To Unschool? So many questions...

During my pregnancy with Ellie I thought a whole lot about parenting, as any pregnant woman does. I thought about my parenting philosophies and how I wanted to raise my children. I was idealistic and had very strong opinions, but I have to admit that life hasn't gone the way I envisaged in the months leading up to her birth and especially since Kahlei's birth things have been even less how I had hoped.

In that time before I became a little bit disillusioned I thought about Homeschooling our children.

Lately, I have been trying to get back to the basics with the girls. Trying to find the ideals and passions from back then, trying to stress less about them getting dirty (with Kahlei it's been harder to allow them to just play and get into things because I already have to change her clothes every time she does something). We're enjoying getting back into painting and the other morning they played in a puddle in the pouring rain because they wanted to. They loved it and I loved watching them. Honestly, while I did that kind of thing with Ellie a whole lot, this is the first time we've done it since Kahlei was born. I feel horribly guilty.

As I try to get things back into perspective and focus on living a more free, less stressful lifestyle I have started to again think about homeschooling. There are many reasons I think homeschooling would benefit us, but there have also been things that scare me about the thought of it. I worry that the public school system wont give them all they need. I also worry that they might suffer from school phobia, as I did. On the other hand, I wonder how I would teach them all they needed to know through homeschooling, how would I address things I don't remember or know. I would worry I wasn't learning the theory comprehensively enough to then relay it to the children.

There has been much thought and debate in my head about the pros and cons, and with James anti-homeschooling, it has been more of a strange kind of internal thing for me. I guess I like to toy with the idea.

Recently, though I came across a blogger who described herself as an 'Unschooling' mumma. At first I thought maybe I had read it wrong, or that she had meant to write 'homeschooling' because unschooling sounds a whole lot like... well, anti-school or even anti-learn. I read some of her blog and realised she had, in fact, meant to write 'Unschooling' - fancy that. Intrigued, I looked it up and started to read. My first impression was a little sceptical, but since delving more into the philosophy, ideas and execution I decided my the first place I visited was maybe not the best place to have started.

So, I paid Wikipedia a visit and went from there. Wikipedia says: 'Unschooling refers to a range of educational philosophies and practices centered on allowing children to learn through their natural life experiences, including child directed play, game play, household responsibilities, work experience and social interaction, rather than through a more traditional school curriculum. Unschooling encourages exploration of activities led by the children themselves, facilitated by the adults.'

I've since been blog hopping, visiting forums and other websites to find out more. There is so much I love about the philosophy behind unschooling. I love the idea of children learning naturally, through play, experiences and life. I love the idea of not forcing them sit in a classroom for hours a day. The idea of extending how a child learns at this young age really appeals to me. In my previous life as an early childcare worker I developed a strong opinion that preschools and day cares should not be curriculum based, a child of that age learns through the everyday and I am coming to realise there is an option to further this type of learning.

I am starting to really want this, or something like this, to be our lifestyle. I still have questions and a big hurdle to jump over (ie James).

So, any unschoolers out there:

* What age do you start? My girls are almost three and 18 months.
* Ellie loves to read her counting books with me - I have read some blogs which suggest books like these are not ideal in an unschooling situation - why?
* Do you think it's important to convert unschooling into ALL of our life. For example, does letting your child eat and sleep when they decide they need to an important part of this lifestyle? Or can we continue on a routine in these areas and not effect their learning?
* I read somewhere that a little boy learnt to read because his mother wouldn't teach him and he learnt out of necessity - is there no amount of direction in things like this?

I know I have many more questions, but I can't think of them right now. Anything you have to share with me about this subject would be greatly appreciated!!

Hmm... Where'd the time go?

I've never really had much of a problem with getting older. I have always looked on impending birthdays with excitement. I love gathering with my family, spending special time together sharing a meal. And now that I am a mother I especially enjoy having a day that's about me.

An age is just a number, right? With my 27th birthday looming, I am suddenly ffeeling like 27 isn't just a number. 27 is old. 3 years off 30. Maybe it's because I am exhausted from chasing around two toddlers while growing a baby and being sick that I feel so old and exhausted. Or maybe my age has finally caught up to me and I've realised I am no longer a young'un.

I don't think I am that old. Well, at least until the 5th...

