Amanda Enclade

Story about how my teenage son opted out of school

2011-05-16T20:12:00.000-07:00

I just had the pleasure of contributing to the The Teenagers Guide to Opting Out (Not Dropping Out) of School. It got me thinking about how my passion for alternative education and learning really started. I first became aware of and interested in unschooling when my oldest son was in the 8th grade. He began to experience panic attacks and, of course, we looked for solutions. We went to doctors

Leaving High School Legally in California

2010-10-27T17:43:00.000-07:00

Several years back, when I was trying to figure out for my son this "how to get out of high school legally"stuff, it seemed impossible. I was confused and had no idea how simple the paperwork and process really was. I hope this short post makes the process of getting out of the public school system easier and less painful for you. Once you pass the California high school proficiency examination,

It's Happening!

2010-10-04T11:16:00.000-07:00

I am super duper excited to announce that I am starting The Learning Collective! <----click here Our 1st session will take place in my backyard but I am already reflecting about the kind of space we will rent...a big open urban 2 story loft...a room big enough to hold a performance, a party, a dance or yoga class....a place for tweens and teens to just hang out, listen to music and create art

this is insanity

2010-09-15T14:41:00.000-07:00

be very careful when watching tv or using a computer. ahriman might get you!

the 3rd leg

2010-09-14T20:33:00.001-07:00

I've been thinking lately that there is another leg beginning to form outside of the realms of traditional brick and mortar schooling and un/homeschooling. A leg that is connected to our communities and relevant to our real day to day lives.I've been trying to formulate this vision to my local un/homeschoolers lately and the resistance that I feel from them is almost as frustrating as the

settling in (again)

2010-09-04T17:19:00.000-07:00

everything is goldenI am blessed

5 more days

2010-08-27T12:59:00.000-07:00

my son is leaving to go to NYC in 5 days. 5 more nights of lighting his candle at night. 5 more days of doing his laundry. 5 more days of him waking me up when he arrives back home at night. 5 more days of how it has been for the last 18 years. yes I am crying just writing this.

2010-08-20T13:19:00.000-07:00

Learning should not be driven by fact based curriculum but by problems, projects and questions that r in a context and for a purpose. Joe Bower

competition

2010-08-19T17:09:00.000-07:00

the big talk in ed these days is about teacher accountability. the govt is trying to blame teachers for the education crisis. they want to make teachers accountable through standardized test scores. basically putting the teachers ass and paycheck on the line. I don't think that competition is good for childrens education. competition creates fear and judgement. competition is not good for the

to ship sept 20

2010-08-19T16:49:00.000-07:00

The Collectivelearning to learn togethercollaborationproblem solvingfreedomfun4-10 yrs 1st session 6 weeksmon/thurs10-3:30*update: my original post title said "hoping to ship sept 20," I changed it.

2010-08-10T17:00:00.000-07:00

When you think in a new way, you get to do new things and you get to feel new things.Richard Bandler

this about says it all

2010-08-10T16:57:00.000-07:00

2010-08-09T12:16:00.001-07:00

tell the truthhow often do you lie to your children?

2010-08-07T13:47:00.000-07:00

I became inspired today. I am happy when I am inspired.

labels

2010-08-07T13:44:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking about the word unschooling lately. How it is so misleading to the average joe.*update: read here for more about the misconceptions of unschooling

Joy to the World

2009-10-09T13:48:00.001-07:00

Something is happening here with this radical unschooling stuff. I believe it is making us peaceful people. This lifestyle has made us happier and way more connected to our kids. They are making us laugh and smile on an hourly basis. The laughter and joy is making me feel like a complete individual. I am so grateful for this path, that I am able to be on it and be supported in it. It is

Happy Birthday To Me

2009-10-01T13:57:00.000-07:00

Today is my birthday. I am now 42. My horoscope says that I am going to have a great year. I accept that.I want that. I need that.

