Brio Bridge

2nd Annual National NOT Back To School Day | Unschooling

2015-08-31T22:45:00.001-05:00

September 1st is National Not Back To School Day!

National NOT Back To School Day is a day to focus on the here and now.

Living in the present, not constantly in the future.

A day to celebrate staying home/going places, as unschoolers.

People that believe in learning organically.

Creating, discovering, exploring, growing, laughing, living, learning, loving.

This year, let’s visit one reason why we are so happy to NOT be going “back to school”. There are those moments where common sense goes out the window when people are in school. There are situations where faculty send a kid home because the child has brought something to school that, for decades, has been a non-issue. Only now is one set of administrators banning superheroes in the school setting, to stave off any notion that school supports violence (superheroes represent violence, don’t you know?). It’s not even political correctness in which we find ourselves. Today, schools are dealing with situations that might lead one to think that violence is being condoned: food in the shape of weapons, human mouths making the sounds of war, mere references to violent movies, etc. The no-tolerance policy in schools, in some cases, overtakes common sense—children become the victims in what should be a rational approach to fending off violent situations.

Join us in celebrating being unschoolers together by posting photos and what you are doing with your child(ren) too or sharing unschoolish quotes by using the hashtag: #NNBTSDay #NationalNOTBackToSchoolDay #NOTBackToSchoolDay to your Blogs, Facebook, Flickr, Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, etc.

“It’s not that I feel that school is a good idea gone wrong, but a wrong idea from the word go. It’s a nutty notion that we can have a place where nothing but learning happens, cut off from the rest of life.” - John Holt

National NOT Back To School Day--Unschooling

2014-08-31T23:23:00.001-05:00

We have deemed September 1st National NOT Back To School Day!

National NOT Back To School Day is a day to focus on the here and now.

Living in the present, not constantly in the future.

A day to celebrate staying home/going places, as unschoolers.

People that believe in learning organically.

Creating, discovering, exploring, growing, laughing, learning, living, loving.

School is a huge part of our society. It gobbles up every inch/ounce/iota of free space/time that families cherish. This time of year, you’d have to bury your head in the sand to avoid hearing anything about, “back to school”. From advertisements, to family and friends attending school, it’s mentioned on signs, even bombarding you on trips to the grocery store. We are always asked, it seems, “Is (are) he/she (they) ready to go back to school?” followed by (if we don’t answer fast enough), “What grade will he/she be in?” It can feel daunting at times.

We’re the outsiders, not regretting our divergent course, and we wish to bring awareness to the practice of unschooling.

We would like families from all countries to recognize this day even though it is technically a United States holiday. September 1^st is a happy medium of those dates when schools ring their first classroom bells in our country.

Join us in celebrating being unschoolers together by posting photos and what you are doing with your child(ren) or sharing unschoolish quotes by using the hashtags: #NNBTSDay #NationalNOTBackToSchoolDay #NOTBackToSchoolDay to your Blogs, Facebook, Flickr, Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, etc.

Unschoolers: Suckling=Win, Outnumbered=Loss (Vlogging Another Video, Yay!)

2013-08-27T20:10:00.001-05:00

Dad plays dodgeball with the kids, while mom takes care of the new addition to the family, Orson.

First YouTube Video In A Long Time Posted, Yay! Vlogger Style!

2013-08-23T16:02:00.000-05:00

Wordless Wednesday

2012-08-01T23:01:00.000-05:00

Wordless Wednesday

2012-07-25T22:52:00.000-05:00

Wordless Wednesday

2012-07-11T23:03:00.000-05:00

Wordless Wednesday

2012-07-04T23:03:00.000-05:00

Cecily-Two Weeks Ago

2012-06-29T23:05:00.000-05:00

We were visiting friends.

Cecily had fun getting made-up by the girls.

Love the bow!
Love the girl!

I think we need a mother/daughter day again,
really soon.
It has been a long week for me.

Dashiell Maverick @ 17 Months Old Today

2012-06-28T22:00:00.000-05:00

This little boy sure has my heart.

After kind-of a rough few days--

thinking about Diego,

and Elijah;

today was just what I needed.

Dashiell took a long nap,

and he’s been smiles ever since.

