Real Life Homeschool Group
Whenever anyone would ask me if I belonged to a homeschool group, the answer was "No, we're too busy." And that is really true. Sometimes we get so busy and go so much that I have to remember to say "NO! Stop the insanity!" And so I do. And I have always found a TON of support online. Without the online message boards I would've never in a million years started homeschooling, kept with it, discovered the huge variety of resources I have, found great used books or figured out Ms. D's reading issues. Oh, yeah, and started to blog. And I know that all 12 of you would be very, very, disappointed if I hadn't started blogging. Because let's face it, you LIVE for my blog....don't you?
Then I met Laurie (pictured below) at Tanglewood. Who told me about this homeschool group that meets locally. I tucked that away in my memory and then promptly forgot about it. Until one day I ended up at the library where said homeschool group was smack dab in the middle of their witty repartee. So I sat down and joined them. Which was terribly bold and brash of me. But they didn't seem to notice. (Or maybe they did but were kind enough not to mention it...) They were welcoming, really funny, thought provoking and encouraging. So I joined. Me, the non joiner. (It also helped that they are considered a private school and I joined so that I didn't have to do yearly certified teacher reviews, and that Ms. D really, really liked that group of unsocialized homeschoolers...)
I really love this group because it's so diverse. Most everyone unschools (hhmmmm did I contradict myself in those two sentences?) and there is a wide variety of experience in parenting, number of years homeschooling and ages of children. It's like having the variety of a message board but with instant gratification. And with more tattoos.
Today I have decided to join my online world with my RL world.The group was kind enough to let me take a few pictures and ask a few questions. This does not represent the entire group at all, as a few people didn't realize what I was doing and had the audacity to LEAVE before they could catch their moment to shine in the blog sun. That will just leave more for next week.
Let's start with Laurie, shall we?
Method: Unschooling
No. of Children: 3
Piercings: 2
Tats: 0
Three things Laurie wants the world to know:
1. She's pregnant. And recently gave into a Wendy's craving. I know you didn't say I could add that, Laurie, but it was a good story.
2. All her children have Hawaiian names.
3. She takes and teaches ballet and has a production coming up.
Next we have Sonja. Or that is how I am assuming she spells her name. It could be Sonya. Or Sone-ya. I just don't know. So I'm going to stick with the first spelling. She wore a really great necklace today.
But let's just stick with facts, shall we?
Method: Unschooling
No. of Children: 2
Piercings: 17
Tats: 3
Three Things Sonja wants the world to know:
1. Capitalism is unsustainable and unfriendly to humans and animal life.
2. She knits and crochets.
3. She lives off the grid.
4. She is such a feminist that her womb only hosts females.
Ah, wait a minute...Sonja, that was four...but I'll let it go...just don't tell the others...
I just met Susan and Kirk today. Below is a photo of Kirk. Susan didn't really seem to want her photo taken and well, since I had just met her I didn't know if she could be bullied and I didn't want to push it. I'm considerate like that.
Method: Unschooling for six years
No of Children: 2
I forgot to ask Piercing and Tat status.
Three things Susan and Kirk (or is it Kirk and Susan????) want the world to know:
1. They love to sail.
2. They are homesteading wanna-bes.
3. Kirk always wipes the toilet seat after every use. (But does he put the lid down?? Our friendship was too fresh for me to ask!)
Their son piped up to say "Homeschooling Rocks!" I think he wanted the world to know that, too. Of course, the world reads this blog, so now they know.
Kara is up next. Kara has really long and beautiful hair. And having cut mine and hating it, I was just a little bit envious. But enough about me...
Method: Unschooling for 1 year
No. of Children: 2 (age 7 and 4)
Piercings: 2
Tats: 0
Three things Kara wants the world to know:
1. She and her family share the same last name as a very famous wizard named Harry.
2. She and her family are learning to kayak this summer and can't wait!
3. She and her family feel connected to nature. (Really, really connected as can be evidenced by the photo. They hug trees.)
Do you notice the little guy in the lower left? Check out that great mask he wore today!
Now we have Mim. I have never asked if that is short for anything. I should do that. Clearly I have not kept my end of the conversational gambit up.
