Thursday, December 23, 2010

Sleep freedom

I've written about sleep and arbitrary bedtimes before.

This is just a little more insight into watching my children truly sleep when they are tired.

When they go to  bed varies usually between 1am and 5am.

Lately Cassie has been all turned around. She was staying up all night and sleeping all day for a week or two. Now this past week, she has been sleeping around 5-6pm until 3-5am. So she has been up in the day and asleep at night. Actually last week it was something like sleep 2-6am, get up and then go back to sleep around noon, just really odd...

Tonight she went to bed at 5 and is sleeping now. She'll wake up sometime early in the morning.

She is on a growth spurt. The last time she switched her sleep around, she ate, slept and grew. I wrote about it in the post Late Night Life, no linky at the moment....

She is 11 and is preparing for womanhood, she has grown a couple inches already. They literally grow in their sleep.

I am just so glad that she can do this. When I was a kid I suffered migraines and exhaustion among other things because I had to get up and go to school even though I just fell asleep.

She is truly listening to her body and sleeping when she needs to no matter what the clock says.

Freedom is beautiful!

I still don't sleep right. I'll leave you with  Holt:

"I can't help noting that no cultures in the world that I have ever heard of make such a fuss about children's bedtimes, and no cultures have so many adults who find it so hard either to go to sleep or wake up. Could these social facts be connected? I strongly suspect they are."
~John Holt~

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Counter

What's on you bathroom counter?

It was hard to get it all in one shot. Lots of bowls of dyed water, all special colors.

See that pan and Karo syrup?

That is a tar pit and that little action figure was stuck in it.

All sorts of stuff goes on in the bathroom...

Monday, December 13, 2010

HodgePodge

So It's like a freakin blizzard here in TN!

Cold, 15 degrees, 3 inches of snow, wind blowin,freezin my ass off!

I am not an eskimo, I didn't move here to freeze!

Prisons are closed tomorrow, that's good for the kids. My son's friend stayed the night last night and he wanted it to  snow so bad so school would be closed. Well he got his wish!

On a good note, I don't have to go out in it and my kids don't have to wish for it so they don't have to go to school.

My kids went out and played in it, 15 damn degrees because  they wanted to.

My kids have never been to school so don't long to have a day off.

They are free everyday!

That my friends is a BEAUTIFUL thing!

Monday, December 06, 2010

Spanking IS abuse!

So there has been child abuse awareness going on around facebook lately.

My friend posted a quote that I have seen and posted before and it sparked some comments :

‎"When a child hits a child, we call it aggression. When a child hits an adult, we call it hostility. When an adult hits an adult, we call it assault. When an adult hits a child, we call it discipline." ~Haim G. Ginott



In reality when an adult hits a child it is assault, it is abuse!
 
People justify hitting children in many ways but it is completely UNACCEPTABLE!
 
Do you realize the damage you are doing to that child?
 
Do not tell me it is fine to swat a toddler in a diaper. There is no justifiable reason to spank a toddler.
 
I love this one:
If a child hits another child, the parent teaches them that hitting is wrong by spanking them!
 
I would love to slap these parents and see how they like it!
 
Hitting, spanking, whipping, whopping, swatting, call it what you want, it IS abuse!
 
So yes I am calling all of those loving parents who spank their kids abusers.
Deal with it!
Step up, get help, seek alternatives.
Kids do not deserve to be hit by people who claim to love them.
 
Get real, be real, be honest, control yourself, stop the cycle!

Do not tell me you spank aka discipline your child out of love, you are delusional!

If you were spanked, you are damaged, it is not right, it is not good, it is not healthy.
Think about it, really reflect on your experience being humiliated and beaten...Do you want to do that to your children? Do you want them to beat your grandchildren?

Yes I use the word beat interchangeably, think about it!

 
God is not telling you to beat your kids, trust me!
 
Do not hit your kids, STOP hitting your kids!
 
Please, their mental, physical and emotional development depends on it.
 
Check out these links:
 
No spank
Non violent communication 
Parenting in Jesus footsteps
The natural child project

Just please do NOT hit your kids anymore!

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Real life example

Kieran came to me the other day and told me he needs to earn some money because he has decided that he wants to buy a new computer.

In the past few months he has gone to some jobs with his dad to help and he gets paid of course. He is developing a good work ethic, he is mature enough to stick with a job and he does it well.

Jason has several clawfoot tubs he is working on and Kieran is helping him do prep work, mostly sanding, bondo, cleaning.

We also have two tubs that Jason just bought in order to refinish and sell. They have buyers now and need to be finished.

Kieran has been researching online at several websites, building the computer he wants. He is doing so much groundwork in order to find the right specs so it plays World of Warcraft and other games efficiently, but mostly WoW.

The internet is the greatest tool we have at our fingertips, so much info, so much to learn. You just keep looking until you find what you want.

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Not really

So I'm not really calling off dinner, just annoyed about the gluten issue and am not prepared to make anything gluten free.

We'll  be making turkey breast, mashed potatoes, gravy, biscuits, squash, corn, stuffing, apple and pumpkin pie, that will make my family happy.

As for what I'll eat, not sure yet.

I have a lot to be thankful for.

Last year was one of the most difficult in my life. Jason was unemployed last Thanksgiving so I'll just deal with the gluten issue.

This year is so much better.

We have a warm house, food, internet,work and healthy  unschooling kids :)

It's all good :)

Monday, November 22, 2010

Calling it off

I'm calling off Thanksgiving dinner  due to gluten!

I tell you I've been having a pity party.

My favorite part of dinner is stuffing, biscuits, gravy and apple pie!

Sure these items can be made gluten free but do they taste good?

I am not going to experiment trying to make these items in two days when I haven't even figured out how to do it regularly.

I pretty much just avoid gluten, I have it once in awhile by choice.  Sure I could eat regular stuff and possibly suffer .

UGH!

So WAHHHHHHH!!!!!

I'm not sure what we are having for T day dinner anyway, it's just us.

Just venting...

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Unconscious Mutterings

  1. Emotional :: I never used to be emotional but the hormones get to me now.
  2. Bite ::  Bite Me! My favorite phrase!
  3. Get off my :: back!
  4. Heroic :: extraordinary
  5. Clothing :: optional
  6. Home :: is where I am
  7. Spelling :: Spelling is one of my strong suits
  8. Attitude :: I've got plenty of attitude!
  9. Argument :: I like to win an argument!
  10. Satan :: Satan can Kiss My Ass!

Luna Nina

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Imaginary friend

Jared has an imaginary friend named Bobert, he is always talking about things Bobert does.

Today he said that God doesn't want Bobert and either does the devil so he will live forever. I just thought it was cute.

Here is part of a cartoon he drew, there are several pics but I'm just posting these two.


Friday, November 19, 2010

Ever changing world

I'm going to attempt to make this coherent. I've had thoughts in my head, read articles and have exchanged with others via email.

Education isn't about schooling at all, one is educated by learning what they need in this world. We all have different needs, we all have different abilities that is why there are so many choices as to what one can do in life.

A one size fits all school system that isn't changing is not preparing kids for the future. Can one really be prepared? How can one know what they will need to know in the future? The world is ever changing, I have heard that from more than one source lately.

