Showing posts with label blogs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blogs. Show all posts
Monday, April 08, 2013
Friday, October 08, 2010
I walk the line...
I walk the line.... Strains of that Johnny Cash song run through my head.
Well, I also have the tune of Lady GaGa's Eh, Eh in my mind ... And Bruno Mars' Juat The Way You Are.
But it's Walk the Line that I want to write about . Because it describes the blogging experience .
I blog to share with family and friends. I blog about our life, as unschoolers, hence the title Living Without School. It is my personal blog. I write of our life , my life , our experiences, my experiences, our interests, my interests.
If you check the 1, 222 ( now 1,223!) blog posts since 2005, you will see a variety of posts on a variety of topics. Reflecting current interests.
In recent times, that interest has been the public liturgy of the Church.
I post our every day stuff, the liturgical year, to friends on Facebook. I tend, since the advent of Facebook, to publish D & M stuff only here on the blog, and daily stuff on Facebook.... D & M as in Deep and Meaningful. For me. As much as I can be deep and meaningful I guess.
And so I walk the line. How much to post? How much of me to share?
But, ultimately, the fact remains that this is my blog.
It is not a public discussion forum. It is not an online debate.
It is, pure and simple, my blog .
You don't have to read it if you don't want to. Or if you don't like the posts. Or my writing style.
Read other blogs if not mine .
It's okay.
I will continue to blog. To share my life without school. To share my interests.
To try to walk the line.
Well, I also have the tune of Lady GaGa's Eh, Eh in my mind ... And Bruno Mars' Juat The Way You Are.
But it's Walk the Line that I want to write about . Because it describes the blogging experience .
I blog to share with family and friends. I blog about our life, as unschoolers, hence the title Living Without School. It is my personal blog. I write of our life , my life , our experiences, my experiences, our interests, my interests.
If you check the 1, 222 ( now 1,223!) blog posts since 2005, you will see a variety of posts on a variety of topics. Reflecting current interests.
In recent times, that interest has been the public liturgy of the Church.
I post our every day stuff, the liturgical year, to friends on Facebook. I tend, since the advent of Facebook, to publish D & M stuff only here on the blog, and daily stuff on Facebook.... D & M as in Deep and Meaningful. For me. As much as I can be deep and meaningful I guess.
And so I walk the line. How much to post? How much of me to share?
But, ultimately, the fact remains that this is my blog.
It is not a public discussion forum. It is not an online debate.
It is, pure and simple, my blog .
You don't have to read it if you don't want to. Or if you don't like the posts. Or my writing style.
Read other blogs if not mine .
It's okay.
I will continue to blog. To share my life without school. To share my interests.
To try to walk the line.
Thursday, January 08, 2009
The Catholic Blogosphere
The Blogosphere. Not to be confused with a TV sci-fi outer planet community but a term coined by Jennette Fulda in Half-Assed. Describing the online communites of blogs and bloggers.
Why blog? Fulda talks about leaving a map.
And about the embarrassment of being found, exposed by those who know you in-real-life.
She writes ~
Then my mom found the blog..I wanted to curl up in the fetal position..I never thought my mom would crash my online party.That's what I got for teaching her how to use Google. Now my family would know exactly who I was. This was the scariest thing about emblogessment. They would see me as I was around my online friends, which was not always the same way I was around my family..I'd said things on my blog I'd never said to anyone..I'd put all my vulnerable, fleshy bits out there for everyone to see, and that came with the risk of getting poked with a stick.
I find, in the world of Catholic bloggers, that many of us write under pseudonyms. Out of necessity.
I know I have pseudonyms for some of the online communities I frequent.
But on this blog I am me. Leonie. Since this is one way, my way, of keeping in touch with old friends, and current friends, and a way of connecting with new friends.
The trouble with being open in the Catholic blogging world?
As Fulda says above, you are vulnerable.
Observed.
You are Catholic, says one reader in email. You even like the Traditional Mass. You homeschool. And yet you write of listening to Blondie, reading about Madonna, and use words like frak.
