A Homeschool Story

Aragorn Playing his First Coffee House

2010-03-09T06:00:00.005-06:00

Music and Kids

2010-03-09T06:00:00.004-06:00

Music and KidsSo my son and husband have become guitar-playing, music-making nuts. It is so much fun to have rock and roll or folk or metal music around the house at all hours. This is Aragorn's first public performance, and he was such a natural! He just sat down next to his wonderful teacher and played everything that was put in front of him. There was a roomful of guitar players, poets,

Life's Lessons

2010-03-09T05:42:00.003-06:00

Life's LessonsSometimes we philosophize too much, seek out hidden messages in random events. Sometimes the signs are there, staring us right in the face and we refuse to open our eyes. I am not sure how I feel about the wake-up call I had last night driving home with three children in the back seat.I was looking for the right exit, being perpetually without a sense of direction, I usually am. I

First Piano Recital

2010-03-09T05:37:00.003-06:00

Lily, at thirteen, just played in her first two piano recitals, as did Alienor, eight. The nerves were worse for Lily, of course, as she practiced a great deal more and worried a great deal more, but Alienor had her moments too! She sat up straight and played her little heart out. Lily was intense and focused and professional. The first recital was open to family and friends, the grandparents

Lily and Alienor; waiting to play piano

2010-03-09T05:37:00.000-06:00

First Recital; Alienor

2010-03-09T05:35:00.000-06:00

From Sad and Cuddled...

2010-03-09T05:29:00.000-06:00

To Emerging Hope...

2010-03-09T05:28:00.001-06:00

To...All Better!

2010-03-09T05:28:00.000-06:00

Dad-Daughter Night Out; my little Girl Scout

2010-03-09T05:23:00.001-06:00

Seekers of Wisdom/Keepers of the Faith

2010-03-09T05:00:00.000-06:00

Seekers of Wisdom/ Keepers of the FaithDoes there have to be a conflict? Has there always been one between the two? Is this what the difference between unschooling, or child-led education and a method such as Waldorf comes down to? There is an element of respect in a Steiner (or Waldorf) education for the stage of development a particular child finds himself in. Steiner himself wrote much of not

Mammitoe By Lily

2010-03-07T18:46:00.002-06:00

Mammitoe was our rat. He died on Saturday, March 6Th. He was, in rat years, about eighty years old, and in human years, just over two. Our first rat died struggling and sick, our second rat was put to sleep after having a large tumor, and our bird died of an overly large hart. Mammitoe died of old age, and had the best life that a rat could have had. His kind of rat was bred for snake food,

What's New Around Here?

2010-02-23T06:25:00.003-06:00

Well, not the snow, as it is still covering everything, unless it is the fresh three inches we got yesterday. The kids went sledding with their favorite neighbor while I let baby take a nap on my lap. He has a miserable cold and can't sleep lying down.Aragorn is busy writing a story about a jailer in Medieval Times. I have given up on historical accuracy, accepting instead some pretty creative

Education and What it Means; Yesterday and Today

2010-02-04T05:51:00.005-06:00

What constitutes a good education? Like most parents, I have the desire for my children to continue to the highest level of education they are capable of and worry about how we will afford it more than I should. "Yes, you are going to college," seems to be a parental mantra in the civilized world. The dream also encompasses a day when our children will reach financial independence because they

Building, Beeswax and Knitting Lessons

2010-02-02T04:55:00.004-06:00

Lily Surprises Herself

2010-01-30T06:31:00.005-06:00

My Lily, thirteen years old, is stubborn and sure of what she wants to do, and just as certain of what she cannot do. She began piano lessons with a dear friend this year as her teacher. She requested piano lessons, this was not my idea. The grumbling that ensued, as she struggled to learn, was as bad as if it had been all my fault.We have to be so careful about what we say around children. Even

When Bad Things Happen: Haiti

2010-01-22T00:29:00.005-06:00

The talk at our table lately has been focused on the terrible earthquake in Haiti one week ago. Tonight Pierre and I had more stories to tell; Pierre heard of a two-week-old baby found alive today, hurrah! and I heard from someone who was in Haiti as a missionary and how barely tolerable life was there for 95% of the population. This was before mass destruction hit.It is hard to communicate to

A Morning in January

2010-01-21T13:34:00.001-06:00

It's 1:30 pm. The three boys are racing around like small maniacs on miniature cars throughout the downstairs. One car came crashing down the basement steps after me as I went to take care of the laundry, sheesh, I really should be getting hazard pay.We worked on math in fun ways this morning. There were some really beautiful drawings made. Alienor's gnome king castle was besieged while she was

Resistance, or When to Push Back, When to Let Go

2010-01-15T05:45:00.008-06:00

The title says it all, that is my question for you today and the topic for my meanderings.As an unschooling mother who respects her children as individuals with the intelligence and human right to make their own decisions, giving them as much self-direction as possible in life is normal.My Waldorf background and my (sometimes dubious) status as an adult with a few more years of life experience,

Out of town!

2010-01-13T06:18:00.004-06:00

One of my favorite things to do is to stay home, really. I could knit, read and play with the kids all day long for months on end. My other absolute favorite thing to do is to travel. I am excited to announce that we have planned a really big trip, coming up in the spring.We are going to France for three months; exactly ninety days. We will be in the same town as our French family, but traveling

Extreme weather sports

2010-01-01T13:56:00.006-06:00

My world just got bigger and better. My husband brought home a pair of Yaktrax Pro Traction Cleats for Snow and Ice as an early birthday present. I had been hoping for a pair of my own since seeing them at a friend's house the other day. Her husband came home from a walk and I asked if things had not been too slippery. He showed me these little contraptions that slip over the bottom of your shoes

White Christmas

2009-12-28T09:18:00.004-06:00

I am an unapologetic lover of winter, snow makes me as giddy as my five-year-old. So we were all dismayed to see rain fall on top of all the lovely snow that had accumulated when we woke on Christmas Day. We were much gratified to see that rain turn into snow a few hours later and keep on snowing for days!This whole season since the beginning of Advent has been magical this year. We added

Blogging 'Bout Boys: Positive Parenting

2009-12-19T07:52:00.000-06:00

Blogging 'Bout Boys: Positive ParentingA wonderful post from Jennifer, mother of four boys, that sent a much-needed wake-up call. When sibling fighting seems to be the main theme of your waking hours, here is something to consider.

Baby and Reindeer

2009-12-19T07:17:00.004-06:00

Puck really loves his reindeer. That and llamas are his favorite animals...funny baby.

Sleigh Ride!

2009-12-19T07:12:00.003-06:00

We all loved the lighting of the town Christmas tree, horse and cart ride, hot cocoa and carols in the crisp December air the other night. The holiday season is on, may it be a peaceful, joyful one for you.