French Creek Gathering

Some days, things just go SO well and everything is SO fantastic that you have to just take a moment to reflect.  Today, with my kids, we got together with some of our new homeschooling friends - at a creek not too far from our house and it was so much better then I ever could have imagined.  I really tried not to forcast too much about how things might turn out because usually, I'm totally wrong if I do.  So - we just went - open to the possibilies and my goodness - it was great.

I lost count of the crayfish caught and the minnows, snails and spider sightings.  All the kids (and some of the moms!) had creek water in their undies.  I know I did.  Toys were eagerly shared between kids who - some of them - just met a mere 20 minutes ago!  Mom's took the hands of other children to make sure no one slipped on the rocks and then shared popcorn and watermelon and (my contribution) zucchini muffins.  And it was amazing.

I feel absolutely blessed and that an amazing chapter in our lives is just beginning. 

Our Learning has begun

The funniest thing - I have become a part of a great group of other homeschooling mom's and one of them asked if anyone has a blog.  HA! I forgot that I did!  I had better dig out that ginko biloba.

Having begun our homeschooling journey shortly after pre-school ended - so my son won't forget how to write his letters and also to keep the momentum going - I feel we have already gone through a few stumbling blocks in my effort to "shake it all out" and figure out how we will do this.  I think it is good that I don't mind a serving of humble pie. 

I knew going into this that it would take time to shake out our learning style.  I have been pleasantly surprised by my son's enthusiasm for "mommy school".  He keeps adding things to his list of things to learn.  I think that it is amazing that once I told him that we can learn anything he wants to know about - all of a sudden he began to ask.  If he had the questions before, he just kept them to himself.  Isn't that a funny thing?

Here are some photos from lessons that we have done - the crowns were for the letter C and the shaving cream drawing was just a new place to practice writing our letters.

Beginning of a HUGE journey

After much talk and thought on the matter - my husband and I (well - more me) have decided to homeschool our two children. It is not for religious reasons or that we think teachers don't know what they are doing.  Far from it.  I have two very good friends who are school teachers and I know they are intelligent and thoughtful people who give their all to the children they teach.  The reason is because I feel that those same amazing teachers are being forced to not teach but test. 

Everything leads to the test. The test - the test - the test.  

Education is not to fill the pail - but rather to light the fire - Yeats (I believe)  My new mission is to light the fire.  I want my children to see the world as a huge classroom.  I do not want the learning to stop once they leave the classroom.  I want them to read a great novel and really enjoy it - not just try to guess what questions will be on a test.   I want them to do tangrams because they are fun and cool.  I want them to be curious about the reproductive system of a cricket because we have a whole bunch of them in the backyard.  I want so much for them to be amazed and curious and to never be jaded.

For this mission - I will smile politely when people look at me as if I have lost my mind and then question my ability to instruct.  I have my bachelors in English Lit and I was a graphic artist.  Does this give me license to teach?  I'm not sure.  But I do have a never ending well of love for my children who I think are two of the most amazing people in the world.   And I do not have fifteen other kids to keep occupied while I explain the difference between a noun and a pronoun to my son. 

For the longest time I looked at being a mother as the hardest and yet most rewarding job I have ever had. I think I might just trump that on this journey.  I will share my journey with anyone who would like to read.  Would you like to come?

So much to see and so much to do!

Oh dear - the search for a new school for my dear son (starting Kindergarten - eek!) next year has been a daunting task.  Having interviewed and visited several, the one that lingers most in my heart is the one that I probably have no shot at having him attend.  Waldorf.  Oh - it is a dreamy place where apparently the wonders of being a child are encouraged and allowed to bloom.  I can only wish.

Felt food and my New Years Resolution

Every year around this time, I find myself making the same promises to myself - THIS will be the year that I will shrink into a size 6 pants...o.k. maybe 8...we shall see.  This year however, instead of pouring over the recipes that I will NOT be able to make - I have decided to turn my foodie obsession into a fun craft! I've read also that you can not possibly be a true crafter unless you have make felt food...so consider me no longer a crafter virgin! I make felt food! And lots of it!  Eggs and pancakes - bagettes and pastries - pizzas and strawberries. It's been tons of fun! I think I am addicted.