We’ve been cuddling, playing,

and just being.

His favorites over the past month:

peek-a-boo

looking at books (chewing on them, eek!)

water play (of course)

bananas

playing with cars

the sandbox

strawberries

hugs

drinking water

watching movies

being outside

breastfeeding

playing with musical instruments

dancing

melon

animals (smothering them)

babbling

apples

running

watching the bunny-rabbits in our neighbor's yard

scribbling

phones

and . . .

I tend to kiss and hug him a lot, a lot, a lot.

Even more-so lately,

and he has started to give me the occasional kiss,

which melts this mama’s heart, of course.

Cecily was mad because he hadn’t given her a kiss yet.

They enjoy playing together.

As does Sylvan.

Of course, there are always times when the older kids don’t want Dashiell to mess with their stuff.

But, overall, they all enjoy each other’s company quite well.

One of the benefits of unschooling=closer sibling relationships.

The Minecraft Experience

2012-06-25T11:49:00.000-05:00

Sylvan is very much into the online game Minecraft.

Here is a favorite song and video of his that he showed me today.

This is a 10 hour version.

Repeat, repeat, repeat.

Ha, ha, it is stuck in my head now.

Good luck getting it out.

Dashiell loves it,

and gets mad when he hears the music, but can't see the video.

We also saw this one today.

Yes, I could use a piece of that cake right about now.

I went for a jog tonight and my supper wasn't filling enough.

Dang, Meatless Mondays.

I knew I should have added beans.

And this one is Sylvan's ultimate favorite.

Describing the game quite well.

It has really grown on us around here. :)

Another Reason To Unschool: The Wheels on the Bus Go...Wait! Was That The School Bus Monitor Being Harassed!? Kids? Making Her Cry?!?

2012-06-23T23:44:00.000-05:00

I loathe this video.

First, to see the way they treat Karen.
Second, that they are recording their behavior, because they think it is funny or cool.
Third, to post it on Facebook to show all their friends.

Sad, very sad.

The video was taken on a school bus in Greece, New York.

So? Why am I posting this??
I posted this video because this is not just a New York thing.
I rode the school bus for the majority of my school experience,
in a small town in Iowa.
Harassment.
Bullying.
These are not new to the school bus scene.
I remember it all too well on our school bus.
But we didn't have a monitor, so, instead, the kids harassed other kids.
Hurting young egos.
Causing fear.

I was harassed more than I care to remember.

One incident had me confronting my harasser in the principal's office of his school.
Luckily, he was young enough he took that very seriously.
Thereafter, he no longer harassed me, physically anyhow, ever again.

If your kids ride the school bus, do they harass others?
Most parents would probably say no.
Many parents would probably be wrong.
Just like the dad, of one of the kids that harassed poor old Karen thought his child would never do such a thing.

Sometimes, I think that is wrong with some of today's youth;
Well, the ones that harass and bully, that is . . .
Which is a good majority of the schooled youth, at one point or another.
The fact that they are left together for days, weeks, months, years in schools, without much positive adult influence.
Very few (if any) to look up to.
Very few (if any) to aspire to be.
They don't know what it is to treat others with respect,
because often they are not respected by the adults in their lives--
in school or at home.

"Sit here."
"Do this."
"Bad job."
"That's wrong."
"You shouldn't."
"You can't."
"I won't help you."
"Don't."

I could probably go on and on . . .

The negativity with the words that are used from people (both teachers and students) in schools.
Trust IS a two-way street.
If kids are not respected, how will they learn to be respectful to others??
Lead by example, I say.

I'm feeling very blessed lately to be an unschooling mom.

Baby Boy Dashiell @ 16 Months Old

2012-06-21T20:41:00.000-05:00

We were on the farm (my parents') last week.

Dashiell is getting so big.
He has been babbling a lot over the past month.

Becoming very independent.

While on the farm, he started making a "keeekeee" sound.
Which I assumed was for "kitty".

He loves animals.
And cats are definitely one of his favorites.

He enjoyed spending time with their cat, Gizmo.
And surprisingly, Gizmo was pretty good about all the attention.

The "keeekeee" sound has turned into him telling us he wants something.