Since we can't know what knowledge will be most needed in the future, it is senseless to try to teach it in advance. Instead, we should try to turn out people who love learning so much and learn so well that they will be able to learn whatever needs to be learned. ~ John Holt

One source was in favor of school saying my kids need to be in school to be prepared for the changes in the world. Well obviously that is nonsense.

School is an outdated institution, it is not growing or changing or adapting to the ever changing world. They teach the same thing over and over every year. Some things will never change, 2 + 2 will always be 4, I think...

Technology is constantly improving, look at what a cell phone can do these days.

I believe knowing how to think, how to find answers, how to adapt, how to communicate, those are abilities that will help you in the world.

A college degree isn't what it used to be and is only useful in certain areas, medical and engineering come to mind, I know there are others. Overall most jobs can be obtained without a college degree.

I believe that being an entreprenuer and having a marketable skill are wonderful ways to earn a living.

I hope for my kids to find something they love and can earn a living doing it. I don't encourage a college degree, I'm not discouraging it but why start out your adult life thousands of dollars in debt?

College can be done at any time it does not have to be done at 18, so many kids are forced into it because of the ingrained mindset of society. Go to school, get a good education and get a good job.

Really? Is that all there is to life? Join the rat race, be miserable, stay in school it prepares you for the misery that is to come.

Get out of school. Quit school and get a real education!

Information is at our fingertips, this is a wonderful time to be living in this ever changing world!

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Unconscious Mutterings

  1. Freezing ::  It is freezing out right now.
  2. Bikers :: Harley
  3. Infrequently :: not very often
  4. Mickey :: Mouse
  5. School:: Prison
  6. Textile :: mill
  7. Obstinate :: Stubborn...Oh I'm obstinate :)
  8. Guard :: prison
  9. Release :: Catch and Release..awesome movie
  10. Authentic :: real, totally real, I love authenticity
Luna Nina

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Childhood

Childhood is not a preparation for life...childhood is life.

When I think back on my childhood, I didn't really have much of one, I really wasn't a kid very long and I surly didn't enjoy being a kid. I couldn't wait to turn 18 to get out of my parents rule.

My circumstances were different than many and maybe similar to some. After my parents divorce I took care of my brother and sister and the household duties while my mom worked two jobs. I was 12.

This wasn't going to be about that so I won't go into any details at this point.

What I really want for my kids is for them to ENJOY being kids. I want them to live and learn everyday without the stress of adulthood looming.

So many kids are pressured each day to perform, to get good grades, listen, obey, respect authority etc...

To prepare for their future job and mortgage.

Kids today aren't able to just BE.

My kids have never been to school and have always had the freedom at home to follow their interests and to learn in their own way and in their own time.

They are growing up right before my eyes.

Saturday, November 06, 2010

Unconscious Mutterings

  1. Everything ::  and anything
  2. China :: Made in China
  3. Essence :: pure
  4. Immediate :: NOW
  5. Obstruct :: in my way
  6. Force :: Do not force me to do anything!
  7. Constellation :: Big Dipper
  8. Intuitive :: mindful
  9. Complain :: I try not to complain much
  10. Train :: of thought, I lose mine all to often
Luna Nina

Sunday, October 31, 2010

Jared's opinion

We went to Publix last night and they were giving out balloons and candy.

On the way home Jared was reading the warning label on the balloon. It said "Choking Hazard, children 8 and under can choke or suffocate on balloons" Adult supervision needed etc...

Jared is 8, he was beside himself.
He said mom, that is stupid, kids my age and 6 or 7 should know better that to stick a balloon in their mouth.

He said that should be a warning for 3 and under.

He was insulted to say the least. He talked about it for a bit.

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Unconscious Mutterings

  1. Sarcasm ::  You talkin to me?
  2. Coke :: have a coke and a smile
  3. Frank :: Maier
  4. Party :: Animal
  5. Witches :: brooms
  6. Intentional :: on purpose
  7. Crisp :: and clean
  8. Lockers :: eww...gym lockers...eww...school...
  9. Walking :: around the block every day
  10. Fundraiser :: begging for money
Luna Nina

Saturday, October 23, 2010

Questions

Last night I had a quick conversation with a young man at the wine store. We have a bit of rapport, I've been going there for awhile now.

Over time it's just been quick hi, how ya doin stuff. I don't know what prompted it but last week I mentioned that I have 4 kids and homeschool. He only knew of my youngest son because he comes with me alot.

His mouth about dropped, he is 21, dang kid was born the year I graduated from high school.

So last night, he brought it up that I am the first person he knows that homeschools. He asked me why.

I did a quick, I'm against public school, the very nature of it to produce factory robots. I asked him if he knew the history of public school and why it was started, he didn't.

He liked school and he is a schedule type guy. I said you can still have a schedule and have some freedom. He was puzzled to say the least.

I said we aren't those strict curriculum types, we follow the interests and ability of the child. I said my kids are smart and it's not because of me, it's because they are free to learn in their own way and time. He mentioned that they must be curious, I said yes, very and google is our friend. I don't know everything but I know how to find out.

I mentioned with the library and the internet available, school is unnecessary.

I told him that I thought high school was a collosal waste of time and that little kids shouldn't be holed up in a classroom all day, they should be free.

We talked a little more, I don't remember everything, but he was definitely enlightened.

He really appreciated me talking to him, this is a totally new concept to him.

I thought it was great and it reignites my fire to plant seeds and share my views :)

Friday, October 22, 2010

Why?

Why do I focus so much energy on dissing the public school system?

Many of my posts here and on facebook are about the downfalls of school.

Why don't I just post happy unschooling stuff? Well I do but I am trying to plant seeds. So many people have never even questioned the institution. They just blindly and willingly send their kids there.

Of course I don't know if anyone reads here who isn't already homeschooling.

The system is broken, I don't think it's fixable. Sure we could improve it, I wrote about that recently.

I am just very passionate about unschooling and very passionately against compulsary schooling.

I just want to share my views and the realities speak for themselves. There is so much in the media about failing public schools.

It's a huge political agenda, politicians are clueless. They just think more money and more testing will fix it.

Getting rid of testing would be a huge step in the right direction.

I don't think it's a waste of my breath or that it takes away from unschooling.

Heck I just have to tell someone! ha ha!

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Some people just don't get it

I'm not going to name names but sheesh! I guess the indoctrinated really don't know that they are indoctrinated.

The system sure works in that regard, it gets many to where they can't see learning or education without schooling.

To me school does not equal education. Schooling does more harm than good.

I am against compulsary schooling, the very nature of it's existence and it's purpose.

I realize I am in the minority, I have never been with the crowd. Always a non-conformist rebel.

It's how I roll.

Ask me anything, my answer may surprise you.

I don't apologize for being against school.

As a matter of fact, I think the world would be better off without it.

Things would be so different if parents actually raised their children and not the school system.

They would have to be resourceful and responsible

I had my kids on purpose, I don't believe that children are mistakes. I believe that people are irresponsible and having unprotected sex doesn't warrant you to be a parent.

Well that got off my  original thought but it's how I feel.

Monday, October 18, 2010

Rock Island

We took a day trip to Rock Island State Park yesterday. The weather was just beautiful, the scenery was gorgeous.

We had a picnic and then fished and explored a little.

