Adding Joy to an Unschooling Day
Not so long ago, a mother told me she only arranges special outings for ice cream or coffee or lunch with her kids as a reward. They can earn special time with her by working hard at their school work. I feel sad that the special moments of life seem to be rationed out. (And learning is done for rewards and not out of love.)
Maybe some people think that I’m spoiling my kids because I try and turn as many moments as possible into special ones. We’re always going places, drinking coffee, eating picnics, chatting… The best special moments are the ones that are inexpensive and easy to arrange.
I intend to extract as many drops of joy from these precious days of mothering as I can because they won’t last forever.
I recently took this photo of my daughter Gemma-Rose and our dog Quinn while we were enjoying a winter picnic at the botanic gardens. I think Quinn was enjoying herself. Those worried looking wrinkles make it hard to tell!
What’s your favourite way to add joy to a normal day?
Lots of Creative Arts!
“What are you going to do today?” I asked my daughter Gemma-Rose.
“I’m going to continue painting the family room.” She grinned. “You can write Creative Arts in the homeschool records book!”
Yes, Gemma-Rose knows how to translate her activities into the right educational language!
We’ve been doing a lot of creative arts together recently. We’re watching the BBC series The Great Interior Design Challenge. If you do some googling, you will find some of these episodes online. (There are 4 series.) If you watch, you may feel inspired and end up redecorating your home just like us.
Gemma-Rose chose a rather daring shade of blue to paint our walls. This photo doesn’t show the colour properly, but I’m posting it because it reflects the fun Gemma-Rose is having doing ‘creative arts’!
A Creative Unschooling Blog
Here’s another unschooling blog that I enjoy: Natural Medley.
I am an unschooling Mum of two boys 12 and 15. I adore creating anything from painting, to poetry, to singing, to sewing and decorating. I can be quiet until I know you, and then loud! I like to philosophise about life and shop secondhand and handmade wherever and whenever possible. I want to use this blog to highlight my art, and to explore topics that are close to me, including family unschooling adventures.
Why don’t you hop over and say hello to Jack?
Alike Animated Short Film
I’m so glad we live outside the system. We can stand under a tree and make music (and film it as well!) while most other people are rushing by, trying to keep up with someone else’s schedule. I feel so fortunate. Do you feel this way too? Take the time to watch this animated short film. I think you’ll like it!
Shakespeare’s Sonnets
Are you familiar with Shakespeare’s sonnets? I’d like to find out more about them. I recently bought the Shakespeare’s Sonnets app for my iPad which includes videos of all 154 sonnets performed by ‘a star-studded cast’. There are also interviews and the text of the poems and other features. I wonder if Gemma-Rose would like to look at the sonnets with me. If not, I’m going to study them by myself!
If you haven’t got an iPad, you can find some of the sonnet videos on Vimeo. Here’s David Tennant reciting Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer’s Day:
Unexpected Unschooling Skills
I can remove engines from cars. Did you know that? Perhaps that surprises you?
Why don’t you read my post, How I Removed an Engine From a Car, and then tell me what unexpected skills you have?!
I hope you find something interesting and unexpected in this week’s bits and pieces post!
Definitely have to purposefully add joy to each day. I can get way too serious, closed, dutiful and adding in fun and funniness is so necessary. I sometimes ask my understanding friends…”when did I stop thinking play was fun?” When I have more fun it translates to more positive energy and it rubs off in the family.
Kim
My girls often say that they never intend to lose their sense of fun. They want to continuing playing and enjoying all the ‘childish’ things. Adults can get far too serious and forget about playing.
‘… it rubs off in the family.’ Oh yes! Having fun together strengthens family bonds, doesn’t it? Lots of joy!
It’s lovely to connect with you, Kim. I hope all is well with you and your family.
My favourite planned way to add joy is being diligent about starting each week with our relaxed Monday pancake breakfast . My favourite unplanned way is just to be open to the spontaneous opportunities … perfect snow day for tobogganing in winter or wonderful autumn day for a hike and photography. Inexpensive and easy to arrange … I agree those times are the best!
Erin,
Pancake breakfasts? Oh yes! When my kids were younger, we used to have pancakes-in-bed parties. We’d all pile into my bed with our pancakes and mugs of hot chocolate and have a feast. We’d end up with crumbs and syrup everywhere, but it didn’t matter because pancakes-in-bed days were also sheet washing days!
“My favourite unplanned way is just to be open to the spontaneous opportunities.” That’s my favourite way too. There’s nothing better than suddenly finding ourselves on an unexpected adventure!
It’s been lovely to chat with you!
I wholeheartedly agree Sue, my children are 19-29 and I am no longer schooling them as my youngest nathan goes to college in the fall, just a few short weeks away. When they were young we did a unit study on medieval times. We put on plays for daddy. Had a feast which they loved. We loved to take walks, go bowling, played mini golf. Go to museums. Enjoy lunches together. Life is to short not to enjoy each moment with your children.
Nancy,
It sounds like you have lots of happy memories of when your children were younger. Lots of joyful moments!
Is Nathan looking forward to going to college? A new stage in life! When the time comes, I hope you’ll stop by and share how he is getting on. xx
Hi Sue, unfortunately Nathan has mixed emotions about college. Since he struggles academically and with his special needs he has a lot of anxiety about how things will go. His older married sister Shelby had gone to that college some years back, so she has stepped in to mentor and coach him. Bless them both. She and I are trying to both help build up his confidence. She has been trying to get him to take the initiative and ask lots of questions which is really hard for him as he lacks confidence because of his stuttering. When he does complete a step she treats him to a meal to celebrate. We like to celebrate things?. We both know we will have to hold his hand through a lot of it, celebrating the victories and often comforting him on the challenges he will face, his tolerance is very low, so we are praying for God’s strength. In the end our prayer is that he develops into the young man God designed him to be with the confidence he needs to be able to stand on his own. I will keep you posted! …… I was recently talking to my daughter in law, she said that she and our son are discussing schooling options in the future for our grandbabies they are 2 years old and 2 months old. She mentioned homeschooling first. I was delighted, maybe my grandchildren will be unschoolers to?. Much love to you Sue, Nancy
Nancy,
I love seeing siblings helping each other. Shelby sounds like a very loving sister. You must get so much joy from watching your children interact with each other. We love celebrating things too! Celebrating adds joy to life, doesn’t it? Also, celebrating makes us stop and appreciate the good things of our lives.
“In the end our prayer is that he develops into the young man God designed him to be with the confidence he needs to be able to stand on his own.” I have prayed that same prayer for one of my kids. Our children are good people. There is a special place in the world for them. I’m sure God will answer our prayers.
How lovely that your grandchildren might be unschooled! Your support and encouragement will be invaluable.
I’m about to work on the university section of my book. Maybe I can also share some thoughts and stories here on my blog!
I hope you have a happy weekend. Much love to you too. xxx
Sue, I would love to hear your thoughts on the college experience and even maybe some of what your own children have experienced. Thanks, Nancy