Archive for July, 2006
Published by
Joanne on
July 19, 2006
Goings on in our home…
Jacqueline went to a birthday party for her friend Jasmine at Chuck E. Cheese’s. Besides the noise level being almost deafening (which is ironic coming from me after all the hard rock concerts I’ve been to), I actually like taking my kids there. Every game is one token, which is great because 20 tokens each goes a long way and I always go to their website and print out coupons. Most of the time, we go after we eat and I just buy them a drink there, which they get free refills on. It’s definitely worth it and of course, the kids love it. 
We had some of our homeschooling friends here yesterday….there were (including us) 5 mothers and 16 kids ranging in age from 18 months to 15 years old. Everybody had a great time and they’re all coming back next Tuesday.
I bought an oregano plant a few weeks ago and just cut some of it back. After many attempts, this is the first time any plant has made it this far, they usually die soon after I buy them. I’ve been drying the cuttings in the laundry room since Sunday. I also bought parsley and basil….again. Maybe this will be my season.
They say you should learn something new everyday and today I did. I learned what caused the Big bang theory and how it happened. Who taught me? My seven year old, of course! I’ve learned lots of things about space and the solar system from her.
If you have young kids, then you know how much they love pretend play. Both my younger two love playing teacher and office. Those are their two favorite. But today there was a new one. Jacqueline was playing “publisher”. I love that kid.
Published by
Joanne on
July 15, 2006
The girls & I went shopping today for arts & crafts suppplies. I wanted to pick up some colored card stock, metallic or paint markers and some stickers for the Artist Trading Cards we’ve been making and trading. Jacqueline also wanted to see if she could get a felt tip pen for drawing.
I have an educators discount card from joanns craft store, (open to all homeschoolers) although I had haven’t been in the store yet to shop. I also had two 40% off coupons for Michaels craft store, each coupon only good for one item.
We went to Michaels first because I wanted to ask if they have a educators discount program also. Jacqueline found her pens and used one of my coupons to buy them. When I asked about the card, the cashier said no, that they didn’t offer one and she added that she didn’t understand why…with joanns being so close you would think they would try to get the teachers and homeschoolers to shop there.
I decided to buy one item at Michaels and use my other 40% off coupon and buy all the other items in joanns.
Shopping in joanns was a breeze. The staff was very helpful and friendly and I found everything I needed. They had tons of stuff on clearance and the cashier used my discount on everything, not just the regular priced stuff.
So, cheers to joanns craft store for giving a discount to homeschoolers. You can apply online and even use your discount for online purchases.
In the end, I spent $5.27 in Michaels and $34.78 in joanns.
Published by
Joanne on
July 14, 2006
Queana has posted Unschooling Voices in podcast format. Click that link to “hear” installment one of Unschooling Voices. How exciting! Thanks Queana!
If you haven’t sent it in yet, don’t forget to send in a blog post for the next Unschooling Voices. Here’s the information. Remember, you don’t have to answer the question of the month…I only write them for those who choose to answer them. All unschooling posts will be accepted.
Related Tags: unschooling voices, unschooling carnival
Published by
Joanne on
July 13, 2006
Some cute Jacqueline-isms that I wanted to share (and remember):
Billy came home from work one evening last week and Jacquline was on playstation. He started playing with her but then pooped out soon after. When she saw him putting his control down and get up to change out of his work clothes, she said “Dad, I’ll play an easier game with you if you want”.
….how sweet… My seven year old takes it easy on dear old daddy.
The other day I was getting a video ready for Shawna while she was getting the mail and I couldn’t get it working. Shawna came back in and saw me having trouble but didn’t know what was wrong. The video was in, the tv was on I was pressing “play” on the remote, but nothing was happening. We shut everything off and turned it back on again and still nothing!
In walks Jacqueline, looks at me, looks at the tv and then the remote and says “Mommy, you’re using the wrong remote. Do you want me to do it for you?”
Gotta love her.
Reminder: We’re taking submissions for the second installment of Unschooling Voices
That link will give you all the details plus July’s installment.
Someone e-mailed me and in case anyone else has the same question….your blog doesn’t have to be an unschooling blog, just the post you send in. Not every unschooler has unschooling as the main focus of their blog.
Related Tags: unschooling voices, unschooling carnival
Published by
Joanne on
July 12, 2006
I started a discussion on the forums at Forever Parents about a specific issue with Shawna and some interesting thoughts came out about controlling what a child eats, body awareness and emotional eating. I’m going to repost my comments here for anyone who may find themselves in a simular situation.
“I disagree with the information you were given by the dietician. I would never control what Jacqueline eats. She eats healthier than most adults I know. On her own, Jacqueline will choose grapes or cheese over ice cream or cake. She has free access to her candy yet her Easter candy still sits in the cabinet. Given the freedom to choose has allowed her to make good choices on her own.
Just because I say I don’t control her food, doesn’t mean I let them make choices blindly or let them figure things out for themselves. I’ve given Jacqueline (and Shawna) lots of information on nutrition (in the way of discussions, books, videos, etc) and we discuss the choices they make. Children need us to help them and give them accurate information. We have experiences to draw on, that they don’t have and we have the benefit of having lived longer.
Yes, sometimes they make wrong choices (or what I would think is wrong-maybe not wrong for them) but that’s part of learning and is part of living. Making mistakes is a way to learn, not something to be avoided. “
…And then later on in the discussion…
“When my kids came to us from foster care, they had been limited and controlled in every area of their life. They had no “real life” skills because they were never given the chance to choose for themselves.
It reminded me of when I used to have my dance & exercise studio. I used to have clients ask me to plan out a diet for them to follow for a couple of months, so they could lose 25 pounds. I always asked them what they planned to do when the diet was finished and the couple of months had passed. They never had any idea. I tried to show them how making changes in their everyday life, changes they could live with forever, would help them better in the long term and that once the diet is over, they’ll probably go back to the way they’ve always done things. They’re not learning anything by being on a diet.
It’s the same way with kids. If someone is always controlling their food, how will they learn to self-monitor? When they’re an adult? Isn’t it better for them to do it while they’re young and have a parent there, by their side, helping them and giving them the information they need to make informed decisions? Yes, sometimes they make, what I would consider a wrong choice. That’s part of it. That’s part of how they learn what feels right. If they’re never given a choice, how can they choose what’s right? This was a slow realization for me that didn’t start until I actually had kids of my own.
I’ve done this with Jacqueline since the day she moved in…..slowly giving her more freedom to make her own food choices…little by little. All the while, we talk about what feels good and what makes us feel yukky. After almost four years, she’s at the point where she eats what she wants, when she wants and how much she wants. “
Related Tags: parenting