What can I say? I am eclectic, catholic even in taste.
I don't pretend to be the best Catholic around. I just aim to keep on trying to be better. To work towards that perfection of which Our Lord speaks.
Be you therefore perfect, as also your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:48
I love reading blogs of others. Homeschool blogs. Catholic blogs. Blogs of friends. Fitness and weight loss blogs.
I think we bloggers leave maps and directories, with stories and discussions and questions of our world, our thoughts, actions, observations.
I like the differences. Even the disagreements.
Either we must speak as we dress, or dress as we speak. Why do we profess one thing and display another? -St. Jerome.
The Saint is talking of dress and modesty in dress. But I think the statement applies to blogging.
We preach charity? Then show charity in blogging. Disagreements and criticism allowed. But in a spirit of charity.
I write - speak - on this blog as I dress - as I am. A Catholic living in today's world, embracing some things old and some things new. Working my way through a possible minefield. Reading and praying. And loving. Looking for direction alongside my family and friends.
God’s invitation to become saints is for all, not just a few. Sanctity therefore must be accessible to all. In what does it consist? In a lot of activity? No. In doing extraordinary things? No, this could not be for everybody and at all times. Therefore, sanctity consists in doing good, and in doing this good in whatever condition and place God has placed us. Nothing more, nothing outside of this.
Blessed Loius Tezza
Why blog? Fulda talks about leaving a map.
And about the embarrassment of being found, exposed by those who know you in-real-life.
She writes ~
Then my mom found the blog..I wanted to curl up in the fetal position..I never thought my mom would crash my online party.That's what I got for teaching her how to use Google. Now my family would know exactly who I was. This was the scariest thing about emblogessment. They would see me as I was around my online friends, which was not always the same way I was around my family..I'd said things on my blog I'd never said to anyone..I'd put all my vulnerable, fleshy bits out there for everyone to see, and that came with the risk of getting poked with a stick.
I find, in the world of Catholic bloggers, that many of us write under pseudonyms. Out of necessity.
I know I have pseudonyms for some of the online communities I frequent.
But on this blog I am me. Leonie. Since this is one way, my way, of keeping in touch with old friends, and current friends, and a way of connecting with new friends.
The trouble with being open in the Catholic blogging world?
As Fulda says above, you are vulnerable.
Observed.
You are Catholic, says one reader in email. You even like the Traditional Mass. You homeschool. And yet you write of listening to Blondie, reading about Madonna, and use words like frak.
What can I say? I am eclectic, catholic even in taste.
I don't pretend to be the best Catholic around. I just aim to keep on trying to be better. To work towards that perfection of which Our Lord speaks.
Be you therefore perfect, as also your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:48
I love reading blogs of others. Homeschool blogs. Catholic blogs. Blogs of friends. Fitness and weight loss blogs.
I think we bloggers leave maps and directories, with stories and discussions and questions of our world, our thoughts, actions, observations.
I like the differences. Even the disagreements.
Either we must speak as we dress, or dress as we speak. Why do we profess one thing and display another? -St. Jerome.
The Saint is talking of dress and modesty in dress. But I think the statement applies to blogging.
We preach charity? Then show charity in blogging. Disagreements and criticism allowed. But in a spirit of charity.
I write - speak - on this blog as I dress - as I am. A Catholic living in today's world, embracing some things old and some things new. Working my way through a possible minefield. Reading and praying. And loving. Looking for direction alongside my family and friends.
God’s invitation to become saints is for all, not just a few. Sanctity therefore must be accessible to all. In what does it consist? In a lot of activity? No. In doing extraordinary things? No, this could not be for everybody and at all times. Therefore, sanctity consists in doing good, and in doing this good in whatever condition and place God has placed us. Nothing more, nothing outside of this.
Blessed Loius Tezza
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
St Martin of Tours
Yesterday we ( a couple of visitors and I) had some wine in honour of St Martin of Tours.
Chardonnay. As you can see...
The kids and I had read about St Martin earlier in the day and thought his early military career fitting to discuss on Remembrance Day , when we remember not only the Armistice of World War 1 but also those who have died serving our country.
