This is awesome and I had to share.
I am so excited to finally figure videos out! Now I just have to be careful not to add too many...
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Sunday, November 9, 2008
A New Outlook
With the trip to California finished I find that it is harder than I thought it would be to get back into the "daily grind." I am relieved that we are taking at least this month off swimming and that the co-op classes are almost finished (though we will still be involved in bi-monthly Catholic celebrations like an immaculate conception tea party, mardi gras party, etc). I have a few schemes to keep me busy this month and next month, so hopefully I won't overcommit when everything gets going again. I am pleased with the impression I made on the other families in the co-op with my teaching style (and they were excited to have a new way to do things), but overall I think it is more trouble than it is worth doing official classes. My kids love them and I really love teaching them, but I have a lack of tolerance for office politics and the long drive and late nights preparing for class. With my experiences in CA, I am beginning to think I lack finesse in general when it comes to politics and other "taboo" topics of any kind. It doesn't help that the election happened while we were in CA and that almost everything I cared about lost, but more than that I think I am finding resolve in my opinions and since I love a good debate, I can't manage to keep my opinions to myself.
I had a wonderful time bonding with my BIL and SIL as well as my cousin-in-law (I guess that is the term). Lisa is only 16 and she and I disagreed on pretty much everything, but we had a great 90 minute conversation about religion, history and politics and while neither one of us walked away with different opinions, it was awesome to have a non-heated debate about where we stood and why. I have not had that much fun disagreeing with someone in a long time. Lisa's small-town public education shined through as being far better than anything I have seen the city public schools churn out. It almost gives me hope in the public schools - though they are still very biased, at least they give some foundation so that the children can sound like they know what they are talking about (they may even be able to draw on that knowledge in the future to learn to think for themselves!). My experience with larger city-run public schools is that the kids come out knowing how to be "popular" or at least not picked on, all about how unfair society is and how the government can fix it if only the 'people' will get out of the way and where to go to get free condoms or abortions (they've also probably been to Planned Parenthood at least once to render one of those services). Of course there is more than that, and I'm sure my oversimplification will inspire indignation in many individuals, but this blog is for my opinions so tough luck! Those are the things that stick out most in my mind from my own city public education.
Another huge thing both J and I realized after the trip is that we are good with taking long extended family visits for quite a while. It was nice visiting, but we have established a routine within our own family that doesn't lend itself to imposing on another family very easily. There are just too many of us. When your family is outnumbered almost 3 to 1 for an entire week (8 of us to my in-laws 3), there is going to be stress and it isn't fair nor conductive of a good visit. I figure we will find our way down to visit again, but it will be in the context of a larger trip and we will take a day or two to go out with family, but we will have our own space at night. I would love to see all the missions along the El Camino Real, Yosemite, the CA beach and a smattering of other sites in CA with the kids. We'll just have to see how it goes. I also discovered that a trip to sites would not be as expensive as I feared. I'm even tempted to try for an East Coast trip this summer if gas prices stay as low as they are. I am so excited to be spending $2.25/gal for gas! It feels like I can drive again, but since I have lost many of my wasteful and expensive habits (like family outings to the store, running errands and eating junk food) we will be able to better afford and enjoy those trips.
I am looking forward to time at home with the kids to prepare for and make our extended family gifts, hopefully getting rid of lots of junk around the house, getting caught up on housework, making house repairs and things like my garden prep bigger priorities and accomplishing (or at least starting) my homeschool goals for this year. I am hopeful that the next couple months will be productive on those fronts. We will see...
I had a wonderful time bonding with my BIL and SIL as well as my cousin-in-law (I guess that is the term). Lisa is only 16 and she and I disagreed on pretty much everything, but we had a great 90 minute conversation about religion, history and politics and while neither one of us walked away with different opinions, it was awesome to have a non-heated debate about where we stood and why. I have not had that much fun disagreeing with someone in a long time. Lisa's small-town public education shined through as being far better than anything I have seen the city public schools churn out. It almost gives me hope in the public schools - though they are still very biased, at least they give some foundation so that the children can sound like they know what they are talking about (they may even be able to draw on that knowledge in the future to learn to think for themselves!). My experience with larger city-run public schools is that the kids come out knowing how to be "popular" or at least not picked on, all about how unfair society is and how the government can fix it if only the 'people' will get out of the way and where to go to get free condoms or abortions (they've also probably been to Planned Parenthood at least once to render one of those services). Of course there is more than that, and I'm sure my oversimplification will inspire indignation in many individuals, but this blog is for my opinions so tough luck! Those are the things that stick out most in my mind from my own city public education.