My 101 in 1001 list is, at least, making me feel like I have a direction and am working on things in my life that may not be perfect. Also, in creating the list I've come to realise that my interests have changed. Suddenly, my passion for designing has disappeared. My scrapping mojo is lacking, too, but I am working on getting that back. Instead, I am finding myself drawn back to my initial loves of photography and writing. I am finding projects that are exciting me and inspiring me.

This year, my birthday list reflects these changes, with the odd 'for enjoyment' gift idea. I make a list every year, sometimes people buy things I want, other times they don't - I just like to make them...

So, here it is;

* DSLR (please, please, PLEASE!)
* New Moon DVD
* Dead in the Family (New Sookie Stackhouse)
* Things for my craft box/new project I will be undertaking after my b'day with the girls:
* Paints
* Stickers
* Coloured Tape
* Pipe Cleaners
*Patty Cake Pans
* Buttons
* Glue
* Glitter
* Glitter Glue
* Ribbons
* Textas
* Crayons
* Paint Brushes
* Puff Paints
* Straws
* Food Colouring
* Stamps
* Paint Rollers (little ones for kiddos)
* Children's Scissors
* Bulldog Clips
* Balloons
* Newspaper
* Feathers
* Bling
* Needle & Thread
* Scrap Material
* Post it notes
* Googly Eyes
* String
* Chalk
* Stamps
* Pens
* Paper Doilies
* Paddle Pop Sticks
* Tissue Paper
* Nail Polish
* Rubber Bands
* Craft Pegs
* Balls of Wool
* Box for keeping craft supplies!

And that's pretty much it. I really, really want to get some craft supplies because I am SO super excited about what we're going to be doing!! Obviously, some of the above can be stuff people have just lying around... I am willing to take donations, lol.

101 in 1001

Firstly, I want to say a big thank you to everyone who left me such lovely comments on my Just Me post and also to Jodie Ansted, the mastermind behind Bloggers Without Makeup Day. 180 amazingly brave and beautiful bloggers joined in to make BWM a wonderful success. If you want to see what it's all about, pop over to Jodie's blog, Mummy Mayhem, to read all about it and see the aftermath of the movement!

Now, recently I have really lacked mojo. All the things I love to do for myself like scrapping and designing I suddenly could not do. I could barely open my laptop. Then, I discovered Day Zero. It must have been through somebodies blog and I am sure I intended to recall and link but once I was there and signed up I became obsessed with creating my list of 101 things I want to do in the next 1001 days and reading other people's lists for inspiration.

Through creating my list and looking at so many different people's goals I have come across some awesome projects, ideas and goals that really have me excited. I feel like working through my list will help me get my mojo back.

Most of the things on my list I am hoping will be habit forming and will be bringing good things to my life long after my 1001 days are up. My 1001 days start today May 19, 2010 finishes on Feb 14, 2013.

Note: I did try to reorder my list more appropriately but it was a bit of a pain, so it's all a bit over the place.