SAT Scores and Family Income

2009-09-26T12:41:00.000-07:00

Much has been written about the relationship between SAT scores and test-takers’ family income. Generally speaking, the wealthier a student’s family is, the higher the SAT score...Click here to read the article and see the disturbing graphs.If you are a parent, is this OK with you? Do you believe that "your kid" will buck the system? Or are you willing to continue playing this unfair game?

Do you like going to bars?

2009-09-21T16:19:00.000-07:00

This is a picture of me and my friend Pitita. We have a lot of fun together. Over the last year we have transformed our social selves. We are mastering the art of going out to our local bar, drinking beer and having good times. Our favorite place to go is this spot in South Santa Monica called The Daily Pint. It has an authentic English pub feel and the bartender/owner loves us. It's full of '

Reflections

2009-09-20T15:40:00.001-07:00

I am reflecting on why I have not been blogging. Twitter seems to fill my need for communicating on the web & I have lots of followers/listeners there. I'd like to blog more but I am wondering what to blog about. Most of what I have to say is easy to spit out in 140 characters. I started this blog as an experiment- I heard that blogging was a great way for personal transformation. I agree. I

Gaviota 2009

2009-07-23T20:42:00.000-07:00

I am utterly exhausted. I had an amazing time. The food was great. Many lazy participants that did not lift a finger. Lame. Whatever. I am trying to figure out how they turned out that way. I am tanner than I have been in a long time. Feels great. My baby niece Ruby is to die for, she is gorgeous! Gaviota Beach is beautiful. The actual campground so-so. It is so close to the beach that you hear

What is Self Education? by James Bach

2009-07-13T17:31:00.000-07:00

I think the following interview is an amazing explanation of unschooling and self education. Next time someone asks, I am giving them this short interview.

The Menu: Getting Ready To Cook and Camp

2009-07-07T09:24:00.000-07:00

Our annual summer/beach camping trip is coming up in a week. We are going to Gaviota State Beach. My favorite thing about planning the trip is planning our gourmet camp menu. The following menu goes to show you what an absolute foodie I am. Most of it will be as pre-prepared as possible. We will also have an amazing layout of European cheeses and condiments each night. I can't wait! Oh, and the

Fun in the Sun

2009-07-01T11:07:00.000-07:00

We live close to the Venice Beach Boardwalk. A place that is full of different types of people. Homeless, drug addicts, skateboarders, surfers, musicians, chess players, kids, artists, tarot card readers, etc. I love going there with the kids for people watching and pupusa eating.Anytime I go to Smart and Final, I buy a bag of dry ice. It is so much fun to play with.

Jules (5)

2009-06-23T13:37:00.000-07:00

This kid is ridiculously cute!

We've Made It!

2009-06-10T15:17:00.000-07:00

I've actually made it through our first "official" year of not going to school. Summer is almost here and I have made it! It is only getting better and free-er. This year has been the most transformative year of my life. Nothing has changed me more than starting unschooling. As I continue to let go, I find myself happier, more confident, creative and my life feels like it has a meaning that I

Frank Z

2009-05-22T11:46:00.000-07:00

I never knew that Frank Zappa and I had so much in common. Why didn't I know this earlier?One of my favorite quotes thus far:"Drop out of school before your mind rots from exposure to ourmediocre educational system. Forget about the Senior Prom andgo to the library and educate yourself if you've got any guts.Some of you like pep rallies and plastic robots who tell you whatto read. Forget I

On being the only one...

2009-05-18T14:46:00.000-07:00

I feel like I am changing quite a bit right now. All of this blogging and twittering and reading is finally sinking in. I am starting to notice how different I am becoming compared to my traditionally minded friends. I was visiting a good pal Saturday night and there were a few tense moments regarding things like giving choices (when do you want to sit down and eat?)*yikes* (there are no choices!

Spider Zoo Spider Babies!

