Unschooling friends

We have been blessed with real live unschooling friends. We are getting to know each other, spending hours at each others houses, hours that go by like minutes. The kids are having so much fun playing together.

Even after we go home the kids are talking on the phone for hours, playing computer games together.

It is just so cool to sit down and talk to someone about all sorts of topics and get to know each other. The really neat thing is that the way we parent is in the same line of thinking as well.
I really believe that in order to unschool successfully we do parent differently, more in tune with each child, more respectfully and mindfully than mainstream top down rule oriented thinking.

I'm trying to be vague with descriptions and names but I am just so thrilled to actually know people who get us and don't think we are from another planet :)

Tonight Cassie was on the computer and on the phone with her friend pretty late, I was in the tub but it was between 1-1:30 am. How cool is that? The really cool thing was that the mom was playing on the computer too with the kids. She is cool!

My point is we are having a blast with our new friends and we are loving the freedoms that unschooling entails.

Kid intuition

Cassie came to me last night while I was in the tub and asked me if I ever saw stuff when I closed my eyes. I asked her what she meant, like a dream or a picture or a scene? She said she closed her eyes and saw herself running out of her room crying because Caramel (our guinea pig) died.

I told her to go pet Caramel, she hasn't been acting right for a couple weeks now and she didn't eat last night.

Well Caramel died in her sleep and so everyone is a little sad right now. We got her in December and we didn't know how old she was. I believe she was just old and it was her time to go, Jason is going to bury her in a bit.

Cassie knew that she was going to die, she sensed it.

Accepted Quote

You know what? You're a criminal. 'Cause you rob these kids of their creativity and their passion. That's the real crime! Well, what about you parents? Did -did the system really work out for you? Did it teach you to follow your heart, or to just play it safe, roll over? What about you guys? Did you always want to be school administrators? Dr. Alexander, was that your dream? Or maybe no, maybe you wanted to be a poet. Maybe you wanted to be a magician or an artist. Maybe you just wanted to travel the world. Look, I - I - I - I lied to you. I lied to all of you, and I'm sorry. Dad, especially to you. But out of that desperation, something happened that was so amazing. Life was full of possibilities. A - and isn't that what you ultimately want for us? As parents, I mean, is - is that, is possibilities. Well, we came here today to ask for your approval, and something just occurred to me. I don't give a shit. Who cares about your approval? We don't need your approval to tell us that what we did was real. 'Cause there are so few truths in this world, that when you see one, you just know it. And I know that it is a truth that real learning took place at South Harmon. Whether you like it or not, it did. 'Cause you don't need teachers or classrooms or - or fancy highbrow traditions or money to really learn. You just need people with a desire to better themselves, and we got that by the shit at South Harmon. So you can go ahead, sign your forms, reject us and shoot us down, and do whatever you gotta do. It doesn't really matter at this point. Because we'll never stop learning, and we'll never stop growing, and we'll never forget the ideals what were instilled in us at our place. 'Cause we are SHIT heads now, and we'll be SHIT heads forever and nothing you say can do or stamp can take that away from us! So go!

I loved the premise of this movie and this quote by Bartleby Gaines at the end was one of the best.

Learning happens

In an environment conducive to learning while living, learning happens as a natural progression, you can't stop it.

Here's the latest example from last night. Cassie and I were playing tic-tac-toe in her room and Jared came in and started playing with his doodleboard. He asked me what 100 and 4 make so I told him 104, he proceeded to write 100+4=104 on his board, he then kept asking me questions and writing things down and many he figured out on his own.

He has exploded lately with reading, writing, spelling and now math, major learning spurt happening here. I looked at Cassie and I said *See, I don't ever want you to believe that you have to go to school to learn anything* You know schooled friends can fill her head with stuff...

She just smiled so big and said *Hurry give me a book he reads better than me*

Safe Haven

It seems that wherever we have lived our house is a safe place for kids and pets alike.

In CA we used to joke that there was a sign out front that only lost animals could see. We took in so many strays I lost count, we always found them a new home. We have some wild tales about some who stayed awhile, just for one we had a coonhound pup stay for a few months. We had 4 beagles and really didn't need any more pets. Our males were fixed but our females were not, we didn't even pay attention to when they went into heat. So.... we found a home for the coonhound but he left behind a legacy, he got both of our dogs pregnant. The puppies were cute though, our one dog had problems and almost died during delivery. We found good homes for all the pups.

Anyway then in PA, we were a safe place for the neighbor boy who had a miserable home life. He was at our house a lot and I would watch him afterschool and stuff. His parents have since divorced and they are doing much better emotionally.

Now here the kids 2 doors down have spent many hours at my house. A few times last year they got home from school and nobody was home and came to my house. It has happenend twice in the past week, last week and today. Both parents work and one has to leave work and come get the kids to take them to grandma's and go back to work. I just can't imagine my 8 and 5 year olds getting off the bus to no parents... Actually I can't imagine mine ever getting on the bus but that's another story.

When I was a kid that happened a lot to me or my mom would arrange for me to be dropped off at someone else's house until she got off work. That was actually when my parents were still married. I grew up with a single mom who had to work 2 jobs. I just think that so many 2 parent workers could do it differently if they really wanted to or knew how. There are so many advantages to being home with your kids and after all is said and done the second income doesn't amount to much.

I guess we have always been the *go to* place wherever we are, it is something sensed by kids and animals, they know we are a safe haven.

Cassie question

Mom, what is it with all these parents not letting their kids out to play?

UMMMMMMMMM........

I don't know... maybe because they go to school all day and then have chores and homework and no time for play because they have to go to bed at 8:00pm so they can get up and do it all over again.

Cassie says I have one homeschooled friend, when will I see her again?

I'm working on that :)

African Elephant

My friend in the U.K. recently went to Kenya and she saw the elephants up close. She sent this picture to me and I love it, look at that gorgeous creature.

Gamers

New friends bonding over Runescape. The boys had a great time together today while the girls were off to a girl scout meeting. Lots of gaming going on, they are always playing Runescape but now Cassie and Brenny started Club Penguin too. With only 2 computers and 6 people it's getting a little tricky. Jared didn't even get on today to listen to his music.

Therapeutic

That word doesn't look right but I don't feel like looking it up and spelling is my strong suit, LOL!

A really hot bath and wine is such a huge help for me to relax. I don't really relax otherwise, you know me I'm the type A, compulsive, control freak with ADD who can't sit still to a name a few :)

There is a key to this though I must take care of everyone's needs first or else it will not be relaxing. In a house full of kids there are always interuptions, actually Jared was named *the interrupter* but then they all were. Babies have a sixth sense if someone is near their nummies, LOL! I wasn't intending to post about that!