1. Identify 100 things that makes me happy
2. Write a letter to myself to open in 10 years
3. Watch the sunrise and sunset in the same day
4. Write a book
5. Answer the "50 Questions That Will Free Your Mind"
6. Host a dinner party
7. No fast food for a month
8. Don't complain about anything for a week
9. Send Christmas cards
10. Participate in NaNoWriMo
11. Read 50 new books (0/50)
12. Make a new friend
13. Send a message in a bottle
14. Participate in Postcrossing
15. Grow my hair long
16. Own a little black dress
17. Buy a DSLR
18. Wash my hair once a week
19. Participate in the 100 Strangers photo challenge
20. Go to the aquarium
21. Be more spontaneous
22. Take up belly dancing
23. Update my blog at least once a week
24. Sell one of my photographs
25. Start a family tradition
26. Go on a family picnic
27. Make a will
28. Play mini golf
29. Lose Weight
30. Finish our renovations
31. Move to Bx
32. Have a baby boy
33. See Mr Shuffles @ the zoo before he gets too big
34. Try new foods
35. Do my Wii Fit every week day
36. Create healthier eating habits
37. Scrap 2007/2008/2009 and now 2010 pics
38. Give up Coke for 3 months
39. Spring clean house - one room at a time
40. Read to the girls more
41. Take the girls out for a walk at least once a week
42. Update our photos on display
43. Remember to apply sunscreen/wrinkle cream daily
44. Read the books I already own
45. Take part in NaBloPoMo once
46. Get sponsored for NaNoWriMo
47. Back up files
48. ACTUALLY print my scrapbook pages
49. Reconnect with someone I miss
50. Go to the Bathurst 1000 every year (0/3)
51. Take a photo of myself once a month for 6 months (0/6)
52. Climb Mt Kosciuszko
53. Read 5 books recommended by others (0/5)
54. DMW: Drink at least a litre of water a day for 30 days (0/30)
55. Pack away the toys the girls don't use
56. Compile an art box
57. Compile a dress up box
58. Purchase a Wreck This Journal
59. Go to Dubbo Zoo
60. Go on a date with my husband once a month for 6 months (0/6)
61. Write everyday for a month (0/30)
62. Expand my cooking skills - try 20 new recipes (0/20)
63. Take the girls to feed the ducks
64. Take Ellie on a plane
65. Buy a dress and high heels
66. Wear my new dress and heels to a fancy resteraunt with James
67. Concentrate on improving my posture every day for a month (0/30)
68. Spend an afternoon at the beach with the girls
69. Bag up clothes that no longer fit and take to the Salvation Army
70. Get on top of the folding pile
71. Play Wii once a week with James for 3 months (0/12)
72. Fully Potty Train Ellie
73. Keep in better contact with family with letters and phone calls
74. Take the girls to Play Group
75. Arrange recovered photos into folders
76. Complete my Wreck This Journal - one page a week
77. Spend a day at Mogo Zoo before we move
78. Encourage someone else to make a 101 in 1001 list
79. Come off my PND meds
80. See the rest oft the Twilight movies at the cinema
81. Smile in photos
82. Have a "Me" day once a month
83. Go on a Ferris Wheel with James
84. Watch 5 movies I wouldn't normally (0/5)
85. Write 5 things I am grateful for everyday for a month (0/30)
86. Write what the girls have been up to in my diary
87. Get a photo with a driver at the 1000 (Murph?)
88. Bake ginger bread at Christmas
89. Fly a kite with my children
90. Play board games at a game night
91. Have a pregnancy portrait taken
92. Sell everything in our ebay pile
93. Do 10 Random Acts of Kindness (0/10)
94. Have a family portrait taken once a year (0/3)
95. Cull people I don't interact with on FB once a year (0/3)
96. Document each completed task on the blog
97. Buy a file cabinet
98. Organise paperwork into file cabinet
99. Donate 50,000 grains of rice on freerice.com
100. Make James a delicious breakfast in bed when he least expects it
101. Make another list at the end of the 1001 days

I've put the things I want to work on first in italics.. There are the on going things like a weekly update of the blog, our renovations and having a baby boy (13 weeks today:) and then there are the health based things. Tomorrow I am going to start my 3 month Coke fast (eek) and incorporate my litre of water a day for a month as well as Wii Fit on weekdays and a walk a week with the girls.

So, here I begin :)

Just Me

Today I join in a blogger movement started by a blog post by Jodie Ansted over at Mummy Mayhem. I happened upon the post about Bloggers Without Makeup, to read about the idea and see what lead Jane to think it up go to her original post here.

Now, I have to admit that while yesterday I felt inspired and loved the idea today I am much more nervous and unsure about participating. Truth be told, I have taken a peak at quite a few of the posts linked up to Jane's post today and I think all the bloggers are just so beautiful. Without their makeup and all. I had to stop reading, as I was beginning to think about not posting. Or taking another photo, trying to make the 'real' me look as good as possible. Which would defeat the purpose of joining in.

So, before I chicken out:

This is me, in all my grumpy morning glory. Spots, uneven skin tone, swollen eye and funny shaped nose. For this photo to have seen the light of day before now firstly, I would have put on some foundation, lip gloss and mascara. It would be taken on a different angle to illiminate double chins and to make my nose look like it's not lopsided. Then, there would have been many takes, to get the 'right' one. Then I might do some touch up in photoshop, depending on how I was feeling and what look I was going for.

Like so many others, I have never really felt pretty or beautiful and because of this I am rarely in front of the camera. And when you're always behind the lens, there tends to be so many family experiences where there's no 'proof' of me being there. In years to come looking at family photos there will be no record of me.

I want something different for my girls. I want them to love themselves and value themselves. How do I help them be well adjusted, confident women when I struggle myself? Something to work towards, I suppose.