2009-05-13T16:24:00.000-07:00

Jules has been into catching spiders. We caught a black widow last week and kept it for a few days, watched it, learned about it and then let it go free down the alley near a tree. This week we have caught several spiders in a jar. To my utter amazement, last night one of the spiders had babies! I cannot believe how much they have grown in just one day. Amazing, truly amazing!!In the picture

Indigos

2009-05-11T17:04:00.000-07:00

I am copying this very informative report regarding the phenomenon of indigo children. I think all 3 of my children exhibit a lot of these qualities but mostly my middle guy. He is my child who has given me the gift of searching outside of the mainstream to find what will serve him best in his upbringing. I would answer "yes" to about 80% of the attributes for him. Luckily he has not been in an

Happy Mama's Day!!

2009-05-10T16:51:00.000-07:00

Your children are not your children.They are the sons and the daughters of life’s longing for itself.They come through you but not from you,And though they are with you, yet they belong not to you.You may give them your love, but not your thoughts,For they have their own thoughts.You may house their bodies but not their souls,For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit,

Lots of Fun Lately

2009-05-09T10:31:00.000-07:00

The joy of catching a moth. Trip to Tanaka Farms One of Jules favorite activities, mixing.

I'm Not A Frog-Boiler! by Scott Noelle

2009-05-06T09:44:00.000-07:00

Here's another great groove from Scott Noelle. His daily inspirations are great! This one really hits home for me...When you reject authoritarian, coercive parenting infavor of non-punitive, pleasure-oriented parenting,critics and naysayers will warn you that your childwon't be able to cope in the "real" world.The assumption is that "it's a jungle out there" andwe should gradually toughen up our

Send Back Your Yellowpages

2009-05-05T18:01:00.000-07:00

I found this...it inspired me...why oh why do they continue to send out the yellow pages? To everybody??!!

Happy May Day Everyone!

2009-05-01T21:16:00.000-07:00

Today we had a successful park day. I am happy. Time is my friend. When we first started unschooling I had a hard time socializing at park day. My kids were schooled and they were used to being told what, when and how to do things like share, get along with others, etc. Up until now, I have not had a social comfort zone within our unschooling community. Today things started to change. There was

Principles of Unschooling by Pam Sorooshian

2009-04-28T21:02:00.001-07:00

Learning happens all the time. The brain never stops working and it is not possible to divide time up into “learning periods” versus “non-learning periods.” Everything that goes on around a person, everything they hear, see, touch, smell, and taste, results in learning of some kind. Learning does not require coercion. In fact, learning cannot really be forced against someone’s will. Coercion

Wow Twitter is Cool!

2009-04-26T18:10:00.000-07:00

Everything is crazy! I have started twittering and I am hooked. I have two accounts one for my healing products business and one for the other me that has emerged over the last couple of years.I am having a hard time merging these two interests so for now I am going to be split.

Ode Magazine Article

2009-04-24T10:57:00.001-07:00

Click here to read an awesome article called How Do Kids Figure Out What They Like To Do?

Sandra Dodd on You Tube!

2009-04-21T12:29:00.000-07:00

"I never knew how much damage schools did until I saw some kids who hadn't been"-Sandra DoddPart 2

Egg Hunt 2009

2009-04-15T09:39:00.000-07:00

Bye Bye Baby Stuff

2009-04-13T14:01:00.000-07:00

I am going up to Northern Cal in a couple of days to visit my brother, my new niece (first girl since me!) and my sports enthusiast nephew...I want to take some gifts along so I am going to head out to the garage momentarily and go through all of the baby clothes that are tucked away in bags. I've saved a lot of baby stuff for 2 reasons...In case I have another baby ...and in case my brother had

The Boyz

2009-04-11T14:55:00.000-07:00

Austen and Co. on his 17th birthday. He is the cutie up front in the plaid shirt. These guys have been friends since they were very young. Most of them met in our neighborhood community. It's funny because they all go to different schools...on the weekends and during school breaks, they are inseparable. They are all skateboarders and they are all cool! I feel very lucky that he has such close

Snapshot Sunday

2009-04-06T10:58:00.000-07:00

I read about Snapshot Sunday on Lindsay's blog:Thought I’d try something new, so I’m debuting Snapshot Sunday. I’m not really creative with names. What I’ll do is walk through my life at the moment - wherever I am, whatever I’m doing and take five snapshots. No people, no arranging, no cleaning up. Sometimes captions, sometimes not. “This is my life. Right now.”I think this is a fun way to take a

Happy Birthday Austen 17

2009-04-04T11:01:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was my oldest son Austen's 17th birthday. His birthday is such a milestone for me...every year it marks the day I became a mother. Happiest of birthdays to my beautiful boy! We celebrated with close family and friends along with 8 handsome teenage men roaming the house. Fun! I cherish this moment.