I don't usually get into the tub until 2am because you know those crazy unschoolers keep odd hours...

My other therapy session is vacuuming, I love to vacuum, no really... but I have to turn it off every two seconds because someone HAS to tell me something. You can think I'm weird because I am but my friend likes to mow the lawn, now that is weird!

New friends

We met new friends today, we had a great time visiting and eating. Today I met R(I didn't ask her if I could use her name) and her kids K and L. Our kids all hit it off, I asked Cassie what she thought after they left and she smiled from ear to ear and Brennan was telling me all the things that he and L had in common.

Our other friends came for dinner too and we all hit it off. It was a great day, good food and great company.

I can't believe how fast 6 hours went by, nobody wanted it to end.

R knew just how to charm me, she brought me a bottle of wine :)

I know we will be seeing a lot of each other, as soon as they got home the kids were talking on the phone. It is so awesome how we found each other, God is good!

We had fair trade organic coffee too, just for Valerie who doesn't have time to read my blog but was appalled that I only had one post about coffee, LOL!

I could say a lot but I'm getting tired...

Like father like son

Here is JW1 and JW2.

It is rare for Jared to be sleeping but they both fell asleep on the couches tonight.

Being 12

I've been thinking a lot lately since Kieran turned 12 how different our lives are.

When I was 12 my parents were divorced, we moved to Arizona, my mom worked 2 jobs to support us.
I took care of my brother and sister, I ran the house, I cooked, cleaned, got the kids bathed, to bed, to school etc. I was a surrogate mother at the age of 12.
I was responsible enough to do this, my mom hired a babysitter but I ran her off. I was doing everything anyway, I told my mom why waste the money when we need it to take care of us.

Of course the downside to this is that I rebelled hard later on because I felt cheated out of childhood. As I look back though maybe it was part of preparation for my role as a mother now.

There were several years where I did not want kids, I wanted a career and growing up the way I did I know first hand you can't have both at the same time because one will suffer, it's usually the kids.
I am very strong in my values that mothers should raise their own kids but that's not what this is about.

I look at my 12 year old son who is growing up so fast, he is intelligent and responsible but at the same time he is still a kid. I want him to be a kid as long as he can because the responsibilities of adulthood aren't too far off.

No place like home

These thoughts are spawned from http://jewlsntexas.blogspot.com/2007/08/when-it-comes-to-school-theres-no-place.html

You already know I fly my freak flag the non-conformist radical unschooler that I am.

I have to admit that I do not agree with a parents decision to send their kids to school with out any choice on the part of the child. I know there are those kids that are neglected or abused at home and school is a safe place for them, I'm not addressing that here. If more people questioned and examined the system instead of complained while their kids were there things would be better. I know more and more people pull their kids out of school every day it's an awesome phenomenon.

I remember back in PA listening to all those moms talk at the baseball games, just complaining away about this teacher, that subject, this homework etc... I didn't say anything at the time, I did speak up when I was asked though. It was made well aware that we homeschool everytime some school related thing came up. People used to say well I just can't do that, I could never do THAT!!! I'm like do what? spend time with your kids????

I think to myself I could never do what you do, I could never send my kids away every day to be raised by the government, no sirree bob!!! They can't have my kids, they can't conform and brainwash my offspring, no way no how.

So how long have you been public schooling? Are you interested in alternatives? Do you really like what school does to your family life? Do you like living by their schedule? Do you like being away from your kids all day? Then by all means send them away but don't complain about it!!!!!

I believe that if all of these kids had a choice only a minority would actually CHOOSE to spend 12 years in kiddie prison. Why do you think it's COMPULSARY, because otherwise no one would go!!!!

My acrobat

There you go, he puts on his supersuit and does stunts. Brennan took these and his timing is awesome.

Path to reading

One thing that people question about unschooling is reading, I suppose math is the other biggie. This post will focus mostly on learning to read as a natural part of living.

The latest feat is Jared, he has been sight reading many words for awhile now, mostly from video games, computer, and store logos.

He is always asking me how to spell something and what does this word say and he makes up his own words too. He does very well with sounds and also sight so he has learned from both.

He gets on the computer and types in words to hear the music he wants, we have iTunes so he plays that a lot. He just loves music and Weird Al and from that he wants to see the videos then he wants to hear the real songs.

Yesterday he called me over to tell me someting, he pointed to a sentence and read it to me. I said that is cool Jare you are reading. He then proceeded to get mad and tell me he isn't. Those of you who have an intense child know what I mean.

The natural progression is awesome, watching the learning process unfold before my eyes. Learning is natural, reading is natural, learning how to read by living with words is a natural extension.

Brennan turned 9 in May, he would be considered a late reader by society but he is starting to read in his time. He is finally getting it and putting it together. A big help for him is playing Runescape, he is reading more each day and typing and spelling and learning. He reads a lot of words and learns more each day, just like Jared is and Cassie too.

Cass has lots of sight word recognition, she knows how to spell many words and she also sounds them out. All of my kids read at various ages and stages, all from living, all from unschooling, no lessons, no tests, no curriculum. Real life learning!!

I didn't mention Kieran but he has been reading since 5 and reads any word that comes before him.

Confession

This was brought on by Julie, http://jewlsntexas.blogspot.com/2007/08/guilty-pleasure.html
I wouldn't really call it a guilty pleasure cause I don't feel guilty, LOL!

Confession: I watch The Young and the Restless, I have since I was 12. I taped it through school years and watched it later.

There were a few years in the early 90's where I didn't see it. We joined Amway and it was all about garbage in garbage out, no TV , Show the Plan! So we did not watch TV for 2 years, we rented an occasional movie but that was it, especially no News.

We started back slowly into TV when Kieran was a toddler, he watched PBS we only got a few channels so started to buy videos, you know Blues Clues and Thomas :)

I have since been taping my show, I love it, it's my escape so to speak. It's kind of funny, Jason hates soaps, he doesn't forbid me to watch, LOL! He has voiced his opinion and respects my decision to watch.

I love that it is made up, I know all to well about real people and real situations. There were many times, situations, people, things that happened in PA, that I wish were made up. I mean some examples from Jay's work, I would tell him and you think my soap is bad. HA!!! To protect privacy I can't say things but my gosh the things people do.

So that is my confession I love Y&R and I hate to miss it :)

What kind of flower are you?

I am a Canna What Flower Are You?

"You stand up for what you believe in,even if it gets in the way of what other people think. You are proud of yourself and accomplishments and you enjoy letting people know that."

