tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75182397763828884722011-12-22T17:33:09.136-05:00Join us on our Unschooling ed-venture.Mom of 3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06185178170501971212noreply@blogger.comBlogger661100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518239776382888472.post-62167887877140836852011-09-07T08:00:00.003-04:002011-09-07T08:09:22.341-04:00

It's that time again. The big yellow can with windows is making stops all over town, collecting children and depositing them into the various prisons, I mean schools.Yesterday was the first day back for the Public Schools in our Town. My kids spent the day sleeping in, enjoying the sound of the rain on the roof, snuggling with the dog, sharing games and stories and then playing with friends. They

Mom of 3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06185178170501971212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518239776382888472.post-34312331672762667392011-06-11T10:34:00.005-04:002011-06-11T10:47:34.661-04:00

Today at the gym a mom asked me what my kids do all day without the "regiment" (her word) of school. I hope I was able to hide my feeling of disgust, as it took me a minute to compose myself. My first thought was "What a ridlcuous question!" I asked her how her family spent their Saturdays or vacation time, then (I hope) politely told her that for us, every day was vacation.There are not enough

Mom of 3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06185178170501971212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518239776382888472.post-62439868090787070272011-05-04T20:13:00.002-04:002011-05-04T20:25:26.877-04:00

I often get asked to define Unschooling, and have never really been able to provide a definition. I am going to try harder!Unschooling is about Trust. I trust that my children will retain the curiosity with which they were born. I trust that they will search to satisfy that curiosity, and turn to me when they need a nudge. I trust that they are loving, kind, generous human beings and will behave

Mom of 3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06185178170501971212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518239776382888472.post-2457141871891167732011-05-04T07:34:00.005-04:002011-05-04T07:54:29.510-04:00

Spring has sprung with gusto here at our house! New plantings, new colors, new animals...and tons of new activities. I have said before that homeschooling is a complete misnomer, but somehow we still always get "How do they socialize?" from nearly everyone we meet. Well, I'll tell you how:Sunday is usually a church day, so they get to see real human being there most weeks. This week, however,

Mom of 3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06185178170501971212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518239776382888472.post-65071760795266077002011-04-25T09:47:00.002-04:002011-04-25T10:00:27.085-04:00

What is the point of Standardized Testing? The name alone is offensive. Do we really want to live in a world where every person has exactly the same level of knowledge? These tests do not measure the quality or even breadth of one's education. They are a joke, really.Homeschoolers in New York are required to test, using one of several options approved by the NYS Education Department. The one my

Mom of 3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06185178170501971212noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518239776382888472.post-7970447171838320352011-03-16T12:46:00.002-04:002011-03-16T12:52:23.778-04:00

I had bever heard of such a thing! And while me dear friend Shelly, whom I have known since Kindergarten, was complaining about having to make one, the prospect was intriguing to me! To be fair, she has 5, public schooled children and she is a wonderful, active, involved Mom. So multiply all the silly, time wasting projects kids (read:parents) get assigned by 5 and she has certainly done more

Mom of 3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06185178170501971212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518239776382888472.post-48080733473283818922011-03-13T09:29:00.004-04:002011-03-13T09:35:52.717-04:00

Parents, teachers and children alike are all complaining about being cooped up inside during these new days of sunshine and warmer weather. Once again I am reminded of how blessed we are to have made this life for ourselves.Our days have been spent walking through our towns, taking beach walks in search of treasure (and seals), playing tennis, riding bikes and enjoying the warming sun. Even

Mom of 3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06185178170501971212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518239776382888472.post-56923712825025597882011-03-02T13:17:00.002-05:002011-03-02T13:36:45.117-05:00

"You can't preach the Bible without preaching the hatred of God." 2006 quote from Westboro Baptist Church founder Fred Phelps, in a CNN interview.Westboro Baptist Church is a disgrace to Bible believing, Christ following Christians. I John 4:20 tells us "If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom

Mom of 3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06185178170501971212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518239776382888472.post-12813341056049339772011-01-23T09:26:00.004-05:002011-01-27T13:26:20.972-05:00

http://www.parentatthehelm.com/3758/why-homeschooling-mothers-are-superior/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ParentAtTheHelmBlog+%28PARENT+AT+THE+HELM+BLOG%29The above link is an article by Linda Dobson (no relation to Dr. James Dobson) on Why Homeschooling Mothers are Superior. I have been following with interest the article by Amy Chua on why she believes Chinese

Mom of 3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06185178170501971212noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518239776382888472.post-66653741655307782882011-01-03T18:06:00.003-05:002011-01-03T18:23:38.466-05:00

If you are questioning whether the choice you have made is the right one, chances are it isn't! As parents, we want what's best for our children. I don't know why I am still surprised by the responses we get when people learn we homeschool. The kids nearly always say "I want to be homeschooled!" and the parents nearly always say "I could never do that!". Well guess what, yes you can. And I

Mom of 3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06185178170501971212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518239776382888472.post-51667029411328771612010-09-09T08:19:00.003-04:002010-09-09T08:35:15.101-04:00

As I see my friends' children going back to school, and hear the sadness as the Mom's have empty houses, I am reminded of how truly blessed we are to be living this life.It is a tradition, on the first day of public school, for homeschoolers across the world to celebrate going Not Back to School. During summer, streets are full of friends and summer people with whom our children play for all

Mom of 3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06185178170501971212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518239776382888472.post-9243865079919870492010-07-08T10:56:00.004-04:002010-07-08T11:06:48.086-04:00

Last night on the beach I had the great pleasure of chatting with several moms while our kids played volleyball. The group consisted of 3 homeschool Moms, 1 mom who's always homeschooled older son went to PHS this year and whose younger son remains homeschooled, and the last mom has 3 kids always PS'd. This is a lovely bunch of women who I respect greatly, and enjoy each time we are together.I

Mom of 3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06185178170501971212noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518239776382888472.post-68135034114686402592010-06-02T13:37:00.002-04:002010-06-02T13:40:27.038-04:00

I have neither the time nor the energy to devote to this thought at the moment, but it'sa-coming! In the meantime, lazy unschooling Mama that I am, need to clean up from the cooking fest, switch the laundry, get to the bank, drop Blessing #1 @ riding, get Blessing #2 to golf, run into the post office, take Blessing #3 to gymnstics, pick #2 up from golf, pick-up the CSA, get #1 from riding, then

Mom of 3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06185178170501971212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518239776382888472.post-45109300353623698792010-04-23T20:07:00.006-04:002010-04-28T12:56:38.581-04:00

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Parenting/unschooling-homeschooling-book-tests-classes/story?id=10410867I wasn't going to dignify the ridiculously biased GMA segment on Unschooling with a response. But the more I read the more furious it makes me! I have long held the belief that "News" in the traditional sense is worthless. Tuning into Larry King (on CNN mind you, News is right there in it's name for

Mom of 3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06185178170501971212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518239776382888472.post-75542766454742492592010-02-16T17:44:00.002-05:002010-02-16T18:19:30.104-05:00

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Parenting/divorce-battle-joseph-reyes-faces-jail-baptizing-daughter-church/story?id=9845919I usually listen to NPR on my way home from work, but the sound of Diane Rehm's voice was grating on my nerves today so I dialed down one to HLN. The discussion was in regard to the above story, of a father in the middle of a divorce who had his daughter baptized in the Catholic

Mom of 3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06185178170501971212noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518239776382888472.post-45374800641918776362010-02-03T08:48:00.002-05:002010-02-03T09:04:08.428-05:00

We are getting geared up for the 3rd Annual UWWG; Unschoolers Winter Waterpark Gathering. Each year hundreds of Unschooling families from all over the world converge on the the Kalahari Resort and Convention Center in Sandusky, Ohio for a week of fun. This year, the keynote speaker is John Taylor Gatto, and I have to say I am really excited to hear him speak. We have met some wonderful families

Mom of 3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06185178170501971212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518239776382888472.post-9054050543237594642009-10-08T15:43:00.002-04:002009-10-08T16:44:20.457-04:00

