New Blogs Worth Noting
I’ve been blog searching lately, and I’ve come across some thought-provoking blogs that I’d like to share. Or maybe I’m just too damned lazy for a full, long and rambling post today.
Jen and her husband at Corporate-free Year have decided to, well, live free of dependence on mega corporations for one year. Anytime anyone wants to tell the mega corporations to fuck off, it’s fine with me, plus she has some excellent tips on avoiding plastic.
My husband turned me onto Winter Patriot, and I’ve been hooked since. This guy is a prolific blogger, and I often can’t quite keep up with the posts though they’re all worth a read. The first post I read discussed a recent Canadian protest in which undercover police attempted to provoke violence. If your politics are anything like mine, you’ll probably dig this blog.
And another Jenn is posting about living off the grid and unschooling her kids in Alaska. As a John-Holt-Loving-Off-the-Grid-Wannabe, I am thoroughly enjoying her blog and she’s got a pretty good recipe for huckleberry crisp. Too bad there’s no huckleberries here.
Enjoy.
August 29th, 2007 at 5:57 pm
Ok Jen I read the unschooling blog in Alaska and I just have to say that as parents it is our job to teach our children manners, how to eat right, education etc… You cannot expect a child to learn everything on their own - that is the main job of a parent to teach our children. I hate to think of what a person who was taught nothing by their parents (except watching watching what they did) would turn out to be. And a 5 year should not be yelling profitanite in public - they should no better and an 18 month old has no idea about nutrition - it is the parent that has to feed them the correct foods. Mikayla would eat cookies and cheese all day if I let her.
August 29th, 2007 at 7:29 pm
I imagine we’ll have to agree to disagree on this one, Tiff.
Children are natural learners, and they are naturally inquisitive about the world that surrounds them. They certainly needn’t be taught in order for them to learn.
I didn’t teach my son to crawl, but he certainly learned it. I didn’t teach him to say “Excuse me” when he coughs or sneezes, but he does. I didn’t teach him to use a fork or a spoon, but he could handle both quite well when he was 14-months old.
It’s certain that an 18-month old doesn’t have a concept of nutrition and knows little about antioxidants, macronutrients, vitamins or minerals. Still, a parent needn’t force-feed healthy foods to the little toddler, nor does a parent need to create false constructs in order to encourage that child to eat; rather a parent just needs to provide healthy, nutritious meals.
Manners come easily to a child who is treated with respect and dignity. Since I say “please,” “thank you,” “you’re welcome” and even “yes, sir” so does my son. I don’t need to constantly harangue him with, “Say please” for him to learn it.
As for profanity, if you don’t want your kid to cuss, don’t cuss. I don’t really care if my son does or not, and as long as he uses language appropriately I don’t have a problem with it–even if that means he announces, “Holy Crap! Big airplane!” at the airport.
Children learn well and of their own initiative until schooling robs them of their own inquisitive nature. Yes, we’ll definitely be remaining in the unschooling camp–and gladly so.
August 30th, 2007 at 1:00 am
Hi! Thanks very much for the link and for your extremely kind words. I’ll do my best to deserve them.
Best wishes to you and yours
WP
August 30th, 2007 at 2:04 am
Here’s one for you from my archives, in regard to one of the other topics going in this thread:
But Carrots Do Grow On Trees, Don’t They?
August 30th, 2007 at 6:45 am
I’m not off the grid, but I do love me some John Holt! I enjoyed the read, thanks for sharing the blogs!
September 1st, 2007 at 2:59 am
Hey Tiffany, I think you have the wrong idea about what we are doing as unschoolers. My kids don’t live in a vacuum. I provide them with lots of stimulation and answer all of their questions (many times I need to find the answer first).
As far as nutrition, I think you would be surprised if you let your daughter choose her foods herself. Sure, at first she might gorge on cookies and cheese, but with enough freedom she will find the variety she needs to stay healthy.
My children have always been fed whole organic foods. They have never chosen to eat candy or other junk (even though they are offered it). Take a look at them in the photos - do they look healthy?
As far as cussing. My son Blake (5 yo) is experimenting with swear words. I think this is perfectly fine and normal. My feeling is if I give them power by forbidding them, they have POWER. What child is not going to try them out? And don’t we want our children to feel comfortable trying things out in front of us rather than behind out backs? (btw, I do let him know when his cussing will not be appreciated :))
Hope this helps clarify our parenting!
best,
jenn