And woo hoo! I have received another blog award. From Grace. This award acknowledges the values that every blogger shows in his/her effort to transmit cultural, ethical, literary and personal values every day.
I love blogging; through blogging I have met many new friends, some of whom I have come to know in real life. I have connected with many others online. Their thoughts and experiences have influenced me, have helped me, have inspired me. I am often delightfully amazed to find that someone reads my blog, someone I don't yet know but someone I hope I will get to know, via comments or other blogs.
Archbishop John Foley, president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications said :
(The) Internet is "the Areopagus of our time, the instrument to spread the Christian message" ...."But it is necessary to educate in its use, as with every reality that surrounds us, the positive element is opposed to the negative, creating confusion and false values."
"Yes, God can be found on the network. And among the millions of people who surf the Internet every day, many may find words of hope, come across other cultural and spiritual experiences, bringing down ideological barriers to discover new horizons."
If "God continues to dialogue with humanity through the Church," then "the Church must assume her own responsibility vis-à-vis the new means of communication," the Vatican official said.To accomplish this, he continued, there must be "precise criteria of discernment and a pedagogical intention, so that both those who operate in the sector as well as those who use the network are able to choose with maturity in an ever broader context of information and disinformation." ZENIT 2005
I don't pretend to believe that my blog acts in lieu of a council of elders; nor placing me as the older woman described in Titus Chapter 2 * ~ the one who teaches others; or as a storyteller or an instrument, telling of faith and life to others. That is a pretty lofty task, I think. But blogging is a means of sharing and of communicating. For a people person like me, it is simply another way of keeping-in-touch. Of continuing education . And of being a life long learner.
And, okay. Maybe with an occasional pedagogical twist . ( I am a mother, teacher, homeschooler, Kumon Supervisor after all!).
So, fellow bloggers, I encourage you in your blogging adventures! lol! All the blogs I read are personal stories of values and faith. So, I award this blog award to all my blogging friends - those linked on the sidebar and those regular readers and bloggers. You know who you are!
The rules to follow are 1) Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person that has granted the award and his or her blog link.2) Pass the award to other 15 blogs that are worthy of this acknowledgment.
But who could stop at 15??
* Titus Ch 2 ( from the Douay-Rheims) 1 But speak thou the things that become sound doctrine: 2 That the aged men be sober, chaste, prudent, sound in faith, in love, in patience. 3 The aged women, in like manner, in holy attire, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teaching well: 4 That they may teach the young women to be wise, to love their husbands, to love their children. 5 To be discreet, chaste, sober, having a care of the house, gentle, obedient to their husbands: that the word of God be not blasphemed. 6 Young men, in like manner, exhort that they be sober. 7 In all things show thyself an example of good works, in doctrine, in integrity, in gravity, 8 The sound word that can not be blamed: that he who is on the contrary part may be afraid, having no evil to say of us. 9 Exhort servants to be obedient to their masters: in all things pleasing, not gainsaying: 10 Not defrauding, but in all things showing good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. 11 For the grace of God our Saviour hath appeared to all men: 12 Instructing us, that, denying ungodliness and worldly desires, we should live soberly and justly and godly in this world, 13 Looking for the blessed hope and coming of the glory of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity and might cleanse to himself a people acceptable, a pursuer of good works. 15 These things speak and exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Mummy Porn
I don't think I am guilty of mommy porn.
Of writing glibly of days with the kids, the family, of homeschooling, of Catholicism, as though it all fits together. Always. No doubts, schisms, fights, despair.
I try to make this blog real and not a form of fantasy, nor a form of life porn.
I blog to share with friends, family, new friends, people I will never meet..to share the ins and outs of life.
I blog for myself.
I share some intimacies, some secrets but not others.
There are few guidelines as to which secrets I will choose to share and which others I will hide. Privacy of other individuals, of course, is important to me and the protection of this privacy is one of my guidelines.
Is sharing some intimaces, some secrets, a method of encouraging blogging voyeurism? Again, I hope not.
