I'll Take It!

On Sunday at church, there were some new people attending. One of them was a woman who was a PE teacher in a local high school. At one point I was talking about something related to unschooling and I told her that most of the families that attend the church homeschool, actually unschool, their kids. This was before I knew she worked as a teacher. C had a separate conversation with her where she told him what she did for a living and then said that if the kids there were what unschooling produced, she thought she would want to do that if she had kids of her own. Her actual words were something like, " If this is unschooling, I'll take it!"

When he told me later, my first reaction was that I seem to take for granted the way that my children "are". They are not different or special to me, they just "are". So, when someone who meets them for the first time makes a comment like that, it takes me by surprise. Really? My kids? Not that I don't think they are wonderful. Of course, I do. They're my kids. That is my job. (And they are wonderful, btw!) I was reminded of their uniqueness by a stranger and it begs the question "what is so different with my kids that she would notice and comment?"

I don't have the answer to that question. All I know is that what we are doing with our kids, the unschooling, the peaceful parenting, is getting them noticed in a good way. I could be tempted to take the credit for the way they are turning out, but I know I can't. All I am doing is getting out of their way and supporting who they already are. It is amazing how wonderful kids can be if you simply love them, support them, and not try to control them.

What is even more amazing to me is that that above formula is so quickly rejected by most of society. I know we are the minority of a minority, as unschoolers. I am lucky to have an incredible circle of friends here to support us in this life choice, and I guess I forget that the rest of the world does not get it. Oh well, their loss.

I Couldn't Resist This Quiz

Even though I did cheat a bit and go back thru the questions to make sure this really was my book....

You're Watership Down!

by Richard Adams

Though many think of you as a bit young, even childish, you're
actually incredibly deep and complex. You show people the need to rethink their
assumptions, and confront them on everything from how they think to where they
build their houses. You might be one of the greatest people of all time. You'd
be recognized as such if you weren't always talking about talking rabbits.

Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

Poor Arkansas

Seems I have been around, huh? Many of these states were basically drive-bys. I did not count the ones that a plane I was on landed in, though. Gotta get those northern states in sometime. Maybe we will do one of those Amtrak trips across the north and stop at Yellowstone and Mt Rushmore and all. Where have you been?



create your own visited states map

I Love Photoshop!

Before

After

Before

After
I have to thank Ree for all the tips on using Photoshop to enhance my photos! Fun, fun, fun!

May Day

Flowers and greens ready for crown making

Today at park day we made flower crowns to celebrate May Day AND the 3 year anniversary of the Life Learners. I can't believe we have been doing this group for that long, and yet it feels like forever, too. I could not handle living here without the friends I have made through running this group. It has been awesome! It was a great day of good play and good conversations, as always!

Here are the girls with the crowns I made them:

Here's to many more years, whether I am here to run things or not, of great support for the unschoolers in this city! Happy 3rd, LVLL!!

p.s. scroll down for a new post, dated for Sunday