The kids collected shells and rocks.

They found a millipede skin and a fish vertabrate.

They caught a few sunfish. They walked along the rocky shore just checking things out.

Definitely a great day!

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Glad I live in modern times

I have always been thankful to live in the technological age, I like modern amenities and I also like the fact that women have a voice in their lives.

I realize some cultures still make women less than, there are still arranged marriages and such.

I just watched the movie The Duchess, with Kiera Knightly, based on a true story.

Whenever I see these movies based on true stories it really gets me in the gut.

What women had to endure. Everything was about class, and what family you came from. You weren't worthy if you were a mere peasant with no financial offerings.

Women were suppressed, controlled, raped, only worthy if they produced a male heir. They suffered greatly, it's tragic.

I am so glad to be able to voice my opinion, to vote, to have worth. I don't take free speech and freedom for granted!

Saturday, October 16, 2010

We are having beautiful weather here, finally! 70's-80 in the day 40's at night. I went for a walk today, got the kids out on their bikes.

I love this weather, sunshine, slight breeze, I just soak it in, get lost in it. This is what I wait for.

We had the hottest summer ever, you know global warming and all
I'm serious I was bitchin!

So I plan to enjoy these wonderful temps and get some exercise in the process.

I told  the kids to come out with me today. We used to go out in the spring, then in the summer we went out at 10 o'clock at night. Then stuff happened and we didn't walk... I hate when stuff happens, it messes everything up.

It's time to make it a habit again. It's important to get sunshine. Since it was so damn hot we didn't go out much this summer.

I am vitamin D deficient and take a supplement, I may give the kids some  since they haven't gotten much the past few months.

I hope fall stays this beautiful before the cold winter hits.

I don't like hot and I don't like cold. I like it just right, like it is now!

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Enjoy Life

I just want to enjoy my life!

That may sound so easy to some but for some reason it's not for me, I'm way to serious. I have always been caught up in what is wrong that I need to focus on what is right.

I have to stop dwelling and worrying, it's really ridiculous.

I'm not a pessimist but I'm sure not an optimist, I'm a realist.

Some people are so happy and joyful no matter what, I just want to feel a little of that.

I just need to refocus my thoughts.

I am happy, I guess I just don't show it.

I am so blessed, I have the best husband and children, I love them so much and am so thankful to spend every day with them.

That is all that matters in reality, everything else just needs to back off.

Part of this may be conditioning, my mom was pretty negative and always worrying, glass half empty, I grew up around that example. It was always scarcity, no abundance.

I want to focus on the little things everyday that are important.

Stop worrying about what is *wrong* with me and work on fixing it.

I am awake and alive, each day that I wake up is a good day.

So what if I'm tired?

 I just have to get up and go and stop bitchin about being tired.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

school, bullies,choice

Today on facebook, a friend mentioned how she hated sending her child to school when she felt like she was walking into a lion's den.

I would not send my child to school ever but under these circumstances wouldn't you reconsider things?

Especially with all of the media coverage about bullying and suicides.

I just don't understand how you can set your child up for abuse. School is bad enough but add in bullies and the stress can be unbearable.

I know that everyone won't homeschool, can't for whatever reason, but many people can and choose not to.

I feel so bad for all of these kids being treated less than human, being abused, ridiculed and picked on.

For what?

Surly not an education. School has nothing to do with education. School is an outdated, obsolete institution that's sole purpose is to control the masses and babysit kids while their parents work or worse have *me time*

So yes, it's their choice to send their kids to school and it's my choice not to.

Do I agree?   Hell no.

Do I respect people who send their kids away?

What do you think?

Who Am I?

That's a good question. So many of us know who we are and others are trying to figure out who they are.

I know what I like and what I don't like but I don't think that defines who I am at my very core, my inner self, the one that I kept buried for so long. Well I'm coming back around, I don't know why I got so quiet and sheltered my thoughts and opinions.

I have to be me even if it offends you.

It's not my intention to offend but I really am sick of being quiet. Yes something happened today to cause me to say that, that will be a separate post.

I  am opinionated, I'm extreme, I tend to be an all or nothing personality, it's hard to do baby steps and moderation, it's just not natural to me.

When asked a question I give the answer based on my extreme views of things...

 School...you will get an earful, everything I talk about ends up back to public school being the root cause of the issue.

 It's kind of funny but it's true.

Saturday, October 09, 2010

Unconscious Mutterings

  1. Intruder :: Alert!
  2. Repelled :: grossed out!
  3. Trench coat :: flasher
  4. Lipstick :: The familiar taste of poison
  5. Humongous :: Elephant
  6. Oven mitts :: hot pads
  7. Case :: just in case
  8. Daughter :: Cassie
  9. Attorney :: The Defenders
  10. Shaken :: but not stirred
Luna Nina

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Why do you unschool?

October theme for Enjoy Life Unschooling blog carnival is *Why Do You Do What You Do*

Why do you unschool?

Why do we unschool?

Short answer is unschooling is natural and school is artificial.

We planned on homeschooling before we had kids, sending our kids away was not an option that we wanted.

I always treated my babies like people from birth, worthy of trust and respect. I held, rocked, nursed, slept with, talked to, shared with them etc... Just because we don't know what they understand, I always talked to them and told them what I was doing. Since I held them all day they were doing everything with me.

They learned how to sit up, roll over, crawl, walk and talk in their own way and time frame. I did not *teach* my children to walk and talk and either did you.

Learning is as natural as breathing when the process isn't interrupted by teaching and schooling.

When my oldest was 6, I like many people were under the impression that it was time to start school, homeschool in our case.

I did buy curriculum and we worked on it 1-2 hours a day for about 4-6 weeks. It was awful, he resisted, I pushed. We just got to where we would hurry up and finish so we could get on with our day, our life. That isn't natural. Making my son write spelling words didn't teach him how to spell, it made him hate to write.

We weren't happy so I put the books on the shelf and left my son alone. I got online and searched for others. I knew there had to be a better way but I needed to deschool because even though I disagree with school, it was the only model I knew.

It didn't take long to figure out that unschooling was awesome, that people learn by living. That his 6 years of life he learned so much, he didn't need me messing with that. I found so much info online, joined a bunch of yahoo groups and the rest is history... That was 9 years ago since my son is 15 now and has never been *schooled* since.

My other 3 kids were never subjected to curriculum or lessons, they are truly always unschooled, my oldest was only *schooled* for 6 weeks out of 15 years so I think that's pretty awesome!

Our parenting principles made the idea of life learning and respect very simple. We never had rules and chores and limits on activities. We are open and honest, we discuss things as they arise. No two situations are alike and therefore warrant different courses of action.

"Birds fly, fish swim, man thinks and learns. Therefore, we do not need to motivate children into learning by wheedling, bribing or bullying. We do not need to keep picking away at their minds to make sure they are learning. What we need to do, and all we need to do, is bring as much of the world as we can into the school and classroom (in our case, into their lives); give children as much help and guidance as they ask for; listen respectfully when they feel like talking; and then get out of the way. We can trust them to do the rest."
 - John Holt  "How Children Learn"  

"I never see the negation as negative in a value-judgment sense when I use the word--to me unschooling is as positive as unchaining, unbinding, unleashing, unfolding, unfurling, unlimiting....


