Late Bloomer

I've always been a bit of a late bloomer. I hit puberty later than my friends; I was slow on the uptake for the latest fashions (some might say I still am); I fell in love with softball too late for it to benefit me in college. Lately I am finding myself, finally, utterly and desperately in love with being Mamma. We're seven years into this thing called parenthood. Why on earth did it take this long?

Nevertheless, there it is: I love motherhood. I love homemaking to be quite honest. I always thought it was this horribly oppressed state of womanhood, but really, I love the idea of being able to care for my family, keep them healthy and happy. I keeps me healthy and happy too. Odd. I've been thoroughly enjoying this knitting; I love canning and putting by the food from our garden; and I love, love, love gardening. I've been getting the seed/plant order ready this week and I am almost drooling with the possibilities.

It's no secret that I've been thinking about another baby. To tell the truth, we probably couldn't afford it and we would have to seriously retool the retirement plan. And I keep trying to remind myself how hard it was and how tired we were. But even so, the idea is appealing to me in a way I never thought possible. Funny how life throws those "nevers" back in your face. And when you'd least expect it.

For now I'm going to enjoy being Mamma. I want to live in the moment as much as possible and be mindful of how much I am enjoying this moment. Who knows when it will come back around.

Moving Ahead

I'm not sure if it's the elation of having a new president, or the competition I feel with a good friend of mine (her business is always moving and grooving), but I am putting the wheels in motion to get my art out there. I'm not sure where it's going to land, but I have at least 3 places in the works and hopefully I'll be in touch with some more. I'd like to be showing it by February, but I have no idea how realistic that goal is (having never displayed my work anywhere other than an art show). If you are aware of any venues that may be showing local artwork, I'd love to know about them. After all, there's no time like to present!

(truth be told, it's terrifying me to do this.)

O44

Progress

I started this poncho Thursday. I thought casting on 369 stitches was going to do me in! And since then, I've had to redo the first 4 inches 3 times! I think I finally have it going though. I'm feeling pretty good about it, but it is definitely going to take some time to complete. Not exactly a scarf. Oh, and speaking of the scarf, it looks great. Thought I'd give you a peek at that too. The snow makes this whole knitting thing especially appealing. 

Overachiever

I love this knitting thing! I finished two scarves last week, and now I have decided to tackle a poncho. I fell in love with is as soon as I saw it. It's totally me. It's not exactly a beginner's project, but I feel confident that I can do it. I'll post photos when it's done. 

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.