Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Music and Kids
Music and Kids
So my son and husband have become guitar-playing, music-making nuts. It is so much fun to have rock and roll or folk or metal music around the house at all hours. This is Aragorn's first public performance, and he was such a natural! He just sat down next to his wonderful teacher and played everything that was put in front of him. There was a roomful of guitar players, poets, audience members and he played "like he was in Madison Square Garden," according to his teacher, lol!
Life's Lessons
Life Lessons
Sometimes we philosophize too much, seek out hidden messages in random events. Sometimes the signs are there, staring us right in the face and we refuse to open our eyes. I am not sure how I feel about the wake-up call I had last night driving home with three children in the back seat.
I was looking for the right exit, being perpetually without a sense of direction, I usually am. I did not see the large, white object until my wheel was about to DANG, roll over it. I was driving fast, keeping up with traffic, so it took a moment to slow down, pull over, all the while dragging the darn thing as it screeeeeeched along under my car, wheel, who knew. I got out, smelled smoke, found the thing and stared. It could only be described as a...chamber pot? White enamel-coated metal pot, now thoroughly squashed in it's middle, where did that thing come from? What could it possibly want to tell me?
I have a few ideas, but I think I shall keep them to myself. In the mean time, no injuries, no flat tires, the smoking stopped, but my new red shoes have a scrape from where I kicked the thing right into next week and off the road. Potty indeed.
First Piano Recital
Lily, at thirteen, just played in her first two piano recitals, as did Alienor, eight. The nerves were worse for Lily, of course, as she practiced a great deal more and worried a great deal more, but Alienor had her moments too! She sat up straight and played her little heart out. Lily was intense and focused and professional. The first recital was open to family and friends, the grandparents came and we made a day out of it with ice cream after wards.
Last week was the formal recital in front of university professors. They both did beautifully and we just heard that Alienor and Lily each received a "Superior" rating from the judges on Saturday. Bravo sweeties!
Last week was the formal recital in front of university professors. They both did beautifully and we just heard that Alienor and Lily each received a "Superior" rating from the judges on Saturday. Bravo sweeties!
Seekers of Wisdom/Keepers of the Faith
Seekers of Wisdom/ Keepers of the Faith
Does there have to be a conflict? Has there always been one between the two? Is this what the difference between unschooling, or child-led education and a method such as Waldorf comes down to? There is an element of respect in a Steiner (or Waldorf) education for the stage of development a particular child finds himself in. Steiner himself wrote much of not feeding information to a child but bringing out what is within him or her. Is this the same though, as allowing him to freely search out what moves him and inspires him to explore a topic, thus discovering the world?
I strive for a balance between the two. The children read books they choose at the library, they play games they invent themselves. I read aloud books of my choosing and form a "curriculum" of subjects I think might be of benefit in their understanding of the world; math, history, botany, French grammar, proper writing skills, geography. This passing on of wisdom of ages past and present is my gift of experience and knowledge, the freedom to explore their world is a gift each one deserves from the universe.
How do others interpret this age-old conflict in the realm of education?
I strive for a balance between the two. The children read books they choose at the library, they play games they invent themselves. I read aloud books of my choosing and form a "curriculum" of subjects I think might be of benefit in their understanding of the world; math, history, botany, French grammar, proper writing skills, geography. This passing on of wisdom of ages past and present is my gift of experience and knowledge, the freedom to explore their world is a gift each one deserves from the universe.
How do others interpret this age-old conflict in the realm of education?
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Mammitoe By Lily
Mammitoe was our rat. He died on Saturday, March 6Th. He was, in rat years, about eighty years old, and in human years, just over two. Our first rat died struggling and sick, our second rat was put to sleep after having a large tumor, and our bird died of an overly large hart. Mammitoe died of old age, and had the best life that a rat could have had. His kind of rat was bred for snake food, so he would have died when he was just a few weeks old. When he knew that it was time, he went into his small rat bed, curled up, and died. He was always calm, and accepted life the way it was. I was the one who found him, cold and stiff, just before pizza night. Everyone came around to see him. There was a lot of sobbing and crying, but the two year old puck did not understand. Mammitoe was buried the next day in the back yard, in a place near a bush where, in May, there are yellow flowers on the the bush, and white flowers on the ground. Mammitoe died as he did everything, calm, and accepting.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
What's New Around Here?