"All mean freedom and growth and vast possibilities to me."
~Suzanne Carter


I don't even know if I answered why...Why not? Unschooling is awesome, kids are awesome, they are only with us a short time and sending them away is not something I'm willing to do.

Unconscious Mutterings

  1. Mustache :: Victor Newman
  2. Person :: noun
  3. Restore :: rebuild, fix
  4. Discretion :: secretly
  5. Lamp :: shade
  6. Pillow cover :: case
  7. Arousal :: stimulated
  8. Seattle :: Seahawks
  9. ATM :: card
  10. Custard :: ice cream
Luna Nina

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Zuko


Jared wants to be Zuko for Halloween and he drew this and made a list of what he needs.

Wednesday, September 08, 2010

minus one

So today I noticed that I had one less friend on facebook and one less follower on my blog.

Coincidence?
Probably not.
Wonder who I pissed off?

Hee hee :)

Sunday, September 05, 2010

Unconscious Mutterings

  1. Gangs ::  initiation
  2. Contact :: me
  3. Surprisingly :: funny
  4. Penciled :: in
  5. Ignore :: button
  6. Let’s go! :: Buffalo!
  7. Cornerstone :: building
  8. Influential :: I hope to be influential
  9. Holistic :: medicine
  10. Lovesick :: sad
Luna Nina

Wednesday, September 01, 2010

Jared's cartoon


This is so cool if you click on it and bring up a bigger picture you can see it better.

Cassie's Door

I guess her brothers were bothering her last night.

Ridiculous (to me) statements

These statements were made in a conversation about my homeschooled children with someone in the system, very in the system.

*The world is changing and they won't be prepared for the future*

*They need to go to highschool to get scholarships for college*

*They are missing out on experiences that their counterparts are experiencing*

*I would hate to see them living at home when they are 30*

Yes, I need to let it go but it is so absurd that I had to tell someone!

Just to be clear I did not mention Unschooling, this person thinks what they think about homeschooling.

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Tuesday

Why do mosquito bites itch?
Hawaiian Islands
Cyborgs
Robots
Pictionary
Clue
Wallaby
Butterflies
Kangaroos
Rabbits
Tongue Twisters
Legos
PS2
WOW
TV
Internet
Store
Drawing
Lots of questions and talking

That's off the top of my head,
I have a hard time remembering everything. I normally wouldn't care but  need to  learn how to keep track of stuff when I start registering.

So I think that I will try to keep tab on things we learn about.

Unconscious Mutterings

  1. Bangs :: head
  2. Diaper :: bag
  3. Coffee table :: haven't had one in 14 years
  4. Cops ::  a plea
  5. Matches :: fire
  6. 250 :: 300
  7. Hurricane :: Earl
  8. Bad :: attitude
  9. Confirmation :: number
  10. Fiber :: flaxseed
Luna Nina

I used to play this every week, it can be fun, try it  :)

Monday, August 30, 2010

Enjoy Life Unschooling giveaway

Enjoy Life Unschooling is having their first giveaway.

There will be five winners.

The winners will receive an organic cotton (natural color) tote with the Enjoy Life Unschooling logo in Terracotta.

Check out the link, these totes look cool.

Good Luck!

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Saturday, August 28, 2010

OY!

I can only be so hopeful for change and then talk to someone who would never change. Some people will never shift, they like their box, they like the school model and live by it accordingly.

It is frustrating for me as I am speaking of my own father. I can't figure out why he thinks my kids won't be prepared for the future, the world is changing and school is the best preparation?

What?

My kids have an advantage because they are free to learn as they wish. I think they will be more ready for the world because they live in it. They aren't holed up in some little box all day being carroted around.

I think I made a new word...hee hee, I was referring to the carrot and stick...

I don't usually get into these discussions with people I know are unwavering. It happended though because my dad and I have a very strained relationship, it's more so now that I spoke up.

The truth is I'm glad we are not nearby so he can't constantly critique my children. I know that seems harsh but it's how I feel.

I usually let things he says roll, but I have to speak up now and again to defend myself.

I am not a complete idiot and I'm pretty confident that my kids are fine and will continue to grow and learn at their pace.

Friday, August 27, 2010

Changing the system

My husband asked me how would I start to implement change in the school system because in reality you can't just close schools.

Unfortunately not everyone will homeschool...

I think that first I would lift the compulsary attendance law or at the very least raise the age. People shouldn't be forced to send their child away to an institution at a young age. Children should be with their parents for as long as they can.

I would do away with grades. When people are learning, they shouldn't be graded on their process. When you learn it for real, you know it, you retain it. Real learning is an individual process and is disrupted by schooling, teaching, grading and testing.

I would also do away with standardized tests or any tests for that matter for the reason stated above.

If school was more interesting and less rigid about pushing grades and tests more kids would learn and more would enjoy being there.

My ideal if you will... is schools being  run more like libraries or community learning centers.

They will be there for people who can't or won't homeschool.

Not compulsary, if it's so great people will choose to attend.

Facilitators who love what they know and want to share their knowledge could host *classes*

People of all ages could pick and choose what they wanted.

I disagree with age segregation. Age has nothing to do with knowledge. Everyone is individual and should be able to learn at their pace.

The whole system is outdated and obsolete as a way of learning.

If our tax dollars are going to be spent on *education* we should make it productive and useful and even enjoyable.

All the lawmakers are doing is throwing money at those with high test scores and doing nothing to improve the quality of life for these kids.

I don't expect to see much *change* in the near future. Many people write daily on the woes of public schooling but nothing is being done to change it.

I believe that too many are ingrained that school is the way and it's hard to get them to shift their paradigm's.

Sure it's nice to think of ways that the kids who have to be there could be nourished and not depleted but I don't know how to go about that.

Just putting some thoughts down, wish I could remember everything I said to my husband. He was playing devil's advocate and asking me lots of questions.

Keeps me on my toes :)

Friday, July 30, 2010

Picking Up the Pieces

It’s easy unschooling when everything’s going well, but what about when it’s not?

Last year my family went through a serious financial crisis, my husband lost his job and was out of work for 4 months.

We have never had a lot of money, always lived on one income, paycheck to paycheck but when there was no paycheck for months life was  completely different.

We have always unschooled and in my mind and life unschooling isn't about academics, it's about learning through living. Unschooling is a philosophy and it's a lifestyle, we live therefore we learn.

So I was very stressed out, high blood pressure, anxiety, hormones out of whack, just not well. I've been having health issues for awhile and the stress from that situation really made me much worse.

The kids really did well, I mean we all adjusted going without things we were used to having. Relying on help from friends and strangers. So many of my online friends helped us through, I will never forget the generosity, I hold it in my heart.

It was hard but we were honest with the kids about not having any money, we ran out of things and couldn't replace them. We did just eek by with the bare necessities. We only lost power once, briefly and lost internet for a week or two.

We stayed home mostly and just used the things we had in the house to play with. We met some wonderful *angels* who blessed us greatly at Christmas. Yes, we had Christmas with presents and food all given to us by kind, generous people.

We learned a lot about kindness and helping others. We also learned that some agencies that are supposed to help you in time of need was just a bunch of bureacratic bullshit.