Unschooling Inspiration - Live Free Learn Free Magazine

Unschooling Inspiration - Live Free Learn Free Magazine

Summer colds

What an oxymoron, it all started with Tina http://www.caffeinefreedom.blogspot.com
Her family had colds a few weeks ago, I thought it was odd.

It's been over 100 degrees all month you would think that viruses would be dead.

So earlier this week Cassie has a sore throat and stuffy nose, then Kieran, then Brennan, now me and Jared too. I have a sore throat!!!!

Kieran also has three internet friends with it too. This gives new meaning to *computer virus*

No sleep last night because Jared was wimpering because he didn't feel good, then the dogs barked all morning.

Some days I think I would be better off just staying up, sleep is overrated, of course I don't get any.

Ticks...again

I know I wrote about this before but now it's just ridiculous. First of all it's been over 100 all month, reminds me of Sacramento. My dogs are just miserable with fleas and ticks, of course my labs are allergic to fleas. I don't use chemicals and we are working on treating them holistically. Jason gave them baths tonight and while he was standing outside had ticks crawling up his socks, brennan was out there for a few minutes and had 2 crawling on him. Cassie had one on her last night and tonight I saw one on Jared's arm.

Come on!!!! This is getting crazy and these are tiny suckers now I haven't seen the big ones since spring. You all know I'm just freaking out!!! Do not come near me you hear, LOL!!!
Crazy south, hey no tornadoes this year :)

Coffee

I love coffee :)

I didn't drink coffee for a whole year, last July until this July. I started seeing a homeopath and went on a remedy for my chronic issues. Some homeopaths believe that coffee antidotes and some don't. Anyway I was advised to not drink coffee, I could drink tea, I didn't have to give up caffeine.

Anyway last month I was having issues and she told me to stop the remedy and come in for an office visit. So I said to myself, damn I'm making coffee!!!

I drank it for that week and I had my visit and it was time for a new remedy, we are working on the layers of cure due to years of chronic crap.

I was ready to stop drinking it but man it is so good I haven't stopped, guess what??? It doesn't antidote me, some people it does but not me, yippeee!!!!

Tonight we were at Wild Oats getting some groceries and I had a cafe mocha, oh yummy, my favorite!!!

So I'm just here to say that I went without but life is much better with it :)

I only drink fair trade organic coffee, no I'm not snooty, LOL! Organic is better because they don't use pesticides, it tastes better and I support the farmers but non-organic causes me um intestinal distress... TMI :)

First sleepover

Brennan is staying the night at his friends house 2 doors down, it is his birthday and he asked for a sleepover.

I admit that I have mixed feelings about the whole sleepover thing but you all know I am open for discussion :)

When his mom called to ask I actually told her that I wasn't sure if Brenny was ready for that. Honestly I wasn't, he is my child who never left my side at all of those homeschool group meetings. He is the observer and is very introspective. I told him what I had said and he looked sad but wouldn't talk, pretty typical. So I told him if he really wanted to try this that I would let him and that if he changed his mind all he had to do was call and he could come home. Well it's 1:33am and he hasn't called, although he is usually awake until 2:00 and they probably will try to stay up all night.

Wow it's hard to cut that cord...snip by snip they keep growing up on me.

Unschooling Voice

Are you a voice for unschooling? I try to be every day to anybody who will listen.

I have some influence on real life friends and I hope some on my cyber friends. Sometimes I think that NOBODY is listening but then I get a little email or a few words that tell me otherwise. Keep those coming I haven't gotten one in awhile.

I try so hard to help people understand the effects of public school but also of school at home. Some people want us all to rally together as homeschoolers, support each other for doing something different. While I can see the point of this I personally believe that school at home can be just as damaging. If a child is in an authoritarian parenting school with no choice but to sit and do Abeka, what do they do for themselves? At least if they go to school they can come home but if school IS home then they are stuck.

I just feel bad for all the kids who are sent away or who are stuck without any choice. I wish I could educate the parents so that they could open their eyes to their own dumbing down and see what they are doing to their kids.

Real, natural learning was around long before compulsary schooling. What the hell does the government know about learning anyway. Too many people have given up their rights and are being taken over by government interference . It is apparant that we can't think for ourselves and need someone else to think for us...NOT! Sorry this wasn't meant to be an attack on the government, LOL that is a separate issue :)

I love, live and breathe unschooling, it is what it is, it is freedom in learning, it is choice, it is life long living and learning, it is awesome. So tell someone about it!!!!

Philosophy

I have lots of thoughts that would probably be better broken up into several entries but who knows where this one will go...

Homeopathy is a lot like unschooling, what I mean is in order to unschool you must deschool and unlearn everything that you have been taught about learning. In order to get and practice and understand Homeopathy you must unlearn everything that you have been taught about modern medicine, you must DE medicalize yourself.

Anyone who knows me knows that I am studying Homeopathy and I plan to pursue it maybe even become certified to treat others. At this point I know enough to treat basic first aid and acute illness in my family and friends who will let me.

I have been under the care of a CCH(certified classical homeopath) for a year now. It took awhile but I am seeing marked improvement in my overall condition. I have several chronic issues that I have had for years. I have been treated with so many drugs that I didn't know what was worse the ailment or the side effects from the next drug that was thrown at me.

De medicalizing is a process that I have been in for a few years now. You start questioning practices and mainstream ideas like vaccines and flouride to start. I won't elaborate much but we stopped vaccinating over 3 years ago and I have been on the learning curve ever since.

I stopped all drugs a few years ago and started looking into alternatives like herbs and anything natural.

Just to give you an idea of my *medical diagnosis* I have/had several. Asthma, allergies, IBS, anxiety,severe hormonal imbalance/PMS, endometriosis, gastroparesis to name a few.
A big difference between allopathy and homeopathy is that H takes all symptoms into account including emotional/ mental, physical and general, what makes it better/ worse when it started , stress, changes, anything and everything about you goes into prescribing a remedy it is a science and an art. With A they just treat physical symptoms without looking for underlying cause. A is very anti, anti-biotic, anti-histamine, anti-bacterial, anti-viral anti anti anti. With H the basis is that like cures like and that the body given the right jump start will heal itself.

That's enough for now. My main point is always to question everything and then question it again.

I met an UNSCHOOLER

A real live one ! My friend K has an old friend C that she hasn't seen in like 4 or 5 years and she came over today.

It was so cool to sit in my living room and just chat with someone who really gets what I am talking about. We really didn't talk about unschooling per say.

Those on RCU know that Kieran cleaned up this morning, he did the dishes and swept the floor and cleared off the dining room table.

I mentioned this while K&C were here, I also said that we don't have chores and I don't make my kids do anything so it was a genuine act on his part. She didn't bat an eyelash or make some big to do about it, I loved it. Of course it doesn't happen often but when the kids do something like that from their heart it is really special.