I hope, instead, to help others, in the sense that being real helps others.
Communication leads to community, that is, to understanding, intimacy and mutual valuing. Rollo May
And blogging helps me. I think and find solutions while writing. While blogging.
Writing about an idea frees me of it. Thinking about it is a circle of repetitions. Mason Cooley
Or read George Orwell on Why I Write ~
I try to make this blog real and not a form of fantasy, nor a form of life porn.
I blog to share with friends, family, new friends, people I will never meet..to share the ins and outs of life.
I blog for myself.
I share some intimacies, some secrets but not others.
There are few guidelines as to which secrets I will choose to share and which others I will hide. Privacy of other individuals, of course, is important to me and the protection of this privacy is one of my guidelines.
Is sharing some intimaces, some secrets, a method of encouraging blogging voyeurism? Again, I hope not.
I hope, instead, to help others, in the sense that being real helps others.
Communication leads to community, that is, to understanding, intimacy and mutual valuing. Rollo May
And blogging helps me. I think and find solutions while writing. While blogging.
Writing about an idea frees me of it. Thinking about it is a circle of repetitions. Mason Cooley
Or read George Orwell on Why I Write ~
..I do not think one can assess a writer's motives without knowing something of his early development. His subject matter will be determined by the age he lives in -- at least this is true in tumultuous, revolutionary ages like our own -- but before he ever begins to write he will have acquired an emotional attitude from which he will never completely escape. It is his job, no doubt, to discipline his temperament and avoid getting stuck at some immature stage, in some perverse mood; but if he escapes from his early influences altogether, he will have killed his impulse to write. Putting aside the need to earn a living, I think there are four great motives for writing, at any rate for writing prose. They exist in different degrees in every writer, and in any one writer the proportions will vary from time to time, according to the atmosphere in which he is living. They are:
1. Sheer egoism...
1. Sheer egoism...
2. Aesthetic enthusiasm...
3. Historical impulse...
4. Political purpose ...
I hope my blogging is not mummy porn, blogging voyeurism or sheer egoism.
I think I blog, I write, for historical impulse - writing things down for prosperity. For memories.To keep in touch with others.
I think I blog, I write, for historical impulse - writing things down for prosperity. For memories.To keep in touch with others.
For aesthetic considerations - I like to write, to mess about with words, to have some fun in sharing ideas and activities and humour with others, to play with writing little aphorisms.
For political purpose - okay, I am laughing at myself here but, perhaps, mildy, in a tiny way, like a mustard seed, my blogging on homeschooling, on education, on our Faith, on body image, on parenting, on being a woman/wife/mother today will help not only me but also another.
And, unlike those perfect superstar working mums ( dang, I want their bodies!) , unlike those darling, sweet, nurturing, ( always inspiring to me) other homeschool blogging mums , I do not have it all together. Sometimes, I have many things together, juggle many balls at once , and I do this kinda well. Other times I can't even get one thing together.
Mostly, our life is a mish mash of activities, of life and liturgy and learning. And this is what I aim to share when blogging.
Not mummy porn.
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
Sydney Tower
We went there last Friday with Homeschool Teen Group. My friend Chris put up pics of me doing a ferris Bueller at the glass. THANKS, Chris! lol!
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Blog Awards
I was nominated for two blog awards ~ The Kick-Ass Blogger and The Brilliante Blog.
And I have to name some other bloggers, bloggers I think deserve this recognition.
Kick-ass?
| Part of Speech: | adj |
| Definition: | very effective |
My son Greg at Antic Hay
My friend Chris
My fellow CM-er Stephanie at What I Know Now
My buddies over at Catholic Mommas
Enjoy reading!
Saturday, August 02, 2008
On pegs
Pegs? A system of building routines and rhythms and just getting-things-done. Just like you peg, or attach clothes to a clothes line, so you peg or hang an activity to another, to help with habits.
Like laundry with breakfast and clean up. Or Saints and Bible reading wth dinner clean up or before bed routines...
But I'll stop explaining. Why? Because Stephanie explains it much better. Have a read!