I believe because we have always unschooled that the kids just kept doing what they do the best they could. We learned a lot of real life stuff in those months. We grew stronger and closer and had to work together even more than usual.

We had to move (foreclosure) so we just did what we had to do to pack and clean and move. We are in a much better place physically and mentally now. My husband got a job at the end of December and we are climbing our way out of the hole that unemployment caused.

We have also been able to help several people in the past few months and it feels so good to help someone who truly needs it.

So while things seemed to be going all wrong, we perservered and stuck together and got through it.

Unschooling for us truly is a way of life, we adjust and go with lifes turns and twists all the while learning so much each day.

Because I am that mom, I lost count on how many times Jared said *mom, look* so my train of thought is gone...

This post was inspired by the Enjoy Life Unschooling Carnival.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

I'm that mom

This post is inspired by Ronnie go to the link and see lots of entries in the comments :)

I've been trying to think about what makes me *that mom* I mean honestly I just do what I do for my kids because they are awesome people who deserve to be loved, respected and really listened to.

I honor their likes and dislikes, I cut the crust off the bread, I make them what they want to eat regardless if it's what I made for everyone else.

They play hockey in the living room and build forts and do experiments in the bathroom.

I'm that mom that inspires neighbor kids to want to spend all day at our  house and ask me to adopt them.

I'm that mom that let's her kids BE kids. Play in the mud, play in the rain, play in the hose, get dirty and explore. Guess what kids are washable :)

I'm that mom that reads the same book over and over, that answers countless questions each day, that comes when called to:

Mom, come here.
Mom, look.
Mom, what is this?

I'm that mom who does her best to find a way to say yes, even if it's not now but let's figure out how we could do that.

I'm that mom that will play a game with her child even if she really didn't want to because it makes the kid happy and in turn it makes me feel good.

Today I was that mom who let her 8 yr old play with a plastic produce bag in Whole Foods. He had a blast playing with that bag, it kept him occupied the whole time :)

I'm that mom who wants her kids to be happy and free and does her best to make that possible.

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Learning happens

We all know the phrase *shit happens* right?

Well *Learning happens*

It is natural, it is individual, it is real and it is part of being alive and kicking.

Learning happens!

No shit!

Some days it explodes!

Some times there is so much info being shared, discussed and researched in this house that I can't keep up.

Lots of great stuff was discovered tonight, Jason said is it after midnight yet?

Ha ha! Of course we learned lots of stuff on Learn Nothing Day because we know it's impossible not to learn.

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Annual Learn Nothing Day

Well it's that time again when unschoolers try not to learn anything.

We all know it's impossible but it's fun to try.

I'm sure I already failed and it's only 12:38 am :)

Enjoy your day.

Learning happens.

You can't stop it.

Just wish the mainstream folks picked up on that :)

Friday, July 23, 2010

When did this become the *Norm*

I think about things a lot and sometimes I actually verbalize them or write about it.

Soon after birth we(as a society) send our kids away for at least 12 years. If we do daycare and preschool then it's much longer than that.

Then in the high school years we push them about getting into college, then we send them away for another 2, 4, 6 or 8 years depending on how long they stay in college.

How does this promote families?

How is this a good thing?

 How is this considered the thing to do?

How can you have a real relationship with them?

Do you even know them?


I did not have kids to send them away. It never even crossed my mind to send them to school.

We planned on homeschooling before we had kids.

I left college to be a mother.

Being a mother is the best decision I have ever made.  We have 4 awesome people to share our lives with, why would I send them away for somone else to raise?

Why send them to government daycare ,aka prison, aka school?

I just can't understand how sending our kids away during their young years is a good thing.

Well it's not a good thing at all.

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Late night life

I have always been a late night person, I feel better at night. Over the years my kids have been staying up later and later.

Our kids have never had a set time that they had to go to bed. We have evolved into really late nighters more and more.

It has been so hot lately that they are staying up all night and sleeping late in the day. I think this will pass as time goes on and the seasons change. Isn't that life? Growing and changing with the times and seasons literally and figuratively.

Lately we have been going out at night around the neighborhood, last night we went out at 10:30pm. I walk and the kids all ride bikes. It's a way to get a little exercise and fresh air when it's a little more tolerable. Did I mention we have been in the high 90's with heat indexes in the low 100's, it was 104 last I checked. So the weather is having a bearing on our activities and times we do them.

We have lots of late night talks. We discuss all sorts of things. We sometimes play games or watch tv, a few might be on a computer, or drawing or playing.

They get pretty creative and play and make stuff up. The other night they were drawing, looking up how to draw ____ on the computer. They made all sorts of cool pictures that were left for me to see when I got up.


Pretty much what you do during the day we do at night. Learning happens all the time, life is 24/7 you should choose when you want to be awake and sleeping. The world is always awake, we have 24 hour stores and people who work the night shift. We do need people who are night time people to help the world run smoothly.

I remember a time several years ago ( like 8 or 9 years ago) that we used to prompt Kieran to start winding down or head to bed around 10pm. It wasn't a bedtime it was just a suggestion. Well Cassie was a toddler and she was up well until midnight running around. One night he asked why he had to go to bed while his little sister didn't.

Well Hello!      Lightbulb!

You don't HAVE to go to bed, you can go to bed when you want, I never thought of it, it was just a routine. What I think happened is he realized he wanted to stay up and so he did.

He would be asleep by midnight or earlier but because he wanted to. Actually Kieran still goes to bed before the younger kids, he is 15 now.

 It is important to listen to our internal clocks. Mine is all messed up after years of getting up for school even though I couldn't fall asleep until late at night.

I suffered migraines and insomnia because I had to conform to something that wasn't natural for me.

Right now Cassie is going through changes, she has herself on a really different  sleep/wake schedule. She has been staying up all night and sleeping all day. Then all this week she was getting up at like 7 am and going back to sleep around 10 or 11 am and then sleeping the whole afternoon. She has been really tired and requiring more sleep, I believe it is body changes, possibly the start of puberty?

What I do know is that she is tired and is requiring more sleep than usual so she is listening to her body and sleeping regardless of what time is on the clock.

My husband does have a day job and he goes to bed when he is tired and he gets up in the morning to go to work. He is a morning person but he also stays up later than most people who get up for work do.

Whenever daddy goes to bed that means it's time to quiet things down so he gets his sleep. Once in a while they will forget and get loud and wake him, but most of the time he sleeps undisturbed.

When they were babies they slept and woke on their own time, we never messed with that. So many people have kids and try to make them fit nicely into their lifestyle and schedule. Well I think that causes problems, babies know when they are tired and hungry or wet etc.....  We need to continue to trust and foster that as they grow.

Why do we have to live on an 8-5 work/school/day, bed by 9pm, up at 6am. I guarantee you that only a small percentage of the population actually thrive on that schedule.

School has set our young people up to live on their schedule regardless of what is natural. I know we as unschoolers do not live on any type of school schedule.

We live and learn naturally, we sleep when we are tired.

"I can't help noting that no cultures in the world that I have ever heard of make such a fuss about children's bedtimes, and no cultures have so many adults who find it so hard either to go to sleep or wake up. Could these social facts be connected? I strongly suspect they are."







~John Holt~ Teach Your Own

Saturday, June 26, 2010

This might get personal

I used to blog about all sorts of stuff...unschooling, public school, parenting, politics, hormones, whatever the hell floated my boat.