Anyway C is really cool, she lives over an hour away but plans on coming again soon. We briefly touched on being off the radar, she has never registered and doesn't plan on it.

They were only here a short time but she was like an old friend, I was very comfortable and it was easy to talk to her. Sometimes I meet people and have to work really hard at keeping a conversation going, I hate that, it shouldn't be a chore to talk to someone. So you know it's good when you just flow with it from one thing to the next even with my crazy dogs barking and 8 kids in the house :)

I can't wait to meet R in a couple weeks, she knows who she is and she will definitely meet K and probably C as well.

Another reason to homeschool

Bulletproof backpacks! No I'm not kidding!

http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_13653.aspx

These were developed by a couple Boston fathers to protect their kids, read it it's short.

Can you imagine the morning, good bye kids have a great day at school and please remember to wear your backpack and watch out for the bad man with a gun, bye bye...

Oh my gosh, have you ever heard of homeschooling? You do not have to send your child off each day and wonder if they will return alive!

I told Kieran about the backpacks and he said why can't they just keep the kids at home? Yes my dear unschooled child you are right on the money.

Oh at a mere $175 no less, I can think of many things to buy with that amount of money that would not leave me thinking in the back of my mind, oh I hope nothing happens at school today.

Please realize I am not an alarmist and I do not unschool out of fear!!!

Come on folks wake up and smell the gun powder.

I never planned to send my kids away so that is not where I'm coming from.

Random Unschooly Thoughts

Random because I have lots of thoughts going through my head from this week and I probably won't do any of them justice. Unschooly because, well I'm an unschooler and that's how I think.

I just took a hot bath with a glass of wine, I always have good thoughts in the tub and it's hard to put them down afterwards. Not to mention Jared keeps saying *mom look* he is building with Legos and acting out his scenes.

So... school is no place for children yet they are all heading back there, they went back Aug. 1st here. Let's just herd em up and move em out. Oh those poor kids... last week our neighbor boy, he's almost 8, asked Kieran if he knows cursive. Kieran said well...not much really, he can write his name, he hasn't had a need to pursue it. I told William, you are like 8 years old what do you need cursive for? He said that the kids in class asked the teacher if they were learning cursive in 2nd grade or 3rd grade. The teacher said that they will start this year but that will be later. I told William that if he wants to learn it he can learn it he doesn't have to wait for the teacher. Then I had to shut up because I can't unload on a child who has no choice but to go to school. I always just love it when they say don't look ahead, don't get ahead of the class, we'll learn that later or next year or whatever. Gotta keep everyone dumbed down at the same rate can't let anyone get ahead of the class, UGH!!!! Poor kids don't realize it and I could just slap the parents, these kids are at my house ALL the time and the parents give me lots to rant about I have only blogged a couple times about their illogical ways and dumb rules.

A local girl posted to several home/un groups this week, she is obviously struggling and having doubts, I never did get around to replying but some people said what I would have said anyway. My point here is what someone on TN Home Ed said it was pretty bad I couldn't get through it all, one part stood out, she said that *you have your education now it's time for your son to get his* WHAT??? So when we magically turn 18 we are educated?? We don't learn a damn thing in life after that we are equipped for the real world after living in a fake one and being fed BS for 12 years and worse what if we go on to college and get fed more??? But we are educated we are done, how sad. She also said at the end that *maybe homeschooling isn't right for you* This is on a homeschooling list, yikes, did you ever hear of Gatto? Do you want to send your kids to prison? Do you want to continue in the mindless drones of society? Then by all means put your kids in school, they will only know what they are told and will regurgitate for a test and promptly forget it, you go Guido!!! Read Gatto http://www.johntaylorgatto.com/
Don't be stupid!!!!

I'm not knocking college, I went, LOL! I guess I'm a college drop out because I never graduated, lots of things contributed to that, that's another post.

I wish I could save all the children and help educate the parents in what real learning is about I guess I'll settle for planting seeds cause thats about all I can do.

5 minute University

Father Guido Sarducci says it all, this is so cool!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kO8x8eoU3L4

Weird Al

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-gi4Nt_xxg

My kids love Weird Al, they play his songs everday and watch the videos on you tube. I have to admit that the man is talented, I can't even sing the original songs without mixing it up with the parody. Funny stuff.
Jared absolutely loves music, last night he was playing the guitar and singing The Saga Begins, a parody of American Pie, *bye bye Mr. Anakin guy maybe vader some day later now your just a small fry*

Too much stuff

We have too much stuff to fit in this 1500 sq ft house!!! When we moved last year we got rid of a ton of stuff, it's amazing how much we gave away and threw away. We lived in a 1000 sq. ft house but it had a full basement, not finished but dry and in great condition(rare in PA) so we actually had 2000 sq ft of space.

We are in a 3 bedroom now but we have 4 kids and way too many toys, nobody wants to get rid of anything. I have been trying to find a way to make it fit, to make it workable in the kids rooms.

Tonight Cassie wanted to rearrange her room, what a job that was! Last night we(I ) cleaned out her closet but it's still so full. Our biggest problem is storage for toys and dolls, and well this house isn't big enough but it's where we are right now. Jared still sleeps with us but his clothes and toys are in Cassie's room.

The older boys room is another story, yikes, I need solutions, of course I need more money and lots of shelves too :)

We do have an attic here although it's not as convenient as a basement. We just put boxes up there when we moved in, I have no idea when I will go through them. I would really like to have a place for everything and to get rid of what we don't need.

I will not make the kids get rid of things though, it's their choice I sure don't want anyone getting rid of my things. I just don't have anywhere to put stuff, I still live out of a box, yes I do what isn't hanging up is in a box. Oh it's so fun to dig for socks and underwear! We actually have a walk in closet and we will install shelves someday.

This whole house has to be redone, we bought a foreclosure that was neglected and abused if you can abuse an inanimate object. Lots of work for dh and me but he has all the major stuff, he has done a lot, it's liveable but unfinished. I am waiting for my bathroom though, we have 2 baths but only one is in use, our toilet is on the back deck, LOL!!! I did say COMPLETELY remodel didn't I?

More stupid parenting

I was so agitated awhile ago... The kids two doors down are always here, why? well because it's fun here, their words not mine :)

It is 95+ degrees outside, they were all playing in my house but they only could stay in until 2:15, not my setting.

Cassie comes and asks me if they can go in the sprinkler, I said sure.
Brennan comes in upset because he was going to play baseball in the front yard with W. I didn't know this when I told Cass it was ok for the sprinkler. So I told him to have J see if they can use their sprinkler while the boys play here, our yard is a little bigger otherwise they would have played in his yard.