Like laundry with breakfast and clean up. Or Saints and Bible reading wth dinner clean up or before bed routines...
But I'll stop explaining. Why? Because Stephanie explains it much better. Have a read!
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
New hair
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I went for a short cut and a darker colour...Not sure if I like it but, hey, my hair grows fast and colour easily grows out/washes out...Dh likes short hair and thin women......And everyone needs a change now and then...
BTW, the nearcircle widget for Unschooling Catholcis is not working. I've tried everything I can think of, including contacting nearcircle, with no luck. All our members can't get updates on blogs and live feeds. If you have any tips, let me know....
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Tuesday Links
Alice's lovely ideas for an Easter Tea.
Maybe we can adapt this and have an Easter afternoon tea, during this octave of Easter?
And an interesting book and blog, thoughts on Mary, from a Catholic convert's point of view. From one who struggled to understand the Church's Marian devotions. [I can relate... ]
Behold Your Mother.
Maybe we can adapt this and have an Easter afternoon tea, during this octave of Easter?
And an interesting book and blog, thoughts on Mary, from a Catholic convert's point of view. From one who struggled to understand the Church's Marian devotions. [I can relate... ]
Behold Your Mother.
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Holy Saturday and the Fat Free Vegan
(A weird juxtaposition of post topics in my recent blog titles. )
Today we are looking forward to the Easter Vigil at church tonight and we start the Regina Coeli. Prayed from Holy Saturday to Trinity Sunday, in place of our usual praying of the Angelus.
I woke up feeling fantastic , it has been over a month since I last felt really well- the prayers of Good Friday, the Stations of the Cross and the three o'clock Passion helped me Find Sanctuary. Eating less yesterday, because of Good Friday's fast and abstinence, was also great for me. I feel fitter and my abs feel flatter.( Am I the only auburn haired blonde? I mean, really, this blend of the religious with diet and body image is very Clueless...lol!).
Visited the fitness forum this morning and found a link to yet another cool blog, the
Fat Free Vegan. Yummy recipes. Maybe I can feel this great all the time, by following the advice of writer and food anthropologist Michael Pollan -- Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.
Okay, maybe I can only do this 50% of the time but at least I like the sound of the tag line!
Some recipes from the vegan blog, ones I want to try ~
Penne Arrabbiata
Enchilada casserole
Today we are looking forward to the Easter Vigil at church tonight and we start the Regina Coeli. Prayed from Holy Saturday to Trinity Sunday, in place of our usual praying of the Angelus.
I woke up feeling fantastic , it has been over a month since I last felt really well- the prayers of Good Friday, the Stations of the Cross and the three o'clock Passion helped me Find Sanctuary. Eating less yesterday, because of Good Friday's fast and abstinence, was also great for me. I feel fitter and my abs feel flatter.( Am I the only auburn haired blonde? I mean, really, this blend of the religious with diet and body image is very Clueless...lol!).
Visited the fitness forum this morning and found a link to yet another cool blog, the
Fat Free Vegan. Yummy recipes. Maybe I can feel this great all the time, by following the advice of writer and food anthropologist Michael Pollan -- Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.
Okay, maybe I can only do this 50% of the time but at least I like the sound of the tag line!
Some recipes from the vegan blog, ones I want to try ~
Penne Arrabbiata
Enchilada casserole
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
The Preventative Method of Education
Interesting blog post on the Salesians and on how the Order describes their adherence to St John Bosco’s "preventative method of education".
Among the characteristics the Salesians say they try to embody are "a welcoming attitude", "optimism and joy", "creativity and flexibility" and a "deep trust in God". They pride themselves on what is called the "preventive system" of education that was devised by Don Bosco and is based "entirely on reason, religion and loving kindness". It is "preventive" in that it "seeks to prevent the need for punishment by placing the child in an environment in which he/she is encouraged to be the best one can be".