Then... my life took a turn...

I have been really... kind of... well... miserable.... My hormone imbalance has pretty much taken over my life. Then we had unemployment and lots of stress and we moved and all that is over now.

I am seeking answers for my physical/emotional issues.

I have been making dietary changes, off of wheat and gluten for two weeks now. I stopped using my estrogen cream because it turns out that I am way overdosed. My estrogen and progestertone are sky high and many other things were revealed in a saliva test that I did.

I have just been living in a fog, trying to just do what I can... dishes, laundry, take care of my kids.... That's about it, really, I'm struggling with lots of pent of emotions and physical discomfort. I'm visiting another doctor next week, searching for answers.

I am still here, still advocating unschooling! I just haven't been able to write much about it.

My kids have grown so much, I'm in awe, it is happening way too fast. I really just want to enjoy it, enjoy them... I want to get well and be healed so I can live instead of just survive.

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Bob the cat

This is Bob, he has adopted us. He started hanging around about 2 weeks ago. The kids started to play with him and give him milk or something to eat. He kept coming back everyday and now he is here most of the time.
 I was at Petsmart buying dog food and bought cat food and a dish for him.

I think he is here to stay until he finds a better gig.

I am allergic to cats and the kids have always wanted one. I used to say we could have one if it stayed outside, and he just happened to find us.

Unconscious Mutterings

  1. Executive :: order
  2. Director :: movies
  3. Dress :: up
  4. Studio :: recording
  5. Accountant :: number cruncher
  6. Unit :: of measurement
  7. Engaged :: interested
  8. Safety :: first
  9. Post :: after
  10. Dialogue :: conversation
Luna Nina

Saturday, June 05, 2010

Hey Media! Leave unschoolers alone!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_bvT-DGcWw


If I was a talented song writer I would make an awesome parody.

I've come up with a few lines but Hey media leave us unschoolers alone is sufficient for me at the moment.

Friday, June 04, 2010

Unschooling and the mainstream media

Here is the latest mainstream blip on Nightline trying to discredit unschooling. Here is Dayna's explanation of what happened.

Personally I do not want unschooling advertised via maintream media to the general public. I truly believe that they can't handle it because it is so different than the box they are in.

The general public has a hard time accepting homeschooling as a viable educational option. Many believe that we need strict laws and government oversight. I do not understand this thinking, I went to school just as they did and I do not want to subject my children to that.

Unschooling brings in all sorts of misconceptions. If children are free to eat, sleep, wake and do what they want how will they ever learn to live in the REAL world.

I don't know about you but school is about as artificial as you can get. There is no real world in school. Being locked up in a cell with 30 kids your own age being forcefed useless facts and moving to a bell. How is that the REAL world?

We live and learn in the REAL world. Our kids learn about real life as they live it.

Our kids learn to listen to their bodies to know when they are hungry, tired or have to go to the bathroom.

They learn about current events as they are happening in the REAL world.

They follow their interests and learn according to their own personal time frame and ability.

They read when they are ready by living in a world full of words.

They write, they do real life math, they learn about history and geography by living and questioning.

Kids are curious...So many questions, all day, everyday. Google is our friend.

Kids do not need to be taught, they don't need lesson plans and curriculum and scopes and tests and comparisons.

They need freedom to grow and learn and be and do and question and answer and explore and just LIVE!

They need parents who are willing to allow them the freedom to grow and learn and be facilators and guides and mentors and partners.

I say question everything, do not take my word at face value.
My kids are thinkers and questioners.

They live and learn in the REAL world without school.

School doesn't exist in our lives but REAL learning does.

We just want to be left alone to live and learn and enjoy our freedoms without anyone taking them away.

Tuesday, June 01, 2010

Mocking Birds

Baby birds squeaking for food, May 22nd.

Here they are May 29th.

May 31st and then they flew.

Mama Bird watching us watch them.
We had another nest in our yard, it was right outside our bedroom window.

There were 3 little baby birds. They squeaked every hour on the hour for mama to feed them. She must have been exhausted. I know I was cause they kept waking me up.

It has been really neat to experience the life cycle right outside our window.

Sunday, May 30, 2010

Happy Birthday Brennan

Brenny turned 12 yesterday! I remember his birth vividly...
He is now as tall as me, looking me in the eye...

He was my easiest birth, anyone who knows me knows that birthing is not easy. So out of 4 his was the best because he actually wanted to come out :)

All my kids are unique as I know everyone's are, their births are just the beginning. Actually pregnancy is the beginning, they have unique personalities in the womb.

I love you buddy, you are awesome!

Saturday, May 29, 2010

School? No way...

Everyday I see more news about how schools are banning this and forcing that. The latest was about the little plastic bracelets that kids wear. They are distracting them from learning.
Pay attention!

Schools are constantly taking away anything that promotes individuality, creativity or just plain free time play.

So many have cut recess to just a few minutes, no talking at lunch, no talking in the bathroom...

I don't know about you but I sure can't sit there and pay attention to dribble that I have no interest in...

They wonder how homeschool kids will socialize? Remember being told repeatedly that we weren't there to socialize?

It's ironic... really... and sad, oh so sad.

Kids are holed up in prison and expected to perform, pay  attention and regurgitate on command. With no regards to individual learning style or personality,

We must all conform, we must all be vanilla...

I really do not hold high hopes for reform. I truly believe the whole system is corrupt and the only way to fix it is to break it down and  rebuild it.

Get rid of all the boards, I'm so sick of people thinking they know what your child NEEDS to know!

Get over yourself you do not know  what my kid needs or any other kid for that matter!

I'll tell you what kids need...

Love, security, freedom to learn, grow, play and choose...  Opportunity, choice, freedom...

They do not need curriculum or scopes and sequences to be compared to other kids.

Kids are people, they are individuals and should be respected and treated as such!

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Baby bird

Here he is today, we found the eggs on April 1st. He will be ready to fly away soon. This is so cool, we have never witnessed the hatching to the flying. The kids check on him everyday.

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Unschooling

There has been a huge influx of media attention lately, unfortunately it's mostly negative. It paints unschoolers as neglectful parents whose kids will grow up to be failures.

I don't have all of the links and I don't really care to link them. Anyone who is on the internet lately has seen them for sure.

I don't want unschooling in the mainstream media. The masses are dumbed down, in the box and  indoctrinated. They can't even fathom that there are choices to be made. They see public school as the end all and be all to life. You can't possibly amount to anything if you aren't forced to be in prison for 12 years. You must be told what to do and what to think. We can't have free thinking people pursuing their own interests running amok.

We usually talk about what unschoolers don't do. We live as if school didn't exist. No grades, no tests, no curriculum, no forced lessons, no school period. We also don't follow arbitrary rules and limits imposed on us just for obedience.

We live and learn period! We do not need school, school is an artificial place that is never replicated in real life. Why people are so gung ho to say that school prepares you for life is beyond me.

We are living in the real world now, children are people now. They deserve to be treated as such. They deserve freedom to learn and grow and change and be who they are now, not what we think they should be in the future.

My friend Frank said *Unschoolers Do what they want*

Simple, yet true.

