February?  Nah, it must be April at least!  This week we’ve been to numerous playgrounds, played outside for hours, and went to the beach.  This is the kind of weather that makes one think about global warming!

I know we’ll have a few days of cooler weather but it will be full time beach and pool weather in no time.  I, for one, can’t wait!

I realized last night why I haven’t been blogging or tweeting.  It’s because I feel like I’ve pigeon-holed myself into a label that doesn’t allow me to breathe or be myself.  But this is my space.  My Place.  If people don’t like what I write about or disagree with me, then that is completely their issue.   They can choose to click away and not come back.

I read a blog post a few weeks ago (maybe it was even more recent than that) and she said what I’d been thinking and feeling for so long- 100% of radical unschooling doesn’t work for 100% of families.  Gasp.  I know, right?  But it wasn’t working for us.  It hadn’t been working for us for a very long time.  I just kept trying.  And things kept getting worse and worse.  So we stopped trying.  As a family, we stopped.  And it’s been one of the most wonderful decisions we’ve ever made.

We still do a lot of things that we did before.  Our home is stil full of respect and kindness, and more love than most other homes.  But we’ve changed a lot of other things and the biggest was with the way we spoke to each other.  Options also have gotten smaller and we have, you might need to walk away now, chores.  But the biggest difference in our life has been the lack of grumpies, bad attitudes, and unhappiness.  This is made our family happier, kinder, and work better together.

Does this mean we don’t support radical unschoolers?  Absolutely not.  Does this mean that we have turned into authoritarian school-at-home parents? NO!  Does this mean that we will stop using the radical unschooler label?  Yes, we won’t use any label.  We are doing what is best and works for our family which is what EVERYONE should do.

I’m still very hesitant to post this because I’m afraid of the backlash.  I know most of your won’t get it.  But those of you who really know us, those that have met my amazing kids, will know that we are just fine.  They are fine.  Our home is stil full of respect and kindness, and more love than most other homes.  We’re just doing things our own way.  I respect those of you that can do the radical unschooler thing 100%.  Good for you.  I hope that it’s working for your family for real.  I respect everyone who does what works for their family.  I hope that you will respect us as well.

I’m not walking away from my friends.  I’m not walking away from the people that I love and admire and respect.  I’m still the same person that I have always been- just a bit more honest, a bit more shy, and much, much happier.

P.S.- I am still involved in the Florida Unschooling Conference.  I am 1 of 6 running the show.  I still support radical unschooling and we still do so much of it, just not exclusively and not at the expense of the happiness of our family.

After a few days of really cold weather for us thin-blooded Floridians, I am totally reminded why I live in the sunshine state.  It’s January 6th and we’ve spent most of the day with the house opened up.  There is something so wonderful about the breeze and fresh air.  We don’t have screen on any of the windows in the new house so I made the decision today to get at least a screen door.  My dad is going to help me get it installed this weekend and just in time, too- this weekend the high is going to be in the mid-to-hi 70s. Perfect weather.

The nice weather has really brightened my spirits and motivated me to get stuff done today.  I spent the morning cleaning the kitchen and catching up on laundry. We also finally finished taking down all of the Christmas decorations and put them into storage.  I didn’t do a lot of decorating when we first moved in because I knew the holidays were coming so I’m really looking forward to spring cleaning and organizing.

I’ve never lived in a house this big.  The dining room is still so empty even with shelves and a table.  We definitely need a bigger dining room table and a rug!  I don’t want to go overboard with decorating, but I definitely want to make the house look inviting and comfortable.  I’m so clueless when it comes to that kind of thing.  Thank goodness for Pinterest and Goodwill.

Things are good here and it’s been a great start to 2012 so far!

2011 was the year that things finally started looking up for us- we found a nice big house that we love and can afford, my hubby spent his first 3 semesters in school after 30 years and made the Dean’s List all 3, and he also found a job after 15 months of unemployment that will help him stay in school. I also found a great like-minded friend which is something that definitely had been missing from my life.

I’m hoping the momentum will carry on through the new year! I’m very content right now and though there are some new skills I’d like to learn and a few new habits I’d like to make, I’m not looking to make any huge changes this year. I want to continue to be happy and content with what I have and not look forward at the uncertain future or look back at what cannot be changed.

Happy 2012.

I’ve recently come to the conclusion that I’m destined to be more than the other people I know- more quiet. more home centered, more radical.

This space has been quiet while I’ve pondered this.  I often feel like I have nothing more to contribute.  Or what I do contribute, while *me*, is too…. too. I’m afraid to step on toes.  I’m afraid to seem to be too much.

I yearn to feel free to be just who I am.

I’m so happy that this is the journey I’m taking- so I can clear a path for my kids who have never felt the need to be someone they aren’t.  And hopefully never will.

My kids aren’t in the nursing stages anymore, so breastfeeding doesn’t get as much blog time as it once did. But I’m still quite involved with La Leche League and breastfeeding. Perhaps someday I will get to nurse another baby of my own, but until then I will be satisfied providing support, education, and encouragement to other breastfeeding moms.

Every year the 1st week of August is World Breastfeeding Week.  The purpose of World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) is to increase communication about breastfeeding in a variety of ways, raise funds for La Leche League USA, with an emphasis on local communities, to raise awareness that breastfeeding prepares humans for life, to raise awareness that the lack of breastfeeding affects the child, mother, community and health care systems and to raise awareness that La Leche League Leaders and Groups offer breastfeeding information and support to all.