So.... Their mom said that they can't play in their sprinkler or ours... I said well I said lots of things :)
So I said then you and Cass come play inside while the boys play baseball. No they HAVE to play outside!!!

Ok folks it's 95 friggin degrees and they can't play in the water or in the house???????

I went off, I'm constantly baffled by stupid parenting, constantly.

So Cassie decided to come in cause she is hot. J came to the door wanting her to come out. She came to me and said she didn't want to go out, I said you don't have to.

My kids are more aware each time this stuff happens about how we are different, actually Cassie said that's torture, about those kids.

School starts tomorrow too, so it's blasted hot and they can't play in the sprinkler or in the house, that borders on abuse in my book.

Thank God in heaven I don't parent like that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My kids thank me too :)
I try so hard my gosh...
There is a thread at unschooling resources going on about calling RU, unparenting. You all know how I feel about that, we parent our asses off!!!

Therapy session

I rarely have a chance to go into deep thought and discussion with anyone. My best friend and I do talk about all sorts of stuff including me, she says I'm not a mystery to her.

Some things I try and discuss with Jason but he is such an easy going guy who is always joking around it's really hard to have a conversation with him. He makes me laugh, if I didn't marry him I would be going around all serious all the time.

So I haven't been sleeping well, honestly I haven't really slept in 12 years but I'm not going into the my babies only slept for 2 hours at a time thing right now. I don't have any more babies although we do have some odd sleeping habits going on and if you read my blog you know that.

Where am I going? Last night well actually it was in the morning somewhere between 9 and 11 am I actually got into REM, I haven't dreamed in days. I call what I do *surface sleep* I'm slightly asleep but know everything that is going on or I am just plain laying there awake.

When I do actually dream I remember my dreams and I wake up more tired then when I don't dream. My theory is that my body is trying to hit on that sleep deficit but it won't really happen in this lifetime. My motto is sleep is highly overrated, well that is one of my many mottos anyway.

So onto my *therapy session* with dh... I woke up abruptly from my dream and then tried to fall back to sleep, useless I know. As I lay there I start thinking about everything I need to do, all sorts of stuff goes through my head, how can a person sleep when they can't shut up?!

I have this inner *need/desire/burn/drive* I don't know what it is but I have to be PRODUCTIVE. I wanted to know if I was born this way, are people born this way or did something make me this way??? I have a lot to deal with from my childhood and I went through so much and I deal with it as I remember it. I also try sooo hard in my parenting because what happens to you as a child doesn't go away.

I do have a point, I can't/don't just sit and relax and if I do it's for 2 minutes or I am thinking about all sorts of shit that I can't really let go of.
I always am doing something, I don't just do nothing, is that possible? How do I let go and shut off my mind how do I relax????

I do take HOT baths with Merlot and I have such good thoughts and Ideas in the tub, and I do relax just for a moment...

So why do I feel like I have to be productive??? I don't know but I do and I also believe that I or you don't HAVE to do anything!!! I choose to do what I do everything is a choice, some days I choose not to do things I normally do.

Computer time

Sharing...
Oh the joy of it :)

Lately getting everyone a turn on the computer has been challenging.
My boys are now members on Runescape and so they are working on things they couldn't do as non members.

Cassie likes to play also but she is pretty new at it, plus they play other games and it takes time. We have a laptop but it is a pain without a mouse, we are planning on getting one soon. We don't play disks on it because we have had too much trouble with it so it is strictly for internet use.

Brennan has been *hogging* the computer and playing for hours at a time and it is causing some strife around here.

OH great, I get to practice what I preach AGAIN!! We have talked about it but some people don't readily get it...

My dh said if we have to make a schedule then we will, I don't want to do that, I want everyone to get a long and take turns and share the damn computer!!!!!

So I am not getting much time here either and I'm pretty tired when I do.

Jared likes to use it too, he loves music and he also plays games.

We are working on a win/win situation for all.

Tonight I had Cassie get on for an hour, then Brennan for an hour then Jared got on and here I am at 3:00 am getting my turn. Today was smoother than the past few days.

We have never limited use, we just need to make sure everyone gets a turn.

Respect

I have talked about respectful parenting before and we are dealing with a few issues here and I just want to reassure you ladies that I am trying my hardest to practice what I preach.

Tonight the kids got rowdy while I was in the tub and woke up Jason. It isn't pretty when they wake up daddy, ya know!?

I realize they get caught up in the moment and forget that it's 1:30 am not pm but it has happened a lot lately. Thankfully this was the first time in awhile they actually woke dh up.

Some days are just plain difficult and I feel like I'm talking to the wall...

I know my kids have good hearts and don't mean to be loud and hurt each other. The past few days they have been putting the mattresses on the floor and jumping and doing all sorts of stunts. It really is inevitable that someone will get hurt, right.

What happened tonight was that Brenny accidently kicked Jared and he flipped out and ran into the bedroom and woke up dh because he knew I was in the tub.

You all know WHY I was in the tub!!! Yikes, I'm doing better now but today was pretty painful so I've been sipping the Merlot and soaking.

Anyway, geesh are you ADD or something??? No, Jared keeps telling me to look, he is playing Lego Star Wars, mom watch!!!!!

Tomorrow the kids and I need to have a talk about when daddy goes to bed and about being nice and treating each other the way you want to be treated and all that good stuff :)

Can I just vent a tad??? I have posted on this before but when I see the phrase *I'm an unschooler not an unparent* I get really ticked. It implies neglect or something.

Parenting mindfully and respectfully takes SO MUCH work, setting rules and limits and punishments and bedtimes is the EASY way out. There is no thought in the matter, no modeling and respecting the individuals in the house as well as the family as a whole. All that does is make the parents feel like they are in control of people who are smaller then they are.

I just get so riled because I DO PARENT so much, it takes time and effort, some days I don't want to do it, like the past few actually... I have to do it for my kids, I have to parent them the way each of them needs it not by some arbitrary rule made for my convenience.

It isn't easy but it's worth it, my kids are worth it, I just need to refocus and get things in order.

I wonder about those people who even say the unschool but don't unparent because I really wonder what *unschooling* means to them.

I had someone unsub from RCU today and the reason was that we are to extreme in the childrearing. I was thinking what??? We don't spank or make our kids do chores and have bedtimes, what is extrenme about that??? Those were my first thoughts, dh saw the email and he said what?

Back Labor

All I can
say right now is OUCH!!!

O my gosh this hurts! All you ladies out there who had back labor can understand what I go through every month, yes it feels like that!!!!