Another huge thing both J and I realized after the trip is that we are good with taking long extended family visits for quite a while. It was nice visiting, but we have established a routine within our own family that doesn't lend itself to imposing on another family very easily. There are just too many of us. When your family is outnumbered almost 3 to 1 for an entire week (8 of us to my in-laws 3), there is going to be stress and it isn't fair nor conductive of a good visit. I figure we will find our way down to visit again, but it will be in the context of a larger trip and we will take a day or two to go out with family, but we will have our own space at night. I would love to see all the missions along the El Camino Real, Yosemite, the CA beach and a smattering of other sites in CA with the kids. We'll just have to see how it goes. I also discovered that a trip to sites would not be as expensive as I feared. I'm even tempted to try for an East Coast trip this summer if gas prices stay as low as they are. I am so excited to be spending $2.25/gal for gas! It feels like I can drive again, but since I have lost many of my wasteful and expensive habits (like family outings to the store, running errands and eating junk food) we will be able to better afford and enjoy those trips.
I am looking forward to time at home with the kids to prepare for and make our extended family gifts, hopefully getting rid of lots of junk around the house, getting caught up on housework, making house repairs and things like my garden prep bigger priorities and accomplishing (or at least starting) my homeschool goals for this year. I am hopeful that the next couple months will be productive on those fronts. We will see...
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
A Brief Hello and We're Off!
My thoughts on being too busy were unfortunately more accurate than I care to admit - hence a 3 month hiatus from writing! I have already dropped helping with Jr High youth group. I would love to help, but it is like a drug, I will not be able to limit my "help" unless I am not needed. Besides, as Ariana gets older I am really enjoying homeschooled kids a lot more than their schooled counterparts. I also dropped taking over the local social get-togethers, someone else stepped in and handled that. Yeh! I like it when someone else steps in and makes things work! I'm probably going to let a bit more go too, because the kids want to "be home" more. I'm not making any commitments on dropping things yet though.
The co-op has been a lot of fun! I really like the kids and parents involved I would be sad to leave, but I did tell the kids we would take a bit of a break so that we are not running around at least 3 days out of the week. For the remaining 5 weeks, I just need to work on preparing for class more than 12 hours before the class begins. I manage to get it done, but 4-6 hours of sleep and the stress of running around to get everything together in the remaining 6-8 hours is a bit much, plus Jeff has had to bail me out every week so far because I run out of time. Yes, the plan is for 5 more weeks of classes, not 3 like the original plan, because then "my" classes match the preschool and babysitting schedule. I am looking forward to the extra classes because we have been having so much fun. I am actually kinda sad that we will miss one class for our trip to CA. The CA trip plans are a story for another time.
I'm now off to the dentist (where I can work on prep for class next week, maybe?) and then trying to clean the disaster that is the house after almost 2 months of me being sick with one illness or another.
The co-op has been a lot of fun! I really like the kids and parents involved I would be sad to leave, but I did tell the kids we would take a bit of a break so that we are not running around at least 3 days out of the week. For the remaining 5 weeks, I just need to work on preparing for class more than 12 hours before the class begins. I manage to get it done, but 4-6 hours of sleep and the stress of running around to get everything together in the remaining 6-8 hours is a bit much, plus Jeff has had to bail me out every week so far because I run out of time. Yes, the plan is for 5 more weeks of classes, not 3 like the original plan, because then "my" classes match the preschool and babysitting schedule. I am looking forward to the extra classes because we have been having so much fun. I am actually kinda sad that we will miss one class for our trip to CA. The CA trip plans are a story for another time.
I'm now off to the dentist (where I can work on prep for class next week, maybe?) and then trying to clean the disaster that is the house after almost 2 months of me being sick with one illness or another.
Monday, July 28, 2008
This Year is Shaping up to be Just Right...right?
I tend to overcommit myself every summer and then stress out until things drop off in the Fall and Winter. By Spring I am bored and desperate for more things to do, so I start the whole cycle over again. This year my goal is to try and find that elusive happy medium before the year starts. So far...
I am the leader of the Catholic Homeschool group we belong to of about 135 families (I have awesome members on the board so I shouldn't have that much to do)
Trying to do more 'organized' school with the kids this year
Help out if necessary running the Middle School youth group at our local parish (Ariana will be one of the kids involved and I want to make sure it is a good experience if they will accept help)
Participating in a new Homeschool Co-op that will offer activities and maybe classes for the kids
Possibly take the lead in social get-togethers that another more local homeschool group needs
Then I get to be chauffeur for Cub Scouts, Swimming/Ballet, Little Flowers, CCD, Girl Scouts, etc. I am cutting out OMSI classes at this point because I don't know what gas prices will do, but it may get added in later.
I also have some writing projects on the side that could go a long way to help bring in more income if I can find the time to do them.
This may seem like a lot to commit to, but I have never made a good stay-at-home anything, so these things should keep me content. The Youth Group is the only thing I am afraid to do and that is only because of how much I love Youth Ministry. I am afraid that a taste will not be enough and I will end up more involved than I can handle.
Right now my leadership position is almost too much, but I think things will get better as the year starts. Since I am part of a whole new committee, we have to learn the ropes, review policy and figure out where the year will go. Once the basics are down, we will just be overseeing things. I am excited about the new year and look forward to the lessons I will learn - who knows, maybe I will be able to finally become comfortable talking in front of a group.
