10 August 2010

Rules made to be broken.


I read blogs on my lunch break. I had lunch break in quotes...like this.... "lunch break"... which would indicate that it is not really a lunch break. But it is, dammit. Because I have a real job.

And I eat lunch. And during that time, I take a break. For approximately an hour.

Collins naps, Eason half naps/half rests, and Ada Brooks has 'free reading' (a concept I'll make a goal to write an entire blog about, but am not making promises, since that list of things I need to read about grows and grows).

No one is allowed to bother me for an hour. I get silence, and I read blogs, and sometimes I watch a ridiculously shallow show on hulu. (Burn Notice? Covert Affairs? Do I secretly wish I was a spy? maybe...).

And I eat - most of the time leftovers from the yummy meal from the night before.
And I blog, although I allow myself to blog at other times too, because as much fun as it is for me, it's also one of my duties (the lines are blurry in stay-at-home-mom land), because this is the baby book, remember?

Does everyone know what "SAHM" means when you see it? It means Stay At Home Mom. I've never heard it pronounced, but I've just tried and I think it sounds like an arabic-ish pronounced Sam. Like Saham or something. (Is 'arabic-ish' not appropriate? I trust you know what I mean and know that I'm just trying to illustrate...)

Anyway... Today I was reading the Pioneer Woman Blog, which is usually very funny and bright and she's a homeschooling mom of four who treasures wit, loves food, and has great grammar. So, clearly I identify with her. She's not for everybody, but I enjoy the escape and humor she provides for me.

So... today.... here....

She writes about homeschoolers. Famous ones.

And you know who that is at the top of the page?
That's Agatha Christie.

She's my heart. It goes:
God
Paul
Ada Bee, Eason, Collins
A few dear friends and family.
Agatha Christie, John Irving, Charles Frazier.

Okay, so that may be an exaggeration (and granted I'm cheating because I put a few friends and family and who the heck knows what that means), but my point is, as authors go, she's one of my favorites.

I am against defending homeschooling. I've quit that. If you have issues, come talk to Ada Brooks - if, after spending three hours with her, you are concerned that she's either uneducated (including, but not limited to, academically, socially, or in the realm of humor) for her age, lodge the complaints with me, with details.

But, I've got a few dear people in my life who are kind of horrified that we're homeschooling Ada Brooks. And then this Pioneer Woman blog popped up. And I couldn't help but link to it. So...I'm breaking my own rule. Even my rules were made to be broken.

So... you people who fear that what I'm over here secretly teaching Ada to sew her own denim jumpers, know that if she turns out to be the next Agatha Christie, you can double kiss my tail.

But, clearly (or at least hopefully clearly), we aren't homeschooling to create our own version of Einstein or Edison or even Christie -

But what this list shows is that homeschooling does not prevent a homeschoolee from making a positive, normal impact on the world. (excepting from this list Andrew Jackson, Hanson, George Patton and Brigham Young)

No denim jumpers.

Ever.

I promise.

4 comments:

  1. Great post! I love that several of my friends homeschool, especially since this is the path Jarod and I have talked about taking when we have children. It is funny the thought that pops into some peoples head when you say you homeschool though...it's like they are terrified you are starting some sort of cult or that your child will never fit into society correctly...seems to me that those are the people who are uneducated!

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  2. I'm pretty sure I WAS taught how to make denim jumpers in public school. Ada is a lucky student to have you for a teacher.

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  3. I did make & wear denim jumpers... but just look at how normal I am now!

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  4. Thanks, sarah.

    Carolyn - normal? well, awesome, regardless.

    Katie - homeschooling is not for everyone, but we've really seen God's grace toward us during this time. I don't think there is a 'right' answer about what is the best way to educate children. I just think that we should be open about all routes.

    I do think that a lot of the homeschooling thoughts out there are justified from the stand point that a lot of homeschoolers are weird. But a lot are not. So we just have to trudge on and show ourselves as normal. =)

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