Approval

2009-03-29T10:47:00.000-07:00

Yesterday someone in my community posted on my facebook wall that they were reading my blog and that they loved it. This honestly made my day. I started this blog at the end of 2007 and I remember thinking that I would just do it. I thought that it would be a perfect place for me to express my thoughts and be creative. None of my friends wanted to hear my strong opinions and for the right reasons

I Wonder If This Works

2009-03-27T13:40:00.000-07:00

Teeth Week

2009-03-27T12:46:00.000-07:00

Both of my young guys had trips to the dentist this week. Jules knocked out his bottom front teeth while jumping on the furniture. The dentist said he was fine and that the teeth were getting ready to come out anyways. The tooth fairy came and it was a fun way to learn about money. He also ended up having 3 cavities which we decided to fill without Novocaine. Not too deep so no problem. Solomon

Life as Art

2009-03-25T16:59:00.000-07:00

I have been thinking a lot about how my life is going, who I am and how I am perceived by others. I have days where I feel a drive to create in the business world but most of my days are being spent doing what most people would consider "housework" and most would probably consider me a "housewife".For example, last night as I was clipping my anniversary roses for the 3rd time I was wondering if

It's All About Good Grades

2009-03-21T13:34:00.000-07:00

I am always interested in what people are reading especially with regards to parenting. Last night I flipped through a book on my neighbor's coffee table titled Parking Lot Rules & 75 Other Ideas for Raising Amazing Children. Reading through, I was reminded of (the obvious) that most parents think that grades are the single most important thing in a child's education. I am still amazed at how

New Books We Are Currently Reading

2009-03-21T12:10:00.000-07:00

Raising Free Thinkersby Dale McGowan, Molleen Matsumura,Amanda Metskas, Jan DevorColoring Outside the Linesby Roger SchankEverything Bad Is Good For Youby Steve Johnson

St. Patricks Day 2009

2009-03-18T15:06:00.000-07:00

Gosh I am having a lot of fun these days. It's like taking a trip back to circa 1989. One thing I must remember...enjoy it while it lasts! I felt guilty at first but now I embrace the fun, fun, fun! Like why can't I have a good time and be the greatest mother on earth???!!!Yesterday, Saint Patrick's Day is also my wedding anniversary. Erick and I had a blast at our local pub and then went out for

Feeding Day

2009-03-17T13:05:00.000-07:00

Monday is feeding day for our lizard. He eats 12 crickets. Lizards are not vegetarians even though insects seem like moving plants. We found him in our backyard a couple of months ago. We were considering buying a lizard at the pet store but were hesitant to spend the 300 bucks it was going to take to make a warm rain forest in a cage. Luckily we found our friendly young lizard. I feel a bit sad

About The Conference

2009-03-13T14:15:00.000-07:00

Everyone is asking me about the conference. I don't really know what to say other than the fact that I was completely absorbed listening to the talks. The day went by very quickly and I was never bored. I did not have any ah-ha moments but it was a huge confirmation for me that we have chosen the path that is right for us at this moment. It was a small conference, hardly any attendees from out

Just What the Head Doctor Ordered

2009-03-12T16:08:00.000-07:00

Whoa I just read this article by Scott Noelle...Orthodox...Unorthodox...ParadoxThe word paradox literally means "to think beyond." A paradox is any statement or situation in which seemingly contradictory truths coexist without negating each other... Paradoxy rises above the conventional and the unconventional to reveal the miraculous. It transforms the impossible into the possible. It releases

Funky

2009-03-11T15:17:00.000-07:00

I am in a funky spot. I feel like I don't "do" enough. I feel judged. This pisses me off. I want to start something new I just don't know what. Aunt Vi's has so much potential yet I just don't feel it anymore. I feel bad about this...so many years of hard work and manifesting my dream. To really take it to the next level involves an influx of cash and serious motivation. Of course I keep it going

This Scares Me

2009-03-10T18:28:00.000-07:00

"I know longer school days and school years are not wildly popular ideas," Obama said. "But the challenges of a new century demand more time in the classroom."

