Offbeat Motherhood

Life is Good!

When I looked at this picture I just had to smile.  We were taking a leisurely walk through the woods a few days ago when I snapped this picture of my angel.  The one thing that stood out to me was the look of pure contentment on her face.  When I capture moments such as this one I realize that my most important goal has been fulfilled.  Happiness!  Happy Love Thursday!!!

My New Semester

It’s been a couple of days since I’ve been able to post anything but I am back.  Today was the start of my new semester and I’m beyond excited.  I had a wonderful week off but now it’s back to the grind.  My new classes are Art History 100, Digital Imaging and College Writing (which I desperately need).  Out of all of my classes, I think that I am most looking forward to college writing and art history, but after reading the course syllabus I have to say that this semester will not be an easy one.  The course load is crazy, I’m going to have to really stay focused so that I do not fall behind on my work.   I am currently in the process of putting together a schedule for not only my own work but for the children’s schoolwork as well so that I can stay on top of everything including housework and my favorite chore laundry.  With the help of my wonderful husband and children I truly believe that we can have this house running like a well oiled machine (or at least I hope J).  I’m looking forward to having yet another productive semester.

Jules & His Friend Fred

I was looking through some older photos the other day and came across this one of my youngest son Jules.  This photo was taken approximately three years ago by my brother in law on our yearly trip to South Carolina.  From the moment I laid eyes on him at birth I was in love. 

          Jules is an incredibly outgoing little man always looking to get into trouble.  Whether it’s jumping off of the top of the bunk bed or doing head spins on the living room floor he is my clever, loving little daredevil with the angelic face.  He’s incredibly precocious, insatiably curious and talks incessantly about whatever tickles his fancy at the moment.  This week the conversation revolves around his new friend (pictured below) Fred.  Fred has become an instant favorite in our household. Fred travels with Jules everywhere he goes.  He is the new honorary member of our family.  Fred is unconditionally well loved by my creative little artist who lovingly cut out and colored a friend to accompany him on his many adventures.  Happy Love Thursday Everyone!!!

Home-Schooling vs. Un-schooling....A New Approach to Education?

I was reading an article on MSN about an interesting phenomenon in home-schooling. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15029646/wid/11915773/  Un-schooling is a different approach to home schooling where parents allow children to ultimately take the lead and plan out their own educational path.  In other words, they do not follow the standard state mandated curriculum.  Children are encouraged to freely express themselves through play and by learning what they want when they want with (of course) their parent’s guidance.

            I was not entirely familiar with this form of home schooling until recently and I have been wondering whether this form of learning has been effective in the long run.  Have children who have been home schooled in this manner successfully been able to go on to college?  Are they able to compete with children traditionally home schooled or otherwise when pursuing higher education or employment?  Or if put in a brick & mortar school would they be able to keep up with the other children?  These are all questions which have been weighing heavily on my mind (since reading up on this) and I would really love to hear from someone who has taken this interesting approach to educating their children.

            I just recently embarked on this home schooling journey.  I am following the standard curriculum, but I’m very curious to find out from other parents who are teaching their children in this manner if it is indeed effective.  If you are home schooling I would love to hear from you.  Please leave me a comment. 

             

Alas…..My First Semester Has Come & Gone!

Yesterday I officially completed my first semester of school.  After weeks of hard work and extremely late nights I managed to actually pull it off getting A’s in all three of my classes.  This in itself might seem minor to most, but my former track record as a student has not been good.  When I initially started school at the tender age of 18 I spent most if not all of my time partying.  I’m not even sure if I opened a book.  My classes were on Monday – Thursday and I spent Friday, Saturday and Sunday night partaking in those wonderful college rituals that (let’s just say) distracted me to complete irrationality.  Alcohol was plentiful and so was the pot.  Needless to say I decided that I was going to test the waters and ended up jumping in head first.  My other problems (as if I could have any more) revolved around men.  I decided that I was going to marry a man I met through my little brother who basically convinced me to drop out of school and move in with him.  I was unfocused and completely spontaneous during my formative years.  Due to my flightiness I was unable and unwilling to complete college.

It took me a long time to figure it out but I realize now that I was not emotionally ready to be in school those many years ago.  Above and beyond my insatiable desire to party, I now understand that my need to belong and my inability to cope with my home life played an integral part in my inability to complete my education.  Don’t misunderstand I am not placing blame on anyone but myself for my condition but I realize that sometimes life circumstances can lead us to do some pretty irresponsible things.    

