travel far, it's not my thing.
We do have a group that we get together with once in awhile but they all have girls. That works great for only one of my kids, my boys need friends too.
I'm the only unschooler I know in person.
Sunday, February 01, 2009
Unconscious Mutterings
- Take :: The government just wants to take, take, take
- 350 :: big block engine
- Stand :: up for your rights
- Raspberry :: beret
- Turnstile :: that thing that makes me dizzy
- Infomercial :: boring
- Dejected :: depressed
- What’s the word? :: word up
- Awestruck :: dumbfounded
- Smashed :: really drunk
Want to play?
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