After a fun day @ Pumpkintown and making pottery, it is finally time to settle in and get some work done. Because of Kenny III's recent math aversion I have started allowing him to do 1 problem in each section, and if he gets it right on his own he is done. If it is incorrect he has to keep doing that section until he completes it, correctly, alone.I just went over to get a drink from my water

Mom of 3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06185178170501971212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518239776382888472.post-71946715938427713852009-09-07T08:58:00.005-04:002009-09-07T09:12:52.444-04:00

So here it is Labor Day, the unofficial end to summer. This is the beginning of my favorite time here on the East End. While we are sad to see some of our "summer friends" go home, I must admit I also breathe a huge sigh of relief. While I am cognizant, and appreciative, to the boost to local economy that tourists bring, I loathe the attitudes that oft times come with them. I am relieved to have

Mom of 3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06185178170501971212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518239776382888472.post-53305917674660436932009-06-03T09:50:00.005-04:002009-06-03T10:03:39.155-04:00

There is a paragraph in Harlen Coben's book Darkest Fear that struck me: "School removes children from their warm parental cocoon. School teaches them to bully or be bullied. School teaches them to be cruel to one another. School teaches them that Mommy and Daddy lied to them when they told them they were special and unique."I had a converstation with a friend the other day, while enjoying a

Mom of 3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06185178170501971212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518239776382888472.post-56705914320476063282009-05-26T18:37:00.006-04:002010-02-11T19:54:22.154-05:00

Ask me what Kenny got for his birthday. Go ahead, ask me!!!A NEW FREAKIN' CAR!!!!!!!!! Not just any car; a 2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8...for whom does that happen?!!About a year ago, our boss, Gary, asked me if Kenny would like a new motorcycle, or to have his restored. He wouldn't. When the new Challengers came out, Gary knew Kenny had to have one. When Kenny was in his late teens he had a black

Mom of 3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06185178170501971212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518239776382888472.post-6960171688431272902009-04-21T13:07:00.003-04:002009-05-26T19:47:18.465-04:00

I have had enough of this terrible, horrible, no good, very bed weather. Saturday was just a tease, making all this rain unbearable! We have plans, and they do not include getting soaking wet every ten minutes. Even the dog hates it, not to mention his smell. He us not normally a smelly dog, excluding his emissions. But rain + dog = very foul smell.I need sunshine. I need the beach. I need warmth

Mom of 3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06185178170501971212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518239776382888472.post-6736696268493592832009-03-30T18:27:00.005-04:002009-03-30T18:49:33.505-04:00

Disney 2009; what an adventure. In January of 2007 I took all 3 kids to Disney (then 9, 5 & 3) by myself. After that debacle I vowed never to step foot in WDW ever again! But then my dear friend, and Disney Travel Agent, Gigi sent me an email detailing a fantastic deal. Buy 4 nights, get 3 free!! My sister generously agreed to keep Kyleigh for the week, and so Jess, Kenny III and I were looking

Mom of 3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06185178170501971212noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518239776382888472.post-54550218867247016672009-03-03T18:37:00.004-05:002009-03-03T18:52:34.092-05:00

I have a beautiful, angelic looking 5 year old... and she is a holy terror. She screamed non-stop for the first 3 years of her life. She was allergic to disposable diapers and the gel that they contain. Her skin is so fair she always bruises at the slightest touch and a simple mosquito bite looks like a huge welt. She will not sleep by herself and screams like a lunatic for no reason at all.

Mom of 3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06185178170501971212noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518239776382888472.post-74831190233769570552009-02-24T07:18:00.003-05:002009-02-25T10:40:01.110-05:00

We had our first CSE meeting this week and while it was not as bad as I anticipated, it was also a little hard to sit through.The committee has decided K3 needs resource room help; 5 days a week, 36 minutes a day. What kind of bullshit is that? 36 minutes? Where is the formula used to determine this arbitrary number? It certainly has nothing to do with my particular child. Then we have the issue

Mom of 3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06185178170501971212noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518239776382888472.post-54123331750718166232009-01-30T08:33:00.004-05:002009-01-30T08:51:28.228-05:00

It is 12 frigid degrees outside, the ground is frozen solid and the drive is a sheet of ice. The forecast is calling for snow, and I am digging out bathing suits and flip flops. Not to go someplace warm. mind you, that would make too much sense!! No, we are going to Ohio. Right smack in the middle of the snow belt.We are making our 2nd trip to the Unschooler's Winter Waterpark Getaway in Sandusky

Mom of 3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06185178170501971212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518239776382888472.post-18945093833160044192009-01-18T13:17:00.004-05:002009-01-18T13:40:40.911-05:00

We are going through the CSE process with our school district to get Kenny III tested and possibly seme services. I am not thinking that they will qualify him for services though, because we are homeschoolers. The school psychologist has been helpful and is pleasant to deal with, as are the office staff members at Pupil Personnel Services. However, I requested the evaluation in early September

Mom of 3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06185178170501971212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518239776382888472.post-46460827001565788802009-01-17T10:15:00.004-05:002009-01-18T08:14:04.823-05:00

My littlest has a friend coming over this weekend (see our Boston Trip blog). This will be the first time she has had a sleepover here and she is very excited. We changed the sheets, cleaned and vacuumed and Daddy is going to the store for snacks. Don't tell her, but he is actually going to the store because last Sunday and this he is a football widow. It's the Eagles and the Steelers baby, can

Mom of 3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06185178170501971212noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518239776382888472.post-68660254335575173682009-01-03T08:25:00.005-05:002009-01-03T08:50:46.961-05:00

Sometimes, you just have to let it all go.The year we moved into this house dh had a bad health crisis and auto accident on December 19th. The brand new neighbor, who I had just invited for coffee and cake that very evening stayed with my girls till 3:00am while I took my son with me to the ER to be with dh. Her generosity extended and she shared their Christmas Eve tradition with us, that year

Mom of 3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06185178170501971212noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518239776382888472.post-22530247545820845882008-12-14T13:13:00.002-05:002008-12-14T13:22:35.229-05:00

Yesterday was a fantastic day for me! I finally felt human again after 2 weeks of misery, and DH treated me to an outing...to Bar Boy! I got a new KitchenAid hand mixer that comes with a dough hook and a beverage whip attachment. This saves the purchase of a new immersion blender, which was a thrill for my frugal minded pocketbook, but a bit of a disappointment to my greedy need for every

Mom of 3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06185178170501971212noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518239776382888472.post-1196969590737245112008-12-11T14:13:00.003-05:002008-12-11T14:17:26.149-05:00

Give me a break. There are riots in Greece. A fighter jet has incinerated most of a family. Caylee Anthony has been missing since June. The whole world is in a financial crisis. When I turn on CNN I expect to hear news. Not gossip.I am disgusted.

Mom of 3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06185178170501971212noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518239776382888472.post-69694041327446767052008-12-08T16:00:00.002-05:002008-12-08T16:38:44.863-05:00

I do not much like other people's children. Frankly, half the time I don't much like my own children. Come to think of it, I don't much like people period!!!!Saturday night we agreed to keep our friends' 2 children while they went to a party. These are delightful children, well mannered and generous with my children. They played Clue, they went outside to play manhunt, they had a snack and

Mom of 3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06185178170501971212noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518239776382888472.post-77687744215515892742008-12-03T06:56:00.003-05:002008-12-03T07:30:06.482-05:00

I am writing this through tears and probably will not be able to put down a cohesive post so please forgive me.Times are tough all over the country, and unfortunately Cornell Cooperative Extension is not immune to budget cuts. The Suffolk County budget for 2009 was facing a defecit of $940,000 and cuts had to be made. As a taxpayer, I understand that and appreciate fiscal responsibility.