Method: Unschooling forever
No. of Children: 1(by birth), 1(stray)
Piercings: 8
Tats: 3
Three things Mim wants the world to know:
1.She is fluent in English.
2. She can whistle with her tongue.
3. She owes Quinn $5.00 for foot knitting (see below)
Quinn. You're up next.
Method: Eclectic/Loosely unschooling (is that a redundancy? Loosely unschooling??)
No of Children: 2
Piercings: 10
Tats: 3
Three things Quinn wants the world to know:
1. She can knit and pearl Continental with her feet (see above Mims #3)
2. Quinn has never NOT modified a knitting pattern.
3. She has been a raw foodist for three years.
Okay, I snapped this really cool shot of Quinn and her daughter, which I thought was very "Everymother Comforting Her Child"
Next up is Ellen #1. Ellen, I cut your head off. For that I am deeply sorry, but if you've read this blog you know how fond I am of "artful blog photos" and really that's what I was trying to do here. I think.
Method: Eclectic for 8 years
No of Children: 2 (17/14 yr olds) ~~(read: experience!)
Piercings: 2
Tats: 0
Three things Ellen #1 wants the world to know:
1. She wants what is best for her kids, to help them find out what they want to do and to be happy doing it.
2. She doesn't get people who say "I can't wait to get rid of my kids!" because she really enjoys her kids.
3. No Comment.
Ellen #2 (we are all SO on a first name basis, here...that, I, well, forgot to ask their last names...)
Method: Unschooling for 11 years
No. of Children: 2 (17 and 13..again, look at all this experience between the two Ellens!)
Piercings: 2
Tats: 0
Three Things Ellen (who was in a hurry...) wants the world to know:
1. She was REALLY glad to be here today.
2. She was REALLY glad others were here.
3. She's looking forward to meeting more people.
4. She was really battleworn today. ( Okay, that was four, but I had pity for Ellen #2...)
Michelle I met for the first time today, also.
Method: Charlotte Mason for 8 years
No. of Chldren: 3
Piercings:she appeared to have two, but I didn't ask. I forgot. I got gabbing okay?
Tats: (see above)
Three things Michelle wants the world to know:
1. She likes to learn.
2. She loves her family.
3. She loves the Lord.
And then there is me.
Method: Eclectic for 4 years
No of Children: 1
Piercings: 4
Tats: 0
Three things I want the world to know:
1. I have a Jamie Wyeth obsession.
2. I am really, really good at driving in reverse, unless it's my own driveway. In which case, if your vehicle is behind me, it's all over for your fender.
3. When I'm in the shower I sing just like Kate Bush. That could be good or bad depending on how you look at it.
4. I love the idea of doing crafts, but I don't really like actually doing them. Much less completing them.
5. I can NOT pluck my eyebrows for anything.
Hey, that was five...
Well, there you have it. For this week. Like I said, there are many more. This was a fun way to get to know everyone and I appreciate their tolerance for letting me put them on the spot. Next week, I take off the gloves.
Then I met Laurie (pictured below) at Tanglewood. Who told me about this homeschool group that meets locally. I tucked that away in my memory and then promptly forgot about it. Until one day I ended up at the library where said homeschool group was smack dab in the middle of their witty repartee. So I sat down and joined them. Which was terribly bold and brash of me. But they didn't seem to notice. (Or maybe they did but were kind enough not to mention it...) They were welcoming, really funny, thought provoking and encouraging. So I joined. Me, the non joiner. (It also helped that they are considered a private school and I joined so that I didn't have to do yearly certified teacher reviews, and that Ms. D really, really liked that group of unsocialized homeschoolers...)
I really love this group because it's so diverse. Most everyone unschools (hhmmmm did I contradict myself in those two sentences?) and there is a wide variety of experience in parenting, number of years homeschooling and ages of children. It's like having the variety of a message board but with instant gratification. And with more tattoos.
Today I have decided to join my online world with my RL world.The group was kind enough to let me take a few pictures and ask a few questions. This does not represent the entire group at all, as a few people didn't realize what I was doing and had the audacity to LEAVE before they could catch their moment to shine in the blog sun. That will just leave more for next week.