Well, not the snow, as it is still covering everything, unless it is the fresh three inches we got yesterday. The kids went sledding with their favorite neighbor while I let baby take a nap on my lap. He has a miserable cold and can't sleep lying down.
Aragorn is busy writing a story about a jailer in Medieval Times. I have given up on historical accuracy, accepting instead some pretty creative writing and humor. Lily is vacillating between a story on a botanist/doctor in Queen Elizabeth I's court and a Spanish princess who has been sent to dwell there. She has written a play on the theme, short, but funny, and they are all rehearsing it in the basement. The old living room curtains have been hauled out and hung, along with Christmas lights to give it all dramatic flair.
Eleanor is intent upon thwarting my best Waldorf efforts to allow Arthur to remain in a dreamy, child-like place by teaching him to read. I meet with great resistance from the other kids when I request that he not be taught to read. "What!? Why do you want him to be dumb his whole life? He WANTS to learn! Let him read!" Ah, the critics have spoken, but I remain in charge. Well, sort of.
The girls have their first piano recital coming up this weekend...nerves are a little frazeled, but moral is good.
This morning we had a sticky time doing Hershey's fraction work, too much chocolate was eaten by all, and a good review of fractions, basic and advanced.
Time for Kung-Fu, the latest passion of the family. When the four oldest (13,11,8 and 5) get suited up in their white uniforms, it is very cute. Watch out bad guys, they are ready for you!
Aragorn is busy writing a story about a jailer in Medieval Times. I have given up on historical accuracy, accepting instead some pretty creative writing and humor. Lily is vacillating between a story on a botanist/doctor in Queen Elizabeth I's court and a Spanish princess who has been sent to dwell there. She has written a play on the theme, short, but funny, and they are all rehearsing it in the basement. The old living room curtains have been hauled out and hung, along with Christmas lights to give it all dramatic flair.
Eleanor is intent upon thwarting my best Waldorf efforts to allow Arthur to remain in a dreamy, child-like place by teaching him to read. I meet with great resistance from the other kids when I request that he not be taught to read. "What!? Why do you want him to be dumb his whole life? He WANTS to learn! Let him read!" Ah, the critics have spoken, but I remain in charge. Well, sort of.
The girls have their first piano recital coming up this weekend...nerves are a little frazeled, but moral is good.
This morning we had a sticky time doing Hershey's fraction work, too much chocolate was eaten by all, and a good review of fractions, basic and advanced.
Time for Kung-Fu, the latest passion of the family. When the four oldest (13,11,8 and 5) get suited up in their white uniforms, it is very cute. Watch out bad guys, they are ready for you!
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Education and What it Means; Yesterday and Today
What constitutes a good education? Like most parents, I have the desire for my children to continue to the highest level of education they are capable of and worry about how we will afford it more than I should. "Yes, you are going to college," seems to be a parental mantra in the civilized world. The dream also encompasses a day when our children will reach financial independence because they are living productive, lucrative lives. As "lucrative" is extremely subjective, I am beginning to see that "well-educated" is just as well.
My husband's grandmother went to school until the age of twelve, when she was sent out to work as a servant for another family. In the mornings she worked and in the afternoon she returned to the convent where the nuns taught them to sew, knit and other domestic skills. She must have also learned further "academic" skills there because she is the best one in the family at French grammar, spelling,penmanship, and quick calculations. I would be a proud parent indeed, if my children end up as talented as their great-grandmother! How could we even dream today, of a child's education ending at twelve and being prepared for the real world? Yet, not very long ago, this was the reality for most people in the world. And they are productive, intelligent members of society, more industrious than many today and even better at grammar and math!
A couple of years ago, my husband's company changed insurance policies. There were meetings for the employees and their spouses to attend to understand the "great new healthy directions" the company was taking. I read the entire bunch of literature they sent, understood exactly how it worked and wondered why I needed a meeting to help me understand that we were getting had. (The "new plan" as some of you may have had experience with, was; instead of co-pays at the doctor and pharmacy and hospital, we now had to pay everything out of pocket until the sum of $4300. Much simpler, much less perplexing. Oh, but they provide a tax-free place to put those dollars subtracted from our pockets. In return, this would make us more responsible for our own health, we had the choice!) So I dutifully went to the stupid meeting, and it was stupid. The only point elaborated upon, the only one even mentioned, was what a great investment opportunity it would be to place the "health savings plan" money in various stock market choices.
