Blogosphere Connections -- and a Giveaway!

I love the blogosphere. Just this week, I met with two blog readers from both coasts whom I had never met, and received emails from several more. (You can send me an email by clicking on my profile link on the sidebar.) It's so special to connect with blog readers, and it keeps me inspired to ignore the mountain of laundry I spy to my left and write instead.

I would love to hear from you! Leave a comment below by next Friday and gain a chance to win one of my favorite children's books: The Seven Silly Eaters, by Mary Ann Hoberman.

Thanks for reading!

Trust Our Children

Trust our children. What does that mean? When we decided a couple of years ago that homeschooling was the right option for us, I remember reading books and hearing stories from parents saying the key to happy homeschooling is to trust your children. I didn't fully grasp what they meant at the time, to trust that my kids would learn everything they needed to know when they needed to know it. But now I get it.

I have watched my older daughter learn to read and write, not because I sat with her to teach her these skills, but because she is surrounded by literacy and is given the space to become engaged in this important process. I have seen my son's imagination bloom, not because I work explicitly to help him think creatively, but because I trust his innate curiosity and give him the time and space to build his imagination. Just as I see my littlest one learn to crawl and then to cruise, not from teaching but by learning, I see my older ones learn naturally, organically, individually as well.

We are unschoolers, meaning that we don't follow any established curriculum for our kids and instead use the resources of our city to learn and explore. We plan to continue on this unschooling path indefinitely, trusting our children to show us the way and trusting ourselves to listen--and follow.

Wide Open Spaces

I was feeling today that we all needed some wide open spaces. We needed a spot where we could run, and twirl, pick leaves, hold hands, and take deep breaths.

Gratefully, a nearby city reservoir was the perfect place to enjoy a two-plus hour walk with friends in the bright sunshine and fresh air.

As November dawns, we know our days of morning-long, invigorating walks are numbered--particularly walks where the sun beams so brightly that we are able to remove our hats and coats and scarves and enjoy the freedom and relief that brings.

So with a clear and seasonable forecast for the coming week, we'll be delighting in many outside hours in the city's wide open spaces.