photo by Holly Dodd, of herself
Thursday, November 17, 2016
Cameras and light
photo by Holly Dodd, of herself
Wednesday, November 16, 2016
Familiar things
Favorite tools, stored in the same old way, make your home special, and will be part of a child's memories. Love your normal stuff. |
photo by Sandra Dodd of some familiar things at Polly's house
Something looks like this:
collection,
equipment,
tools
Tuesday, November 15, 2016
How long?
How long should you be calm?
Longer than you think you need to be.
Thanks to Amber Ivey for saving a quote from a workshop I ran in Arizona.
photo by Sandra Dodd
Monday, November 14, 2016
Props
Props and costumes can help children to perceive the world in a slightly different way, and those thoughts add to their knowledge. |
photo by Lydia Koltai
Sunday, November 13, 2016
What we know
We can't tell by looking at a child that learning is taking place. When unschooling is working well, though, we begin to know know that if they are interested, engaged and thinking, they are making their own connections, large or small. |
photo by Chrissy Florence
Saturday, November 12, 2016
Deposit the good stuff.
When people ask about being happier and more positive, the answer can't help but be the same. BE happier. BE positive.
But as with any accounting (think a bank account), withdrawals deplete your reserves. Every negative word, thought or deed takes peace and positivity out of your account. Cynicism, sarcasm—which some people enjoy and defend—are costly, if your goal is peace.
SandraDodd.com/negativity (which is really about positivity)
photo by Janine
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Friday, November 11, 2016
A useful gate
"Rather than experiencing you as a gate that either opens or closes, let him experience you as someone he can depend on to help." —Joyce Fetteroll |
photo by Sandra Dodd
Thursday, November 10, 2016
Food and art
Food can be art, and there is art about food.
Some thing are obvious, like cake decoration, or piemaking. But even when you make a sandwich, it can be cut artfully and arranged nicely on a plate. You could use matching dishes, even if you're only feeding one child.
Aesthetics! Look for beauty, and create a bit of it.
SandraDodd.com/foodfun
photo by Jacki, Hannah's mom, long ago
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Some thing are obvious, like cake decoration, or piemaking. But even when you make a sandwich, it can be cut artfully and arranged nicely on a plate. You could use matching dishes, even if you're only feeding one child.
Aesthetics! Look for beauty, and create a bit of it.
photo by Jacki, Hannah's mom, long ago
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Wednesday, November 9, 2016
What do you call it?
This photo shows healthy, blooming native plants, layers of natural hillside, and hand-hewn cedar fence posts.
Or I could tell you that there's a state highway up above a mis-matched bunch of broken-down fence around an overgrown cemetery.
Both are true.
Which made you feel better?
Help others to see beauty and to feel abundance.
SandraDodd.com/words
photo by Sandra Dodd
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Or I could tell you that there's a state highway up above a mis-matched bunch of broken-down fence around an overgrown cemetery.
Both are true.
Which made you feel better?
Help others to see beauty and to feel abundance.
photo by Sandra Dodd
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Tuesday, November 8, 2016
Confidence deepens
"Be present. Be engaged. Celebrate the joy of a child doing anything and everything they feel thrilled about. Notice what they're learning as they play and watch. It's all pretty amazing. Build on what you learn about your child. Confidence deepens when a child is supported in whatever they find captivating. Confidence grows for the parent when they're paying attention to what the child is learning from their chosen activities."
—Karen James
photo by Janine Davies
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Monday, November 7, 2016
Seasons
Another year, another hemisphere, flowers now gone.
Seasons and flowers are variable, and local. Deserts and jungles, mountains and shorelines, all have special things to discover at different times of the day, and of the season, and of the year.
Be still and appreciate the many peaceful moments. Store up gentle memories.
SandraDodd.com/day/ebbandflow
photo by Jihong Tang
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Seasons and flowers are variable, and local. Deserts and jungles, mountains and shorelines, all have special things to discover at different times of the day, and of the season, and of the year.
Be still and appreciate the many peaceful moments. Store up gentle memories.
SandraDodd.com/day/ebbandflow
photo by Jihong Tang
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Sunday, November 6, 2016
Patterns from reflection
Barbara Handley wrote:
"Quiet time is an integral aspect of self-discovery --- apparent periods of laziness can actually be the most fruitful intellectual and spiritual discovery times. Imagine a sand art frame...first you shake it and the result is a chaotic pattern of colored sand and water; then you let it rest. The sand falls to the bottom of the frame forming intricate and beautiful patterns which would never be revealed if you continued to shake the frame. The same applies to our process of positively integrating information so that we can make sense of the world; time for reflection and contemplation is a critical part of the process, allowing the patterns to be revealed."
Quote's source
photo by Lydia Koltai
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—Barbara Handley
photo by Lydia Koltai
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Saturday, November 5, 2016
Old and new
New things are added to old things. Antiques are repaired. New children meet old people. Forgotten toys are re-discovered.
Change is part of growth, of life, of past and of future.
SandraDodd.com/change
photo by Sandra Dodd
SandraDodd.com/change
photo by Sandra Dodd
Friday, November 4, 2016
Naturally...
I grew up not far from Camel Rock, which was on US 285 near Pojoaque, where my dad worked. All of that is in north-central New Mexico.
Does it really look like a camel? Probably it helps that everyone calls it "camel rock." There was another sandstone formation north of there that my very-young sister called "camel elephant"... because it looked like an elephant's trunk to her. Words can help us see things that aren't there, confusing us and others.
The important thing is that it's not a real camel. Consider what is "natural" and what is perception, language and culture (all of which are also natural). Find joy in words and imagery, but try not to let them confound you.
SandraDodd.com/gettingit
photo by Sandra Dodd
Does it really look like a camel? Probably it helps that everyone calls it "camel rock." There was another sandstone formation north of there that my very-young sister called "camel elephant"... because it looked like an elephant's trunk to her. Words can help us see things that aren't there, confusing us and others.
The important thing is that it's not a real camel. Consider what is "natural" and what is perception, language and culture (all of which are also natural). Find joy in words and imagery, but try not to let them confound you.
photo by Sandra Dodd
Thursday, November 3, 2016
Stretch your thinking
"There are loads of places I can go to get people to agree with the standard mode of thought. Why would I want more of that? I'm not looking for approval of what I do. I'm looking for people who will stretch my thinking and help me grow."
—Joyce Fetteroll
photo by Holly Dodd
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Wednesday, November 2, 2016
Holly is 25
Holly grew up with two older also-unschooled brothers.
Thank you, all who have befriended
and been kind to Holly.
SandraDodd.com/holly
photo by Holly Dodd herself
Tuesday, November 1, 2016
Thinking and feeling
How are you feeling?
How you are thinking and feeling is how you are living and learning.
photo by Marta Venturini Machado
Monday, October 31, 2016
Like magic
Since my kids were little they could have all the Halloween candy they wanted, and since they were little that has been no problem at all, because by the time they gave away what they didn't like and traded for favorites, and saved it and shared it with kids who came over for the next few weeks, there was still candy left.
We were confident that it was control, not access, that made kids eat, do and want "too much" before we ever considered unschooling. Others come to the idea the other way around—unschooling first and releasing other control-urges later.
photo by Pam Sorooshian
This is a repeat from 2013
because the photo is great
with text from 2010
because it's still true.
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Sunday, October 30, 2016
Harvest
Fewer folks farm than used to. It's understandable.
Even without a farm, though, what's planted might grow. What is tended thrives.
Not everything can be controlled, but many things can be accepted and appreciated. Mentally gather up the positive results in your life and be grateful for your harvest.
photo by Lydia Koltai
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Saturday, October 29, 2016
Light goofs
Find things to smile about in small casual moments. Happy Halloween-costume days. |
candid tomato-slice photo by Sandra Dodd
Friday, October 28, 2016
Sweet!
Be sweet. Appreciate sweetness. Smile. |
photo by Erika Ellis
Thursday, October 27, 2016
Your kids know
"He can feel you hovering over him waiting for him to do something that will calm your fears."
Sandra adds:
Your children know when you're anxious or nervous. Don't think you're sneaking up on them. It's important to relax, not just to pretend to be relaxed.
photo by Susan Gaissert
Wednesday, October 26, 2016
No time out
Time can be geological, historical, millenial, generational, eternal or poetic. Current time can involve years, months, seasons, weeks, days, hours, minutes, seconds and subparticles thereof. Time can fly or drag along. It can heal everything or be the enemy. There's no time out from time!
SandraDodd.com/time
photo by Sandra Dodd
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SandraDodd.com/time
photo by Sandra Dodd
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Something looks like this:
architecture,
instrument,
perspective
Tuesday, October 25, 2016
Succeed
Read a little, try a little,
wait a while, watch.
Do that so many times that you don't notice you're doing it all the time.
photo by Celeste Burke
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Monday, October 24, 2016
Trash or treasure?
You can use antique shops or junk stores, charity shops, thrift stores, as museums to visit with your children. Many things are neither trash nor treasure, but can be interesting examples of art, technology, geography, politics, function and design.
In deciding which link to use with this image, I settled on the history page, and noticed a paragraph I wrote over a decade ago. Now, two deaths and a Nobel prize have entered the story:
History can be nearly current, like comparative pop/funk of the '80s— is Prince really all that much greater than Michael Jackson? Is it because he plays guitar? What about the history of the guitar? Does Minneapolis create better musicians than Gary, Indiana, or does it even matter? Is Bob Dylan evidence for Minneapolis? One thing leads to another. Thinking about Minneapolis can lead to thoughts of U.S. history, of early 19th century border fortifications, the Mississippi River, the French in Canada, and in Louisiana. You can let your mind float downstream (or up). "Hiawatha" would've been set in that area, and Longfellow wrote that and many other things of childhood, and parents, and night time.
SandraDodd.com/history
photo by Sandra Dodd
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In deciding which link to use with this image, I settled on the history page, and noticed a paragraph I wrote over a decade ago. Now, two deaths and a Nobel prize have entered the story:
History can be nearly current, like comparative pop/funk of the '80s— is Prince really all that much greater than Michael Jackson? Is it because he plays guitar? What about the history of the guitar? Does Minneapolis create better musicians than Gary, Indiana, or does it even matter? Is Bob Dylan evidence for Minneapolis? One thing leads to another. Thinking about Minneapolis can lead to thoughts of U.S. history, of early 19th century border fortifications, the Mississippi River, the French in Canada, and in Louisiana. You can let your mind float downstream (or up). "Hiawatha" would've been set in that area, and Longfellow wrote that and many other things of childhood, and parents, and night time.
photo by Sandra Dodd
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Sunday, October 23, 2016
When you breathe
When something makes you sad, breathe in a lovely thought.
When you're worried, breathe in hope.
When you're afraid, breathe in calm.
Let breathing bring you closer to better, for your family and for yourself.
SandraDodd.com/breathing
photo by Jo Isaac
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When you're worried, breathe in hope.
When you're afraid, breathe in calm.
Let breathing bring you closer to better, for your family and for yourself.
photo by Jo Isaac
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Friday, October 21, 2016
Curiosities
Learning proceeds from being able to touch and see things, maybe to hear, smell or taste things. To discuss new or unexpected things. To think about interesting things. |
photo by Sandra Dodd
Something looks like this:
instrument,
keyboard,
museum
Look for light
Look for light, literally and figuratively.
Early, in the kitchen, a basket of light:
One side is white with dark holes. The other side is dark with pink morning sun. Had I used a flash, both sides of the basket would have looked the same and the soft spots would have been gone.
Downstairs, another light show:
photos and little video by Sandra Dodd in 2010
Thursday, October 20, 2016
Sweet and playful
"Don’t underestimate how wonderful your happy presence can be for your kids. Be sweet and playful and optimistic and involved. Give them lots of your time."
—Deb Lewis
photo by Eva Witsel
Wednesday, October 19, 2016
Remember...