Let's start with Laurie, shall we?
Method: Unschooling
No. of Children: 3
Piercings: 2
Tats: 0
Three things Laurie wants the world to know:
1. She's pregnant. And recently gave into a Wendy's craving. I know you didn't say I could add that, Laurie, but it was a good story.
2. All her children have Hawaiian names.
3. She takes and teaches ballet and has a production coming up.
Next we have Sonja. Or that is how I am assuming she spells her name. It could be Sonya. Or Sone-ya. I just don't know. So I'm going to stick with the first spelling. She wore a really great necklace today.
But let's just stick with facts, shall we?
Method: Unschooling
No. of Children: 2
Piercings: 17
Tats: 3
Three Things Sonja wants the world to know:
1. Capitalism is unsustainable and unfriendly to humans and animal life.
2. She knits and crochets.
3. She lives off the grid.
4. She is such a feminist that her womb only hosts females.
Ah, wait a minute...Sonja, that was four...but I'll let it go...just don't tell the others...
I just met Susan and Kirk today. Below is a photo of Kirk. Susan didn't really seem to want her photo taken and well, since I had just met her I didn't know if she could be bullied and I didn't want to push it. I'm considerate like that.
Method: Unschooling for six years
No of Children: 2
I forgot to ask Piercing and Tat status.
Three things Susan and Kirk (or is it Kirk and Susan????) want the world to know:
1. They love to sail.
2. They are homesteading wanna-bes.
3. Kirk always wipes the toilet seat after every use. (But does he put the lid down?? Our friendship was too fresh for me to ask!)
Their son piped up to say "Homeschooling Rocks!" I think he wanted the world to know that, too. Of course, the world reads this blog, so now they know.
Kara is up next. Kara has really long and beautiful hair. And having cut mine and hating it, I was just a little bit envious. But enough about me...
Method: Unschooling for 1 year
No. of Children: 2 (age 7 and 4)
Piercings: 2
Tats: 0
Three things Kara wants the world to know:
1. She and her family share the same last name as a very famous wizard named Harry.
2. She and her family are learning to kayak this summer and can't wait!
3. She and her family feel connected to nature. (Really, really connected as can be evidenced by the photo. They hug trees.)
Do you notice the little guy in the lower left? Check out that great mask he wore today!
Now we have Mim. I have never asked if that is short for anything. I should do that. Clearly I have not kept my end of the conversational gambit up.
Method: Unschooling forever
No. of Children: 1(by birth), 1(stray)
Piercings: 8
Tats: 3
Three things Mim wants the world to know:
1.She is fluent in English.
2. She can whistle with her tongue.
3. She owes Quinn $5.00 for foot knitting (see below)
Quinn. You're up next.
Method: Eclectic/Loosely unschooling (is that a redundancy? Loosely unschooling??)
No of Children: 2
Piercings: 10
Tats: 3
Three things Quinn wants the world to know:
1. She can knit and pearl Continental with her feet (see above Mims #3)
2. Quinn has never NOT modified a knitting pattern.
3. She has been a raw foodist for three years.
Okay, I snapped this really cool shot of Quinn and her daughter, which I thought was very "Everymother Comforting Her Child"
Next up is Ellen #1. Ellen, I cut your head off. For that I am deeply sorry, but if you've read this blog you know how fond I am of "artful blog photos" and really that's what I was trying to do here. I think.
Method: Eclectic for 8 years
No of Children: 2 (17/14 yr olds) ~~(read: experience!)
Piercings: 2
Tats: 0
Three things Ellen #1 wants the world to know:
1. She wants what is best for her kids, to help them find out what they want to do and to be happy doing it.
2. She doesn't get people who say "I can't wait to get rid of my kids!" because she really enjoys her kids.
3. No Comment.
Ellen #2 (we are all SO on a first name basis, here...that, I, well, forgot to ask their last names...)
Method: Unschooling for 11 years
No. of Children: 2 (17 and 13..again, look at all this experience between the two Ellens!)
