There's some exciting new things happening in my life that I love and wanted to share! There are six of them, to be exact! Here they are, in no particular order of importance: (although they are all pretty important, well except for number 4- that one ranks lower on importance than the others, yet it still gets to be listed because I think it's important. Although it's definitely not as important as number 5, or number 2. Number 6 is important but wouldn't be possible without number 1. And maybe number 3 should be more important since it enables more of 2, 3, 4, and 5 to happen. Anyways, read for yourself, In no particular order:)

3. I have taken a leap back from La Leche League Leadership for the time being. I feel really good about letting go of this part of my life right now. I obviously feel some sadness and in parting from such a wonderful organization, but I need to make room for some other chapters that are opening up in my book of life. Maybe someday I will come back to being an LLL Leader again, but for now I will say adieu. Thank you LLL for giving me all these wonderful, valuable tools of motherhood, and for the opportunity to support breastfeeding women! I am so grateful for all the amazing people I've met, and all that I've learned as a Leader these past 5 years. I've loved being an LLL Leader, and I've loved that it's impact has left a deep foundation and knowledge in my mothering that I will continue to cherish forever.
Some of my favrite people at one of my favorite LLL meetups! 2009 |

5. I love the new family adventure we're attempting in homeschooling this year! I've chosen to sign the 2 older boys up for an online Hawaii Public Charter School, and one of the big perks of doing this is that every school year they will give each of them an allotment of $1500 dollars to spend on community classes, (such as Kung-fu and Gymnastics) plus pay for curriculum, art supplies, and any other consumable, educational materials we might need. Along with the allotment we also get family passes to Imiloa Astronomy Center, The Hawaii Tropical Botanical Gardens, The Pacific Tsunami Museum, the Lyman Museum, and a National Parks Pass.
I'm a big advocate for eclectic unschooling, or natural-led learning, and never wanted to compromise my beliefs by following a standardized curriculum. I believe that children can and will learn at their own pace, that education is more than attending school, and that taking tests and doing homework can hinder the process of actual learning.
However, I don't feel that this program will compromise these beliefs! It feels right to invest this time and energy into my children, in giving them opportunities that we wouldn't otherwise have. It feels right to try something new and still be able to hang onto my homeschooling values within the context of a standardized-state-run program. There is flexibility in the program, which is good! This means that I can choose the curriculum we want for the kids. We can also choose when and how to complete the curriculum enabling me to focus on their individual learning styles and needs. And even though they may have to take the standardized tests from time to time, they will already know full well that the outcome of tests don't measure the intelligence of their minds or the quality of their lives! All in all, I'm treating this new adventure like a fun, family project-- We're all in this together! And if it totally sucks, we're all in this together! I think it's going to be really good for us!

"I love the stories in this book and couldn't put it down! I didn't know what to expect from this book, as I've read so many "how to" parenting books over the years on everything from potty training to getting sleep at night--but this book wasn't a "how to" at all! I love that it's about family and all the wonderful joys and pains and ups and downs she experiences in all the many different roles she's played in her own family. Her stories about being an auntie, a new mother, and then a stepmother, and finally a grandmother--Every single one of them was thoughtful, touching, and meaningful. And funny! She truly finds the humor in seemingly ordinary things, and finds creative stories to tell with them.
I feel inspired by her life and recommend this book as an inspiration for any type of mother!"
Thank you Susan for your motherly inspiration! I look forward to reading your other books next!
Well, that's it for now! These are some new things that I love and am looking forward to as of lately! Life is constantly changing, evolving, and moving forward, and I'm trying my hardest to enjoy the ride!
1 comment:
We did a similar program for our homeschool last year and feel it didn't cause us to compromise at all. The money was awesome. And the oversight minimal.
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