Unschooling Monday

Okay, we are late but after seeing a few other blog posts linked to Owlet's beautiful blog, I decided to blog about our unschooling endeavours.
We have a 10 year old and a 7 year old attending primary school. They fit in well and rather be at school and until we can move from this house that we hate, we will support our children in attending school. At the same time, our 5 year old will not be attending school next year like is expected. He has not attended kinder or child care. He is not shy or stuck at home, he has many friends of various ages and though weary of strangers he is not shy. Honestly my children are more confident than I am and I have been through 12 years of school.
Our 2 year old has mostly been only with us, he has stayed at his grandmothers' houses once each without much of a problem. At this stage, he doesn't need more than to play and have his family available for cuddles. He mostly sleeps with us, but occasionally he will sleep with his sibling/s.
All of our children love to draw. My daughter draws amazing pictures that come alive, they appear animated. Our boys draw well too but I cannot draw, my husband can. They love craft and can get along well together as they create. We got them all a craft box and that was very exciting for them, they usually only get a crafty activity periodically. They go through craft activities so quickly.

Av's drawing of a tiger.

Children are still awesome

~Even though you appear nuts, you love your kids and want MORE. Yes, your hands are full. No you can not afford them. Yes, you sometimes mix up their names. This is not actually an indicator that you have trudged too far down the path of insanity. It is just LIFE. And life can be hard, but children are still awesome. You see the beautiful moments, where everybody gets along and where there is just a touch of the divine in your home.

 This made me cry as I totally understand this thinking and it is how I feel.

 A picture by my 7 year old son, neat writing included. Today the children received a box of craft supplies, they were so rapt. All 4 love to draw. J says "'raw?" He especially likes to draw on skin so maybe a future tattooist? I am not very artistic at all but their father is.
Though somewhat rare, seeing the children play together and create together today was divine.

Umpteenth!

Umpteenth is a new word for my daughter. She is 10 and reading Anne Frank diary. Anne Frank was a 13 year old who with two families was cramped into a secret part of a building to avoid the Nazis in the early 1940's. Her teacher gave her the movie to watch of their life in the annex. Anyway I have noticed her understanding and comprehension has improved this year. Her maturity has also gained, she is less a child and more able to speak to me about things more broadly, though her understanding is not always complete - neither is mine. We went in to to see her teacher the other day and she was tested as having the reading level of a 14.7 year old. She has also improved with her Maths. I think her teacher expects us to be amazed and tremendously proud. Honestly we are proud of her anyway. She has her strengths and weaknesses and is a whole person. She has talents that cannot be tested. What I am happy with is when she is proud of herself.


We originally went in to the school to see my son's teacher. We were given an appointment for two weeks ago and he "lost" it. Not sure why he didn't want us to see his teacher. I promised him we would not say anything but nice things! Of course! He has nothing to worry about. He loves maths but he doesn't think he is good at anything else like writing and reading. Truth is his writing is very neat and he can construct clear sentences. He is actually quite the perfectionist. His reading is tested as level 40 which is the highest level they test to grade 4. He is 7 and will be in grade 3 next year. He was surprised when I told him his level, he didn't believe me. When we were talking with my daughter's teacher, she was asking her about fractions but she doesn't quite get it. My son quipped, "A quarter is bigger than a tenth." She was amazed, "How do you know that?" She told him he should be learning his timetables. He said "I know most of the timetables, but I need to learn my 9x." So the teacher showed him a 'trick' where you put your hands out. If you want to work out 2x9 you put down your 2nd finger and you get 1 before that finger and 8 after so its 18. For 9x9 you put down your 9th finger, you get 8 and 1 so 81. I watched his face as she explained it and I think he was shy at first but he is so cluey he got it and the amazement in his eyes made me tear up! Seeing your children learn and understand is a real joy.

My daughter wanted to homeschool next year but she is unsure. I think a good compromise would be part time but we can't agree. I am not keen on my daughter going to high school but she is old enough to choose and I really want her to have that choice. I know many children can't choose to homeschool but I want my children to have that choice. At this stage, my two youngest will be homeschooling in a natural learning style as they have been for their first formative years. Av is 5 and has no real interest in school (and I do believe he has a say). I am very much hoping for a tree change, to be able to move away from where we are currently living and have an improved lifestyle that suits us. If that happens, I am sure homeschooling will be a more viable and accepted option. Where we are living now, its fine for us now but when bub arrives I do worry how we will manage. As I continue to spring clean I hope that decluttering will help but having another person in a small house may send us over the edge.

Av has just started running with his Dad and big brother. J loves to run too which is cute. Av can really hold his own and that was the concern that he wouldn't be able to keep up, well he did surprise his Dad with his fast pace.  I do not run, its my thing, my daughter has no real interest in sport either unless its fun games. BUt I can see Av and his brothers will probably try sports as they get older.

J has started asking to use the toilet which is a great small step!
Nausea is still lingering in this pregnancy but its only slight and usually its not all day so I am feeling more positive as I approach 16 weeks. I have been making a few things so will share.

From German sock yarn, wee cuties crocheted.

Young Einstein in a newborn size knit in Woolganics 8ply next to a Versa in 6mth size knit in Malabrigo Twist. The Versa pattern is awesome. I can see myself referring to this pattern for vests in the future.

One day emergency hat was a fun easy knit made as a mini KAL in the BDD group on Ravelry. Using some gifted acrylic.

 eden's adam singlet knitted in Zanz cotton. I think this was my 15th, I do like this pattern though I have altered it to the shape I like and I like the garter panel all the way down the side. I have tried to go easy buying things and nappies to buy for baby as its very easy to buy. But this is a cute set. I am expecting another boy but I could be wrong! I have always thought I would have 4 boys and  a girl.

Gorgeous crochet  pixie hat using up some 8ply wool scraps. Yarn cafe, the Polwarth dyed by me.

Using  Malabrigo Twist to crochet this newborn romper, I changed the shaping from the pattern as I am hoping it fits over a cloth nappy.

Puff stitch for the first time in this hat crocheted in Malabrigo worsted. I love the colour and the style.

Buzz

J wearing the Term Time vest I made. He is now starting to speak and tried to say "Upside Down" but it comes out, "Up, down" which is quite cute. He loves food and is still feeding though I have the feeling he isn't getting much but for the comfort he needs. I think there may have been colostrum, but I can't express anything. As for toileting, he sometimes makes it to the toilet but he may be some time away from throwing out the nappies. He is very much my baby, looks it and acts it. I gave him a haircut - just a fringe trim so it wasn't forever getting in his eyes -and he looks slightly older. My big kids lost their babyness much earlier.

Pregnancy is tough. Emotionally and physically. At least now the nausea is much easier to deal with and is not a constant reminder that I am expecting. I had some depression and it was very difficult to handle but I am trying to deal with what comes at me as it comes. My shoulder and back is not as bad as it was pre - pregnancy so that is a positive and quite strange and unusual really. I am trying really hard to keep a balance to my days so I can manage the things that need to be done and still feel in good health. The best thing about being pregnant is feeling those movements and feeling sensual. Also nesting for bub, for me that means organising clothes and making things.

This top was meant for J but its too small so its for bub.

I am also now crocheting again.
To be able to knit and crochet again has brought some joy back in my life - ie. doing something I enjoy.

On Sunday we visited my brother and his family in Kidstown, Mooroopna which was fun for the kids.

Little boy gets big, turns 5

I now only have one child under 5, life should be easy! But though the children may be slightly less demanding especially on a 24 hour basis, attitudes take over, they become their own people and headstrong people come up to battles! They can certainly have their own arguments that I do not wish to be a part of, eg. He took my toy...She stole my pencil....He scratched me...


Anyway, it it wonderful to see my children grow and learn. When a birthday comes up, its a good opportunity to look back and see how much they have grown and learned. Av turned 5 on November 2nd. All he wanted was toys, especially Transformers. We bought him 2 plus How to train a Dragon DVD. He is a fan of dragons. I also had new clothes for him but he complained he didn't get enough. He liked his new outfit.
He wasn't keen on going out so we took it easy at  home though we did go out for lunch. I helped the big kids make a cake and that was a surprising success. I love seeing the skill it takes to make creative cakes but how pleased was I that I can still remember how to make a basic one! No we don't bake much.

We had a surprise birthday party just with us and Nanna so he could have fairy bread and balloons.