Artists,skaters,cooks and scientists!

Sammy making shaving cream sculptures.
Maddy's art work
My fruit pizza from Every Italian!
Maddy and Izzy performing experiments with cornstarh packing peanuts
Future skating star!
Maddy's boat
Maddy's train

Maddy and Izzy's shaving cream sculpturesThis is what we have been up to. What about you?

Just wanted to add something today! So this is it!

So Happy to be Where We Are

I have a friend whose daughter goes to public school. She has been telling me all about her daughter and classmates having to do "Practice" tests for the upcoming MCAS in March. They have been doing these tests since the fall. She has also expressed concerns for her daughter in that she is an interest based learner and she doesn't do well under pressure in class when called on to give an answer or read a loud. I asked her how she does at home or if when she reads things of her choosing does she understand. Yes, she does. I have also asked her, "What in life ,if you could give your daughter anything , would that be?" Her answer, "Confidence, Happiness and not to be afraid". I told her to bring her home! She is not ready to hear that thought. But her calls filled with tears and anxieties become more and more frequent. I don't wish that upon anyone but I do realize when she calls with her fears, how lucky I am to be home and to let my children learn at their own rate and of their own choosing. I don't see the fear in them and I don't feel the heartache that she does. I wish she could stand outside of herself and the world and realize that what she wants for her daughter could happen if she would go with her gut and do what she knows inside is best, instead of asking for that magic crystal ball.

How Did I Get Here?

Well I have been reading a lot lately. Mostly blogs some books. I just read from Wistful Wanderlust Unschooling How did we get here part I, II, and III. Thanks for those posts . I sent them to my husband who actually read them. He never ceases to amaze me. Anyway.... I decided to write how I got here. I was a teacher of Special Needs for 6plus years. I left for many reasons 1 being that when I tried to get the kids the services they needed I was told I couldn't recommend that service because then the school system would actually have to provide it and pay for it ! So I couldn't tell the child's Parents what I believed they needed! The parent could tell me what there child needed but if I agreed I wasn't allowed to say it out loud or in writing!! and 2. I wanted with all my heart to be home with my daughters. I had 2 at the time. So we crunched numbers and decided that we could do it. We went without buying a house , we had hand me down furniture, used cars and we didn't go on vacations once a year. But I was home. My oldest did go to school for K, and first grade. Then, after much help from both sets of parents, we bought our first house. Sara then went to a new school for 2 and 3rd grade. I saw a transformation in those years. One where a little girl who loved to be read to and loved to "read" to a child who hated to read. hated to write, hated to do math. She became unconfident . Well, when we moved Maddy was put into preschool for all of three days and I pulled her our and kept her home. The next year when she was to start K. It just didn't fell right so I kept her home to give homeschooling a try. Then next year we brought Sara home. We started out very much doing School at home. We tried many different ways of homeschooling. I read lots of books on different methods but still it was never as fun as I thought it would be and I always ended up frustrated. I learned about unschooling. It took me 2 and1/2 years of reading about it . But I kept going back to it and thinking that it really sounded like it made sense. But fear and my traditional background and teaching background kept me from it. I decided after having a panic attack that landed me in the hospital to try it.
Well a year later. I can say that I still have worries and we are taking baby steps but, I know in my heart, And I have to trust that and them (4 children now) that this is the path we were meant to be on. I am still learning but it getting better everyday!

Ok, so I am trying

So today I found some youtube clips from Wicked the Musical and we watched together. It was really ,I felt a nice connection. I then sent her the link, both things someones suggestion, to a HSM farting video. As much as I am not into that kind of humor I do think she will like it. So it is a start. I also sent hubby some links for unschooling dads . Hopefully he will read! I also put West Side Story on hold at the library maybe she will even watch it with me! She loved Cats and Joseph's Amazing Technicolor Coat.
I just finisned reading Nineteen Minutes. A book every teen should read especially those in Public School!

My Goals for the Week

My goals for this week is to find ways to support my childrens' interests. I am having some worrying moments when is comes to my oldest(13). My worry is based on balance I guess. I see her watching Youtube(mostly ones on Teen Disney Stars) and listening to Disney teen music and watching many Teen shows. Yes she is a teen and yes I have watched with her. I guess instead of wishing she would have other interests besides Disney Teen things I should be finding ways to support that interest and expand it. I just am stuck as to what. So if anyone has any ideas for me I am ALL ears!