Unschooling

I've been battling with my child's school for the past 5 months. I realize that I am not the average parent, nor is my child the average student. Not by a long shot. He's spacey, and energetic, and smarter than the average bear, and a perfectionist - all rolled up into a lovable and amazing little package. But convention, and a bureaucratic teaching philosophy, don't exactly see him that way.

I am truly at my wits end with conventional school. I'm done. It's not working for my child. And I can't stand to watch what it does to him every evening: the tears, the grind of the work, the hours it takes to cajole an idea from him that he thinks the teacher will accept. And as if that's not enough, we've reached a new low - today he didn't even want to go to school. He's seven. It's simply unacceptable that a kid as bright and as curious as mine is dreading the place where learning is supposed to be happening. 

I want to "unschool" him. It's a philosophy that's been around since the 70s, promoted by John Holt. Truth be told, it is my philosophy of education. It's the philosophy under which I was raised, but as a people-pleasing child, school didn't beat me to death in the process.

I'm ready to jump in and do it, but the other adults in our family have concerns. They are very valid concerns, mind you, and I can be an impulsive person. But I am not sure I can agree with them this time. I feel trapped in a nether-land and hate, hate, hate watching my child loose his enthusiasm for what has been labeled learning. It's just not a benign decision to wait and watch what happens.

Gone Crazy?

So I am all about the knitting. I love it. In fact, I am embarrassed to say, I finished my scarf yesterday and had time to crochet these adorable slippers today. I get an idea and I become obsessed. Lord help me. I am so grateful for grandmom's yarn supply. I would not have been able to whip these up with out it. They're a little off beat aren't they? I love 'em!

Being Mama

I've been bitten lately by the Mama bug. I really love being mama. And if I may say so, my kid is AWESOME. Some of the things that have driven home that point lately are:

• Hayes asking me to knit him a scarf too, but in red (of course)
• Being asked to put together his newest, coolest legos with him
• Planning the garden together - we'll be buying praying mantises for Hayes this year
• Snuggling in bed on Saturday morning he turned to me and said, "I've been loving on dad, now it's time to love on you."
• His promise that he would help me do grandma's laundry every Saturday if she moved into assisted living
• Listening to his jokes and rating which ones are "keepers"
• Driving all the way to Carmel tonight just to get pillow - his lovey - and upon returning home I got the biggest hug in thanks.

It just doesn't get any better than this.

Throwback

On new year's day I was sitting around chatting with my friend Elaine (who took this terrific photo) and found myself happily enrolled in a knitting class. We started yesterday, and all I can say is, I might be addicted. I walked into the yarn shop and felt myself immediately relax. Perhaps it was because the temperature outside was a mere 15 degrees and all that wool made me feel so cozy. But I would venture to guess that it was all the fluffy yarn and the comfy armchairs and the beautiful wooden needles that did the trick. And when they took my skein and rolled it with this crazy contraption - I wanted to burst. How is it that I didn't know this haven existed!?!

Of course my first project is a scarf - garter stitched, but I think I am really getting the hang of it. And of course, I am already dreaming of fabulous sweaters and fingerless gloves and piles of warm cozy socks. I haven't even mastered the purl stitch yet. I could be getting ahead of myself. I love this stuff!

Creative New Year

Getting laundry done in this creative new year has proved a bit harder than I would have liked. Ditto for going through the mail.

New Canvas - Rita Hayworth

So here is the latest from Mon Ami. It's the first in a series of "Paper Dolls".

Into My Life A Little Snow Must Fall

Latest "All About Me" layout:

Bath Time

Thanks to a fabulous teleclass with a hip tranquil chick, I decided to take a bath tonight. It was sheer bliss!

I've been working for several months now at making my tub a sanctuary. I have finally achieved it. Richard bought me a beautiful candle chandelier to hang over the tub and I found these sensational mercury glass candlesticks (on sale!) that fit my Paris theme perfectly. I propped them on the side of the tub. The candle light is the only light there is. And I installed some lovely damask curtains that make the entire space completely private. Throw in some lavender bath salts from California, a little bubble bath and one of these other-worldly candles and you have sheer bliss.

Note to self: must schedule more bath time.