On Memorial Day

Yesterday, Memorial Day, we hosted a group of friends and a lonely neighbor. I invited him because the thought of leaving him alone in his brownstone, windows agape, while the delicious smell from our grill rode the breeze seemed criminal to me.

Included in our party was an atheist, liberals, conservative Christians, and a Muslim.

We all gathered around the same table to eat. We served our Muslim neighbor turkey burgers instead of the pork ribs. We laughed and talked for hours while the kids played in the yard and ran through the grass with bare feet.

The Sunday before I shared a pew with a Christian Afghan.

In hindsight, I cannot think of a better way to have honored the holiday that so many sacrifices afforded us.

Oh, the Places He'll Go

Liam graduated kindergarten this month ...

... though not officially, yet. (He's trying to set his diploma on fire with the little flicker light his homeschool group's class carried as part of their graduation theme. That's my boy!)

Liam won't be finished with his kindergarten curriculum until July, as I'd planned way back when. Some of our homeschooling friends have done the same, others are already finished with this year's studies. We've our lessons arranged so that Liam is in school year-round. I don't really like the idea of a period of hard study followed by a static period; so to fit with my philosophy of constant learning (and an enriching learning environment, a bit Mason-y), Liam always has lessons. Yet, it's set up so as not to be a chore, rather a fun activity.

There are some days we don't have lessons. When we moved, we didn't have class for a whole week. Sometimes we do lessons when I'm sick, though it's mostly the flashcard and treasure-hunting variety. The long calendar year allows for breaks. It gives Liam time to recover if he's struggling with a particular lesson. The lesson isn't over until the right answer is deduced and understood. Sometimes we have rough days and I need a break. We don't have teachers' conferences or regular holiday breaks; we use holidays to teach.

Now that's Liam's almost finished with his K5 curriculum, it's time to start planning for first grade. That's a whole other forthcoming post.

I can't believe that we're almost finished with our first year. I think the prospect of homeschooling seemed more daunting that it actually is; I may change my mind if Liam decides to continue to homeschool when given the choice after 6th grade. I was so terrified last fall, so hesitant. I didn't want to veer from the books, because, afterall, I was certain that all of these publishers knew more about my boy's learning style than I did.

Of course, they didn't.

I also discovered my teaching style throughout it all. We began the year all rigid and classroom-like. We stuck to little boxes of time. Then I saw what worked and what didn't. Liam taught me how he learned best: in a relaxed environment where he was allowed to WANT to learn instead of having the will to learn heaped on him.

We've helped each other through this journey, him and me.
We have more adventures on which to go.

Rainy Tuesday

I Want a Mother's Day Do-Over

Last Thursday night I came down with either a flu strain/virus/Black Plague and was sicker than I've ever been in my entire life. I crawled out of bed in the wee hours of Friday morning and ralphed what seemed like my entire body weight for four hours. I begged for death. At one point, nothing came up but old rubber tires and chewed up leather work boots.

I lay weak and feverish on the sofa all day Friday. I was to weak to plead with Chris to not go to work but hey! What's the fun of owning your own small business if you can't work through when you or your wife are deathly ill? That's more fun that putting a cat in a burlap sack! Which probably isn't fun and sucks for the cat.

As long as the kids weren't pulling each other's eyeballs out I didn't care. I let the television babysit. I AM NOT ASHAMED. I tried to post here and the light from the monitor made me sick every time.

And when I wasn't puking my guts out I was on the radio! I spent morning drive time on St. Louis' Fox News Radio with Jamie Allman. He's a heavily awarded former investigative reporter-turn-radio talk show host/pundit. I didn't think I would feel well enough to even go on until yesterday evening. And I was sick on MOTHER'S DAY. 

No fair! No fair! Do-over! I want a do-over!

I had no sentimental Mother's Day posts, nothing. Also, Liam graduated from kindergarten on Saturday and I was sick as a dog throughout it. I look horrid in the photos which I am not posting. Of me. I have some of him I will post shortly, now that I have the energy to walk up to the third floor and get the fool camera.

On the Radio Tomorrow

Why I'm slow with the posting, in bullet form.

- The decorating committee for Liam's K5 graduation got a bit carried away with the decorations and everything is a giant clusterfart.

- He graduates this Saturday, though his lessons will continue until the end of June, because I have him set up to learn year 'round.

- Chris' tire plumb BROKE OFF his car. Apparently a DEADLY RECALL we didn't hear about. Thankfully, the dealership repaired it because we couldn't afford a repair which costs more than the value of the car.

- Every single person in this house is on antibiotics, except for Ewan. Throat infections and strep SUCK.

- I have several things going on, one of which includes me appearing on St. Louis' Fox News Radio tomorrow morning, something looking to be regular. More details when they come.

- I am steeling myself for hatemail as I will more than likely discuss politics tomorrow.