Socialization and all that Jazz

So...socialization.  We've been homeschooling for about 8 months now, and among the homeschool community it is quite a joke to discuss this topic.  Mostly because it has been discussed over and over and OVER.  Blah blah blah.  We've been in public school and *ahem* I didn't see very much good socialization going on.  In fact, he learned more negative than positive in terms of behavior. 

All I have to say is that one person said to me today, "It is so neat that your son plays with younger kids so well."  Later on in the day, he's playing with an intellectual peer that is at least 3 years older than him, with another older gal, and three younger ones in tow. All playing fair, all playing well, all in harmony.  Socialization?  OH...that is what you call standing in line in school to wait to go to the bathroom and being told to "BE QUIET!" while in the hallway with people the exact same age as you?  Hmmm...

Free and natural, he's exuberant and happy.  I'm at peace because his innocence has returned as well as his trust in people, and his distrust for learning has disappeared. 

I'm learning myself, that the math facts, the reading, history and science are easy to teach, but life is another matter.  Like why people judges so harshly, have so much hate to spew, and are afraid of what they do not know.   And how do we prevent from becoming these people?  These are hard lessons.  I don't have a good teaching manual for these.

Unpredictability

Life is unpredictable.  For instance, I never was a cat person until this little critter showed up at our door undernourished, scared, and nearly feral.  Now?  She is the best cat I have ever met, although she brings us one too many dead rodents.  But we love her...

When I think of peace.  I think of trees, birds, water, NATURE.  We live in the city.  Not a whole lot of nature around here, but we really try to seek it out.  But one day, one day I lust for a country home, a garden, an orchard, maybe even a little stream or lake for little boys to fish...

Life is chaos, it is messy and I am guessing my lesson right now is that I need to embrace the mess and live in it for right now sans my nature-infused country dreams.  There will be plenty of time for peace and tranquility later. Right now, my life is full of weeds, broken crayons, messy bathrooms, dripping swimsuits, motorcycle noise, and very little time to write blogs.

But amongst the chaos there is beauty and tranquility in that beauty, only if I stop to see it.

Cheers,
Kimchi

Resurrection

It has been many moons since I have written a blog post.  Life has been busy with two more children, new jobs, and an adventure in homeschooling.

White rice is on the left, me on the right.  Kimchi bokkum bap all on our laps.  (Kimchi bokkum bap = Kimchi fried rice).  

Our adventure begins 5 years ago when I quit my high-stress, high-paying job to stay at home.  Add backyard chickens, organic gardening, three children, and homeschooling and voila - that is my current reality.

Life is messy right now living with three kids ages 7, 3, and 20 months, eclecticly homeschooling while trying to eat consciously, live fully, and love wholly.

More later,
kimchi