That must be what this video is saying, because Chick Pea loves to sit in my lap and watch it. The chicken and eggs part I pick up on from the video itself. I’m guessing the part about “Dada” because she says that the entire time she’s watching it.
Go ahead and watch this, I don’t know, eight or nine times, and you’ll get an idea of how my day starts. I love it that she sits in my lap to watch it, but I’ve realized that my Spanish had better get much better soon, or I’ll be looking at a lifetime of being made fun of while sitting there clueless and stupid.
Filed under: education, parenting | Tags: education, home school, homeschooling, learning, parents, teachers
Why, with all of the wonderful resources that public schools make available, would parents choose to keep their kids at home for schooling? Especially when most of these parents aren’t even teachers or have had any formal training as an educator. Isn’t it a disservice to deny their children of a proper education, one that will ensure that they will possess the knowledge in the necessary subject areas, so that they will go on to be successful citizens? Let’s also not forget the fact that they rob their kids of the opportunity to socialize and interact with their peers. After all, how are these kids supposed to learn how to function in a normal society when they are deprived of the chance to form meaningful relationships with kids their own age? It seems strange that any parent would take the chance of possibly refusing their child a well-rounded education by not sending them to school.
Wait a mintute . . . could it be because our country’s public school system is in complete shambles and because sending our kids to the neighborhood school does not guarantee that they will receive a quality education? Or that there is no way to make sure that your child gets a teacher that is not yet burned out, still cares about children, and is allowed to take risks in his/her classroom by pushing the boundaries of the dictated curriculum in order to really engage the students in meaningful learning experiences? Or perhaps it’s as simple as the fact that there is no one in this world that will care as much about a child’s success in life, and be willing to do whatever it takes to ensure that they move forward in life, than its own parents.
Now, my purpose here is not to bash school teachers or to comment upon their ability or inability to help in shaping successful citizens. I would merely like to applaud the efforts of homeschooling parents in taking the power to make the decisions which best benefit their children, into their hands. Thanks to a healthy dose of some good ole fashioned ignorance, this former public school teacher used to agree (along with many of my peers in education land) with the afore mentioned wonderings regarding parents who homeschooled their kids. After much research and a tad of real life exposure to some of these families, I am a believer!
I must say that I am thoroughly impressed by the innovative techniques, original approaches, and creative ways in which some of these parents jump on the many teachable moments they encounter throughout their day. A box doesn’t even exist when some of these parents (or this one) think of ways to expose material and content to their children. It’s enough to make any teacher, bound by the constraints and guidelines that only a public classroom can offer, envious of such freedom!
A big hat tip to you all out there! You’re not that weird after all.
Not really. . .at least not me. I was just reminiscing about how I used to call my good friend that when she had her first baby and the rest of us girls in that circle were single, baby free, and stressed at work. We envied her (when we weren’t out partying) because she got to stay home. I remember her going through a bit of a rough time because she felt bound to the house, bored, and desperate for adult interaction. Of course, I couldn’t relate to her back then – but now it all makes sense.
It’s not that I’m not busy, because there’s always something to do around the house. But sometimes, it’s being in the house that can be the problem. So the simple solution would seem to be to get out of the house, right? Yeah well…where to? It’s not like an infant can enjoy all of the things or places that older kids can like the park, a museum, or a book store (for long periods, anyway). So what are my options?
I’m definitely not the “mom group” type. Nothing sounds more boring to me than sitting around with a whole bunch of strangers talking about babies, husbands, and the like all day. I’m not interested in what percentile your kid is in or that he rolled over, cut a tooth, pooped in the toilet, or anything else that other people’s kids do. I just don’t care unless you’re my friend. Meville, remember? Now if I got the chance to hang around my slutty group of girlfriends that I left back in Fl, that’d be a different story. Who knows what delectable tidbits of gossip might be exchanged at such a meeting. So that’s out.
I’ve been out shopping many times. Just ask Mr Favorite . . . he’s well acquainted with the bank statements that prove it. The problem with shopping is that I tend to spend money no matter how many times I have the inner “don’t spend money” talk with myself. This is something that I’ve struggled with since I began working at 15 and had my own money (I should add that to my list). The only way to control myself is not to go. Shopping out. On a side note – something funny that I’ve noticed while out, is all of the other girls with new babies that are doing the same thing I am . . . wandering aimlessly around Target or the mall just to be out of the house. You’d think that we might start up a conversation seeing as how we’re similar ages and in similar positions. But instead we just ignore each other, smile at best. I’m thinking it’s because we’re too busy checking each other out to see who lost the baby weight and whose baby is cuter. Somehow Pea always wins . . .
Anyway, I’m not trying to complain. I definitely love spending time with Chick Pea and I’m extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to watch her grow each day. So maybe I should just shut up and be a stay at home slut.
Meville 