What struck me is the questions asked (out loud, mind you) by the executive, highly educated audience present. I was the only spouse there that day, the rest were employees, all at least with a BA. Most of the questions reflected one of two things; A) They had not read the policy or B)They had not understood it.
All of my undermined sense of confidence in myself for being "only a homemaker and mother" vanished that day. The dire warnings that I would "be out of touch" with the professional world" if I took a long hiatus to raise my children lost all of their power to worry me. My brain worked just fine, thank you very much. These nicely dressed professionals with their nice salaries had nothing on me, I felt a tiny bit superior even, intellectually speaking. My clothes were a lot more interesting too.
My only question for the nice lady from HR trying to sell us this great new plan with a smile was; "When we accepted this job and had all these children, we were promised an excellent health care plan as part of the deal. So, our family eats a healthy diet, exercises, does not smoke or drink to excess (all points in the new program for taking responsibility for our own health), yet a child falls and has to go to the emergency room or becomes seriously ill and we have hundreds or thousands of dollars in medical bills, how is this a healthy new direction? How can we be more responsible, please tell me? Financial planning was her answer, thank you!
I knew that I could share this with this wonderful group of highly intelligent "homemakers" and you might appreciate it. You are the best, never believe the contrary! As for those of you who are also working; you have all my respect, I know you are doing everything I am at home AND bringing home a much-needed paycheck.And I bet you read the document before the meeting too!
My husband's grandmother went to school until the age of twelve, when she was sent out to work as a servant for another family. In the mornings she worked and in the afternoon she returned to the convent where the nuns taught them to sew, knit and other domestic skills. She must have also learned further "academic" skills there because she is the best one in the family at French grammar, spelling,penmanship, and quick calculations. I would be a proud parent indeed, if my children end up as talented as their great-grandmother! How could we even dream today, of a child's education ending at twelve and being prepared for the real world? Yet, not very long ago, this was the reality for most people in the world. And they are productive, intelligent members of society, more industrious than many today and even better at grammar and math!
A couple of years ago, my husband's company changed insurance policies. There were meetings for the employees and their spouses to attend to understand the "great new healthy directions" the company was taking. I read the entire bunch of literature they sent, understood exactly how it worked and wondered why I needed a meeting to help me understand that we were getting had. (The "new plan" as some of you may have had experience with, was; instead of co-pays at the doctor and pharmacy and hospital, we now had to pay everything out of pocket until the sum of $4300. Much simpler, much less perplexing. Oh, but they provide a tax-free place to put those dollars subtracted from our pockets. In return, this would make us more responsible for our own health, we had the choice!) So I dutifully went to the stupid meeting, and it was stupid. The only point elaborated upon, the only one even mentioned, was what a great investment opportunity it would be to place the "health savings plan" money in various stock market choices.
What struck me is the questions asked (out loud, mind you) by the executive, highly educated audience present. I was the only spouse there that day, the rest were employees, all at least with a BA. Most of the questions reflected one of two things; A) They had not read the policy or B)They had not understood it.
All of my undermined sense of confidence in myself for being "only a homemaker and mother" vanished that day. The dire warnings that I would "be out of touch" with the professional world" if I took a long hiatus to raise my children lost all of their power to worry me. My brain worked just fine, thank you very much. These nicely dressed professionals with their nice salaries had nothing on me, I felt a tiny bit superior even, intellectually speaking. My clothes were a lot more interesting too.
My only question for the nice lady from HR trying to sell us this great new plan with a smile was; "When we accepted this job and had all these children, we were promised an excellent health care plan as part of the deal. So, our family eats a healthy diet, exercises, does not smoke or drink to excess (all points in the new program for taking responsibility for our own health), yet a child falls and has to go to the emergency room or becomes seriously ill and we have hundreds or thousands of dollars in medical bills, how is this a healthy new direction? How can we be more responsible, please tell me? Financial planning was her answer, thank you!
I knew that I could share this with this wonderful group of highly intelligent "homemakers" and you might appreciate it. You are the best, never believe the contrary! As for those of you who are also working; you have all my respect, I know you are doing everything I am at home AND bringing home a much-needed paycheck.And I bet you read the document before the meeting too!
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
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