Are you financially literate?

2009-03-07T06:51:00.000-08:00

So much for preparing kids for the "real world". Here's another reason why public education sucks. IMO. How can we send kids to school 6 hours a day, 5 days a week for 13+ years and not teach them about money and finance? Just another clue as to who actually runs the educational system. And as far as parents being the one's to teach their kids about finance, most of us have no idea! I sure as

My First Conference

2009-03-04T16:37:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow I am headed to Arizona to attend my first homeschool conference. The main reason I am going is because Sandra Dodd and Grace Llewellyn will be there. Sandra's grown up unschooled kids will be there too! These people are like movie stars to me...hopefully I will not be disappointed:-)There are *lots* of unschooling talks as well as the normal home school curriculum and stuff. I am staying

Unconditional Love

2009-03-01T16:41:00.000-08:00

I've been thinking a lot about the idea of unconditional love. I wonder...who do I love unconditionally? Of course all 3 of my kids. I cannot think of anything they could do or say that would stop me from loving them. I am free-er with my negative feelings about my parents but I choose to love and accept them regardless, because they are my parents even if they are being assholes. I could never

You can't experience your own death, he has always said; your death is for others to experience.

2009-02-28T12:31:00.000-08:00

Once in awhile the LA Times prints an inspiring story. This article titled Waiting for Death, Alone and Unafraid is a beautiful piece about Edwin Shneidman who devoted his life to learning and writing about death and suicide.In death, things become mere things -- the statue of Venus in the backyard, the gyotaku print in the kitchen, the Melville-inspired shadow boxes -- no longer animated by

Notes To Myself

2009-02-27T11:00:00.000-08:00

From Notes To Myselfby Hugh PratherIf I had only...forgotten future greatnessand looked at the green things and the buildingsand reached out to those around meand smelled airand ignored the forms and the self styled obligationsand heard the rain on the roofand put my arms around my wife...and it's not too late.Why do I judge my day by how much I have "accomplished?"I don't want to listen to just

Iron and Soul by Henry Rollins

2009-02-25T09:44:00.001-08:00

I came across this article yesterday...I love it and I totally relate to it."Iron and the Soul" by Henry RollinsI believe that the definition of definition is reinvention. To not be like your parents. To not be like your friends. To be yourself. Completely.When I was young I had no sense of myself. All I was, was a product of all the fear and humiliation I suffered. Fear of my parents. The

Loud in the Library

2009-02-24T14:14:00.000-08:00

We went to our local library today. We are lucky and have a library 3 blocks away. Today Jules took a real interest in books instead of being engrossed with computer learning games. He wanted me to read this, read that. I thought he might have been scared to look at the pictures when he brought me the book Bodies From the Ice. He was interested in the weapons, clothing and bodies. I kept

We Are Loving Our Life

2009-02-19T11:12:00.000-08:00

Once again I can say that things are moving along quite nicely concerning unschooling. Another moment in time where I can see the fruits. It seems like an up and down venture...patiently awaiting the transformation that will be a continuous process for us all. Jules has been doing things that I consider adorable and also a big step in the direction that I think unschooling allows. Yesterday he

To Understand Is To Transform What Is

2009-02-17T12:05:00.000-08:00

I just finished watching Zeitgeist Addendum. It took me a few days...it's hard for me to watch anything for 2 hours but I slurped this one up pretty good. The first one rocked my world and now this. Learning how the financial institutions and the monetary system work is mind blowing. Hearing and digesting the info makes me feel like I am in an altered universe. The world is supposedly changing

You Don't Need To Be Brillant To Be Wise: Without Wisdom Brillance Is Not Enough

2009-02-17T09:49:00.000-08:00

Boring

2009-02-13T12:41:00.000-08:00

I have nothing to post. I feel like a broken record so in the meantime I am saying hi.Happy Valentine's Day. May love fill your cup every day in every way.