Now at the tender YOUNG age of 37 I have decided to go back and finish the degree that I (kind of) started almost 20 years ago.  My goal is to have my degree in hand before my 40^th birthday.  The past few weeks have not been easy especially after school started for the kids.  I spend my days teaching them, which is definitely fun, but I find that I was often unable to do my work until late at night after I put them to bed.  Some nights I wouldn’t get to bed until 2:00 am.  So, this is a major accomplishment for me.  I had many doubts about being able to educate myself and the children at the same time.  This semester proved to me that I am more than capable of achieving my goals.  Yeah…….for the first time since (I believe) junior high school I earned an A.  I’m very serious when I say that I can barely remember when I have received an acceptable grade.  Report card times for me were always scary.  Some days I just didn’t want to come home. 

I have a few days off from school this week.  The next semester starts on the 10^th.  Hmmm……I don’t know what I’ll do with myself.  I know……….laundry.  Laundry is the one thing in my life next to taxes and death that remains forever consistent and true.  It’s unavoidable! 

My next three classes are Art History 100, Intro to Adobe Photoshop and College Writing!!  What fun…..I can’t wait!  I better get as much rest as I can this week because next week my late nights will most definitely return and my wonderful laundry pile will undoubtedly return as well.     

Hooray for Yet Another Love Thursday!!

The kids and I were outside playing yesterday when I caught this incredibly playful shot of my loving little angels.  They are truly what motivates, inspires and completes my soul. My life would truly be empty without them.  That being said; Happy Love Thursday Everyone! Click on photo to enlarge.                 

My life in the Rinse Cycle….and other Incoherent Babblings

Ever have one of those days when you just want to run away from home?  Today was my day.  Whoever said that home school was easy is crazy.  I’m sorry let me rephrase that.  Whoever said that home schooling, going to school and maintaining some semblance of order in the home is easy, is either a complete Suzy homemaker or a complete saint.  When I decided to do this I had no preconceived notions about any of it.  I didn’t really know anyone who home schooled their children.  I do know that many people went out of their way to discourage me and tell me that it was one of the biggest mistakes I could ever make especially since I too am going to school.  Like I always have, I did what I wanted to do.  AND I AM HAPPY THAT I DID!  But like anything worth doing in life, it’s not always going to be easy.  Today was a little rough.  Everyone had some an issue. 

            Although home schooling is actually running relatively smoothly, somedays like today can be a bit frustrating.  I must admit though, trying to get the kids settled in the first week of school was incredibly trying.  All three children (I’ve learned) have different learning styles and trying to get them acclimated to their new learning environment was a bit challenging.  But that quickly passed.  Everything kind of fell into place by osmosis.  My biggest challenge at the moment is balancing my school and housework.  I have a pile of laundry the size of Bethusala sitting in my laundry room and a nice pile of pots and pans on the counter waiting for the Brillo Pad.  If you think that’s bad did you see my hair in that picture?  I look like one of those awful before pictures in those shampoo commercials.  CALGON TAKE ME AWAY!! 

            Oops!  I digress.  I think I was supposed to be talking about my wonderful day.  Not!  I don’t know what was wrong with me today I think I was just woke up on the wrong side of the bed.  The problem is, I didn’t particularly have anything to be grumpy or tired about.  For the first time in weeks I actually got a full night of sleep.  I put some homework aside last night so that I could go to bed before 2:00 am.  So, today started off like any other day.  I got up made myself a cup of tea had a pear and a granola bar for breakfast and started preparing oatmeal for the kids.  After the kids ate and got dressed we began our day.  We worked on math, journaling and grammar in the morning and went outside and worked on Science in the afternoon.  The kids and I ran around for a while and then I went inside to start preparing dinner.

By working through our general routine I started to feel a little better until I came in and had to look at my bedroom and the incredibly large piles of laundry all over the floor in the closet.  It was at that crucial moment in time that I just wanted to run away as I stood there intently staring at the mounting pile of wash.  It had been silently calling my name for many days and I ignored it.  But now we were standing face to face and I could no longer ignore its now loud shrill cries.  What to do?  What to do?  Do I once again ignore the large laundry monster or do I fight to the death.  Well…..I chose to fight to the death.  We were all starting to run out of underwear.  I know that some people say that running around with no underwear is very freeing but I just can’t see it.   

A few months ago I blogged about embracing my inner slob, well I’m not embracing it today!  Someone please help!!  All joking aside, I would really like to know who, if anyone can do what I do and still maintain a positive attitude constantly and keep a clean house.  Is it possible?  If you are out there or have some helpful tips on organization (anything!) please leave a comment.  Or if you are just as busy and I am and would like to vent and perhaps tell me that I’m not alone I would especially love to here from you!!  Peace.  It’s time for me to put the clothes in the dryer.                   

                              

 

Man & His Best Friend?