We learn about the world by living in it. We follow our interests wherever they may lead. We are happy, whole people just living our lives as if school didn't exist.

If that threatens you then you need to examine that and not put a negative spin on how we live because you don't have a clue.

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Nature in our yard

This nest is in a bush in our front yard.




Here one egg hatched.This is one week later.
It's amazing how fast they grow. The mama leaves and comes back, she watches us from the roof. We pose no threat to her and her babies. We are waiting for the other eggs to hatch.

Monday, April 19, 2010

No school?

I've often thought of what it would be like if there were no school. What would people do with their kids? Would they actually make different choices? Better choices? Be more responsible?

Makes me wonder...

Society has been ingrained with the indoctrination of the public school system. The main point of the system is to control the masses. We can't have free thinking people out and about all day deciding what to to with their time.

The system is government daycare at best. People can't wait to unload their kid so they don't have to be responsible for them.

If this sounds harsh, tough, it's how I feel, what I think from years of observing parents.

Yes, there are some great involved parents who still send their kids to school. Why? I have no idea.

Having to work is no excuse. There are many single parent homeschoolers and many dual working parents. Be creative, find a way to work so your kids don't have to be put in school.

I actually don't think teaching should be a profession. Look at what it is today. Teachers have to follow the school boards orders. Now they are pushing more and more  testing and teachers being compensated by student test scores.

That is absolutely ridiculous!

Tests are meaningless, degrading and harmful. They have no measure of true knowledge, some people are great test takers and can bullshit through even though they don't know the answers.

The system is seriously flawed and politicians think more money and more standards are the answer.
Well it isn't the answer. It doesn't work! The system is broken and has been for as long as I can remember, it's just getting worse.

More and more people are homeschooling these days but so many never will.

Schools as we know them should be banned. They should be some sort of cooperative learning center where people can choose what they want to learn, how and when. Of course this would mean being responsible and trusting people. There needs to be some sort of option for those that would never homeschool.

This will not happen anytime soon because people are used to being controlled, coerced, punished and rewarded.

I believe that too many people just don't think about the fact that the school system owns their kids. Kids deserve to grow and learn and be free to choose and be respected as people.

Kids do not belong in school wasting away their precious youth and being forcefed useless facts to regurgitate on demand.

Learning is natural and not something that needs to be forced. We don't need to be taught how to read and write, we can and do learn without instruction.

In this age of the internet, information is a click away, we can find out anything we want, we can learn about anything we want. School is an outdated institution.

Schooling takes away the natural ability, it makes learning a chore and something that has to be taught by a master.

School is damaging our youth, look around you.

I wish people would wake up!

I wish parents were responsible and respectful.

Monday, March 29, 2010

George Carlin Proud Parent Bumper Stickers

More John Holt

"We destroy the love of learning in children, which is so strong when they are small, by encouraging and compelling them to work for petty and contemptible rewards, gold stars, or papers marked 100 and tacked to the wall, or A's on report cards, or honor rolls, or dean's lists, or Phi Beta Kappa keys, in short, for the ignoble satisfaction of feeling that they are better than someone else."

Satire or not The Onion nailed it!

http://www.theonion.com/articles/increasing-number-of-parents-opting-to-have-childr,17159/

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Law and Order CI

I just watched an old episode from 2004, I think...

Controlling dad, post partum depressed mom with 4 kids under 7....

Oh my God! It was awesome and awful!

All she wanted was to be a good mother. He controlled her, he made schedules, he encouraged HOMEschooling!

He discouraged therapy and treatment for PPD.

So she decides to kill herself and take her kids with her. Except she and her oldest survive and the 3 little ones die.

I know this is fiction but how many times do we hear of PPD or murder suicide or homeschooling wackos????

This episode just tugged at me....

The controlling man.... I don't go for those... I want to smack them upside the head.

He manipulated his wife, he made her think she wasn't good enough, she couldn't live up to his schedule of expectations, she was clinically depressed.

I had 4 kids in 7 years, I know what it's like. I had some PPD after the third, not realizing it at the time...

Of course I don't have an asshole for a husband!

Unconscious Mutterings

  1. Burrito :: Mexican, beef
  2. Spike :: Lee, heels
  3. Tougher :: I'm tougher than you think
  4. Mock :: Don't mock me
  5. Slurp :: Slurpee
  6. Knock :: knock, who's there?
  7. Conference :: Unschooling conference, I would love to attend someday
  8. Madness :: I love the madness
  9. Minds :: powerful minds, criminal minds
  10. Connection :: Everything is a connection,
Luna Nina

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Jared's airplanes

Jared made several paper airplanes and here are some of them. He has the Russian military and the US Military. He looked up the words in Russian and wrote it on the side of the plane.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

No title?

I get myself into discussions and feel misunderstood. For me, it would be easier if we were sitting next to each other having a conversation. I have gotten better at written communication but I am not a prolific writer and I tend to really try to get to the point and lose a lot between head and fingers.

This whole unschooling thing, trying to discuss it, what it is, what it isn't...

I have my own opinions and you can disagree with me all you want.

If there were no school, there would be no unschooling. It would just be living :)

I abhor the system, and if people want to hold on and cling to it and try to be unschoolers and still use the system, who am I to tell them not to?

The truth is I am a rare breed and I want absolutely nothing to do with the system period.

It irritates the hell out of me that the government thinks they have rights to my children and what and how my children learn.

We live and learn as if school didn't exist. It's so simple to me yet apparantly so complex to many.

I would do away with the system, it proves useless, damaging and completely dysfunctional.

The focus on money, tests, grades and standards is wrong.
What about the children?

They are people, they deserve to be trusted and respected, they deserve to have free reign over their own minds and bodies.

The fact that you have to ask permission to pee is appalling.

Control the masses, that is the purpose of school, it has nothing to do with education or real learning.

I  know that the school system generates over 50% of the GNP I can't recall the actual number. It would totally screw up society as we know it if school just stopped.

Think about what happens when a traffic light goes out. The sheeples don't know what to do, confusion and accidents ensue because people are so used to be told what to do and when to do it. When left to actually think for themselves and problem solve they are clueless.

Yes there are exceptions to this, I'm one of them and I know several who are. The sad truth is that the masses are dumb and can't think for themselves.

Why continue to support a  system that is truly detrimental to our society?

Don't know, I want no part of it.

If more people actually stood up or withdrew from the system it would fall.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Unschooling

There seems to be a *thing* about what unschooling is, who is an unschooler, what's the difference between unschooling and radical unschooling?

I have written many times about my take on this.

It seems that the people who get their panties in a wad about some of us trying to *define* unschooling are the ones who aren't really unschooling.

I really don't care what you do. My concern comes in when people say thay are unschoolers BUT...

Either you are or you aren't. It's really simple for me, black and white. I know it's not that simple for all.

Why do people want to join the unschooling movement and still hold on to schoolish ways? I don't know the answer to that. They are the ones who muddy the waters, they are ones who confuse newbies, they are the ones who say I'm an unschooler not an unparent.

Hello!!!!
We parent in partnership not as authoritarian adversaries.
We are parents, we are unschoolers. Unparenting is neglect, plain and simple.
So many things are just plain to me.

I have completely DEschooled, I have no more school hang ups. If you don't deschool you will never unschool.

