Homeschooling ramblings...

So, I have had quite a few people ask me how homeschooling is going.

Parker opted for the local homeschooling "Blended Program". This means that every Thursday and every second Tuesday and half Friday he attends a school with other homeschoolers. The days are shorter - 10 amd-3pm and it is based on Thematic teaching, but it is fun for him and he likes it so far... his favourite subject is "Recess" or "Dodgeball", but what first-grader's isn't?

At home we do some reading and some basic math, use the abacus, watch an educational video or two, model with clay, paint, bake, dance and play. We meet up with other homeschooling friends, go to the zoo, science center, pool.

One thing about homeschooling that I love is that we get up about 8am. There is no hurrying. There is no rushing through breakfast. There is very little stress. If we need a nap in the afternoon, we put on a quiet video and cuddle on my bed.

Liam is as happy as a clam having time alone with Mama. We have been swimming, shopping, lunching and playing... it is good times and he seems to be out-growing the "f'ing fours"... thank goodness.

So, so far, homeschooling is good... very good!

My Wabi Sabi life....

Have you ever heard the term Wabi Sabi? No? Until yesterday, neither had I.

I was at the library (since I've decided that owning hundreds of books is overrated when I can pay $12 a year to read as many as I want), browsing and came across the "religion" section. I looked and saw an unnassuming paperbag brown book called 'Wabi Sabi Simple' By Richard R. Powell.

The "simple" part caught my attention, because I am on a simplifying quest, and I picked it up.

It is amazing.

I was never able to explain to others why we choose to live such a pared-down life. I suspect some of my friends think I have low self-esteem because I don't WANT so much of the material as other people. I was never able to explain without coming across as judgemental or extrordinarily odd.

Wabi Sabi is a Japanese lifestyle of minimalism, beauty, simplicity, function, joy, purpose, gratitude, authenticity. It is about being the most authentic you possible. It is about focusing on what is really important and not allowing yourself to be distracted by what the modern world tells you is important.

The quote on the front cover of this book states this (and i love this): "Create beauty. Value imperfection. Live deeply.".

I think I have found a new mantra.

Voluntary Simplicity

So... we live pretty simply.

I know that if Alan accepted a job in mainstream O&G and worked a LOT more hours, we could have a bigger house. We could have a fancier car. We could go on cruises, have a larger TV and more mad money... but the thing is, we don't want to.

We want him to come home every night by six pm.

We want to have evenings to spend together.

I want to be home with my kids every day and to be the person who gets to see them grow and develop.

I want to have time to help people around me when they need it, rather than being so over-scheduled that I am physically or emotionally unable.

I know many wealthy people. Very few of them are as happy as we are in our tiny home with our sub-compact car and our vacations with family or in the mountains.

I see so many people buying, buying, buying...it almost seems like an attempt to feel happy and successful... but they don't seem to realise that happiness and success are not available for purchase.

Happiness and success are grown and nurtured in one's own home.

I spent this afternoon baking brownies with Parker. He loves to cook. Then we layed in the hammock and read some from the Spiderwick Chronicles.

We ate brownies rocked and laughed and I realised that no car or house or trip or "stuff" could make me feel as content and happy and successful as spending an hour rocking in a $20 hammock with my 6 year old.

To learn more about the Voluntary Simplicity movement, visit the link below:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simple_living