"It's a Great School"

"It's a great school!" What does this mean? I feel like it's such a canned response. Really, what makes it so great? I really want to know. Is it that it's close, that it's free or have you genuinely had an amazing experience with a teacher or gardening program? I've just heard that so many times and often from people without children! "All the schools are good here". How would they know? We all want to feel good about the communities we've chosen to live in and we want to know that we're giving our kids a good start but are we really? I am so lucky to live in a community that offers so many good choices and has tons of community supported arts and music but I still think it's so important to truly find the right fit for YOUR child. Of course not every kid fits the same mould! Don't pick a school because it's close or you feel like you don't have choices. What do you believe a good school should look like, feel like? If you're not getting that, then find a way to include that in your child's life. And please don't say a school is "great" until you actually know something about the school from a personal experience. It's just silly.

Being Excellent

Explaining to Oliver today that he doesn't have to be excellent at everything. It's ok to be just ok as long as you're trying your best and you have a good attitude. Some people are better at math than others, I know many are better at it than me! Thank goodness for calculators! And there's always spell check. There are so many tools available to help us along. I just want him to not get so down on himself about academics. Really, all this pressure to become so proficient at things that even I've forgotten. I know he's bright, sensitive, loving and can memorize lines like a mad man! He's got quite a character and that will carry him wherever he wants to go. Love this little guy.

Here It Is

Here it is, I don't have a plan. I know that I want to travel. I know that my children will be with me. I know that I am starting a business and I know that I will keep them educated. It will be a year for experiencing all that is possible. I want to live this year as if it will be my last. After all, you don't really know, do you? The quote that struck me today, "Don't play the game to not lose, play to win." "You don't choose a life, you live one." We work so hard to keep our lives safe and become so afraid to deviate from the track that we are on. Why? What are we so afraid of? Don't tiptoe through life only to arrive safely at death. Do what you dream.

Beautiful Today!

Biked to the co-op with the kids and loaded up on berries, kale, fruits, soaps that smell minty and candles that are lemony. The sun is streaming through blossom covered trees, daffodils are in frilly bundles along the path. We got haircuts, visited the library and are now back in the beauty of spring in the Shire. Ahhhh, breathing it all in. Molly has gone to bake cookies with the neighbor and I hear a lawnmower in the distance. Nap? Maybe right here in the sun.

A Family Treasure

My great grandfathers words:

Little Blurb

I woke up this morning to find Molly already dressed. She wanted to go running with her friend. Yes, my 9 year old wants to get up early to go run! She inspires me. So, what do I do...have coffee and juevos rancheros. I will not be running.

Vacation

First day of vacation with the kids and they're both quietly reading. So nice to hear how into their books they are. We didn't start teaching them to read until 2nd grade which is a common waldorf practice, leaving them to be just kids for a bit longer. It doesn't seem to have slowed them down. Maybe society pushes kids so hard so fast because they fear they won't learn. I don't know but I do know that slowing the process down has made a huge difference to all of us. I like "The Race to Nowhere". Yeah, where the hell do you want to get them? To a career? So they can clock in and out, join the rat race as soon as possible? Maybe money doesn't have to be made at a corporation. Maybe money can be created in other ways. Especially when economies are doing poorly, wouldn't it be better to let your children find out what gifts they have to offer the world and make money from what amounts to being themselves? Companies go away.

Quiet Day

It's just one of those days, when you should be doing laundry or dishes but instead you're sitting, staring and listening to the clock tick. The kids got back from their grandparents house and immediately went outside to play with the kids in the neighborhood. I'm staring at a giant canvas that needs to be finished for the school auction, a huge tree of life. How did we end up with this? I need to keep my mouth shut. We've decided to take a break from the school next year. I'm going to travel with the kids and Michael when he can join us. Like Frances Mayes "A Year in the World", living in different places for short periods of time. Scary, exciting and oh so freeing! Schooling on the road and seeing where our adventures take us. I'll be able to do all my business online and share our stories. Moms tune in!

Grandparents

The kids were so excited when they heard Gammy was coming to pick them up for a visit. The rules are different at Gammy and Ganpa's house! So my little "Shire-lings" are playing Wii bowling, watching T.V., staying up late and eating very differently than they do at home. I'm ok with it, I didn't use to be, but now I'm so grateful that they get to spend this time. When your kids are little, you have to work so hard to keep their little world safe that you can really lose perspective. As they've gotten older, and after losing my own grandparents, I've realized that it's good for me to let go, let them have their grandparent experience. They laugh so much when they're together and they come back in one piece. I really encourage parents to let go a little, the grandparent's need to be who they are so our children can really see them, love them and have incredible memories that will last forever. I spent so much time with mine. Didn't you?

