Duplicity pulling at me.....

As I have embarked on our little Home school journey this summer, I have been torn about how I wanted to go about it. On one hand, I am pretty neurotic about curriculum and really do enjoy "teaching". I have spent SO many nights scouring the Internet for good buys on curriculum. I have read books on learning styles and have learned each of my kids "style". I have planned lessons and checked off lists and made "schedules". Then, I started reading several books on unschooling and they set a little fire in my belly. I tried to not like it. I even sat up late at night talking myself out of doing it. These "conversations" started off worrying that my kids would just eat snacks and watch tv all day if we adopted this philosophy. Then, once I began to read more in depth, my "conversations" with myself went to the opposite side of the spectrum. "I don't have the time or resources to explore each of my kids interests", I thought. Especially considering they change their minds like Lady Gaga changes clothes! No matter how much I try to put it out of my mind, unschooling keeps popping back in. I find myself reading blogs and seeking out those that do it. They seem to be having fun and learning SO much! My days of living vicariously through them are over! After cajoling my son Andy to do his perfunctory writing assignment and seeing how stagnant it makes him for hours afterward, it's time for change.

The next two weeks are going to be "unschool weeks". We have been homeschooling since the 3rd week in June and have only taken off for 4th of July so I have some breathing room if this doesn't work out. I spoke with the kids about it, in depth, and they can't wait to get started! We are making up an idea jar that has things in it like "play restaurant" where the kids will plan a menu, buy groceries, use a budget, be a chef, be a waiter, collect tips. That's filled with life skills and things like math and chemistry. plus, it's well, fun! Fun because they feel grown up and independent and irrefutably intelligent for doing it.I will be on hand to expedite this venture and those like it. They may also just read or draw or play barbies(Lexi, ok and maybe Andy, too...sshhh). I hope that I have elucidated what unschooling is and maybe the fallacy that it's just being a lazy mom will begin to change. I never thought of myself as a iconoclast. I'm not trying to make history. I'm simply trying to help my kids learn in a way that is salubrious and exciting. I want the information to stick. I will keep you posted. Wish me luck!