on un-schooling *

Since sending my boy to Pre-School (Pre-K) last school year (2009-2010) I have fought the internal "mommy-instinct" to keep him home. I kept him in Pre-K because "he needed the socialization" and because "that's what you're supposed to do" and possibly because I thought I needed it (the time, sans child, that is).

*I started this post a long while ago (September 27th'ish) and because I am an unknown variety of field-mouse, I have no idea where I was headed with this post, but because I often bounce around from field to field, I came across this draft unfinished. Unfinished...hmmm, if I were to ever change the name of my farm....ahem. Where was I?

Ah, yes, un-schooling.

We sent him to Kindergarten in August of 2010. Cutest darn kid I've ever seen get on the bus at 6:20am, in the dark, to ride for an hour and a half, then wait on the bus, while the other kids finish breakfast, because I don't want him to eat the school slop, er, I mean, food.

WHAT?! 6:20am ? Dark? Hour and a half? School food?

His teachers were great. His classroom was bright and colorful and organized. The school and it's administrators are great. Even the receptionist is great (and has a covetable wardrobe, with the style to pull it all off!).

Our little man came home with a rubric for his day. Smiley face = good day. 1 = okay day, but needs to work on sitting still and following directions. 2 = not a good day. 3. bad day, not listening at all. 4. horrible day, the parents will be getting a phone call. I don't think he ever got a smiley face in the two or three weeks he was a "Kindergartner." He came home devastated, not understanding the combined concept of sitting still, listening and trying to ignore the wild and unruly classmates of his in between lunch, bathroom breaks and what little outdoor recess time they had (from 8:05am until 2:25pm).

I don't know many adults that can "do good" in that setting with such a schedule. Then throw in an hour and a half bus ride home.

He's five. FIVE. Fu-Iv-eh.

He should be playing with sticks and digging in the mud and following his dad around stealing his tools.

We decided to un-school him. "Oh, are you homeschooling him?" people politely inquire, as they peer down their nose at me, just a bit wary of my seemingly lackadaisical certainty. "No, not really." I say.

Then I think to myself, "maybe next year, I'll homeschool him". Then it dawns on me, it's THIS YEAR! I have 8 months, whoops, it's February 2011 already, 7 months to get ready to "do this".

Un-schooling. I can do this. He can learn to read. We'll get the math straight. If I can re-school (my own pet name for returning to college after nearly 20 years) then we can un-school here at home.

Now, what can a field mouse eat so that it stays focused?

'Cause we're reunited, hey, hey

I hope, like me, that you now have that song in your head. It's all good. I'm up for some dumb totally important and productive reason at 1:45am and don't know what else to write. So, I stick a song to your head. Like it. Or not.

Actually, when I was younger ( a couple decades days ago) I used to adore that song and also Linda Ronstadt's "You're No Good". For some reason I thought of potatoes when I heard that song. As if she were sorting them.....bad ones here, good ones there. Anyhow.

One time, while I was in a hair salon with my mom - there were ladies in all the chairs getting various things (frosting!) done to their hair and the song "Another one bites the dust" came on. I wondered how many of those ladies were going to lie to their hairdresser that day.... "Oh Janet, it's lovely, yes, yes, I DO LIKE IT, really!" Ahem. That alone makes me not want to get my license in Cosmetology. That, and I don't like to wash other peoples hair.

In addition to songs that take me back to yesteryear, smells do that too. There's something about too-ripe pears and concord grapes that remind me of a couple relatives I spent some childhood time with. Or, maybe it just reminds me of fall. Speaking of which, what IS the difference between Autumn and Fall? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?


Now that I've completely gone off on at least two tangents what I really came here to say is; I'm BACK ONLINE!!!

disconnected

After nearly five years of togetherness, my computer and I have separated. Not by my choice, of course. Either the hard drive or the processor has forced this break up. Although the withdrawals have not been nearly as bad as expected, I sure miss being able to pour out, or soak up, as it were. Hopefully I'll be back soon. I miss everyone!

signed affectionately,

farmhousewife