We are so blessed to have this little guy in our lives.

Sweet Baby Toes

2012-06-21T16:27:00.000-05:00

It's Summer, Summer, Summertime

2012-06-20T23:14:00.000-05:00

I can't help but think of this song when thinking of summer. Enjoy! :)

Wordless Wednesday

2012-06-20T23:00:00.000-05:00

Wordless Wednesday

2012-06-06T02:26:00.000-05:00

A Laundromat's Mistake

2012-06-05T22:45:00.000-05:00

When you use cloth diapers.
You are out of town.
And you are getting low on clean ones . . .
What to do!?

I feel guilty buying disposables.
Even though we've done that some in the past for traveling.

So you hit a laundry mat or a laundromat.
Especially when you pass right by one on your way back home--you know it's meant to be.

You ponder why you've never really heard the term laundromat before.

You've heard "laundry mat" more often than not, when a person talks about a self service laundry facility.

Well, at least in my neck of the woods.

According to Yahoo Answers:

"It comes from the 1950's where anything "automatic" was good, so it was the "automatic laundry" (though you put them in the machines, they were better than the old washboard and mangle setup!) So it was the Laundr-omatic, which became Laundromat."

Of course, it was fun to look up on Wikipedia too--to see its history.

Anyhow, I began this post to show you why Dan had to run back in the laundromat with my camera . . .

Ok, so maybe this a simple typo, looks to be.

But seriously, you laminate this, and place it on a wall of your business!?

Wow.

Unschoolers YouTube Videos--A Beginning!?

2012-06-04T23:09:00.000-05:00

We've been taking a lot of videos for a few months now.

Thinking we'll just start with the more recent stuff to begin with;
although there are some oldies, but goodies.
We will be sharing those at some point too. Here is the first one, yay!

Let us know what you think, by commenting.

Hope your week is off to a great start!

Fun-Hating Homeschoolers?

2012-06-01T13:45:00.000-05:00

We went camping close to the Mississippi River over Memorial Day Weekend, in eastern Iowa.

Right across from where we were camping, there were two families that were traditional homeschoolers, camping together. We thought it was pretty neat, because although we are unschoolers, we have more in common with homeschoolers (usually) compared with people that send their children to school. We thought our kids would enjoy each other’s company.

Another nearby family had girls that went to school; they enjoyed playing with Cecily and vice versa. Sylvan felt a bit left out since the boys wouldn’t venture out of their camp. So he was excited to play with the homeschooled kids, even though he was likely the oldest kid of the lot.

Well, I was wrong this time, the schooled kids had more freedom than the homeschooled kids.
One of the homeschooled families turned us off big-time.
And made me VERY happy that we unschool.

I was shocked at how much the first family told their kids no, saying “NO, NO, NO, NO, NO!!” in practically one mouthful, as if ONE “NO” wasn’t enough!? They said it several times about simple stuff, stuff that I didn’t think was a big deal.

They were very controlling of their four children.
Trying to control. . .
Every.
Single.
Move that their kids made.

It really was hard for Sylvan, because he was the oldest kid (only by a year or two though) between our camp and the homeschoolers camp and he wanted to play a creative game with the older kids, but they just didn’t get it.

He told me later that they weren't creative and he didn’t have fun playing with them, in the short time that he did.

For homeschoolers, we were surprised they didn’t show up to the free parks program, a workshop about frogs. We had mentioned it to them the night before, and as we look back, it kind-of felt like they they were trying to avoid being around us. Most traditional homeschoolers we know would jump at the chance for free learning opportunities.

They missed out.

Sylvan and Cecily had more fun playing with a creative girl at the playground, who was probably traditionally schooled. We had decided to go to the playground because the homeschoolers' kids didn’t seem like they were allowed to play with our kids. It made our kids feel bad. So I thought the playground would cheer them up. That, it did.

When we got back from the playground, the last night we were there, the one dad of the more lax homeschooling family (a Christian pastor), chatted with Dan. They seemed to get along well.

