Mariposa Academy Homeschool

poem: August Heat, anonymous
root: micro, small (Lat.)
Spanish word: el zarcillo, earring

Poem: In July by Evaleen Stein
Root: phone, sound (Gr.)
Spanish Word: quemar, to burn.

I think there’s a name for what I’m going through. If there isn’t, there should be. Seasonal Homeschool Indecision Syndrome, perhaps? Suddenly, after being satisfied with unschooling for a while, I’ve started re-investigating different homeschooling styles and curricula. I’ve even considered buying a complete, boxed curriculum. It’s probably a good thing I didn’t find one I liked; I might actually have purchased it, and then have buyer’s remorse.

I spent hours, literally, online yesterday researching options and reminding myself of what I loved and hated about various curricula and philosophies. Among the ideas that still speak to me are many aspects of Charlotte Mason education. I joined two CM yahoo lists, and hopefully I’ll get some ideas on how to integrate some CM ideas within a general child-led framework. Classical education, especially the depth and breadth of the material covered and the respect for different stages of learning, is also still appealing. And then of course there’s the Moore Formula.

I’m going to work on using many of these ideas, while still remaining child-led. Faith at the Dumb Ox Academy has some good ideas. I think I’m going to adapt her fridge technique and create a weekly/daily board. I can have a root word of the day, art postcard/flashcard of the day, poem of the week, idea of the week… what else?

Melissa Wiley has a post about her Rule of Six, an idea that I absolutely love. I am going to start using the Rule of Six in my daily life.

I decided last night that every day I am going to make sure to read at least one fiction selection and one non-fiction selection to the kids. We’re also going to get more consistent with routines, bedtime, and other basics. It’s something I struggle with constantly, but the kids really do need regularity, and I think I need it, too.

Oh my maude, we had the best time at the Dan Zanes concert yesterday. The best! They put on a spectacular show. One thing I love about Dan Zanes and his music is that it has a very populist kind of spirit. He is all about all kinds of people, young and old, coming together and enjoying music… and making music. There’s stuff on his website about not losing that uninhibited free spirit that we had in childhood. Not worrying about being “good” at singing or playing or dancing, and just having fun together. It really hits home for me. I can’t carry a tune in a wheelbarrow, and have a very rudimentary sense of rhythm that I acquired only from three semesters of Music Together when Llani was younger. I am very self-conscious about singing or dancing in front of people. But when I let myself go and sing and dance and get all crazy with the kiddos, I have so much fun. We all have so much fun, together.

Part of the reason we chose to homeschool is to promote unity and togetherness within our family. I love spending time with my children each day, and would hate for them to be away at school for six hours a day. I love knowing what’s going on in their lives. Being with them and seeing that spark of discovery when they learn new things. Hearing their laughter. Seeing them play. Now, I certainly am not going to hold them back as they grow towards independence. Nor am I going to complain about the “youth of today,” or decry modern technology such as cell phones, video games, iPods, IMing, and the like. I think those things are great, and use most of them myself. I also think, however, that such technology does not have to be so dominant in our daily lives. Nor is it necessary, or even beneficial, to have de facto age segregation, where the kids are always off doing their own thing, apart from the adults. Whatever happened to old-fashioned family fun– hiking trips, bike rides, board games, playing ball (and I don’t mean competitive sports leagues), and yes, a good old-fashioned family sing-along? Maybe I’m naïve, but I really do think that the world would be a better, happier place if families had more fun together.

We are seeing Dan Zanes today and, while this might be sad and pathetic, I have to say I might just be more excited than my kids are. And let me tell you, they are plenty excited. I have known moms of young kids who crushed on Steve from “Blue’s Clues.” I’ve seen arguments on mommy boards over which Kratt Brother is hotter. And if the Kratt Brothers argument can get a bit heated, imagine what things are like when you’re talking about the Wiggles!

Me, I’ve never understood the attraction to any of those guys. But Dan Zanes? Love him! How could I not? He’s just this adorable punk rock family guy. His brightly colored suits, his shaggy spiky hair, his cute smile, what’s not to love? Plus, he sings a song with Sandra Bernhardt about shopping in a thrift shop. How could you not love that?

I’m feeling pretty good today, and not just because of Dan Zanes. We have a brand new stroller, which actually works for us. It’s not as easy to push as a jogging stroller, but it’s definitely easier than our old Graco. And it’s much easier to turn and to control. It fits through doorways, folds easily, fits in our trunk, and is very comfortable for the kids. And it has two cupholders, which is a real boon for this coffee-addict mama!

Hopefully this will be the last stroller we ever buy, except maybe a cheapo umbrella stroller. Or if Baby Planet comes out with a double jogging stroller with swivel wheels. I think we’ll donate our Graco to the Florence Crittendon Center. I’m not sure, though. They say they are “an alternative to abortion”. What does that mean, exactly? Does that mean that they are anti-choice? Alternatives are great, but that worries me. Then again, whether or not I agree with FCS’s mission, doesn’t a young mom deserve a stroller anyway?

Because of this stroller, we’ve been getting out and about the past couple days, which always improves my mood. We went to the mall and I managed to find cute clothes which fit me and feel comfy, which is always a cause for celebration. I also bought some jewelry at Claire’s. Cheap junk, but pretty. I have to remember to treat myself every now and then. It’s a common problem among moms; we feel we must sacrifice everything and only think of our children. We feel selfish buying something for ourselves that is not strictly necessary. I have to remind myself that spending six bucks on a cute pair of earrings is not selfish and does not make me a bad mom.

We also went to the bookstore and bought some books on Sacajawea and Teddy Roosevelt. Thanks to “Night at the Museum,” Llani has been wanting to learn more about them. Reading about Teddy Roosevelt at bedtime last night led to a discussion about the difference between Democrats and Republicans. It was almost impossible for me to explain (on a six-year-old’s level) the difference between the two and why I vote for Democrats. I guess this will be our next book purchase.

Along with reading about TR and Sacajawea, Llani has been drawing and cutting out paper dolls for herself and her brother, along with clothes for the dolls. She even had me make a paper sling for one of the dolls to carry her little paper baby in. She and Zekey have been having so much fun playing with them!

Zeke’s speech has been getting better and better, and he has been more talkative and confident. There are still times when I can’t understand a single word he’s saying, but those times are much less frequent, and overall he has made an enormous improvement. He’s been happier, more outgoing, and very into being a big boy and doing things himself. I love it!