Some months aren't as intense, actually last month was the worse I have had in years so I suppose right now is just *normal pain*
I don't get the women who barely have a cramp, you suck alright, I can say that it's my blog.

I'm just going through some crap right now and am in pain from my period and it doesn't help me focus.

I soaked in the hot bath and drank my wine, the only thing that helps but it's not enough, I'm in pain...

Well I'm not writing anything profound tonight, see ya later.

Freedom in sleep habits

As unschoolers we truly have many freedoms that others don't, mainly because others won't allow themselves freedom from have to's and should's and should not's.

The other day my friend Tina at http://caffeinefreedom.blogspot.com/ was talking about bedtimes and have to's and she inspired me.

I have been living with some pretty different sleeping hours since Jared is so sporatic. I posted last week about him taking a nap and being up, well I didn't finish, he was up until 6:30 am last Saturday night.

This whole week he has been up very late or early I guess. The past 2 nights it's been 4:30 am before he konks out. Last night he went to sleep at 4:30am and woke up at 9:30am, um HELLO, I need SLEEP!!!! So he got up and thankfully Jason was home, he went back to sleep from 1:30pm-5:30pm .

So here I am posting again about sleep or the lack there of. I was telling my friend about this tonight and I said that I am so glad that we have the freedom for this. I can't make my son sleep, I can't make myself sleep. I am just so glad that we are able to accomodate his habits and not try to force unnecessary harm to him or us.

So many parents just set a time and make their kids go to bed without choice or discussion, of course many have to go to SCHOOL at the crack of dawn for some dumbing down and mind numbing lessons.

Well lately I have been up until the crack of dawn and sleeping all morning, I am just so thankful for these options and choices.

Everything is a choice we don't HAVE TO do anything!!!!!

Flying my freak flag

This was a joke between my best friend and I after seeing the FamilyStone but it is so true. I was born flying my flag, I am different, I am a non-conformist, I think for myself. If you are interested I only have my mother's word to go on... I was never a real baby, I didn't want to be held, I stopped the bottle at 5 months, I wasn't breastfed because my mom was 17 and nervous(according to my dad)
I sat up at 4 months and crawled, walked by nine months and the rest is history oh yeah potty trained by 18 months :)
I knew how to read BEFORE I went to half day K, they didn't worry about reading at 5 then...

This post isn't about tooting my own horn but about what happened because I was so *advanced* School crushed my love of learning, it was stupid, I remember more and more each day... I learned how the game was played and I quickly stopped being me. For a few years I did come home and teach my brother and sister, I actually wanted to be a teacher for a short time, then a lawyer and a psychiatrist, hint hint about my childhood.
One extra note my little brother was 4 and the school wouldn't let him in because he was born in Dec. So my mom put him in private school because he tested at least at 1st grade level. Which means nothing!!!!

I decided I would not make a good shrink because I would just tell people to *get over it* Hey that is what I do now, no pay geesh.

So my parents didn't like each other(total understatement) they can barely tolerate hearing about each other from me and I am 32 +4 LOL!
To know me is to love me :)

So why am I writing this??? Um because so many children are thrown into the depths of public school and their parents are both working, living separate lives and the family unit has gone to hell. Yes I am Christian and I believe that God had a different plan for us. Not one of destruction and adversarial relationships but one of families living and working together.

I am an unschooling advocate Ala John Holt, I'm reading Instead of Education and it's really good! But I was unschooling and APing before Dr. Sears named it :)

When my first was born we never planned on school actually before he was born. He never heard the word no from us, I was all about the positive and what you can do not what you can't do. I never had to babyproof or cage my child, he was so free! I had three more after him and we did our best to live up to our own standards and damnit it's hard to do!

Kieran will be 12 next week , I can't believe it my first baby with all the hoopla (fertility drugs) my gosh I can't possibly make one post here! Whoever reads this is probably saying, she never talks THIS MUCH!!!

So why did I write??? I am not alone many people are out there talking and promoting unschooling and respectful parenting but we are going upstream, against the wind (love Bob Segar)
Let's just do it and call it like we see it. I'm no saint but I am part of the unschooling movement. If I can save one more child from being dumbed down and disregarded it's all good!

A decision Cassie made

Some of you know that Cassie has food dye sensitivities, it is still hard for her to not want the stuff when others are having it. It is something we have been dealing with for a couple years and I'm learning what additives affect her and trying to avoid buying anything with that stuff in it.

Last week she was at the little girl's house down the road and when she came home she said she had candy. I asked her what kind, what color, but she couldn't really remember or maybe she just felt on the spot. Later on her behavior reflected that of dye consumption. We talked about it and I really want her to learn how to make these decisions because it could be with her all her life.

Today she was over there for an hour and she came home and told me that they ate candy and she didn't have any. She was very happy with her decision and happy when she told me. I just felt awesome that she made that decision on her own knowing how much she likes candy.
I buy stuff that she can eat so it's not like she doesn't get any but it's been hard for her when her friends or brothers eat something. We have had to deal with well how come they can have it, it's not that she can't have it but if she does we all pay for it and I know she doesn't like that either.

10 minutes of silence

Tonight, well it was just after midnight, I was actually sitting in my rocking chair, I put on Tesla, I poured a drink and I just chilled. Jason came to me and said hey what's up? I said Is this my life? I think I'm having an out of body experience, LOL!

Let's backtrack a bit, Jared my nightiest owl fell asleep just before 10:00pm, this is very rare and I can't remember the last time it happened. He has been up until 3:30-4:00 am this past week. I guess it caught up with him plus he went swimming today, that is pretty tiring.

Jason is planning on taking the kids fishing in the morning and so they were trying to go to bed so they can get up. At that time they were actually in their room watching a movie to try and relax. Kieran was asleep but Cassie and Brenny are like me, it's hard to fall asleep.

Well... Jared woke up and we tried to get him back to sleep but he had over a 2 hour nap and was wide awake. So then Brenny came out and said he couldn't sleep yet and Cassie was hungry and and and it was reality again...

Just a few short minutes I sat in the chair and tried to relax then reality came back and we just went with the flow. Here it is 3:16 am and Jared is still full of it. He and Jason lightsabre fought and played but daddy tired out and went to bed.

I just may have to go to bed and leave him up watching a movie, we shall see.

Night Owls

Oh my gosh, we are such night owls, getting nightier by the day, LOL! My little man has been on a late turn and getting later, it's 3:45 am and he is still up, and here I am wondering what I'm doing.
He fell asleep at this time last night and I think he is going to be out any second now...

Of course we all slept in today, maybe I will get up earlier tomorrow and wake Jared up too, maybe not. I really don't mess with my kids sleep cycle. I hated being woken up for school, oh my gosh, I was born a night person and school does NOT accomodate for that.

