Monday, September 25, 2006

Recharged

This past weekend I was fortunate enough to have a night away with my husband. We very rarely get this opportunity. We attended my cousin's wedding, and it was just what we needed. Its easy to take for granted the foundation of our family,(our marriage),when we are busy with work and kids. Spending this time together without the usual distractions really renewed and recharged us. I have to make it a priority to plan more getaways for us!

Today it was back to unschooling for the boys and I. Being away from them, even for just one night, made me really grateful to be able to share so much time with them. DS7 and I read a great book, I Spy Shapes In Art by Lucy Micklethwait. She has you use famous works of art to find shapes. DS7 loves the I SPY books and Where's Waldo. This book offered him an addition benefit of reviewing great works of art. DS7 liked the Pop Art the best.

We also spent the afternoon at the park. We looked for hiding places for our Letterboxes and wrote clues. In a few weeks, we are inviting our homeschooling group to help us hunt for them. I love any good reason to be outdoors, especially on a sunny, warm fall day.

I did manage to bake some bread today too. We are trying a Ranch flavored bread because the boys love to dip everything in Ranch dressing. It smells fantastic, but we haven't tasted it yet.

I want to share one more thing today. I read this poem on a box of tea. Its written by Diane Loomans, from Full Esteem Ahead.

If I Had My Child To Raise Over Again

If I had my child to raise all over again, I'd finger paint more, and point the finger less.

I'd do less correcting, and more connecting.

I'd take my eyes off my watch, and watch with my eyes.

I would care to know less, and know to care more.

I'd take more hikes and fly more kites.

I'd stop playing serious, and seriously play.

I would run through more fields and gaze at more stars.

I'd do more hugging, and less tugging.

I would be firm less often, and affirm much more.

I'd build self-esteem first, and the house later.

I'd teach less about the love of power, and more about the power of love.

Thursday, September 21, 2006

Zombies Ate My Neighbors

I really do like when my children develop a passion, but when do you question whether passion has become obession?

Both of my two cubs have gone through the usual boy passions of transporation, construction, arachnids and insects. The older offspring followed his father into a love of role playing video games, but until a few months ago, my younger son was my Uno buddy. Uno branched off into several other great card games, and I was sure I'd have a kindred soul to enjoy my love of games of the non-electric variety. Then one day, I was asked why I didn't enjoy playing video games.

As I thought about my answer, I remembered years ago, BC (before children), I enjoyed playing a video game called, "Zombies Ate My Neighbors." In the game, you run around trying to rescue people and dogs from Zombies, Werewolves, man eating plants, snakeoids, giant ants, chainsaw Texans, ooh aah dolls (think Trilogy of Terror with Karen Black), Martians, mummies and sea monsters. Your only defense to start with, is a squirt gun, but you collect other weapons such as silverware (werewolves and silver don't mix), soda pop (I guess monsters don't like carbonation), magic potions, weed whackers (good for the man eating plants), and shoes that make you run faster. The game really is quite creative as you work your way through the different levels. DH and I have always thought it would make an excellent movie.

As I recalled my joy of playing Zombies Ate My Neighbors, I wondered where this old game had gone to. I found it weeks later looking for something else. It was hidden away in the dark, unfinished part of the basement in a place I would never look for it. I presented the find to my family with great excitement. Little had I known what was yet to come of this discovery.

We hooked up the game and DS7 plugged in. He became passionate about playing. He'd work up a sweat even as he jumped around with the controller in his tight grip. To my amazement, he far surpassed my abilities in rescuing babies, cheerleaders, tourists, soldiers, and Fido. He switched from weapon to weapon, knocking down the undead left and right. DH found cheat codes online so our little Zombies Ate My Neighbors Wizard could move right through the different levels, experiencing bigger and badder monsters. Soon, he didn't use the cheat codes anymore. Then the day finally came when he mastered all 48 levels. I thought the passion would have run its course and he'd be onto the next new thing. I was wrong.

We've been here before. We feed our children's passion, making their passions our own to enjoy the experience with them. At one point in my life I could have named every Thomas the Tank engine train friend, explained how diggers and backhoes work, and amaze you with my spider trivia,(my favorite being, you are never more than 3 feet away from a spider.)

Now for awhile I re-embraced Zombies, but for me, its run its course. I keep waiting for the day DS7 will decide this game is tomorrow's news. I guess that's the hard part about letting your child follow his interests. I feel like he's seen and done everything there is to do with the game. I feel its time for him to move on and grow into another passion. I guess I have to step back and let him figure that out for himself. Its all about his timing, not mine.

Monday, September 18, 2006

Orienteering

Motivation can move you further than you know. We went Orienteering this past Saturday at a beautiful Wisconsin state park, Blue Mounds. In Orienteering you use a topographical map to navigate a course, finding markers along your path. You punch in at each marker and serious competitors like to run the course as quickly as they are able. Our family likes to take our time however, enjoying the scenery. We had hiked the same park a few weeks ago and DS7 almost didn't make it. He had tears in his eyes and his little legs wouldn't take him another step further. This time however, he was out in front for the entire duration of our hike. I think the movitation of finding the markers made it more fun for him.

DS7 has never been a huge fan of hiking despite the fact DH and I have taken him into the woods since his birth. We've been using the hobbies of Orienteering and Letterboxing to make our family hikes more enjoyable for him.

Friday, September 08, 2006

Yumi

This is Yumi. She is now 17 weeks old. She has the gift of purr. No matter how sad you feel, once she climbs onto your lap and starts to purr, your worries melt away and your heart is wrapped around her. She has taught us that love has no limits.

Thursday, September 07, 2006

Getting back to our unroutine

I know its not really fall yet according to the earth's positioning, but since back to school time is here, it feels like fall. For us, back to school means back to family. While most of our neighborhood friends are attending school, we get to spend more time together, the boys and me. It feels so wonderful to have them back!

Since returning from our trip up north, we've been getting back to the "unroutine" of unschooling. Rather than follow a schedule, we simply try to fill our days with activities that interest us. Of course there are still distractions like dentist visits and my work schedule. I seem to have a huge mental list of "should do", "would like to do" and "would love to do." Its becoming a question of discipline and balance. I remind myself we need to nourish our souls and take care of our bodies. We can't do it all. We do need down time.

Its hard to allow for down time though when you know time goes by so quickly. Because of this, I find myself gravitating to the "would love to do" list. The lawn needs mowing but isn't it fun to watch our Yumi play in the grass? She won't be a kitten forever. We really should clean up and organize our bedrooms, but the sun is shining and its 70 degrees! All too soon it will be below zero and dark.

I'm the type of person who would rather live life like its our last day. The beauty of unschooling allows us to learn from this full lifestyle. I just have to let go sometimes of the doubts, walk in the grass in my barefeet, look up at the clouds and take a deep breath.