New Slow Parenting Group

One of my friends posted this link to facebook and I wanted to share it with you. The article is entitled: The Backlash Against Overparenting from Time magazine. I love this article. Especially the last quote about leaving the kids alone.

If you like this article and agree with pretty much everything it says, please join me in a new Slow Parenting group. We can decide the specifics of our group gatherings, but I expect them to involve lots of time for kids to play what they choose together, homemade food, and pleasurable adult conversation time.

Gratitude List #4

This week's gratitude list (late as always):
1. I am grateful for the stars which light the night and show us the way home.
2. I am grateful for other people who choose to stay with us and become new friends.
3. I am grateful to my local family farmers for providing my family with the yummiest sustenance there is.
4. I appreciate the love of my cat.
5. I appreciate the colorful tree leaves I can see outside my window.

Gratitude List #3

1. I am grateful for my father's strong push ever forward when I was growing up.
2. I am grateful that I am the only one pushing me forward now.
3. I am grateful for the internet which brings me closer to those far away.
4. I am grateful for this peaceful morning.
5. I am grateful for the cozy sweater that kept me warm most of yesterday.

Gratitude List #2

Ok, So I forgot about my gratitude list until I was too busy getting ready for ARGH to sit at the computer - and then I was gone for this wednesday. So I have two lists I want to do right now before the kids wake up.

1. I am thankful for the always present love from my dear husband.
2. I am thankful for warm sunshine in the morning.
3. I am thankful for fun people to be around - even if I have to drive many hours to get there!
4. I am thankful for the way the dew looks like glittering diamonds when the sun first hits it.
5. I am thankful that my yoga class has started up again.

Gratitude List #1

Another unschooler, Clint, has started posting five thing to be grateful for every wednesday from now until Thanksgiving. I thought I would join him this year.

I am grateful for:
1) the freedom to determine my own path in life
2) my life partner, Walter
3) the infinite love from my children
4) the chance to remake myself as often as I wish
5) my dazzlingly creative mother

Why don't you try now?

Unschooling newspaper article

Yesterday's local newspaper has a very positive article about our unschooling family. A few parts of it are pretty funny but it overall made me smile. Enjoy!

Reusable Straws

I am always on the hunt for reusable items in order to reduce the trash my family creates. I saw these cool glass straws at another unschooler's blog. At the DC Green Festival last weekend I also saw nifty bamboo straws. I am still not sure that we would use these enough to justify the expense but I sure do like them! Just thought I would share.