School supply sales are going on at stores across the country. As unschoolers, we aren't required to purchase a minimum 4 boxes of facial tissue, 20 #2 yellow pencils,10 colored folders, and so on. However, being the frugal (my husband is coughing and saying tight wad as he reads this) mom that I am, I'm not... Continue Reading →
cooperation is a survival skill…
Cooperation has long been a survival skill. Tribal communities have utilized cooperation in order to meet everyone's needs for millenia. With the advent of nuclear families, the focus on such cooperation took a back seat. Once again, with the increasingly interconnectedness of our society, it is once again becoming readily apparent that cooperation, along with communication,... Continue Reading →
summer reading programs…
Our family is no stranger to our local library. The librarians know us all by name. We are there quite frequently, checking out books, hanging out, or running in for a quick pick up of books on hold; a quick trip to the library for us is about 20 minutes. So, it seems to surprise... Continue Reading →
be your child’s friend…
My in-laws were visiting us one time, long before we had children. We had gone out to eat and as we sat there in the restaurant, they began to lecture. "You can't be your child's friend. You have to be the parent. Parents will always be parents." The irony of what they said as they... Continue Reading →
10 tips for toddler carseat woes…
My three year old has been the hardest of all my children to get in his carseat, preferring to take extra time to get in his seat. After making certain that the seat is comfortable, I have a few things that have helped us with the dilemma. 1. Planning extra time. Starting somewhere after age... Continue Reading →
glue gun…
We added a glue gun to our crafting supplies this summer. My 5 1/2 year old had been commenting that we could really use one. She was right. We've used it quite a bit already. It's one of the best $2.50 investments I've ever made.
embrace the journey…
The lifelong journey of asking questions and of exploration is just as, if not more, important as where we end up. Try not to focus on preparing your children for life but on living life with them. Embrace the journey.
look for a solution…
Don't be so intent on finding fault or placing blame. Energy would be much better spent finding a solution.
two wrongs don’t make a right…
Misbehavior and punishment are not opposites which cancel one another out. They enforce each other,breeding resentment, hurt feelings, and more of the same. No matter how you look at it, two wrongs don't make a right.
love sees the best…
Love sees the best in people. When we give people credit for having good intentions, we highlight their positive aspects and encourage them to be better.
living peacefully with children 