Mom of 3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06185178170501971212noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518239776382888472.post-28566188335329993352008-11-20T13:45:00.002-05:002008-11-20T14:09:56.028-05:00

My son (just 7) has been getting migraines since he was really little. Although it took a really long time for me to recognize then as such since he was not yet verbal enough to give me all the signs I needed to properly identify his headaches. Now that he is older, and can give me better information I realized he had all the classic symptoms, pain behind one eye, sensitivity to light and noise

Mom of 3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06185178170501971212noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518239776382888472.post-82505657574486602342008-11-06T12:08:00.004-05:002008-11-06T13:21:28.530-05:00

We have been without a nanny for nearly 6 weeks now and I am at the end of my rope. My husband and I both work, and although we have a great deal of flexibility, we do both need to be in the office. Preferably together for at least a few hours a week. This has not happend in well over a month and it is really taking it's toll.We have enlisted the services of 2 agencies, TWO!!! Our requests were

Mom of 3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06185178170501971212noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518239776382888472.post-1773708350091793182008-11-04T17:54:00.007-05:002008-11-21T08:25:50.785-05:00

The kids and I just had one of the best trips in recent times. Last Thursday afternoon we took the ferry from Orient to New London. A very good friend moved to Connecticut and we made plans to spend a weekend with she and her family, and see their new house and barn for the first time.The ferry ride was calm and on time, and the ride from the dock to their home was beautiful, albeit confusing.

Mom of 3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06185178170501971212noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518239776382888472.post-78095497101826993492008-11-03T10:47:00.004-05:002008-11-03T10:57:48.252-05:00

I have about 15 different blog posts in my head, and can't find the time to organize my thoughts and get them translated to cyberspace. We are nearly 10 weeks done with school, my babies are all another year older, holidays are right around the corner and I do not feel a single bit more organized and settled than I did a year ago.There has to be a better way. We chose homeschooling so we could

Mom of 3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06185178170501971212noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518239776382888472.post-11591711628294557462008-08-31T14:30:00.006-04:002008-08-31T14:44:47.461-04:00

I took the kids to Tiana Beach Friday night for the Hampton Bays Civic Association's 90th Anniversary celebration. There was a band, free ice cream and fireworks. We packed a picnic and some warm clothes and settled in for the night.I was feeling pretty good about myself for having all of the things my family would need to be comfortable at the beach for a long night. Blankets, sweats, baby

Mom of 3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06185178170501971212noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518239776382888472.post-89831909795657316382008-08-24T14:08:00.003-04:002008-08-24T14:14:00.715-04:00

Our Golden Earthworm CSA has been full of big, red, juicy tomatoes. Any my neighbor, with whom I share a share, is allergic to fresh tomatoes, so I get the full portion! Today I was feeling fall, and currently have a pot of stewed tomatoes simmering away on the stove. As I was sitting going through some mail, I had a flashback to my great-grandmother's farm in Cape May, NJ. In it's day it was

Mom of 3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06185178170501971212noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518239776382888472.post-77376776331011035602008-08-21T18:23:00.003-04:002008-08-21T18:27:34.799-04:00

... I love my son. He is a true joy and a great blessing in my life. But if he wasn't so darn cute I'd kill him!!!!!My friend and neighbor has a beautiful pergola attached to her garage with a wonderful tree growing up through it. My son decided to climb the tree and play on the roof of the garage. I'm sure you can all imagine where I'm going with this...of COURSE he fell, he's my boy!Two

Mom of 3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06185178170501971212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518239776382888472.post-37271464531150109172008-08-17T14:05:00.004-04:002008-08-17T14:16:27.294-04:00

Anyone remember that song? 6fm?http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/p/presidents_of_the_united_states_of_america/peaches.htmlThis year it was apricots I peeled and jammed a million of, but this song has been running through my head thanks to a mental jog by my friend Stephanie.If I never see another peach, apricot or cucumber it will be too soon!!! Although, I didn't get to can peaches yet this

Mom of 3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06185178170501971212noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518239776382888472.post-56700843502307465472008-08-17T13:26:00.004-04:002008-08-17T14:05:10.713-04:00

I went to PA for a few days for one of three annual canning pilgrimages. My sister offered to keep my kids at her house for the 3 days so my mom and I could get everything done without interruption. I got to my sister's on a Sunday afternoon, spent the day there, then went up to my mom's that evening.In 2 1/2 days my mom and I managed to put up 2 dozen pints of peach jam, 6 pints of pickled

Mom of 3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06185178170501971212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518239776382888472.post-64901730855428611772008-07-23T11:00:00.003-04:002008-07-23T11:09:22.895-04:00

Today is a day homeschoolers dream about! The kids all slept in (till 8:00!) and I had a whole hour and a half this morning to catch up on email and get the animals fed and watered. After everyone had breakfast the kids all went about their work diligently. First the little kids and I sat in the living room with a book and cd and they each followed along as if they knew what they were reading.