Among the characteristics the Salesians say they try to embody are "a welcoming attitude", "optimism and joy", "creativity and flexibility" and a "deep trust in God". They pride themselves on what is called the "preventive system" of education that was devised by Don Bosco and is based "entirely on reason, religion and loving kindness". It is "preventive" in that it "seeks to prevent the need for punishment by placing the child in an environment in which he/she is encouraged to be the best one can be".
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
On girls...
Interesting post on Hopewell Mom School, on girls and education and on being ' keepers at home.'
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
Pyjamas and blogging.
Last night, after Mass, we stood outside the church and talked to friends. Talked of pyjamas.
As you do after Mass, after Tuesday night Mass and Novena to St Anthony.
I guess.
Don't ask me how the topic began, you truly don't want to know.
One friend mentioned that she has pjs with dogs on them. Cute! I said I have a pair with "Bad Girl" emblazoned on the front. And another with pics of Felix the cat on the top and the word FELIX sprawled across, well, across the bottom.
Others wore old t shirts and shorts to bed...
What do you wear to bed?
On second thought, don't answer that. Probably more than we want to know. It will turn into one of those blogging polls.
These polls are everywhere - a myriad of topics, ranging from what kind of mother are you to are you addicted to blogging?
Apparently, I am 80% addicted to blogging.
As if.
With inane posts like this , the addiction must be at least 98%!
As you do after Mass, after Tuesday night Mass and Novena to St Anthony.
I guess.
Don't ask me how the topic began, you truly don't want to know.
One friend mentioned that she has pjs with dogs on them. Cute! I said I have a pair with "Bad Girl" emblazoned on the front. And another with pics of Felix the cat on the top and the word FELIX sprawled across, well, across the bottom.
Others wore old t shirts and shorts to bed...
What do you wear to bed?
On second thought, don't answer that. Probably more than we want to know. It will turn into one of those blogging polls.
These polls are everywhere - a myriad of topics, ranging from what kind of mother are you to are you addicted to blogging?
Apparently, I am 80% addicted to blogging.
As if.
With inane posts like this , the addiction must be at least 98%!
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
The Irony of Blogging
Why is it that when one blogs on a particular virtue, one finds that this virtue is harder to practice? That the day of blogging deteriorates.
You know, you blog on enjoying workouts then can't easily get out of bed the next day to start an early morning workout.
You blog on cool homeschooling activities and end up spending the day cleaning or watching movies.
Yesterday, I blogged on "Saying Yes." Something I was thinking about in response to a thread at the 4 Real Learning message boards.
And yesterday, I ended up being a b#%&* to my kids.
Seriously.
After a great morning of organizing bedrooms with the kids and doing some written work and spending time together - well, I yelled , when we were rushing to go to Catholic Homeschoolers and to pick up some Kumon folders on the way. We were late as usual!
I was stressed when the kids inadvertantly locked us out of the house - with the car keys inside, I was taking the kids on my way to drop off forms for WYD Homestay and to do a house inspection for this progamme. We had to break into the house! I yelled again. I had a lot of dropping off and picking up of kids to do, spent a a lot of time on the car....
The younger kids' silliness irked me. The 18 year old's grumpiness and complaining bugged me. The arguing 14 year old drove me mad ( okay, I know this is the Rhetoric stage but still!). The fidgeting at Mass last night made me want to scream - I kept thinking, is it okay to scream in Mass??
Dh is away and when he rang last night I really couldn't let off steam - I did not want to give him a litany of my woes - he needs to be concentrating on his course and not on my pettyness
Because that is what it was - pettyness. Getting cross over dumb things. Over little things.
I should have taken my own advice, smiled more, prayed more, said yes more.
Going to the St Anthony Mass helped. Talking to people at Catholic Homeschoolers and after Mass helped.
And I realize that I've had late nights, like last night, since I have work at home to do, and early mornings taking Jonathon to work to start at 6.00 a.m. And busy days. So, some sleep would not go astray, either!
Well, off to a busy day today ( Up at 5.30 a.m., Mass, I'm presenting at a Kumon Meeting, kids are shopping, J is working) and I'll workout this afternoon...before CAFE.
And I will be very careful about blogging from now on - it is almost prophetic, blog and share the good times and your day will fall apart! lol!