If anything has to go it will probably be 'organized' school. I have stated the supposed need for "more organized school" every year for the last 3 years and it has never materialized, so I am not stressing about it. I think my proclaimation of more organization is a defense mechanism when I am around family and friends who do not approve of unschooling. My plan for "more organized school" this year is actually relatively simple and would still put me firmly in the unschooling realm. When I have described what unschooling means to me I have had several people suggest that I should create a new term because it is not what they think of as unschooling. I will expand on this in another post.
My four goals with school this year:
1. Put up a timeline that the kids can add to whether pictures, words, symbols, whatever
2. Add a poster of the succession of Popes to our walls of educational posters
3. Start planning our trip across the country by collecting info on the states, looking up landmarks, campgrounds, etc
4. Write down lesson or subject ideas for the kids in a planner, so that they can look up and do work whenever they want. Since some subjects are progressive I don't know what I will be writing down, but I'm sure I can figure something out.
I am looking forward to however this year turns out, as long as it is better than 2006 was!
I am the leader of the Catholic Homeschool group we belong to of about 135 families (I have awesome members on the board so I shouldn't have that much to do)
Trying to do more 'organized' school with the kids this year
Help out if necessary running the Middle School youth group at our local parish (Ariana will be one of the kids involved and I want to make sure it is a good experience if they will accept help)
Participating in a new Homeschool Co-op that will offer activities and maybe classes for the kids
Possibly take the lead in social get-togethers that another more local homeschool group needs
Then I get to be chauffeur for Cub Scouts, Swimming/Ballet, Little Flowers, CCD, Girl Scouts, etc. I am cutting out OMSI classes at this point because I don't know what gas prices will do, but it may get added in later.
I also have some writing projects on the side that could go a long way to help bring in more income if I can find the time to do them.
This may seem like a lot to commit to, but I have never made a good stay-at-home anything, so these things should keep me content. The Youth Group is the only thing I am afraid to do and that is only because of how much I love Youth Ministry. I am afraid that a taste will not be enough and I will end up more involved than I can handle.
Right now my leadership position is almost too much, but I think things will get better as the year starts. Since I am part of a whole new committee, we have to learn the ropes, review policy and figure out where the year will go. Once the basics are down, we will just be overseeing things. I am excited about the new year and look forward to the lessons I will learn - who knows, maybe I will be able to finally become comfortable talking in front of a group.
If anything has to go it will probably be 'organized' school. I have stated the supposed need for "more organized school" every year for the last 3 years and it has never materialized, so I am not stressing about it. I think my proclaimation of more organization is a defense mechanism when I am around family and friends who do not approve of unschooling. My plan for "more organized school" this year is actually relatively simple and would still put me firmly in the unschooling realm. When I have described what unschooling means to me I have had several people suggest that I should create a new term because it is not what they think of as unschooling. I will expand on this in another post.
My four goals with school this year:
1. Put up a timeline that the kids can add to whether pictures, words, symbols, whatever
2. Add a poster of the succession of Popes to our walls of educational posters
3. Start planning our trip across the country by collecting info on the states, looking up landmarks, campgrounds, etc
4. Write down lesson or subject ideas for the kids in a planner, so that they can look up and do work whenever they want. Since some subjects are progressive I don't know what I will be writing down, but I'm sure I can figure something out.
I am looking forward to however this year turns out, as long as it is better than 2006 was!
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Getting started
I have started and restarted this blog a few times with different posts. I am finally ready to say that this is the last first post I am doing. I don't know where I will go with my posts or if I will have a set plan for who I invite and what content I have. I'm just going to go with it and see where this blog ends up.
My biggest 'problem' has been the immense responsibility I feel in posting my thoughts online for others to read (however few it may be). I have plenty of thoughts on a broad range of topics, and many of my opinions are fluid (and may change over time on some issues), but I do not have enough experience and education to feel like an authority on any subject (I have a tendency to sound like I do though). I know why I have the opinions I do and I am very fond of logic and research so I am comfortable with where I stand, but the responsibility of possibly turning people away from what is good scares me. I have done enough damage in my life and I am so scared of doing more that I prefer being in the background where no one sees me, doing the best I can to make a difference without recognition or blame. I know that God sees everything and knows exactly how my actions and words hurt or heal, but putting myself out here like this is a whole new level for me. I will just have to see where this all goes.
My biggest 'problem' has been the immense responsibility I feel in posting my thoughts online for others to read (however few it may be). I have plenty of thoughts on a broad range of topics, and many of my opinions are fluid (and may change over time on some issues), but I do not have enough experience and education to feel like an authority on any subject (I have a tendency to sound like I do though). I know why I have the opinions I do and I am very fond of logic and research so I am comfortable with where I stand, but the responsibility of possibly turning people away from what is good scares me. I have done enough damage in my life and I am so scared of doing more that I prefer being in the background where no one sees me, doing the best I can to make a difference without recognition or blame. I know that God sees everything and knows exactly how my actions and words hurt or heal, but putting myself out here like this is a whole new level for me. I will just have to see where this all goes.
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