Mom of 3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06185178170501971212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518239776382888472.post-9799836894577884612008-07-04T08:42:00.003-04:002008-07-04T09:05:25.466-04:00

On Tuesday, July 1st, our oldest daughter turned 11. We are not a family that does birthday parties any more elaborate than a family cake, so the kids tend to get some pretty great gifts. This year, I bought 4 tickets to see Grease on Broadway! I know, I'm a great mom :)We decided to take an early train so we could gawk at the excess of Times Square and have a leisurely meal. We were also

Mom of 3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06185178170501971212noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518239776382888472.post-86057581768797554282008-06-08T14:22:00.003-04:002008-06-08T14:29:32.557-04:00

We are taking a vacation to the beach... silly, right? My cousin is graduating from Ocean City High School so my whole family and some long time friends are renting a house for a week. There are not enough beds for everyone, it is a 5 hour drive and I have to board my dog...all to go to a beach exactly like the one we have a few miles down the road? I must be nuts.I am taking all of our bikes

Mom of 3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06185178170501971212noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518239776382888472.post-65656900695867306502008-05-15T15:13:00.002-04:002008-05-15T15:23:30.749-04:00

12. If my kid's only six and you ask me with a straight face how I can possibly teach him what he'd learn in school, please understand that you're calling me an idiot. Don't act shocked if I decide to respond in kind.I was sitting at East End Arts Council this afternoon waiting for my oldest daughter to finish her Art class. My 4yo was sitting with me reading a library book...yes, actually

Mom of 3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06185178170501971212noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518239776382888472.post-84695647408716863582008-05-08T08:21:00.006-04:002008-05-08T08:38:31.091-04:00

I grew up in the middle of Lancaster County amid vast expanses of farmland. My family had the same dairy farm for dozens of generations until me. I was an active member of FFA and have done my share of cow milking... and tipping but that is another story.I have been extremely blessed by my friend Barbara. Not only is she a wonderful friend to me, she is a horse person and has taught my children

Mom of 3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06185178170501971212noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518239776382888472.post-56482046121476208522008-04-23T07:39:00.005-04:002008-04-23T08:01:12.764-04:00

I am not opposed to people making money off a new product. The multi-level-marketing craze is making a comeback of Amway proportion. And I admit, I have a few obsessions myself. However, it makes no sense to me to pay someone for the privilege of selling their product for them!There are 2 products I love and use, Sensaria Skin Care and Longaberger baskets. I certainly use both of these

Mom of 3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06185178170501971212noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518239776382888472.post-74176899596050744152008-04-19T06:51:00.002-04:002008-04-19T07:19:10.872-04:00

11. Please stop questioning my competency and demanding to see my credentials. I didn't have to complete a course in catering to successfully cook dinner for my family; I don't need a degree in teaching to educate my children. If spending at least twelve years in the kind of chew-it-up-and-spit-it-out educational facility we call public school left me with so little information in my memory banks

Mom of 3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06185178170501971212noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518239776382888472.post-47472200729089797052008-04-07T11:41:00.003-04:002008-04-07T11:46:00.208-04:00

Nathan Lane is hysterically funny. Last Sunday afternoon dh and I went into the city to see November with Nathan Lane in the starring role as President who's time is up. He has no money for a reelection campaign and his supporters have all left him. He is joined on stage by Dylan Baker as his attorney and advisor, and Laurie Metcalf as his speech writer. All three of them work together

Mom of 3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06185178170501971212noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518239776382888472.post-88963468144062434942008-03-29T07:26:00.001-04:002008-03-31T12:33:25.023-04:00

