Words of Wisdom From People Smarter Than Me

"Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or your self-confidence"
-Robert Frost

A Fun Day

Today we did our gamepalooza and had a blast! About twenty kids were here playing all kinds of games from chess to Halo. There were noisy zones and quiet rooms, chatting moms and giggling kids.

We set up games on little low tables, or on the floor all over the house and then let the kids go nuts

We began the day with game prep and a fabulous thunderstorm and ended with a stunning sunset and lots of talk about visiting with old friends and making new ones.

Every time I host this, I get a new mix of moms and we almost always jibe. Each time, I think "I should make a group... " but since it has a magic all its own, I'm just going to leave it alone for now.

We had a little time to talk philosophy, so many of these folks have always homeschooled it amazes me. It strikes me as incredible that you can have that confidence and foresight. I needed a bad experience to get me in line :-)
Until next time....

Deeper Meaning

I is interesting to me, how much TIME matters. Without the time to contemplate... I can't really be present. I can't really use my full faculties. Even as a stay-at-home kids are in school mom, I kept myself busy all the time. Doing what... I wondered later. fortunately it wasn't years later. I am not a workaholic by nature and so I caught myself, cut out the wasted time and focused on what matters. Still those months haunt me becuase there is some bizarre pull to fill all moments of silence.
I just went on an errand and noticed a view that I couldn't pass up. Its Sunday so I had nothing pressing to return home to and thought, well, I'll go enjoy that for a moment. Its a luxury for me to do what I want without negotiation. Even then, I couldn't stop "doing", I looked for a minute and kept checking to see if I was in someone's way, and then I'd pick up my book I was reviewing for next years science studies and I realized I felt hurried as I pulled away. I needn't have... I was entirely in control of my open hours and yet there were tasks pushing down on me.
I am just now in my late thirties learning to follow my interests without the brutal interior critic stopping me before I start. So I am engaging in lots more activities and exploring more things "to do". I'd better take some time, some silent time to just be. Without that I risk becoming one of those families that has no time for each other because they are so busy.
When you are so busy its hard to think about what matters, about the deeper meaning of our days, our lives. You just keep plugging along waiting for the next "break" which is then filled with other activities.
So for me, time is not a luxury... its a necessity if I want to do this job well; my job as parent and as home educating parent. Adn as wife and friend and pt worker and entrepreneur... stop me! Time to think now.
C-ya soon.

Sleepy Musings

Can't let another day go by without blogging, but am finishing up another busy day way to late!
My dd sleeps on the couch next to me as I've been tapping away on my website and volunteer brainstorming for our home education network we are in the process of creating.
Forming our inclusive homeschool network is really exciting and really nerve wracking. There have been personality clashes and huffy departures, deep bonding over hard work, and even a few laughs! A lot of laughs!
The other women on the board laugh at me because I guard vigilantly against the "professionalizing" of the board. Even saying board sounds to fussy - we are a bunch of moms who are commited to our kids and who choose to home school in order to keep our kids whole, happy and excited about life and learning.
I want meetings to include interruptions from the 8 year old who is really pissed 'cause his sister and he inadvertently switched swim trunks and the fit was not to his liking... what would a meeting be if you couldn't have the reminder of what you are doing it for interrupting you every five minutes for a cookie.
Ok, so I jest a little. But I love it when we all stay REAL with each other and one mom nurses her beautiful child while another reviews her commitee status and a third handles a popcorn emergency. Its symetry and symbiosis. This is what we are volunteering for. I don't want to come back to this board in 5 years and find it taken over by suits in masks.
It won't be ! It will always be an organic, slightly crunchy, welcoming group of dedicated parents!
So, even I can laugh at me. Now I just need to remember that it is what we do now that counts and I don't need to worry quite so much about mythical events of a potential future.
Not a bad thought to finaly get some sleep on.
Bon Nuit