Just a Moment

A moment in time, fleeting. Take time to notice, and just be. A moment can bring peace, joy, companionship, connection....I am focusing my energy on noticing and allowing my awareness to remain in each moment.

What is Typical Anyway?

By nature, we are curious. Many are curious as to what a typical day might look like for a family such as ours. I say, children, by nature, are curious. So, that is  the driving force which shapes many of our days. We may find some days in which we are just on the go. We participate in a home school co-op one day a week where my two older sons select and take classes which are formed based on youth interest and parent talents. We have found this to be a very natural fit for our family. The boys have plenty of unstructured opportunities to be with their friends, as well as ample time to participate in more structured classes that supply them with new and exciting content and activities which change every six weeks. It is a homey, family atmosphere, with a definite feeling of community and common purpose. The families come to know one another, are active in their children's day, and also are able to have time to do things that are not always feasible with children home all day-for me? That might mean a run mid morning instead of the crack of dawn, errands, laundry folding in a quiet room, reading a book, or a 20 minute shopping trip that would ordinarily take 1 hour. This time is crucial for me to regroup, although it goes so fast! The co-op also offers the adults to participate in a purpose outside the home in the running of the program. I am excited to teach other young people again, young people who WANT to be there to learn what I have to offer....which might not always be what my own children want to learn. It provides me another place to connect with my own individual identity.

The boys have all participated in various sports and activities outside the house as well. We've learned to be selective so that our schedule does not become overly hectic-which is easy with three! Balance has been my mantra, yet is still a challenge to achieve and maintain. They've tried their hands at clay and art, science and engineering, lego club, chess club, theatre, horseback riding, and various programs that our wonderful local libraries have to offer.

On days that we are home, we may mix in some structured typey stuff. Lately, my middle son finds Time4Learning to be a great learning tool. We also have a Spanish computer program that they can spend time as they wish. Journal writing is encouraged, but not corrected or graded, unless they make a request-and they do sometimes. They draw pictures, write about events happening, make comics, and stories that continue over days. The purpose is to foster a comfort and joy of writing. I have watched their "Inventive Spelling" emerge into more sophisticated words through the practice of reading together, independently, and just listening to word sounds. My two older sons took their time before expressing an interest in actual printing, struggling with fine motor issues. We use Handwriting Without Tears, and it is just that. Math is all around us as well, but we have supplemented with some curriculum.....much of it hands on. Right now, we are using Life of Fred, which uses a storytelling approach to connect mathematical concepts to real life. It also incorporates grammar, history, science, geography, art and much, much more. We also read lots and lots. Living history books are a favorite-The Little House series for example. Some recent books which support math include The Toothpaste Millionaire, The Lemonade War, The Number Devil, and Arithmetic from the Wayside School. We explore poetry from Robert Frost to Shel Silverstein sparking an interest in writing and painting pictures of our own. Our kitchen and yard are our science labs, and they of course, love all the kits given to them on holidays and birthdays. Lately, my two olders had been grumbling that they couldn't spell, clearly not convinced in my confidence that through reading and exposure, or use of a dictionary even, it would come to them. So, to help them build self confidence, we started using Sequential Spelling. Its a fabulous approach that builds their spelling skills using word sounds/families and repetiton of patterns. They self correct immediately after independently spelling each word. After just one week, I could see self confidence emerging in their spelling. My oldest has found The Scale of the Universe, Google Maps-he LOVES maps and statistics, SCRATCH programming program, and Minecraft, lately to be his online favs when he's not reading or running wild outside.

 

I will say that the structured stuff comprises just a smidgen of our actual time. The boys are most often found DOING something or going somewhere to actively witness and engage in their learning. Outside time is a priority, as we are all lovers of the outdoors and nature. Whenever doubt creeps in, which it does more often than I'd prefer, a little reminder pops up. One of the boys will start a project that clearly exudes a craving for learning and application, or one will make a discovery that would typically be taught in school, likely at a time he is interested. I remember such a small amount of what I studied in school. I was typically stressed out and feeling overwhelmed with too much to accomplish and learn, but did "well" academically. I look back, and realize, its what sparked my interest, that motivated me to learn more....though there generally wasn't time to do so. That said, as an adult, it is only now that I am able to pursue what truly interests me, and it is that which I am able to retain, and apply. So, as the boys grow, it is this which I see in them. They have the gift of freedom, we tell them. Find what you love, what tickles your brains, and go with it.