Our local La Leche League group is participating in The Big Latch On on Saturday, August 6th at 10:30am. From 10:30-10:31am, mothers will come together and nurse their babies.  The nursing couples will be counted and turned in to LLL USA who is helping to organize these events all over the country.  We are attempting to break the world record for the most women nursing simultaneously.  (You can find BLO events in your area here.) Our local event will be held at Westfield Mall- Sarasota.  The mall is also holding it’s annual Ready, Set, Grow Expo and we will have a table there.  Come by and say hello!

Breastfeeding is such an important thing for everyone in a family…  it’s allows mom to have a very special bond with her baby, it gives baby the best nourishment she can get anywhere, it allows dad to offer mom support and do the fun stuff with baby like baths and cuddling, and it gives siblings the knowledge that breastfeeding is normal.

Happy WBW and enjoy those special moments with your nurslings- it goes by way too fast!

Can you see me?

Can you hear me?

I feel invisible.  I feel like people look through me. I feel like when I speak, my words fall upon deaf ears.

Today, I feel like I’m drowning and there is no one on shore to help pull me to safety or anyone to care.

Between children in the neighborhood who like to cause trouble and their parents who stand by and do nothing and the lack of time I have to get anything done with the kids or the lack of time I have to spend with my husband, I’m spent.  My well is dry.

This summer has been the busiest since I had children.  Perhaps even the busiest for me ever.  I complain about the driving sometimes.  I complain about the price of gas quite a bit.  I miss having my kids home with me.  But, I love seeing them so happy and thriving in what they’re doing!

Olivia started her 6th week of summer drama camp.  This time she is attending as a teen assistant for their “Little Theatre” program-  full of 5-7 year olds.  She is so excited about it.  She loves anything that has to do with acting.  Last week she had 2 performances that I was lucky enough to see both of- and she has completely relaxed on stage now.  She is more comfortable and you can see the enjoyment.  She would like to attend college for drama and then come back to the studio she takes classes at as a teacher.

Mesa spends 3-4 days a week at the roller rink.  I love watching her skate around- she’s amazing and totally at ease in those skates.  But not only has she been skating, she spent two weeks learning how to sail her own little sail boat.  When I went to see her sail last Friday, she was awesome.  She looked so completely at home on the water.  She even took Ione and Levi for loops in the bay. Next week she has derby camp every morning.  She’s so happy.  She would like to continue to be a artist roller derby girl when she grows up- one who lives on a sailboat and plays golf.

I’ve always tried to follow their leads-follow their passions- their joys, but never until now has it been so obvious to me.  I’m so glad that I listen.  I love our life.

Not to worry- Levi has been having an amazing summer, too.  I’ll give him his very own post in the not so distant future.

The other day I gave my big list of things that I like and believe in- the BIG stuff.  Today, I present to you the other stuff.  The fun, silly, and mundane stuff that I happen to love…  in no particular order, of course.

I love 80s hair bands- Poison, Bon Jovi, Skid Row, and Motley Crue, just to name a few. I love the color purple- any shade of it even  I just love purple.  I love horror movies- just not the bloody ones.  I love movies that scare the shit out of me.  I love scary books even more. I read a lot.  I love Amish romance novels, scary stuff, and mysteries.  I could eat Mexican food everyday and not get tired of it.  I sing constantly-  even songs that I don’t like.  I desperately want a pair of purple Converse.  I love the beach and the pool.  I love the feeling of weightlessness I get while floating.  I like road trips.  I like loud music and the wind in my hair while I’m driving.  I like iced chai tea and Dr. Pepper and ice cold water with lemon.

I like taking naps on sunny afternoons and rainy ones, too.  I like watching cartoons from when I was a kid and cartoons that my kids like.  I like movie theatre popcorn with extra butter.  I love being awake when most everyone else is asleep.  I like sitting on the beach in the middle of the night with a beer and good friends.  I like a drink or two sometimes.  There are times that I wish I still smoked.  I love having a clean house (just not enough to do the dishes right now), but I don’t mind the clutter.  I would wear a pair of jean capris and a t-shirt every single day of my life if I could- and I still had jean capris.  (Note To Self: Get on that!!  Find some jean capris!!) I love painting my toes funky colors.

I love my kids and my husband.  I love laying in bed and night and listening to them all breath.  I love watching tv with my cats on my lap. I love looking for the perfect tattoo design.  (I’m still on a quest to find it before I actually get a tattoo done) I love listening to Olivia talk about acting.  I love watching Mesa skate.  I love watching tv with Levi and listening to him tell me what’s going to happen.

I love my life.  <3

To Whom It May Concern,

I know that there have been those people out there, known personally by me and those not, who have concerns over my children’s lack of “proper” education and socialization. <insert my polite eye rolling here>

Olivia is now entering her 3rd year of drama classes.  She has performed in 3 separate shows with a total of 5 solo selections and numerous ensemble pieces. She is now in her 5th week of intensive summer acting camp and will be performing in two shows next weekend.  Not only will she be in numerous pieces, both solo and enesmble, she and a friend wrote their own scene, alone, on Skype one night.  It will be performed in their show.

Mesa is on her 4th day of sailing camp.  On her 2nd day, she sailed solo.  It was her first time being in any boat that wasn’t the ferry at Disney World.  This morning she proceeded to tell me all the parts of the boat and how to tack, as well as what to do if your boat capsizes.

Levi sat the dining room table this morning and read.  All alone, with no prompting or coercion.  He just opened up his Lego magazine and started reading.

These three children have never been to school.  They have never had formal lessons. They have never been forced to do school work or go to any class against their will.  They have never been spanked.  They have been treated like people from the day they were born.  I’d say they’re doing just fine, wouldn’t you?

If you still have have concerns about their education, socialization or behavior from here on out, keep it to yourself.

Sincerely,
Laura (& Sal)