 | "Each and every moment is new. You can just try to make the very best choice in the next moment with your child. As the moments get better, so do the days and weeks. So all you need to do is make this moment the very best it can be. That's all." —Ren Allen |
| "Be prepared to be flexible and willing to change as your child gets older." —Emily Strength |  |
 | Sometimes a heavy thing can seem much lighter if you accept what is, instead of arguing with the air about what you think SHOULD have been. Be a light thing. Rise up. |
The same life can be seen from many different angles.
The same situation can be seen while holding one's breath
and being furious,
or while seeing the alternatives
and finding ways to be grateful,
no matter how small,
because on one small bit of gratitude,
one can step up and see another one,
and another.
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 | People don't become really good at unschooling without changing the way they see themselves and the world. |
SandraDodd.com/betterpartner
or the same article in German: Bessere Partner werden
(though the quote is from a discussion)
photo by Sandra Dodd (it's a link)
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| A child who can recite prime numbers or reel off the infinitesimal pieces of pi might not be able to wipe his own ass. What kind of gift is that for anyone? It's just a thing, like being able to pogo stick for an hour, or to learn all the dialog and songs in "Monty Python and the Holy Grail." It will neither save nor destroy the world. Keep your child safe from pressure and labels. Have a happy life. |  |
| What can I do now to make this moment better? —Eva Witsel |  |
 | "Homeschooled children who grow up in a stimulating and enriched environment surrounded by family and friends who are generally interested and interesting, will learn all kinds of things and repeatedly surprise you with what they know." —Pam Sorooshian |
Some people go to school, have Special Ed for many years, have labels and they still cannot do things they way they are "supposed to." Those will still carry all the harm from feeling less than, and broken. I would not want that for any child. |  |
 | Where learning is concerned, it's never too late and everything counts. |
You get to a place by physically getting there, by emotionally getting there, by mentally getting there.
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In response to someone talking about her children self regulating, I wrote: "Self regulate" means to make a rule and then follow it yourself. They're not self regulating. They're making choices. It's different. It's better! |
My friend Bela sent me the following story, which has a good description of mindful living: One zen student said, "My teacher is the best. He can go days without eating." |
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Equip yourself with:confidenceBuild your nest with food |  |
 | When thinking of new things to do, consider the five senses—taste, touch, smell, sight, hearing. Not all people have all five, but try to do new and different things. There will be connections, and children will do unexpected things. Be flexible in your acceptance, when activities don't go the way you envisioned them. Home-made play dough can have texture, scent, color, and by trapping some air in there, you can probably get sound out of it. There are recipes online for edible versions, but there's a good recipe on the "Young Children" page, along with dozens of other ideas. |
 | Digital cameras provide the best opportunity ever for children to take photos. Offer them your phone or camera sometimes, and let them look in new ways. (Neck straps or wrist straps can be good.) Save their photos for them, if you can. See what they see. |