Piercings: 2
Tats: 0
Three Things Ellen (who was in a hurry...) wants the world to know:
1. She was REALLY glad to be here today.
2. She was REALLY glad others were here.
3. She's looking forward to meeting more people.
4. She was really battleworn today. ( Okay, that was four, but I had pity for Ellen #2...)
Michelle I met for the first time today, also.
Method: Charlotte Mason for 8 years
No. of Chldren: 3
Piercings:she appeared to have two, but I didn't ask. I forgot. I got gabbing okay?
Tats: (see above)
Three things Michelle wants the world to know:
1. She likes to learn.
2. She loves her family.
3. She loves the Lord.
And then there is me.
Method: Eclectic for 4 years
No of Children: 1
Piercings: 4
Tats: 0
Three things I want the world to know:
1. I have a Jamie Wyeth obsession.
2. I am really, really good at driving in reverse, unless it's my own driveway. In which case, if your vehicle is behind me, it's all over for your fender.
3. When I'm in the shower I sing just like Kate Bush. That could be good or bad depending on how you look at it.
4. I love the idea of doing crafts, but I don't really like actually doing them. Much less completing them.
5. I can NOT pluck my eyebrows for anything.
Hey, that was five...
Well, there you have it. For this week. Like I said, there are many more. This was a fun way to get to know everyone and I appreciate their tolerance for letting me put them on the spot. Next week, I take off the gloves.
That is so very, very awesome. We don't have an unschool group around here, in fact there a LOT of very strict home schoolers around here with whom we don't really fit in,especially since I am way too opinionated for my own good and try very hard to keep my mouth shut but often fail and say the very wrong thing to the very wrong person to say it to, which is the very reason we have NOT joined a group.
Posted by: Heather Young | May 21, 2008 at 09:30 PM
This is SO very, VERY cool. I wish that you all lived nearby. I rarely know more than one other homeschooler at any given time and I don't have one single friend that I hang with, much less a homeschooling/unschooling one.
This inspires me to find some peers. ;)
Posted by: soNOTcool | May 21, 2008 at 10:28 PM
I just might have to move there. Totally green with jealousy here. We only have one local hs group and it just isn't a fit for me. I love your interview and that they were cool with you blogging it.
Posted by: Mommylion | May 21, 2008 at 10:40 PM
Wow, what a great group! I have a very small group I've just become connected with. I wonder if they'd let me do interviews like that with them... I wonder if you'd let me brazenly steal your idea.
I do so love your blog! You ought not to mock those who live for it. I do. Well... I live for my morning coffee and blog-reading ritual. Your blog is a delightful part of that.
Posted by: Kim | May 22, 2008 at 08:51 AM
I seriously live in the wrong part of the country. I read blogs and realize this every.single.day.
I try and try and still my children don't know one single homeschooler (and I won't venture into the pathetic land of the mom lack of friends). Last week we tried a playgroup for a local US group we joined four months ago...and when my 5 year old tried to go up and introduce himself and play with the kids in the group (and he was so sweetly trying to say hi - I watched him the whole time), one boy turned around and SCREAMED, less than 2 inches away, into my sons face "GET AWAY FROM ME AND LEAVE ME ALONE!" and he and his friends spent the rest of the time playing mean games just to avoid or mess with my son. I actually cried.
That is so awesome. Gotta leave the midwest! :)
Posted by: Denise | May 22, 2008 at 01:21 PM
Wow. You're all invited to the homeschool group! C'mon over to the east coast, ladies!
I knew I was fortunate to find this group, and now I feel even more fortunate when I hear the tales of whoa out there. You know, I didn't really find them as much as they found me...In a weird sort of way. Kinda Zen. I quit looking. I found them.
Posted by: Maria | May 22, 2008 at 08:07 PM
I wanna join too!
I've heard that there are other homeschoolers here, but I've never laid eyes on them, let alone talked to them. It seems to be a covert operation of some sort.
Posted by: thislittlepiggy | May 23, 2008 at 08:33 AM
How'd you find so many unschoolers in one spot? NO FAIR!!
Posted by: piscesgrrl | May 27, 2008 at 11:40 PM