Then, one of their kids wanted to be pulled around in their wagon, so Cecily hopped in with their little girl, and Sylvan started pulling it around--since he was the biggest kid. The more controlling mom of the two families said suddenly that it was time to go to bed and she said it was their wagon, yada, yada. Maybe it was a new wagon, and she didn’t want it broken, but Sylvan was walking with it and respectful of their property, not running around crazy with it or anything. I don’t think she thought Dan and I were in hearing distance, but I was, and I thought she was quite rude to our kids.

I was just happy that we were leaving the next day, so we wouldn’t have to be around “the homeschoolers”. A phrase, I never thought I’d say or write. Our kids barely got to play with them, and I know it was disappointing for them--probably disappointing for the homeschoolers' kids as well. They had just started playing with them and "boom" it’s bed time!? Granted, I think they had a long day, as we did. But the kids were all getting along fine and no one was crabby that I could tell--well, maybe the one mother might have been. It was around 9:40 p.m. and Sylvan couldn’t believe they were all going to bed. Especially since they weren’t leaving the next morning, like we were.

We went back to our camp, and I explained that some families go to bed earlier and some families have different rules. He moved on rather quickly and he was happy to get the camp fire going. Cecily was disappointed too, but moved on quicker than Sylvan this time. Cecily and Dashiell fell asleep a while later, and we enjoyed the company of our oldest, Sylvan, telling us about his current favorite toys, Skylanders.

I noticed later, as I was putting a couple of things in our van, that the homeschooling parents were still up around the campfire. Maybe they just really wanted to hang out alone, since the two families didn’t see each other on a regular basis--this based on some things the pastor and his wife told us. The kids would put a damper on that, apparently.

How sad.

It put a bad taste in my mouth, the traditional homeschooling families' behaviors--and traditional Christians, to boot. I guess I’m happy it was us, and not some other family that doesn’t know others that homeschool, or are Christians, otherwise they would have been turned off of the whole deal of homeschooling or Christianity altogether. Because then they would think we are all like that--fun haters, rude, anti-social. Isn’t that what camping is about--(in a traditional campground) to be in nature and meet other like-minded people? That is one of the kids’ favorite things to do when we camp--to make new friends.

I tried to think of something positive to take from it. It made me realize, how far we’ve come, and how we are so proud of our kids. Our kids handled everything really well, even if it was disappointing for them.
No crying.
No tantrums.

Thinking back, I shouldn’t have said we were unschoolers right off the bat . . . I guess. But I feel if we don’t tell people that we are unschoolers and how we do things, the word will never get out.

I want to help other families have the amazing time/life we have. The beautiful relationship we have with our children. Somehow, I think there is a stigma about unschoolers and I know there is one about Christians.

Really, all unschoolers are different in some ways. Just as all homeschoolers are different in some ways. Just as traditionally-schooled families are different in some ways. As are, Christians as well.

And although the homeschoolers put a damper on things a bit, we had a really nice time as a family. More on that later.

Learning. Ever-learning.

Wordless Wednesday

2012-01-04T21:46:00.000-06:00

Happy New Year! 2012!

2012-01-01T23:31:00.005-06:00

Yikes!
How time flies.
Hoping to get back to blogging again.
I've been sick.
We've been sick.
I started feeling like my usual self last night.
Feeling good.
Really good.
I think I've done my time, being sick this season.
Thanksgiving.
And Christmas.
Not fun.
Nor fair.

So I'm hoping that feeling better will mean more time for lots of fun in the coming weeks.
I've been working on some new projects.
One of which I'm hoping to reveal here soon.
It is kind of big.
And kind of scary to me.
Yet fun, and pushes me.
I love that.

Anyhow,
We brought in the New Year last night as a family.
Myself, Word Geek, Sylvan, Cecily, and Dashiell.
Simple.
Nice.
Relaxed.
Just the way it should be.

Hope you had a wonderful day.
Whether you set goals or not.

I'll leave you with my new favorite photo of the kiddos I took on Christmas Day.

Happy Halloween! Muffin Tin Monday ~ Halloween Mini Edition

2011-10-31T20:12:00.004-05:00

Left to Right.
Top to Bottom.
Like a typewriter.