It got harder as I hit high school, I had 2 alarm clocks, one by my bed and one across the room, I got to where I got up and shut it off every 5 mins for a half hour. I never did mornings, still don't unless you consider early mornings

I don't fall asleep easy and I can't sleep on demand or because of the time on a clock so I would not try to make my kids. I actually have many sleep issues so I will never force my kids to bed it can have repercussions, just like an eating disorder.

Guess who just closed his eyes??? Wow he is so full of energy, he goes non-stop as soon as he wakes up until he passes out, I never know when that will be. Energizer boy!

I suppose I can get ready for bed now :)

Good night!

Cassie time

While I was hoping to work on other things tonight it became apparant that my dd needed me. It started with her wanting to play UNO just the two of us but Brenny wanted to play also and she lost it. I understand about her wanting just the two of us, it is difficult when there is 1 me and 4 of them. We worked it out and we played cards for a bit, then she asked me to come help her name her dolls. It's kind of funny because when I was pregnant with Jared we named all of her dolls but we have since forgotten.

We gave all of the dolls new names and then we dressed all of the naked ones. Then she wanted me to watch a movie with her, it was midnight by then and of course other people needed me. I watched the last half of The Pacifier with her she had started it earlier in the day.

Then I did a few things and finally took a shower and then she asked me to help her spell words, it was 1:45 am by then. So I went back to her room and she had started with some words she knows and asked me to help with some words. She tried to spell and did pretty well then asked me to get some books so she could look at the words. She filled a notebook page with words and decided she was ready to go to sleep.

I realize that she needs me and some days it's hard because we are so different emotionally, I'm working on being able to relate to her. I am just not emotional, her whole day was because she got up early for church after going to sleep at her usual time.

Don't think that I don't have emotions, I have lots but I'm a thinker and a doer I follow my head and I'm not really *emotionally female* some people know what I mean, my best friend does cause she gets me :)

Actually I hardly ever cried until I got pregnant, I thought there was something wrong with me, crying at hallmark commercials. Having kids did change me on many levels but it did make me more emotional and aware of feelings. After all this time I have mostly reverted back to my usual self, I can cry but it's not that common.

Childhood

I'm not sure where to begin, I've talked briefly about my childhood. I want to start by saying that I have forgiven my parents but unfortunately I can't forget. Some things that happen early in life really stick with you whether they are good or not. My parents married young, they were 17 and 18 when I was born. I suppose they loved each other in the beginning but didn't know how to really be parents or make a marriage, they tried the best they could.



Being the oldest child you see and hear things, all the fighting, yelling, screaming etc... It went on for 10 years before they divorced. I have to say that it was a blessing and the best thing they could have done. I don't advocate divorce but sometimes it is the best option. It was nasty of course, I was 11 and old enough to decide which parent to live with. I chose my mom because I wanted to be there for my brother and sister.

I'm not sure where I want to go with this post, I think I need to start a new one. I started this a couple days ago but have lost a lot of my original thoughts.

It was prompted by some threads at RCU about marriages and it made me think of my childhood. I actually have blocked out so many things that do come back to me from time to time. I still believe that I have many repressed memories and they are holding me back in some areas of my life.

It is so important to realize that how we treat our children will stay with them. I just put a wall up around me so that I wouldn't get hurt, but that caused many issues as well. I'm not really good at feelings and expressing them well or dealing with those that are so full of sensitive emotions.

Lots of gaming going on

My kids have been on a gaming streak these past few days, Lego Star Wars, Zoo Tycoon 2 and Battlefield 2 are the choices. They are really working on them, all 4 of them are playing lots.



I think it's great! The only challenge is sharing the computer :)



I guess they were getting burned out on Runescape and needed a change. Usually they don't all want the computer or gamecube at the same time.

Jared just got Lego Star Wars II for his birthday for the PS2, so they have been playing that, dh included.

Brenny is back at Runescape, he was on for quite awhile today. The neighbor kid two doors down wasn't feeling well so he was on also and they were on the phone while playing. They were helping each other out. Brennan is reading more and more each day and he is spelling and typing too, all because of Runescape.

Unschooling

I love unschooling, learning is as natural as breathing for my kids. I have personally completely deschooled, I have no hang ups about school, except for the fact that I was subject to public schooling in the first place.

It makes it hard to explain to people though. Well... we don't follow a curriculum, we don't test, we don't use grades, we don't even know what grade the kids would be in.

I believe that I was born a rebel, a free spirit who couldn't be tied down to some sort of rule oriented life controlled by some other person.

School is a joke and it is damaging and it is a waste of precious time, school is no place for children.

I love the freedom we have, I love that we go to bed when we want and wake when we want. I love that we eat when we are hungry and use the bathroom without asking permission. Oh I could rant on that one.

I love the curiosity in my kids, I like to watch them play, they just go about their day playing, playing, playing. You do know that so much learning happens while playing, learning happens all the time it's everywhere, you can't avoid it. I guess that you could if you were schooled and so ingrained that learning was boring and something that you had to do between 8am and 3pm.

All we can do is plant seeds and be an example, we can't make anyone get it but we can tell people about it who are really seeking out a better way of living and learning.

Offspring

Not the band, LOL! I like them but I'm talking about our kids.

You know our kids are just little versions of us, they have our genes, they have our good and our not so good traits. They look like us, they act like us, I think it's God's way of giving us insight and understanding and for giving us a second chance, providing we don't blow it like our parents did.

I'm not dissing our parents, they did the best they could with the tools they had BUT we know better, we know different and it's our responsibility to step up to the plate and own it.

My little boy, whom I love more than I can express is causing some great heaps of turmoil here. I know his personality, I know he gets frustrated, I know he is a little version of his dad. I want to help him deal with his frustration, I want to help him overcome these issues. When I remain calm and act the way I want him to he does calm down, not instantly it takes a while. He tells me not to look at him, not to talk to him. When he gets like this everything is stupid, he hates everything and he just lashes out.

I understand his frustration and I want to help him but sometimes I talk back to him the way he talks to me and he doesn't like it. I just want him to realize what he is doing.

He is so full of energy and life and he is always acting something out and talking and just being such a sweet boy. He is his father reincarnated, we joke about this, but it has some serious repercussions. My dh never had anyone try to help him and when him and Jared are together they are looking in the mirror.

It's not just those two, I see ourselves in all of our children, I don't want to harbor on the so called negatives of our personalities. Sometimes those qualities are beneficial, we are striving for the best in our children.


After reading what I wrote I deleted a bunch it just seemed to personal and didn't sound the way I wanted. I think it's time for me to talk about unschooling or something.