A Little Video

The Shire is Awakening

The sun moves through leafless branches casting long shadows over the windy paths. Little purple violets in light and dark shades are spreading through the grassy areas between the houses and the air is filled with the smell of daffodils that are bursting, glowing yellow smiles. People are playing with their animals or gently nudging the earth in the gardens. Children, of course, are swinging from the trees. I feel like I'm laying my head on a cloud, dreamy, beautiful.

Picnic with Vatrena King

Vatrena's number one fan and author of the Gaia Health Blog has written another nice piece with beautiful pics and music of this beautiful singer/songwriter! Check this out!

A picnic on the Oregon coast with singer Vatrena King- The Gaia Health Blog

No, We're Not Getting You a Phone

"Everyone, well almost everyone, has a phone but me!" I really don't know how true this is but it certainly feels true to Oliver. We're just not going to do it. I asked him if he was going to call his boss, the bank...what? Tears streaming down his face, he just stared. It becomes such a real pain to feel left out or behind the group. Here we go again, appreciate what you DO have and what we ARE giving you. Michael mentioned to him how much he loves to watch them listen to me read every night, how we don't want to see them just plugged into a screen. It's bad enough that we are looking at them way too often. This is the part of being on a "track" that just really bugs me. We are all moving "this way", everyone "this way". I hate conformity and I do my best to stir the pot so we don't end up homogenized. Ooooh, somethings brewing and I'm excited! What to do, what to do? Ideas abound!

It's Ok to Have Limits

It was so good to have that conversation with the kids yesterday. They need to know that we are people who have limits. They put forth the effort to make their day complaint free and we all had a much better day. You have to set boundaries with adults as well. I received an email from a subject teacher at the school last night. Oliver is not doing very well in this particular subject and is doing his usual routine of distracting himself taking the class along with him. Not ok with me! She suggested tutoring. I would love to get my son some extra help but alas we are tapped out. I let her know how I can support her, asked if the tutoring were free and said I could follow through with him at home if he's acted up. I let her know that we already spend more than we can afford to give our children this education and we have more than exceeded our limit. No, it's not free I was informed. Ok, but lets make sure that the kids who can't afford outside tutoring, music lessons etc, are not treated disapprovingly for that reason. It's really hard to hear that on top of spending in excess of 1000 a month we also need to provide special tutoring. It's just not feasible for us. The best I can do is to make sure I check in with the teachers and help support them in ways that do NOT cost more money. This is where I draw the line.

We are doing Enough

Just by being conscious and striving to be a good parent, we are doing enough. I had a serious talk with my kids this morning about just how hard we work to give them the life they have. I really want them to show more respect and appreciation for what they have and are given. Oliver constantly complains and Molly just looks annoyed/bored all the time. Yes, they are children and it's part of growing up BUT I do not believe in constantly trying to make it ok. They need to know what goes into this life we are building for our family so they don't feel just entitled to everything. We're working on it! Here's a video I did today for my Moon Storm group about trying to not be so perfect.

Ahhhh, Rain

I woke to the sound of rain trickling from the eaves. Once again, the swales are full and the birds are singing. The kids refused to wear their rain gear to school, so frustrating! It wasn't worth the battle. A stroll through the Shire is definitely a must do today, with some of the trees already flowering, it feels like spring is nearly here already. Oliver's teacher gave me two large jars full of homemade chicken soup this morning that the kids will be so happy to eat after being cold and wet! Enjoy the rain!

One Mother's Courage

I wanted to post a link for this mother, she showed incredible courage in trusting her intuition and advocating for her son. He is such a little cutie! She's blogging about their experience in the hopes of helping other moms get the diagnosis they need so they can begin working on the challenges these children have. One doctor said he was "fine" while those at Stanford (yes, Stanford Hospital) said something VERY different. Read his story and help spread the word. Mothers are incredible!!!!!!!! Wyatt's Adventures

Response

I am so honored by everyone's response to the video. It really shows me how much this work is needed. I am so eager to begin listening to your stories, helping you rediscover what already is. Women are born with such a strong connection to the universe and already know what is needed. Sometimes it just gets lost in the busyness of our lives. So looking forward to partnering with mothers on a journey for their truth. You know the way, and I would love to support you on your quest! Here's a link in case you missed it My Story as a Mother