At least, blogging keeps one both humble and honest.
You know, you blog on enjoying workouts then can't easily get out of bed the next day to start an early morning workout.
You blog on cool homeschooling activities and end up spending the day cleaning or watching movies.
Yesterday, I blogged on "Saying Yes." Something I was thinking about in response to a thread at the 4 Real Learning message boards.
And yesterday, I ended up being a b#%&* to my kids.
Seriously.
After a great morning of organizing bedrooms with the kids and doing some written work and spending time together - well, I yelled , when we were rushing to go to Catholic Homeschoolers and to pick up some Kumon folders on the way. We were late as usual!
I was stressed when the kids inadvertantly locked us out of the house - with the car keys inside, I was taking the kids on my way to drop off forms for WYD Homestay and to do a house inspection for this progamme. We had to break into the house! I yelled again. I had a lot of dropping off and picking up of kids to do, spent a a lot of time on the car....
The younger kids' silliness irked me. The 18 year old's grumpiness and complaining bugged me. The arguing 14 year old drove me mad ( okay, I know this is the Rhetoric stage but still!). The fidgeting at Mass last night made me want to scream - I kept thinking, is it okay to scream in Mass??
Dh is away and when he rang last night I really couldn't let off steam - I did not want to give him a litany of my woes - he needs to be concentrating on his course and not on my pettyness
Because that is what it was - pettyness. Getting cross over dumb things. Over little things.
I should have taken my own advice, smiled more, prayed more, said yes more.
Going to the St Anthony Mass helped. Talking to people at Catholic Homeschoolers and after Mass helped.
And I realize that I've had late nights, like last night, since I have work at home to do, and early mornings taking Jonathon to work to start at 6.00 a.m. And busy days. So, some sleep would not go astray, either!
Well, off to a busy day today ( Up at 5.30 a.m., Mass, I'm presenting at a Kumon Meeting, kids are shopping, J is working) and I'll workout this afternoon...before CAFE.
And I will be very careful about blogging from now on - it is almost prophetic, blog and share the good times and your day will fall apart! lol!
At least, blogging keeps one both humble and honest.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Are you Gonna Blog This???
Cindy talks about this comment in her recent post. After she completed a craft, one of her kids asked if a pic was going on the blog.
Of course!
We blog, therefore we are. :-)
I get the same comments. Every time we do something, make something, go somewhere, take a photo - someone asks -"Is this going on the blog?".
Even Fr. asked that last night - he made a comment, something like "forgetting that there were kids who didn't go to school, who were home during the day" ( forgetting we wonderful homeschoolers?? Huh!) .
Then Fr. laughed and said "This will probably go on the blog!".
Well, yes, it did. lol!
We blog our life - not everything but just what seems appropriate at the time.
The small details, the big concerns, our thoughts and opinions, the sharing of activities and ideas..parts of our lives...
Of course!
We blog, therefore we are. :-)
I get the same comments. Every time we do something, make something, go somewhere, take a photo - someone asks -"Is this going on the blog?".
Even Fr. asked that last night - he made a comment, something like "forgetting that there were kids who didn't go to school, who were home during the day" ( forgetting we wonderful homeschoolers?? Huh!) .
Then Fr. laughed and said "This will probably go on the blog!".
Well, yes, it did. lol!
We blog our life - not everything but just what seems appropriate at the time.
The small details, the big concerns, our thoughts and opinions, the sharing of activities and ideas..parts of our lives...
Saturday, September 01, 2007
Two good posts on learning.
