Decided to have ‘fun’ on here for once…thanks to Sandra & Frank for posting their replies to this. I am not tagging anyone, but if you feel like doing this and want me to read it then leave a comment with the link to your answers. Go read Sandra’s and Frank’s answers for more great insight.
1. What time do you get up?
Usually when my body makes me. Often around 11 – 11:30am when William’s alarm goes off for him to wake up for work. Lately, E has been waking up around 10 – 10:30am, unless he has had a really late night.
2. What do your children wear to school?
He’s never been to school. He wears a lot of pyjamas. He REALLY likes stripes. Striped pyjamas are his favorite. I wear whatever is closest to me and doesn’t smell terrible (used this method since about 6th grade) — adding layers if I get cold.
3. What curriculum have you tried and hated? What have you tried and loved?
I have never thought to try a curriculum, but if E asks for one, I’ll get back to you with a ‘full report’.
4. Who is your most inspirational homeschooling role model?
My son & fellow radical unschoolers.
5. Abeka, Charlotte Mason, unschooling, or Classical?
Unschooling, Radical Unschooling or “life-learners”
6. Favorite response to “What about socialization?”
“What about it?”. We talk to each other, friendly bank tellers, nosy cashiers/neighbors, children at parks, strangers, family & friends. I think we are far too social on some days. We’ve learned that each of the aforementioned persons has a different way of communicating and we’ve learned how to adapt accordingly.
7. Favorite subject?
Whatever we are doing when we are doing it. However, I don’t think/see in ‘subjects’, so I really haven’t a clue…the one that ties everything together…oh, that’s called Life, great.
8. Favorite field trip ever?
We don’t ‘do’ field trips. Every day can lead to an awesome adventure. The Children’s Museum (for example) is not a special place for us to go on special days; it is a place for us to go and have fun whenever we want to go.
9. Best thing about home[Un]schooling?
Actually getting to see & help my child grow up, rather than handing him over to the state and being sent home reports on him. Being Free from the rigidness & mediocrity of mainstream culture.
10. Sports, music, or art?
I value art for myself, because that’s where my strengths live. However, it is ALL connected and everyone finds their own level of value according to their own strengths & goals.
11. Beautiful script handwriting, or lightning fast accurate typing?
I prefer my own modified print & touch typing for myself. I thoroughly enjoy anything my son ‘writes’, whether he’s typed it or used his own handwriting.
12. Best one stop shopping for school books?
I don’t have a “one stop” really, but I do enjoy a good deal. Half Price Books usually has me headed home with an armful (or two…or three!).
13. One subject you didn’t get to this week:
Conformity. How to ‘behave’ at school. At this point, I don’t see in ‘subjects’. We just live our lives.
14. What will you do when you run out of kids to teach?
I haven’t taught my child. Every child I come into contact with will probably learn something from me (directly or indirectly), so unless I decide to live inside a child-free bubble, I will never “run out” of children to share with my knowledge and skills.
15. Ever give school books as holiday or Birthday gifts?
I’ve given plenty of great books as gifts, but only when I was confident the recipient would find Joy in the books.
16. Better late or early (delay formal education at home, or start as young as possible?)
I don’t like the word “formal” in just about any context. It conjures up an image of snippy, uppity people who are condescendingly mucking about. I think children are “Better” off left alone to discover their world on their own terms.
Hi!
Making fun of that meme was more fun that the actuality of it, huh?
Thanks for visiting my semi-sane little corner of blogland.
Comment by Frank — June 7, 2009 @ 9:35 pm
Making fun of it was the point, right?! I couldn’t imagine taking it seriously…
I’ve been a long-time-reader of your blog, I’ve just never commented.
Comment by michele james-parham — June 8, 2009 @ 1:37 am
Michele~~
I spent the lovely morning reading your blog and sipping coffee. Beautiful pictures. My son wants dreads–did you do anything to get them or just let it happen?
Thanks for reading and writing!
Renee
Comment by Renee Cabatic — June 8, 2009 @ 10:23 am
I’m flattered to hear that I was part of your “lovely morning”!
The dreads…after trying desperately to not make him scream (when he was only a few months old) when I would comb/brush out those little nappy dreadies that almost all babies/toddlers get on the back of their head, I resolved to just let the Universe ‘take care of it’. Elijah was born with a whole head of long curly hair and cutting it just seemed wrong, so I just stopped messing with it outside of washing it when he bathed. When he was still or asleep, I would carefully twist some or cut apart several that had tried to join up. It’s been a VERY slow process and he is rather attached to his hair. I think an older child can handle a little pit more purposeful work, like twisting and even some back-combing (in the beginning), unless they have a super tender head. Other than encouraging Elijah to was his hair once a week or so and the occasional work to keep groups of dreads from becoming giant mats or giant dreads, we don’t fuss with the hair too much.
Comment by michele james-parham — June 8, 2009 @ 11:23 am