"Witch Hats"/Bugles-Hot Buffalo Flavor
"Zombie Eyeballs"/Chocolate Candy Eyeballs
"Straw Mound"/Shredded Colby Jack Cheese
"Witch Pinkies"/Baby Carrots

"Jack-o'-lanterns"/Pumpkin Face Gum Balls
"Ectoplasmic Goo"/Nacho Cheese Sauce
"Bandages"/Cheddar Cheese Crackers
"Graveyard Mud"/Creamy Peanut Butter

"Corpse Ribs"/Orange Bell Peppers (even though they do look red in this photo)
"Crow Beaks"/Blue Corn Tortilla Chips
"Coffin Cushion"/Pumpkin Cake
"Edgar Allen Poe Teeth"/Candy Corn (& Pumpkin Candy in the middle)

It was a fun challenge this week.
I tried to do a black and orange food theme.
Word Geek helped with the fun Halloween food names.

I ask that the kids keep an open mind.
Trying everything once.
Then I will tell them what the foods are, if they don't know afterwards.

Lizard Man was not happy about some of the things.
He wanted to know what the foods were before he would try them.
He said, and I quote, "This is like a horror movie."
What-the-what!?
Not sure where he came up with that one.
I don't make the kids eat anything.
But once I told him what a couple of things were, he was willing to try them.
I think in the future I will tell him.
It seemed to work better for him.

Love Bug was very excited to try everything.
She first went for the eyeballs and was going to take a bite.
I informed her that there was a wrapper on the candy.
But that just shows you how open minded she is to trying new foods.
She was willing to try out an eyeball!!??!!
I think maybe Lizard Man may have mentioned that they were candy.

I did make a muffin tin for myself this week too. :)
Anyone that knows me well, knows I do NOT like peanut butter.
I'm not allergic.
It all leads back to a time when I went to grade school.
My mom would make us lunch to take to school.
In our "old school" metal lunchboxes.
She accidentally put my brothers Shawn's peanut butter sandwich in mine.
Shawn got my cold cut sandwich.
The teacher either made me eat it or I was very hungry.
I don't remember which.
I just remember after that, plain peanut butter was NOT my friend.
If it was baked into something, I was fine.
But no peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for this girl.
Well anyhow.
To prove my point to Lizard Man today, I ate some peanut butter.
Dipped in my carrots=not too bad.
Then I dipped my candy corn into the peanut butter.
Um yes, pure bliss.
New favorite dessert for me.
Kind of like Reese's Pieces, but much better!

So happy that we've decided to jump onto this new food adventure.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Linking up here!

First Muffin Tin Monday Meal! Mini!

2011-10-23T23:01:00.011-05:00

I've been wanting to try this out for awhile,
for the kiddos.

Left to Right.
Top to Bottom.

Southwestern Bean Salad.
Flour Tortillas.
Ramon Noodles (unseasoned).
Cubed Pineapples.

Salsa.
Shredded Colby Jack Cheese.
Pear Tomatoes.
Sliced Bananas.

Tortilla Chips.
Turkey Bologna.
Bite Size Carrots.
Popcorn.

This was a huge hit with the kiddos.
Lizard Man, age 8.
Love Bug, age 4.
I used two Wilton Mini Muffin Pans, that I bought at Goodwill.
Filled with the same things=no fighting.

They have both eaten everything before,
except the Southwestern Bean Salad.
Both did not like it.

Lizard Man finished everything except that.
He asked for more of a few things.
Growing boy!!

Love Bug ate almost all of hers.
She tried a bite of a tomato and that was it.
She is not a fan of raw tomatoes.
But I can't complain, she is not a very picky eater.
I think she just got full with the other foods.

We will be doing this more, yah!

I just wish I would have made one for me.
Next time!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Linking up here!

Impromptu Mother/Daughter Day

2011-10-22T23:01:00.033-05:00

Love Bug and I had a pretty amazing day together.
We went to a few garage sales.
And she got some beautiful clothing.

We got out the finger nail polish.

Love Bug's nails.

My nails.

We had candy.

Love Bug dressed up.

And we created Barbie rubbings.

I'm hoping we can do a day like this again soon.
I love one-on-one time with each of the kiddos.

Word Geek and Lizard Man played a roleplaying game with friends.
They had a wonderful time.
So it was a win-win kind of Saturday.