Ch-ch-changes

We’re experimenting here. New blog names, new routines, new diets. Lots of changes ’round here. You know that I’ve been feeling tormented almost by what to “do” with ourselves during the day. After my hysterectomy, things really slowed down and just never seemed to get back on track which caused me to look towards other methodologies besides radical unschooling. I’m glad I did because in all that reading, there is another method out there I find equally fascinating and it’s the one proposed by Dr. Raymond Moore. In many ways, it is very similar to unschooling. No formal education (at least until the child turns 8 but that’s the earliest. They actually recommend 10-12), child-interest driven activities, and a lot of connecting with your children. The differences enter in with setting some guidelines for bedtimes, chores, and bible-study. Not that unschooling says “Don’t study the bible”, it’s just not part of the equation. Anyway, The Moore Formula is very appealing to me because I do feel like some guidelines are a good fit for us. We’re going to be experimenting with a new routine and see how it goes. The boys have a bedtime and I will wake them up at a specific time in the AM. We’ll eat breakfast together, get dressed, and then take turns reading to each other. Maybe write a story or draw some pictures. Whatever it is, we’re going to spend a couple of hours together doing things besides watching Tom and Jerry reruns. We’ll have lunch and then the boys can go off on their own for a couple of hours to have their own “me” time. We’ll get back together and do some work around the house, fix dinner together, and then they’re free again to do what they like until time for bed. There are a few things driving this change. First of all, the boys have been asking for more routine. They just want it. Second, there are things that I think are important like learning table manners but they can’t get that on their own. It has to come from eating at the table with an adult, which rarely happened because we were all on different timetables. Even though Sean will not be able to eat with us, at least the boys and I can dine together, without the TV, and I think we’ll all benefit from that.

So far today we’ve had a good time. We ate breakfast together and then we all took turns reading from a book we chose. Iain went first and read to us from Diary of a Wimpy Kid, and he did a GREAT job! He really knows how to use the right inflection when he’s reading out loud and that was very impressive. Ryan chose to read from a Curious George book and he also blew me away. His reading skills grow by leaps and bounds every day. When it was my turn, I read from a book by Lynne Cheney called, When Washington Crossed the Delaware. I chose this book because both boys have expressed an interest in George Washington and, on our trip to PA, we were able to look across the Delaware river. It seemed like something they would be able to relate to. After we read to each other, I asked the boys to play something different than a Sonic game on GameTap. If you’re not familiar with GameTap, it’s an awesome resource. You buy a membership to the website and then you and your family can have individual accounts and have access to hundreds of games. First the boys chose Zoombinis. They used to have it on disc but it quit working. After they got bored with that, they chose “Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?” and they are loving it. You have to follow the clues to find world-famous thief, Carmen Sandiego. They are sitting together at the computer and every once in a while a shout rings out, “Momma! I found a clue!”

Ryan told me a little while ago that he’s really having fun today and that made me feel good. I think we had gotten complacent and were just trudging along, not doing much, and they needed a little extra mental stimulation. I am going to give them a couple of responsibilities around the house as well because I do feel it’s important for them to help take care of our home. It helps all of us in the end.

In other news, after some encouragement from Carri, I am opening an etsy store and will be selling some of my prints there! It should be up and running in the next week or so and I will add things to the selection as I am able. If there is a photo you have seen and you think it should be in my store, please email me and let me know. As soon as it’s ready, I will include a link to it here.

Oh. This weekend Sean and I went to see the “Dark Knight” movie and really enjoyed it. I think I would have liked it a lot more if it weren’t so damn loud! WTH? Some of the dialog was completely drowned out by the atrocious sound and I have no idea if that is the movie’s fault or the theater’s. Anyway, it’s still a good movie and I really love Christopher Nolan’s direction of this series. Christian Bale’s portrayal of Batman/Bruce Wayne is incredibly compelling and he does a magnificent job of illustrating just how complex Bruce Wayne is. Heath Ledger’s performance was also great although his role was smaller than I anticipated. I really thought he had more screen time than he did based on some of the reviews I had read.

Wow, I feel like I’ve written a book here today and it’s probably a jumbled mess so bear with me, friends. I’m trying to gain some footing on this new ground we’re on.