In the first, a parent discusses the fact that his daughter does not want to return to school - after only two days of kindergarten. He posts a reply from Fr. George Rutler ~
The only real university is the universe and a city its microcosm. That is why an expression like "New York University" is foolish. New York City is the university….Instead of school, children should spend some hours each day in hotel lobbies talking to the guests. They should spend time in restaurant kitchens and shops and garages of all kinds, learning from people who actually make the world work….One day spent roaming through a real classical church building would be the equivalent of one academic term in any of our schools, and a little time spent inconspicuously in a police station would be more informative than all the hours wasted on bogus social sciences. My Wife Takes a Rather Different View
The second post gives us a glimpse into the unschooling/homeschooling life of a mother of two ~
Sometimes I feel like a failure as a homeschooler. I'm not doing it right. Heck, I'm not sure I'm even doing it at all. We call ourselves homeschoolers because we have to account for the fact that our kids aren't enrolled in school. So homeschoolers we are, but it doesn't feel like homeschooling is what we do. We don't play at teaching and learning, we just do it. The way I homeschool feels like an extension of household management. I notice what my children need, try to predict what they might like, and I do my best to provide it for them. It's like running your kitchen -- you notice when you're running out of milk and buy more of it. You can also see what's been sitting on the pantry shelf for months and donate it to a shelter or throw it away. Maybe you look through a cookbook and decided to try a recipe that looks good. How hard is that? Keeping a well-stocked home library is easy for me and shopping for workbooks or other "educational materials" is, well, shopping, and I like to shop.
Autumnal Anxiety
Pretty much the way I homeschool - like I shop or cook
(and since I hardly cook, but do spend a lot of time with my kids and at the shops, - well, you get the idea! lol!).
The only real university is the universe and a city its microcosm. That is why an expression like "New York University" is foolish. New York City is the university….Instead of school, children should spend some hours each day in hotel lobbies talking to the guests. They should spend time in restaurant kitchens and shops and garages of all kinds, learning from people who actually make the world work….One day spent roaming through a real classical church building would be the equivalent of one academic term in any of our schools, and a little time spent inconspicuously in a police station would be more informative than all the hours wasted on bogus social sciences. My Wife Takes a Rather Different View
The second post gives us a glimpse into the unschooling/homeschooling life of a mother of two ~
Sometimes I feel like a failure as a homeschooler. I'm not doing it right. Heck, I'm not sure I'm even doing it at all. We call ourselves homeschoolers because we have to account for the fact that our kids aren't enrolled in school. So homeschoolers we are, but it doesn't feel like homeschooling is what we do. We don't play at teaching and learning, we just do it. The way I homeschool feels like an extension of household management. I notice what my children need, try to predict what they might like, and I do my best to provide it for them. It's like running your kitchen -- you notice when you're running out of milk and buy more of it. You can also see what's been sitting on the pantry shelf for months and donate it to a shelter or throw it away. Maybe you look through a cookbook and decided to try a recipe that looks good. How hard is that? Keeping a well-stocked home library is easy for me and shopping for workbooks or other "educational materials" is, well, shopping, and I like to shop.
Autumnal Anxiety
Pretty much the way I homeschool - like I shop or cook
(and since I hardly cook, but do spend a lot of time with my kids and at the shops, - well, you get the idea! lol!).
A Rockin' Girl Blogger???
Maria nominated me for a Rockin' Girl Award. Thanks, Maria!
And I nominate Anna, Moonlight in Vermont and Jen and Theresa.
Enjoy their blogs!
And I nominate Anna, Moonlight in Vermont and Jen and Theresa.
Enjoy their blogs!
Monday, April 23, 2007
Thinking Blogger Award
Susan tagged me with the Thinking Blogger Award.
Susan's blog is always interesting and often makes me think and smile.
But, what does one do with a Thinking Blogger's Award?
Well, if you get tagged with a Thinking Blogger Award, you are then supposed to do the following:
1. Write a post with links to 5 blogs that make you think.
2. Link to this post so that people can easily find the exact origin of the meme.
3. Optional: Proudly display the ‘Thinking Blogger Award’ with a link to the post that you wrote.
Here is the post on which I was tagged.
And here are five of my favourite Thinking Bloggers ~
Cindy and her post on trust.
Maria has a post on Classical learning - relaxed style.
Faith shares her plans and schedules...
Rebecca describes the planner she created for her eldest child - lots of thinking here!
And Mary talks about homeschooling and the book To Kill a Mockingbird...
I hope you enjoy these blogs as much as I.
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