10. We didn't go through all the reading, learning, thinking, weighing of options, experimenting, and worrying that goes into homeschooling just to annoy you. Really. This was a deeply personal decision, tailored to the specifics of our family. Stop taking the bare fact of our being homeschoolers as either an affront or a judgment about your own educational decisions.This one is so timely! This

Mom of 3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06185178170501971212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518239776382888472.post-1293375217585491412008-03-05T16:48:00.002-05:002008-03-05T17:01:57.001-05:00

http://www.dayofsilence.org/Religion is not the only thing that doesn't belong in school. I do not believe public schools are the place for certain types of political activism as well.Did you visit the above link? Did you look at the list of schools that are participating? http://www.missionamerica.com/agenda.php?articlenum=78 Southold is one of them..."right here in River City...."In trying

Mom of 3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06185178170501971212noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518239776382888472.post-66030534446793034262008-03-03T12:18:00.002-05:002008-03-03T12:29:53.784-05:00

8. Stop assuming all homeschoolers are religious.9. Stop assuming that if we're religious, we must be homeschooling for religious reasons.We happen to be religious, and homeschooling partially for religious reasons, but it did not start out that way. I may have shared this before, I don't recall. We initially began homeschooling because our oldest daughter needed her family around her, for more

Mom of 3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06185178170501971212noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518239776382888472.post-76991876701542128562008-02-27T07:53:00.007-05:002008-02-27T08:14:58.612-05:00

My husband is a wonderful man...but not today!For those that don't know, dh and I also work together. I was feeling very good about myself yesterday after getting up early, feeding all the animals, throwing in a load of laundry and sitting at my desk by 7:30...yes, that's a.m.! Then my cell phone rings at 10:00, unfortunately the babysitter had been in a car accident and was unable to come (she

Mom of 3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06185178170501971212noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518239776382888472.post-6709044590969515272008-02-20T15:07:00.002-05:002008-02-20T15:19:48.665-05:00

My husband is a wonderful man, he is kind, hard working, thoughtful...and a complete idiot sometimes!!!!Today we had some of our homeschool group to our house for a music class. We were anticipating approximately 20 kids and a half dozen or so adults. So I decided today was as good a day as any to clean the first floor and catch up on some laundry. At breakfast I asked the girls to please

Mom of 3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06185178170501971212noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518239776382888472.post-74597647371213687552008-02-14T14:57:00.003-05:002008-02-14T15:07:23.294-05:00

It's Valentine's Day, and we usually try to do something as a family rather than spend money on cards and candy and flowers that die in a day. This year dear hubby and I took two of our kids into the city to see Mary Poppins on Broadway.As this was our son's first trip into the city for anything significant, so we wanted to make it memorable. I found this great restaurant that looked wonderful

Mom of 3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06185178170501971212noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518239776382888472.post-46246422602575801242008-02-06T18:05:00.000-05:002008-02-06T18:46:39.156-05:00

7 We don't look horrified and start quizzing your kids when we hear they're in public school. Please stop drilling our children like potential oil fields to see if we're doing what you consider an adequate job of homeschooling.I have said before, and I will say it again, I am certain there are some wonderful public schools in the country. Clearly there are people who have completed 12 years of

Mom of 3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06185178170501971212noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518239776382888472.post-56022509836109099152008-02-05T19:12:00.000-05:002008-02-05T19:23:21.128-05:00

6 Please stop telling us horror stories about the homeschoolers you know, know of, or think you might know who ruined their lives by homeschooling. You're probably the same little bluebird of happiness whose hobby is running up to pregnant women and inducing premature labor by telling them every ghastly birth story you've ever heard. We all hate you, so please go away.I had an epiphany a few

Mom of 3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06185178170501971212noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518239776382888472.post-66414970741533216672008-02-03T08:46:00.000-05:002008-02-03T08:57:32.052-05:00

I am such a derelict blogger, finding the time is a huge challenge. In any case, we have returned from a wonderful vacation and are settling back into a routine.As I mentioned, our vacation was part of an international gathering of unschoolers. Now, it is hard to define unschooling, as that is kind of an oxy moron, but the general thrust is that all learning is child-led. There is no set

