Day 17 - The Dictionary Debate

When my children don't know the meaning of a word I tell them to do what every adult does: Google it. (e.g. define _______). 

We own multiple dictionaries but all they do is collect dust on the shelf. I've actually received criticism for not teaching my children to use a "real" (whatever that means) dictionary because, as the critics argue, "technology may not always be around, and then what will they do?"


Seriously?! 

Well, first of all, if technology is no longer around then some major apocalyptic event has occurred, and second of all, if that's the case and for some odd reason my kids desperately need to know the definition of a word, I'm confident they can teach themselves how to use a dictionary in that moment.

(I am also not big on teaching spelling for this same reason. In this post alone, I had five words with the red squiggly lines underneath that are now corrected -- and in a matter of seconds! I <3 you, technology! ) 

DAY 15 - FANNING THE FLAME

Every human is born with innate curiosity. Imagine that curiosity as a flame inside us all that is lit by our Maker at our time of conception. As a mother and as their teacher, I want to give my childrens' inner flames as much oxygen to grow, to spread, and to run wild, as I possibly can. Only oxygen, only open spaces, only freedom can allow a flame to survive. I mustn't extinguish the flame by boxing it into a classroom, burying it under the sands of worksheets and rigid schedules, and most importantly, I must not try to tame it or standardize it -- for no two flames were ever meant to burn the same. We are all born with this fire of wonder, creativity, and curiosity; it's lit right into our DNA. The challenge is not how to get the flame, but rather, it's how to keep the world from burning it out. 

Day 8 - How They Look on Paper

Posted this pic for no other reason than it makes me smile! 

I've noticed that when people talk about their children they always describe them in terms of how they look on paper, (i.e., "I have 2 kids in college, 1 working on his masters, and the other is an engineer.")

I'm not sure why this is our default way of describing our children. Do we think that their success or our success is measured by these things? And if so, why? 

Next time someone tells me about their children I want to hear, "I have the four happiest children ever! Oh, and they all love the Lord!" 

Now, *that* would be a success story! You can look fantastic on paper and still be miserable - trust me, I know. I want to hear about WHO your kids are, not WHAT they do.

Day 5 - Children are Not Art Projects

I heard a quote the other day that said, “Children are not our own art products to be turned out well, but their own life work in continual process.” ~ Jan Fortune Wood

It really got me thinking...Sometimes I do feel like we talk about our children like art projects. Either our own little projects "turn out well" or not -- and we take it so personally, as a reflection of ourselves. But the truth is, we can only do so much as parents because in reality, children are not our own little art projects that we can mold into exactly what we want, but rather they are free individuals who are their own, continual "work in progress."

I have been an "art project" parent for the past nine years and I'm so glad God is opening my eyes to that lie! 

                                                                Speaking of art projects...

Day Two - The Panic

“School presents daily exercises in dis-association. It forces unwelcome associations on most of its prisoners. It sets petty, meaningless competitions in motion on a daily basis, pitting potential associates against one another in contests for praise and other worthless prizes.” ~ John Taylor Gatto

Sharpshooter, my nine-year-old son, was at his papaw’s most of the day today so all we had time for was his gymnastics class and about thirty minutes of family time before bed. After I sent the kids to bed I went through my step-children’s backpacks to check and see if they needed lunch money. As I was going through their backpacks the panic hit. There were at least fifty worksheets in Katniss’ folder! There were math work sheets with times at the top showing how fast they had been completed, there were grammar worksheets, and reading comprehension worksheets and on and on. Am I depriving my child by not giving him such a “rigorous” education? I know my son couldn’t complete twenty multiplication problems in 1.56 minutes and I know he doesn’t know what a preposition is. Feeling a little sick to my stomach I put their folders back in their back packs, pray, and read a few of my favorite unschooling blogs for encouragement. I’m quickly reminded of my priorities and of the times I tried these same types of worksheets with my son and how little he enjoyed them, how frustrated they made him, and the tears he cried over them. Learning should be fun, I remind myself, and worksheets are NOT fun!