Hi I am a Superfreak

2009-02-08T15:02:00.000-08:00

One of the things that is strange when you become home/unschoolers is figuring out how to interact with other parents at birthday parties, sporting events, etc. I don't want to be the type of unschooling parent who only hangs out with like minded folks and I think that it would be just as limiting to our life as going to school would be. Always the first question upon meeting a new parent is "

To Honor the End of Life as Well as the Beginning

2009-02-05T12:28:00.000-08:00

People get really excited about babies being born...celebrations, showers, gifts but what about when a loved one is dying? Why do we not celebrate that? Home birthing...why not home death? A hospice nurse is similar to a mid wife or doula...someone who helps the process of dying go smoothly. The first hospice nurse I met helping Sylvia inspired me... helping people and families during death is

Celebrating the Moment

2009-02-01T21:00:00.001-08:00

My good friend Jennifer Otto reminded me recently to celebrate any good moments when I was seeking her advice regarding Grandma Sylvia... We went to visit her today and she is in a different mode now. She is clearly checking out. As sad as it is, it is also very beautiful. Life is that nonstop lesson that does not stop teaching. Here she is...done...tired. Here she is with a full life, a loving

Amanda and Solomon

2009-01-30T12:31:00.000-08:00

A boy's best friend is his mother.- Joseph Stefano

The Law of Not Interrupting

2009-01-27T13:17:00.001-08:00

I am one of those people that has regular eureka moments and I tend to just blurt things out. If I were a child today I am sure I would be labeled ADHD or something like that. Teachers always complained that "I talked too much" and even once on my progress report Mrs. Watkins wrote that "Amanda sang too loudly". (LOL) I am often unfocused, jittery inside and it is hard for me to sit still long

Well Educated? What does that mean to you?

2009-01-26T13:49:00.000-08:00

Alfie Kohn wrote this great article titled,What Does It Mean To Be Well-Educated?Kohn's criticisms of competition and rewards have been widely discussed and debated, and he has been described in Time magazine as "perhaps the country's most outspoken critic of education's fixation on grades [and] test scores."The last 2 sentences of his article conclude: Dewey reminded us that the

Bob the Pig

2009-01-26T13:10:00.001-08:00

Last night Bob came to visit! What fun to have a pet pig! Austen's buddy Casper says he sleeps and cuddles with him all night. He loves to eat anything and everything so we fed him sliced apples that he just could not get enough of. To say the least, we can't wait for Bob to visit again!

Taking Apart A 6 Volt

2009-01-25T20:00:00.000-08:00

Jules likes to take things apart. We always look it up first so we know what to expect. You Tube continues to amaze me. When we opened one of the inner batteries of this 6 volt, acid starting oozing out and we ended the experiment pretty quickly. He seems to enjoy seeing what's inside just about anything...computers, dvd players, radios, remote controls, etc. Here's a little clip...the bomb

Major Bummer

2009-01-21T14:08:00.000-08:00

I hate to say it but I want to say "I told you so". I was pretty forthright with sharing my opinion that grandma should not be left at the assisted living center. Even though that's what she wanted, "to go back home" I really felt that it was time to override some decisions. It was very obvious to me that the care givers there were simply just going through the motions instead of giving her

Another Great Explanation of Unschooling

2009-01-20T14:37:00.000-08:00

Another great post about the choice to unschool written by a former biology public high school teacher in New Jersey. She shares the opinion that starting in kindergarten, a 5 year old child is rated and ranked as either a winner or loser. She goes over the ridiculousness of the fact that most people believe socialization if more important in school than education. She also touches on why even

Quote

2009-01-20T12:33:00.000-08:00

"If you just let me do whatever I want,I will do everything,but if you tell me what to do,that's all that I want to do."-11 Year Old Unschooler after being thanked by his mom for spontaneously helping around the house

Why risk the chance of killing the love of learning?