Mom of 3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06185178170501971212noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518239776382888472.post-4002493907534576662008-01-17T20:02:00.000-05:002008-01-17T20:27:01.305-05:00

I have scheduled our entire family for a long overdue vacation. While watching the Travel Channel last year we learned about America's 10 Best Water Parks. My son was fascinated by a place called Noah's Ark and decided that was where we HAD to take our next vacation. Through the miracle of Google I began my education into the Wisconsin Dells and a plan was formed. During the heat and sunshine of

Mom of 3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06185178170501971212noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518239776382888472.post-5848007327261374962007-12-20T12:27:00.002-05:002007-12-20T17:00:38.802-05:00

Yes, I am deviating from the plan. I will get back to the Wish List, but we are taking a detour. I warned you there would be a few and you came along for the ride anyway. That, my friends, is the beauty of homeschooling. When you need to explore further, or completely abandon the path and search out a new one, you can!As Nan mentioned in her comment on Item #4, I am extremely fortunate to runb a

Mom of 3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06185178170501971212noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518239776382888472.post-9234753669753149572007-12-16T07:48:00.000-05:002008-02-05T19:11:27.486-05:00

4. "Don't assume that every homeschooler you meet is homeschooling for the same reasons and in the same way as that one homeschooler you know."and5. If that homeschooler you know is actually someone you saw on TV, either on the news or on a "reality" show, the above goes double.We do not have a child with special needs that can't be met in a public school. We are not over zealous Christians

Mom of 3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06185178170501971212noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518239776382888472.post-18747551727921610242007-12-08T14:46:00.000-05:002007-12-09T13:43:22.973-05:00

3. "Quit interrupting my kid at her dance lesson, scout meeting, choir practice, baseball game, art class, field trip, park day, music class, 4H club, or soccer lesson to ask her if as a homeschooler she ever gets to socialize."I think I covered most of this in my last post, but let's explore a bit more. My children participate in all of the above activities, at various locations throughout town

Mom of 3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06185178170501971212noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518239776382888472.post-41874470592692229292007-11-25T09:07:00.000-05:002007-11-25T09:50:58.787-05:00

2. " Learn what the words "socialize" and "socialization" mean, and use the one you really mean instead of mixing them up the way you do now. Socializing means hanging out with other people for fun. Socialization means having acquired the skills necessary to do so successfully and pleasantly. If you're talking to me and my kids, that means that we do in fact go outside now and then to visit the

Mom of 3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06185178170501971212noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518239776382888472.post-28529237577997043592007-11-15T12:57:00.000-05:002007-11-15T22:01:51.522-05:00

1. Please stop asking us if it's legal. If it is — and it is — it's insulting to imply that we're criminals. And if we were criminals, would we admit it?Yes folks, homeschooling is legal here in the USA, land of the free and home of the brave. We have to follow the Rules and Regulations set forth by the NYS Education Department just like any other place of instruction. The only difference is NYS

Mom of 3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06185178170501971212noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518239776382888472.post-36551477226333640512007-11-14T07:20:00.000-05:002007-11-14T07:58:32.715-05:00

Last night was the reorganizational meeting for the Suffolk County 4-H Program Advisory Council, of which I am a member. 4-H is such a wonderful, under utilized resource here in our county, and last night I agreed to step up into a position that will (hopefully) bring more recognition the materials and workshops that are available. Everyone who reads the Calendar of Events on

Mom of 3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06185178170501971212noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518239776382888472.post-29578037947529817342007-11-12T12:33:00.000-05:002007-11-12T12:56:30.628-05:00

A few days ago I received a forwarded email that I actually read, and I am glad I did. The email was entitled “The Bitter Homeschooler’s Wish List” and its contents made me laugh out loud. Then, when Nancy invited me (more than once I am embarrassed to say) to write a blog about our home schooling experience, I realized the list may be the perfect vehicle. So each week I will take on 1 of these

Mom of 3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06185178170501971212noreply@blogger.com4