I was trailing behind my husband and children while walking to the stream yesterday and I couldn’t help but snap this photo of man and his best friend J.  Truth be told, my husband really doesn’t like our dog Lucky, but our dog certainly loves him (generally when I’m not around).  Lucky is a bit too high strung for Phillip’s taste.  But… every once in a while I’m able to catch a moment of adoration between the two (usually around meal times & trips to the stream), although if asked neither of them would ever admit it.  Click on photo to enlarge. 

Beauty Can be Found in all Things…Even an Old Rusted Out Car

I was taking a walk with my children today and happened to walk by the old 67 Volkswagon Beetle shell that my husband purchased on a whim approximately four years ago.  For years I have been asking my husband to either finish putting the car together or to discard it and sell it for parts.  It sat in our garage for months, taking up space.  My husband would occasionally tinker with the engine and the transmission and talk to me about how he would one day put this car on the road.  I was extremely supportive and gave him all of the time that he needed to work on his dream.  But then, slowly but surely he became busy and the dream slowly fizzled.  He had good reason to stop working on the car, he enrolled in school to finish the college degree that he started years ago and work became outrageously chaotic.  To make matters worse he temporarily became obsessed with another vehicle, but this one was new.  He decided to purchase a brand spankin-new pickup truck. 

Being the loving and supportive wife that I am I kept my mouth shut until I went into the garage and could not get to my gardening tools because his disassembled monstrosity was in the way.  The engine was on one side of the garage and the and various parts were on the other side.  I emphatically told him to put the engine, chassis and tools on one side of the garage and place the body outside.  He reluctantly agreed.

He moved his beloved Volkswagon body to the two acre lot adjacent to the house behind a makeshift shed so that I wouldn’t have to look at it.  I can’t say that I was completely happy, after all I did and still want him to complete his dream.  I just don’t want to trip over his dream while trying to make it to my gardening tools.  I shot the above picture while on my walk with the children and I couldn’t help but notice the beauty of the wild flowers growing in and around the vintage bug.  I do not know what the ultimate outcome of this classic car will be.  Perhaps one day when my husband has the time and money he will finish it.  One can only hope.  I know I do.  Click on picture to enlarge.        

Mom and her Terrible, Horrible, Wonderfully Good Day!....and My Thoughts on Procrastination

For all intents and purposes today was not a really good day.  I spent a great deal of my day paying bills (that’s always fun!J) and running around from store to store picking up groceries and other necessary items to get us through the next couple of weeks.  I’m not sure what was wrong with me, I just wasn’t myself.  Could it be the hundreds of dollars spent making car and utility payments today?  Or was it simply that fact that for the past couple of days I have been stressing out about several homework assignments that I have due at the end of the week.  I have been avoiding them like the plague; making excuse after excuse as to why I haven’t had time to finish them.  Who am I kidding?  I’ve just been absolutely exhausted and have been doing everything but trying to fulfill my academic responsibilities.  Last night I started to study but I ended up watching several episodes of Law & Order Special Victims Unit and them passing out on the couch.  Earlier that day when I could have been working on my papers I ended up spending time with a friend that I haven’t seen in a few weeks.  It’s funny because I spend a great deal of time and effort telling my children that procrastination is not good, but this week I’ve waited until the last minute to do all of my assignments.  I feel like such a hypocrite.  Maybe the kids should have a talk with me about my procrastination. 

They seem to be on task, often telling me at the beginning of the day what’s on their agendas.  Although, I usually go over their lesson plans the night prior, I always get a kick out of them knowing exactly what they need to work on before I open my mouth.  Anyway, I digress.  I need to get my work done and have absolutely no desire to do it.  I’ve been doing relatively well all semester, and now I’m at the home stretch and my enthusiasm and motivation have completely gone out the window.  This is a big week for me.  I have an assignment due in Graphic design worth 650 points and another assignment worth 15% of my grade.  Although I have started my graphic design assignment, I have not begun writing the other one.  To be honest I should probably not be posting right now, this is just another pathetic attempt to avoid the inevitable.  But I promised myself that I would begin my paper as soon as I finish my blog.

After thinking about my wretched behavior today, I realize that I have no excuse for not doing what I have to do.  They do.  All in the interest of making my husband and I proud.  It is my duty to set a good example for my children.  I can only say that it is not I who have set a good example for them this week.  It is they who have set a good example for me.  I took the picture above and below of my beloved Jules and Samsara sitting at their desks doing their schoolwork.  I can’t explain the emotions that welled up in me when I snapped these photo’s, I can only say that I couldn’t be prouder.  They were on task.  I think that we can all take a lesson from our children at times (who am I kidding most of the time).  They possess a wisdom far greater than we realize.  I’m just happy that I am fortunate enough to witness that ethereal intelligence.  As for me, I have a paper to write and a project to complete, so I'll be signing off now.  Goodnight.