Where Are You?

Did we already use that post title the last time we were MIA? Too much going on here in the lives of these unschoolers.

The election, and outcome, were amazing experiences to share with the kids. The night of the election, Mady and I went to eat @ a local hamburger hot spot. It was packed as usual, and the veggie burger was good, even if that is not their specialty. Mady had an enormous chicken fried steak. The girl can eat! She is getting so TALL. As Mady and I slowly chewed our food, our eyes were glued to the T.V.'s in the restaurant broadcasting the election poll results as they came in. I spoke with her about the meaning of all the data on the screen. She seemed to understand though she wasn't very inquisitive about any of it. I had not spoken much with her about the election prior to that night. She did not seem interested. She was much more interested the night of the election however.

After dinner we made our way downtown for some Swing dancing lessons. Mady had a blast and learned a bit. She also made some new friends. Mady has been much more open to new experiences lately. She adores her animals and wants to be with them all the time, but she has been doing a much wider variety of things lately. I hope I am offering her enough options. How many new people does a young girl need to meet? I always think we have plenty of time to do...whatever. In reality, if I stop to think about it, she is 10. 10 years ago was a another life time to me, but it has gone by so quickly. I have a feeling in 10 years, it will be yet another life time to me. I feel as though I need to help her see all the world has to offer. I know my children do not see the impact they are having on my life, I mean, my learning. I am uncertain I would ever have pursued some of the things I am now pursuing if they weren't my children. I somehow feel more responsible for things that happen in the world with them here.

Niki is almost constantly walking around with a book in her hand. She wants badly to be able to read on her own I think. She enjoys me reading to her. Anything. The girl asks me what every word she sees says. We have several of the little books with all the 3 letter word stories. We look @ them often. I think Niki and Luke and Ezra all enjoy listening to Dr. Seuss the most though. The pictures are entertaining as well. I love reading them, they are fun, and funny.

Mady is having to do some actual book work to appease her father. She hates it. It has proven to be rather easy though. I ordered her a few cheap workbooks. I have noticed her reading much more lately as well. I have been scouring Goodwill and Half Price Books for any book about animal rescue I can find. Mady will read if it is about animals. I read to her (to all of the kids) all the time. Tonight we read the Sunday paper for our town and the larger town near us. I tried to read everything but I did skim some of the thing that didn't appeal as much to me instead of reading them aloud. Dom asked me what I have done to help protect my civil liberties. When my answer was, "I am a citizen. I supported you while you were overseas. I sent care packages for troops. I have been to a few protests. I write letters to our reps in Congress. " It all sounded very defensive to me and I began to wonder if our children knew about their civil liberties and what they could do to help them remain their civil liberties. All this brought on by the California Prop 8 article in the paper. What do other people do? Again, am I doing enough to be an example to our kids? Am I doing enough to educate them?

And Ezra is awake...