2009-01-16T14:47:00.000-08:00

Click here to read a cool description of what unschooling and Life Learning mean to Paxye other wise known as The Hippie With a Mini Van. I love her blog...it was one of the first I ever started reading after doing a blog search for unschooling on Technorati. I Like how she explains why she does not send her 3 boys to school and what they do instead.Here are two excerpts that really resonate for

I'm Baaaaccckkkk

2009-01-14T13:56:00.000-08:00

There is so much on my mind, so many things I want to post about that I do not know where to begin. I guess a short list might do and clear the way to get on with things. When I was a high-schooler me and my friend Hillary used to pass notes that were written in numerical order.1. Jamaica was great. The house was so gorgeous that I felt out of place. Just a few doors down was the real Jamaica and

Do You Know Waldorf and What do You Think?

2008-12-30T12:26:00.001-08:00

I was hanging out the other day with close family and cousins whom I love...they are fully immersed in Waldorf (Highland Hall)...to the extreme. During this visit, I felt kind of weird and uncomfortable...we do things so differently. They run a strict ship...with the idea of course that they are doing the best for their children. I sensed that they were on guard, that they thought my children

Whewww

2008-12-28T19:09:00.000-08:00

We had Christmas morning, Sylvia got picked up, we went to Palm Springs for 3 days to visit my mom and my aunt and now I am home. The house seems sad without grandma in it. I called her on my way back to check in and she did not seem like she was doing very good. I told her we would come pick her up but she seems adamant about staying in her assisted living apartment. She keeps saying she has

Happy Winter Solstice

2008-12-22T09:56:00.000-08:00

My Winter Solstice gathering was a big success. I didn't have as much fun as last year but that's OK, at least I am not horribly hung over. I am still trying to learn that a good time does not always mean a totally drunk time at parties. LOL. Everyone came through and brought tons of great food and goodies...we had some newcomers which is always fun. I love gathering together my core group of

Jewish Holiday Dining

2008-12-20T12:08:00.000-08:00

I thought it was about time that I posted some of my favorite recipes since I am a food lover. Tomorrow is Hanukkah and Winter Solstice. I have a big party every year to celebrate Winter' arrival and this year will be xtra special because it's also the first night of Hanukkah.POTATO LATKESWe tried this new recipe last year that I found on Chowhound. What makes it extra special are the textures

Let It Snow and Have a Great Trip!!!

2008-12-19T14:24:00.001-08:00

Erick has given me the gift of taking the boys up to the snow...it dumped at my dads house a day ago...and now they are gone...gone...gone!!! It's just me, Austen and Sylvia for a couple of days....ahhh...quiet. I am excited about tonight...spending the evening and sleeping alone...and at the same time knowing that the guys are having their first snow experience. What fun! Snow is hard to come by

Blur...What Day Is It Anyway?

2008-12-17T09:23:00.000-08:00

My life is a blur at the moment. I am overwhelmed with the approaching holidays and my annual winter solstice party. I love it all...I am just overwhelmed. Sylvia is doing nicely. Every day is different. The big news is that we have gotten her off of the anti depressants she was taking. Today will be the 5th day. Last night she seemed lucid...sharing her opinions about various topics, going over

It's Not Just Your Fault David Brewer!

2008-12-10T15:26:00.001-08:00

A lot of folks are up in arms about the fact that Supt. David L. Brewer is being giving a half a million dollar severance pay to leave his job as leader of the Los Angeles Unified School District. I am amazed that people continue to not get that the public school system is a failed system no matter which way you look at it and no matter who is in charge. They keep pointing fingers at each other

Hair is Set

2008-12-10T15:13:00.000-08:00

I just got back from taking Sylvia to get her hair set. Just doing that has totally wiped her out. She is one tired lady. Sleeps just like a baby. She is up for an hour, down for a couple and then repeat. Nighttime is her best time- she stays awake for most of the evening. I feel super emotional. It is deep to spend a lot of time with someone who is in this stage of their lives. She keeps

