The tree house is opening

Fun Fridays has come to an end. But the last concert was great! Filled with tie-dye...

Ben Rudnick and Friends

You know it had to be good!!

Families dancing barefoot on the lawn..

Then spending time with old friends..

lawn games...

we always stop at the carousel. This time the kids wanted to see the carousel museum pieces. Not to be missed!

This is the long awaited tree house..opening tomorrow...see you there!

My reply...finally

In my last post, about Sesame Street, TV and video games, I got a comment that I have wanted to respond to. I got the comment right before leaving town and am just now getting around to responding.

Annie, I don't disagree with anything you said. I am so happy to get comments on my post, to generate conversation, to talk about the things we are passionate about.

I tend to post a lot of photos on my blog (one of my passions) along with less then detailed thoughts that are racing around in my head (the writing part is less appealing to me). Maybe I should write more, but if that becomes my personal requirement I might not get the blog out. I appreciate the comments and welcome them often.

I love books too. As a matter of fact you can find an overflowing book case in every room in my house (and 3 in the barn), well except the bathrooms, but they have book baskets. The basement has boxes and boxes of books that don't fit up here in house. I have multiple books going at anytime, one by the bed, mags in the kitchen, one I take with me in the car for waiting places, and always some how-to book sitting on the couch (where I plan another project, probably before I finished the last ones). Scout has books in every room, the car and in the basement too. We read together everyday, we have since she was born. Up until she was 1 1/2 I had to put her in her crib to read to her, she would bounce on the mattress while I sat on the floor and read. It was the only way to read to her, she never sat still long enough to read a book.

TV. We have it, we watch it. But Scout is 2 years old. I saw a news report that said you should limit your 3 year olds TV to 3 hours a day! Really, are you kidding. There is good stuff there, but at her age, what is best for us is for her to be outdoors. When she gets older, yes she can learn about the world with some good programs/documentaries and stuff just for fun. But that will be secondary to be IN the learning. There will be places we will never get to but there are lots of places right in everyones local area that they never explore. There is local history in everyone's backyard that frequently gets overlooked. We are lucky living here on the Cape and so close to Boston. There is so much history, art, science, nature and outdoor opportunities here. But no matter where you live there is local history. It may not be as exciting as the pyramids but learning about it by being in it is so powerful. The people you will meet will be so passionate about it and opportunities for our kids will open up for them and what they are interested in.

As far as video games go, our choice is to not expose them to her. She will discover them on her own someday. We want her play outside, not sit in the house in front of a screen for entertainment. But, the world needs those kids too. One of my sons friends in grew up interested in electronics, computers, etc. His dad gave him boxes of electrical stuff and broken electronics to play with. When he graduated from HS he didn't go to college. A local bank hired him to be the IT guy for all their branches, and sent him to a local college at their expense in the evenings. The world needs a variety of people. We are not saying anyway is wrong. We are just saying it is not right for us. Maybe hoping to connect with others like us and others that are not. Hoping to spark conversation and learn something new...we never stop learning. Thanks for commenting.

Our road

We are headed to Sesame Place! We are very happy to say that Scout has no idea what Sesame Street is or who Big Bird is for that matter. We are going because what is better then a water park for Sesame Street age kiddos?!

 There always seems to be a lot of talk in the unschooling world about video games and TV..talk about how much they teach and how great they are. We choose a different path.

 ONE reason for staying out of school is to learn through experience...by living in the learning, seeing it happen first hand, being part of it. Not sitting in a classroom being told about it or just reading it in an outdated text book. TV and video games are somewhat like that...we believe, anyway.

Scout has no idea who Big Bird, Bert, Ernie or Cookie Monster...what?! no more Cookie Monster...its Veggie Monster now. I didn't even know that until some one told me yesterday. But, she does know a lot of characters. We can hike in the woods and she will identify lots of things she sees there, mushroom, moss, pine cone, acorn, chipmunk, squirrel, hawk, lichen, robin, bluebird,chickadee, I could go on.

Maybe someday she will be interested in TV and video games..if so we will honor her choices. But for now we will continue to show her the wonder of the world and hope that passion stays with her...we know she has it now.

The photos on this post are a snippet of her life in the month of July, it is a normal month for us. Filled with wonder and adventure...and nature.

Scout, "do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail".