Ban on Corporal Punishment

Go, Venezuela!

Did you know that 22 countries have banned physical punishment of children, and many more are in the process of doing so? Except, of course, the good ol' violent U.S. of A. All 195 members of the UN have ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child, except the US and Somalia. Rah, rah, America.

I received this good news from Parenting in Jesus' Footsteps. You too can be a part of the hope.

I'll say it again, go, Venezuela! We gentle types are very, very proud of you. I hope someone from one of the aforementioned 22 countries visits my blog and I can tell them I'm thinking of moving to their country, just so people can stop looking at me askance when I tell them, "I'm sorry, but I don't hit people to make them do what I want."

I am now climbing down off my soapbox. Peace be with you.

Funnyboy loves chalk

Just a quick little post of my boy, age 15 months now!

He loves to stand at the kitchen table and work on projects just like his big sister. He needs a haircut...big time mullet, but I just can't bear to cut it. Why are mommies like that?

Anyhoo...more open-ended arty stuff for ya. Rock on, Funnyboy.

Something to think about...

"It is a blessed thing to know that no power on earth, no temptation, no human frailty can dissolve what God holds together." - Dietrich Bonhoeffer, from Letters and Papers from Prison

Yeah, we dress up.

Feistygirl, resplendent in her princess gown, crown with flowing tulle, butterfly wings, pink foo-foo slippers and Lincoln Log wand.























Do not try to resist. Our magic is powerful. Succumb now.

My babies!

We love learning, playing, making messes and being all together at home. The philosophy of unschooling can start from day one by providing our precious children with the least restrictive environment and by giving them all sorts of resources strewn in their path to choose from. I called my husband down from his office upstairs to take these pictures of the kids. I feel like as my children grow, unschooling will just change and flourish in really nifty and complicated ways. I welcome all comments and questions about how this lifestyle works for us!

Here's Funnyboy playing with spices while I cooked. He loves to "help" us cook, meaning he clings to our hips and says, "hah, hah" (hot) while pointing to the boiling water or whatever and then repeatedly blows in the direction of the stovetop. Very helpful. I love to allow him to participate and have always allowed my children to help with pouring, stirring, etc., but sometimes a mama needs a break, so I flung these spices his way, after very tightly closing the covers. He totally surprised me by immediately building a tower! He then performed a tiny toddler dance and we congratulated him on a job well done. More posts later where you can actually see his face.

Here's Feistygirl working on a collage at the table. We covered the paper entirely with black crayon, and then she chose which elements she wanted to glue onto it - hemp yarn, buttons and fuschia thread. It came out quite beautiful. She's very intense while she works on these wonderful, open-ended art projects. I'm a concrete firm believer in the process, not the product, especially for three year olds. Okay, especially for everybody. Come on over to our house and make some messes with us - you never know what you may create once you squelch your preconceived notions. Just pretend to be three.

Something to think about...

"Very often people object that nonviolence seems to imply passive acceptance of injustice and evil and therefore that it is a kind of cooperation with evil. Not at all. The genuine concept of nonviolence implies not only active and effective resistance to evil but in fact a more effective resistance... But the resistance which is taught in the Gospel is aimed not at the evil-doer but at evil in its source."- Thomas Merton, from Passion For Peace

Welcome!

I can't believe I'm blogging. I'm so hip, I may pass out! Welcome friends, family and strangers to my silly little blog.

A few links to get you started...

http://www.gentlechristianmothers.com/

http://www.unschooling.com/

www.llli.org/

http://www.sojo.net/

http://www.sarahvaleri.net/


And if you're really feeling countercultural and like not wasting your time...

http://www.dontwasteyourlife.com/

http://www.adbusters.org/

And that's just the beginning, kids! I'll be posting randomly, in between dutifully wiping noses, countertops and bums.

Thanks for stopping by!