"I will never forget how I realized that I could be an independent person from watching "That Girl," or how seeing Barbara Jordan give the DNC speech as the first Black Woman ever to do so impacted me in ways that stay with me to this day."
—Jocelyn Cooper
Read more: SandraDodd.com/t/memories
photo by Sandra Dodd
Sorry for the American references, but here:
"That Girl" was a game-changing television program, and Barbara Jordan (a U.S. Representative from Texas) gave a speech aired on TV at the 1976 Democratic National Convention at which Jimmy Carter was nominated to run for president.
Tuesday, October 18, 2016
Traction
Get your footing so you can make progress.
"That picture you paint for yourself will get in the way of seeing the whole, real person right in front of you.
"Be precise in the words you use to describe those you love, aim to support and care for. Be as generous as you can too. The clearer you see your child, the better you can respond to their needs. The better you learn to listen to them, see them, and be of useful service to them, the more they will have confidence in your ability to have their best interest in mind."
SandraDodd.com/condemnation
photo by Sandra Dodd
"That picture you paint for yourself will get in the way of seeing the whole, real person right in front of you.
"Be precise in the words you use to describe those you love, aim to support and care for. Be as generous as you can too. The clearer you see your child, the better you can respond to their needs. The better you learn to listen to them, see them, and be of useful service to them, the more they will have confidence in your ability to have their best interest in mind."
—Karen James
photo by Sandra Dodd
Monday, October 17, 2016
Cats, for real
For fun, today, maybe think about the nature of cats. There are pet cats, acting-and-modelling cats, folklore and humor about cats, fantasy cats, cartoon cats, imagery, song, and story of cats. Wild cats, musical cats, cool cats. Thinking about what IS a cat will help with thinking about the "is"ness of all other things.
photo by Brie Jontry of painting by Noor JontryMasterson
who also created the cat art here: SandraDodd.com/art/
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Saturday, October 15, 2016
Kirby is married
Kirby, our oldest, was married October 14, 2016. The wedding was in the foothills of the Sandia. The reception was at "Event Palace," a rental facility, but the party (with karaoke) moved to our house and is still going on while it's time for me to create this post. So I will report a new daughter-in-law, many compliments tonight on Kirby, Marty and Holly all, and gratitude that Kirby's new wife loves him.
SandraDodd.com/gratitude
photo of Kirby and Destiny singing "A Whole New World,"
with her sister listening
by Sandra Dodd
photo of Kirby and Destiny singing "A Whole New World,"
with her sister listening
by Sandra Dodd
Friday, October 14, 2016
Same door
photo by Sandra Dodd
Thursday, October 13, 2016
Stronger, and calm
When the stories are about YOUR children, and not just other people's children, you'll be in a more stable, calm place.
photo by Sandra Dodd
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Wednesday, October 12, 2016
the best Now
Colleen Prieto wrote:
"I know that no matter how wonderful a childhood he has—no matter how accepted, nurtured, loved, and cared for he is—I can’t control his Future. His Someday is his—and he will run up against a whole world that is full of potentially confusing and potentially damaging things and people. We give him the best Now we can, in hopes that’ll carry him through his Someday as well as it can."
—Colleen Prieto
but you might not need it today.
SandraDodd.com/addiction
photo by Sandra Dodd
Tuesday, October 11, 2016
Really reading
My recommendation to worried parents is to smile and wait and hold your child lovingly and to do no damage to his happiness while you're waiting for the day he can really read.
photo by Quita Gray
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Monday, October 10, 2016
Simple joys
If you practice noticing and experiencing joy, if you take a second out of each hour to find joy, your life improves with each remembrance of your new primary goal. You don't need someone else to give you permission, or to decide whether or not what you thought gave you joy was an acceptable source of enjoyment.
photo by Kirby Dodd
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Sunday, October 9, 2016
Magic (it isn't)
Read a little, try a little, wait a while, watch.
Unschooling cannot be learned by reading or writing.
SandraDodd.com/readalittle
photo by Sandra Dodd
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Something looks like this:
architecture,
light,
reflections,
window
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