If you hold on to  anything from the school model you won't unschool.
You need to step away, exam, shift your paradigm. Be a bold, non -conformist, just let go.


You need to deschool and leave your kids alone. Do not impose your hang ups on them!

Kids learn naturally until they are forced otherwise.

Get over yourself and let your kids live and learn in freedom.

Learning is as natural as breathing and my 4 always UNschooled kids are proof of that.

So unschooling means something, it's not do whatever and call it unschooling.

John Holt first coined the term and he meant no school. Unschooling means no schooling whatsover and so much more.

Educate yourself!

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Jared's city


I tried to get it in one picture but it didn't look right.

Unconscious Mutterings

  1. Suitcase :: pack for a trip
  2. Exhaust :: tail pipe
  3. Olympics :: sports
  4. Video :: game
  5. Cargo :: ship
  6. Previously :: before
  7. Wild card :: jack
  8. Artificial :: school is artificial, unschooling is natural
  9. Gambling :: betting
  10. Exhibition :: game
Luna Nina

Saturday, February 13, 2010

John Holt quote

Education... now seems to me perhaps the most authoritarian and dangerous of all the social inventions of mankind. It is the deepest foundation of the modern slave state, in which most people feel themselves to be nothing but producers, consumers, spectators, and 'fans,' driven more and more, in all parts of their lives, by greed, envy, and fear. My concern is not to improve 'education' but to do away with it, to end the ugly and antihuman business of people-shaping and to allow and help people to shape themselves.

Peri-Menopause support

I started a group on facebook and it's up to 52 members.

Please join us if you are experiencing the hormonal issues of peri menopause.

Peri- menopause support

If we aren't  facebook friends, look me up, follow the widget in the sidebar I just added.

bombing

Well I'm bombing out on the NaBloPoMo this month.

My life is...well it's my life. My hormone imbalance and anxiety are keeping me in a weird state most of the time.
I guess I lost some of my edge when it comes to writing down my thoughts and opinions.

We recently moved and there is still so much to do to get settled in. I know there is no hurry, we don't plan on moving again for a long time. We really like this house :)

I have just been in contact with another doctor and I think this one can really help me.

We are going to start with adrenal testing and then do the complete hormonal panel, this time it's saliva testing which is far more accurate than blood tests.

Even though I'm on Bio-identical estrogen, I still have way too many symptoms, thing is I'm worse when I'm off the cream.

Anyway, I'll let you know how this goes and will post some info on it as I learn. I know many of my blog friends are coming into peri menopause too.

I want to be free from these symptoms, I want my mind and body to work together because right now all they do is argue all day.

Tuesday, February 09, 2010

My day

First it started with some anxiety really early, like an ungodly hour. I wake up way earlier than I ever used to having issues. Anyway I took some xanax and fell to sleep for a couple hours.

I had errands to run, things to do, places to go. I was all dressed up and went to start the car and it was deader than a doornail.

So that put a wrench in my plans.

After Jason got home he jumped it, turns out there was a light left on and it killed the battery.

I took the van and  two kids and went to JcPenney's, which is near where we used to live.

It's no big deal except that it started to snow.

While we were shopping it snowed a lot. The ground was covered, it was thick and slushy.

I don't like snow and really don't care to drive in it. I figured after leaving PA that I wouldn't ever have to drive in it.
Who knew?

So I saw someone in the ditch on my way home.

Once I got to the freeway it was just really wet, kind of slushy but enough traffic that it wasn't snow covered.

Still, I was a little nervous, drove between 40 and 50 mph, which is what the flow was.

I thought that since my plans were derailed that I wasn't supposed to go out then. I have learned that these things happen for reasons I do not know.

But then to be thrust into a situation that I am uncomfortable with makes me wonder as well.

I said ok God, get me home safe!

All is well :)

To make things even more odd, the snow turned to rain, the temps went up, it is raining and snow is on the ground.
Go figure!

Monday, February 08, 2010

Unconscious Mutterings

  1. Humbled :: taken down a notch
  2. Buns :: I love buns :)
  3. Snowstorm :: sucks, I don't like snow
  4. Sweetheart :: Jason is my sweetheart
  5. Punch :: in the nose
  6. Glass :: half empty or half full?
  7. Classical :: music isn't my thing
  8. Heels :: head over heels in love
  9. Twitter :: still trying to get the hang of twitter
  10. Husband :: My husband rocks!
Luna Nina

Sunday, February 07, 2010

Kids are fun

My kids just crack me up!

Kieran recently joined facebook and we sit next to each other and leave comments on each others status.

Last night we were talking about their births and weird stuff during my pregnancies.

We were all laughing so hard. One thing leads to the next and we were almost rolling on the floor.

They are bright and witty and have an awesome sense of humor.

I love my kids, I love BEing with my kids.

My kids rock!

Saturday, February 06, 2010

Damn! Can't tie me to a schedule.

Well, I was busy today and Flo showed up so I've been drinking wine and heating up my heating pad and catching up on the DVR.

I missed it by and hour!

I tried, I'll keep trying.


I signed up for NaBloPoMo to get me back into blogging, so in that respect it worked.

I just won't win any awards for it. I'm cool with that I don't need an award.


I don't do schedules very well.

My routine is loose and varied.

Ah the life of a free unschooler :)

Thursday, February 04, 2010

Tying Shoes

Remember when learning how to tie your shoes was a huge milestone that had to be pushed by a young age?

I could tie my shoes when I was 3, big deal!

I remember when velcro became popular so little kids could just put their shoes on with ease.

I think they used to teach shoe tying in Kindergarten.

Cassie used to tie up everything in the house with ropes, strings, Jason's ties, whatever she could find long before she ever tied her own shoes. It was really funny, then one day she tied her shoes.

Jared is 7 and doesn't tie his shoes yet, it's really no big deal, he'll learn when he is ready just like everything else.

Wednesday, February 03, 2010

A mother's ties to her children

I am with my kids all day everyday and it's been that way since they were born. Now they are growing and spreading their wings a bit.

Last night Brennan stayed the night at his friend's house and Jason is on his way to pick him up.  It's the neighbor from our old house, it's 12 miles away when it used to be two doors down.

Cassie is spending the night with her friend tonight and will be home tomorrow evening.

This afternoon it has been quiet with just Jared and Kieran here.

I'm glad that they have a friend that they are comfortable with to spend the night.

It's just so weird having them gone.

I'm ok, I miss them but I know it's important for them to do this.

I'm just realizing how grown up there are getting. It was just a few months ago that Cassie wasn't ready to stay away all night. She had tried but called us around 10 pm to come get her and now she goes without a hitch.

I'm just very connected to my kids and miss them when they are away.

Tuesday, February 02, 2010

Ties that Bind, Alterbridge



"Ties That Bind"




I tear on the leash

That keeps me contained and controlled

Let me go

I want to break free

And fight my way out of this hole



[Chorus]

One last hope

To rise and break away

Above the faded line

Way beyond the ties that bind



This I know

The risk is worth the gain

It's worth the sacrifice

Way beyond the ties that bind



I run but the chains

Pull me right back to the floor

You control

I rattle the cage

I won't be your slave anymore



[Chorus]



You broke me into pieces

Don't tell me what to be

Damn you all I'm gonna find my way