Letting Up

2008-12-08T08:20:00.000-08:00

Yesterday went a bit better. I am already exhausted and I feel stressed out like I don't know how I am going to do this. I am trying so hard to make Grandma comfy...I have to let up and let it be whatever it is going to be. Either she wants to stay or she doesn't. I can't make it like I have failed if she decides to go back. I feel bad for her she is sick most of the time. She is at the point

One Step Forward Two steps Backward

2008-12-06T15:46:00.001-08:00

I feel like I am tip toeing around the house. I don't want to upset Sylvia....she is agitated and already says she wants to go back to the assisted living center. It has not even been a day yet! She says she thinks it is "better for her there...that there are people". I feel for her and at the same time my heart swells with disappointment. I wish she could just embrace the love that is here for

Togetherness With the Old and New and Inbetween

2008-12-04T08:26:00.000-08:00

We have decided to move Erick's Grandma into our home. We are actually doing a one week trial first to see if she is comfortable but we are hoping she will want to stay. She is currently at an assisted living center in Westwood, CA close to UCLA. She moved here last February from Pompano Beach, FL. Her memory is bad, she is confused and lost a lot and her overall health is very up and down. She

Glitter Everywhere

2008-12-02T21:47:00.001-08:00

If you would have told me a year ago that I would be vacuuming close to 10 at night after doing glitter art projects and after that the kids would decide that it would be a great time to mop the entire house for fun I would have told you you were crazy. I used to be dead asleep by 8:30 pm almost every night exhausted and dreading getting up the next day...I hated the grind.

Alvin Toffler On Education

2008-11-23T15:41:00.000-08:00

Alvin Toffler author and futurist...you can read this Edutopia article - tells whats wrong and right with public education and/or watch this

Great Quote

2008-11-21T09:27:00.000-08:00

I found this on Katherines blog: Our Report Card: Unique Education for Unique Children "When you plant lettuce, if it does not grow well, you don't blame the lettuce. You look for reasons it is not doing well. It may need fertilizer, or more water, or less sun. You never blame the lettuce. Yet if we have problems with our friends or our family, we blame the other person. But if we know how to

Creative Mind Sets

2008-11-20T13:08:00.000-08:00

The following 2 articles are worth reading...First, a great article about the creative genius mindset lists some of the qualities of a creative genius mind which include flexibility, being a "possibility thinker", a risk taker, focused, imaginative, dedicated, patient, proactive, courageous, independent, intuitive, persistent, curious and playful. A creative genius is full of confidence, is

Sir Ken Robinson A Leader In Transforming Education

2008-11-19T15:47:00.000-08:00

More from Sir Ken Robinson about our outdated education system. This is not about homeschooling, it is about creativity. When he talks about creativity he is not merely talking about painting, drawing, music. He is talking about the mind and it's ability to develop creatively in academics as well as the arts. He is explaining how and why the current school system is failing as we head into the

OUCH

2008-11-19T10:57:00.001-08:00

click here

Deschooling: A life Long Process

2008-11-15T13:04:00.000-08:00

I found this great post about the deschooling process for parents. This story might as well be coming from my mouth (only better written lol). I too started reading John Taylor Gatto before taking my son out of public school and I too had a fine time in school until I started reflecting on what I actually accomplished there. Mostly, I learned how to cheat, lie and get out of or around things I

Presents, The Economy and Christmas

2008-11-11T15:19:00.000-08:00

I love buying gifts for the holidays. I love having tons of presents under our tree. I grew up in a family that is abundant to an extreme when it comes to getting and giving Christmas gifts. There is always concern about everyone having something to "open up" or "not having enough to open"on Christmas day. Some may argue that "gifts are not what the holidays are about" or " I like to buy gifts

Radical Honesty

2008-11-10T12:16:00.000-08:00

Scott Noelle writes the The Daily Groove a daily email with progressive parenting inspirations. Today's inspiration is hard to swallow mostly because it is true...it is absolutely socially unacceptable to tell the truth. Personally, I've always been a big believer in honesty and have been known to take it too far a lot of the time. It's hard to keep my mouth shut. In fact I have to consciously be