It's PMS time again

Well... it happens every month do you think we would be used to it by now???????

Today was a rough day but as I observe my life I realize that it's probably no different than any other day except for the fact that my hormones are hopping.

I hate this, I really do because I feel bad and start in on my monthly I'm sorry I'm such a terrible mother rant. I beat myself up one side and down the other. Why you ask??? Well because apparantly I'm fairly sane and patient most of the time according to outside sources. But every damn month I go through this it sucks to be in my skin, I yell easily, I react instead of try to listen and figure out what the problem is. I actually want to have some time to myself, I want to take a bath without taking care of everyone else first. Is this so bad? Apparantly it is when you are me and do so much for everyone that if you want a moment to breathe it isn't accepted very well and therefore you (I) am the bad guy.

I realize that I do things, I give 110% every day except as the hormones mount I have no sympathy or patience and I feel selfish. Which of course I beat myself up for aggin, how dare you want to take a bath, it's only 1:30 am, surely someone needs you... I am being so sarcastic now because the moment is passed and I'm up alone at 3:25 am.

I love my kids I love our lifestyle but sometimes I feel bad for wanting to just be without having to take care of anyone. I realize I'm demented

I also realize that some parents put their needs above their kids and I don't do that and that is why I feel so selfish that I actually want to just go take a bath.

I know there needs to be balance and moderation and all that good stuff But anyone who knows me can see I tend to be all or nothing. I struggle so much with balance and grey areas and middle ground. I'm sure I'll find them someday but who knows maybe I won't. Maybe I am supposed to be piss and vinegar, to blaze a trail and set an example in this life with my beliefs and passions.

I just hate confusing my kids who one day have a mom who is patient and helpful and is a doer and the next day they have the terrible mother rant...

To be continued...

Something funny... to me

We had a barbeque at our best friends house tonight. It was their family, my family and 2 other families, we all homeschool.

We were all having a blast and my friend and I were there with one of the other moms just chatting and laughing and having a good old time.

Then the other mom(I'm not using their names) said that her son had been grounded for a month and hasn't been playing video games. He just started playing again today, he does not have unlimited access anyway, it's not a privilege.
He has to do school and finish before dinner time which is usually around 6pm before he can play video games. He has about 4 subjects a day to do.

Well my friend knows that I am what I am and I just said *what did she say, she is speaking a foreign language*

This may be one of those had to be there moments but I was serious, what do you mean by school and subjects? What do you mean that video games are a privilege? I'm so confused!!!!!

I'm not sure if she knows we are radical unschoolers or what but they all laughed when I said that.

We don't do school we don't do subjects and there are definitely no priveleges, video games are in the house and there for the taking.

AHHHHHH I know that some people will never understand but one thing that is awesome is that my best friend is reading Holt and Gatto and she says I'm rubbing off on her. If I can even help one family relax and deschool it's all good!

So much to say...

Oh my gosh... I haven't blogged in a few weeks, why you ask? My ds slammed my hand in the sliding door of the van, on accident.

My birthday was May 18th, my mom and new stepdad came to visit from TX, we had such an awesome time. I haven't seen my mom in 3 years and this was the first time to meet Hank. I do have pics that I will post just not right this minute.

We went to the zoo and to the Opry Mills Mall and Gaylord Opryland Hotel and to Outback Steakhouse and Cinco De Mayo and I had the richest chocolate cake, oh my.

Grandpa Hank bought Kieran and Brennan guitars, he plays and collects them and my boys are interested in playing. That is when my hand got slammed the minute we got to the guitar store, OUCH!!!!

I was screaming, I thought it was broken, it swelled and bruised and I couldn't do anything right handed.
I applied arnica several times a day and here I am almost fixed up.
I admit that I hate being dependant and I had to be a left handed person because my right hand was not working.
Oh the mental and emotional trauma I went through is excruciating to think about.

My husband and kids had to do what I normally do and I couldn't participate in email or even sign my name, UGH!!!
I had to write left handed and eat left handed and do other things I won't mention, LOL!

Gosh it seems like a lot has happened te past few weeks, I'll post more soon with pics of course. Brennan turned 9 and we had a box turtle for a day and we have been exploring with a metal detector and playing music and swimming and ,and ,and that's all for now.

Book Quiz

www.bluepyramid.org/ia/bquiz.htm
This is interesting, I took the book quiz, it's 6 questions and this is what came up for me.

You're Anarchy, State, and Utopia!
by Robert Nozick
If it were up to you, there would probably be no government at all. But then you'd have to deal with there being no government, and nobody likes that. So you've decided that hiring a few security guards is okay. Getting rid of that nasty tax collector would sure be nice, though. He keeps getting in the way of you making the money you so richly deserve! Everyone who believes in you happens to be fairly well off.

Jared's hair

Here is my handsome little man, he hasn't had his hair cut in over 1 1/2 years. He looked really cool but then it started looking pretty messy. He was getting called a girl all of the time, so one day at Target he told the checkout lady that he was a kid and a boy. He figured he would tell her before she called him a girl. I have to admit that this was a learning experience for me and a real testimony to his autonomy. I am so glad that I respected his wishes and didn't cut his hair until he wanted me too.

Mothers day

Here I am with my munchkins, we haven't taken a picture of all of us since Christmas so I thought this was a good time to do it.

I got beautiful Lily's that we will plant out front and some organic dark chocolate, my favorite. We spent the day at our best friends house, we ate, played, swam and just enjoyed the day.

Latest illogical parenting beef

Some people's parents...

I am always amazed at the lack of mindful parenting that I see, I know many people don't even think twice about how they parent or about trying to do better.

The latest from our neighbors happened yesterday. The little girl just turned five and is very small IMO, her training wheels broke on her little bike. We have a little bike that I let her ride a few times so she can ride with Cassie. Yesterday I told her that she could borrow the bike, her mom doesn't want her to ride it she wants her to learn how to ride without training wheels.

So Cassie comes in and asks Jason to remove the broken wheels so she can help her learn to ride. Jason and I tried to explain to her that it is her parents responsibility to do that. Cassie got really upset and didn't understand why we wouldn't take the wheels off.

My beef is that she told me that her mom said she has to learn how to ride without training wheels. She isn't even ready for one thing and another thing is how can the child learn if her parents don't remove the wheels and get off their asses and help the child?????

So in the mean time she has no bike to ride and isn't allowed to ride ours.

An analogy that crossed my mind was if a velcro strap broke on her shoes
and the only other pair she had was with laces and her mom said that she has to learn how to tie or she won't wear any shoes. I'm not wording it right but my point is there, this is asanine. I have many examples from this very family that make no sense to me, UGH!