As summer comes to an end, I’m preparing for our return to lessons and our homeschooling rhythm. I’ve walked in my mind through the seasons of the year, planning for the changes that will unfold in the months to come. The year of seasons forms a cycle like breathing; expansion at the summer solstice like … Continue reading
We are here, four months into homeschool life, and I think our detox is coming along. Detox from some of the stresses of modern life . . . alarm clocks, the commute, traffic, daily crowds, the rush, missing home and each other . . . and it dawns on me that the children are showing signs … Continue reading
It’s August! We have hit our stride, riding the summer rhythm. We’re relaxing into our predictable days and weeks, enjoying each other. The two kids play together so much, so cute!! No interruptions to our flow: no commute to school, no rush to be on time, no tears from making up after the separation. The jealousy of little … Continue reading
What is childhood summer all about? Fun in the sun, relaxing, no alarm clocks or school bells, climbing trees, swimming, freedom, sunshine, and magic. It seems so obvious, so why am I so unsatisfied with this explanation? I keep wondering about the meaning of summer . . . the deeper meaning. If in the fall we … Continue reading
Urban life can feel chaotic to young children. I see it’s a stress for my daughter. The city never sleeps! The sirens, streetlights, the vroom of cars, and even the ding-ding of the streetcars continue late into the night. Work days end late and push back dinner time. It’s not easy to keep consistent bedtimes … Continue reading
Once upon a time . . . había una vez . . . a small family who woke up grouchy. So grouchy. A bad night of stuffy noses and coughing: very grouchy. Grouching all morning. At least one of the two kids crying or whining all the way through breakfast, clean up, and some morning … Continue reading
Winter. Here on the Mediterranean central California coast, this means not ice and snow but dark and damp. Waiting for Rain. Days and days of rain, gray skies, shiny sidewalk puddles, misty cloud forests, peeping frog voices, Rain. We had a good few weeks but we are waiting for more. Meanwhile, the days are short … Continue reading
Last year I enjoyed the Lantern Walk with our Waldorf school, but I had no context or understanding of its meaning. I assumed any festival that ended in “mas” (Martinmas, Michaelmas) was too “Euro” to have anything to do with me. But this week I got it, a meaning that I totally relate to. I’ve … Continue reading
Breathe. Phew. Here on week four I think we’ve hit our stride. I feel alive and awake to the moment. Finally. It started out extra stormy. My daughter woke up covered in hives in the night and no one slept well for a couple of nights. By Tuesday morning I was groggy and grumpy. When … Continue reading
I’m on week three of all-day-every-day just me and the kids. My strategy is to keep our days simple and rhythmic, to stay home more and do less. I admit, my stated goal of “tantrum free” was partially to get your attention, oh reader. But did I really think that simplifying life would be a … Continue reading
Chigüiri-cosas 