Massachusetts ALLIn May 2012



I have wanted to meet Sandra for so long and was thrilled to finally do so!



We had such a nice time at the ALL In May gathering!  I had that great feeling that I get after being with other unschoolers afterward!  Here's the link to the Massachusetts ALL in May 2012 conference:  http://allinmay2012.blogspot.com/

The presenters, all of whom are lovely and inspirational:

Sandra Dodd

Joyce Fetteroll

Meredith Novak

Brie Jontry

This was the main cabin where the discussions were held, where people hung out and where there was a great buffet table.  It had three bathrooms, several bedrooms, a large living room, a dining room, a kitchen and a porch.



View of the front of cabin looking toward the lake and Gaga Ball Pit.

Lots of people drew with chalk.  Kanoa drew a bit too!
 Wolfie was so kind hanging  out with Kanoa so I could attend the talks.  

These 2 videos are of the kids playing in the Gaga Ball Pit.

For those who want to make one in their own backyard now, here is a site with directions on how to do so: http://www.garyforster.com/documents/GagaPit_permanent.pdf

Some photos of the kids in action:

Photos take on Saturday May 19th, 2012 during some of the talks.  They came out a bit dark (sorry!).

Joyce's presentation

Brie's and Michael's and Noor's presentation.  Loved what Brie and Michael and Noor shared - thank you  Michael for being so honest and sharing your experiences!



Joyce is as lovely in person as she seems from her writing! So glad to meet her!



Wolfie following Kanoa.

Run!  Fast!  Everyone's counting to start another game of Gaga Ball!

Joyce and Me holding Kanoa

Makana holding the REAL Smilie ball!  Haha!  Smilie stayed ALIVE! :D

Makana made these snowmen and the I love Mom behind it.

And I made an I love Makana back to her!

Me, Jules and Amy - Always so good to see them!

Meredith!  Another person whose words are so clear, right on and inspire me so!

Ken and Erika always know how to have alot of fun and put smiles on people's faces.  
Erika says so many great things and during one of the sessions said "I run towards joy!" - I love that!! 
What a picture that gives me in my mind!  Shouldn't we all run towards joy!

Edwin, Fernanda holding Zolay Dezta and Karen Dematos

Getting ready for the ropes courses.

Love those missing teeth!!!  And two more are missing on the bottom (ones next to the middle ones)!

Waiting to pull the first person so they can SWING!

Amelia was the first to go.  Ken assisting with the ladder.

Katie, the instructor, explaining what to do.

Now she's in the air....

PULL!

And there she goes!

Ken standing by Lily as she gets ready for a turn on the swing.

Katie explains how to check the gear.

There goes Lily!

Marla watching as Lily enjoys the swing.

Wheeee...

This ropes course was vertical...and high!  If you look carefully, you can see someone climbing (they were up higher, but I missed the opportunity to get that shot).

Another swinger

Look!  No hands!

Makana eagerly waiting to swing



Katie explaining what to do to Makana



Up, up....and swing!

The poster many folks signed!

Yeah!  So glad to have finally met Sandra in person!




It was an honor to listen to and talk with Sandra as she is such an inspiring and caring person as are Joyce, Meredith and Brie and others. So lucky were we all to be able to come together with such great weather and company! It was so uplifting to be around this group of people and to talk about unschooling. I feel blessed! Thank you!!




All three kids (Kanoa, Li and Makana) fell asleep for part of the ride home.  When that happens, it is so quiet and Jim and I talk, talk, talk.  

 The last talk on the schedule for Sunday morning was about changing the world:

Changing the world
What are we doing, beyond the "unschooling without a curriculum"? How does unschooling affect our larger lives? How do we affect others and pass on what we are learning?

A friend emailed me a speech by Nipun Mehta this morning and it reminded me of unschooling and that morning talk.  How does unschooling change the world?  Read the last part of Nipun Mehta's graduation speech to UPenn's 2012 graduates (see below).  My favorite part is the underlined section, especially the last sentence of the large paragraph although it is summed up in "Change yourself - change the world."  I like the part about the things that help us often being small and invisible and happening within ourselves, that's why I think that sentence is so true!  When we shift our thinking and our attitude, we can feel more appreciative and treat ourselves and others better.  How we treat our children does make a difference in how they think and treat others, including their children.  The principles behind unschooling which include acts of kindness and generosity and peace have ripple effects.  Laurie


"I want to close with a story about my great grandfather.  He was a man of little wealth who still managed to give every single day of his life.  Each morning, he had a ritual of going on a walk -- and as he walked, he diligently fed the ant hills along his path with small pinches of wheat flour.  Now that is an act of micro generosity so small that it might seem utterly negligible, in the grand scheme of the universe.  How does it matter?  It matters in that it changed him inside.  And my great grandfather's goodness shaped the worldview of my grandparents who in turn influenced that of their children -- my parents.   Today those ants and the ant hills are gone, but my great grandpa’s spirit is very much embedded in all my actions and their future ripples. It is precisely these small, often invisible, acts of inner transformation that mold the stuff of our being, and bend the arc of our shared destiny. 

On your walk, today and always, I wish you the eyes to see the anthills and the heart to feed them with joy. 

May you be blessed. Change yourself -- change the world."

If you want to read the whole speech, you can read it at http://www.dailygood.org/view.php?sid=236

My cup is more than full today

This morning, Kanoa had Makana's old white cotton belt with pink hearts on it that he began twirling in a circle with one hand as if it was a ribbon.  As he waved it around, he jumped and yelled to me and Makana, "Watch me!  Watch me!"  He was so proud of himself.  Makana was playing with my hair and I thought of those old doll heads you could apply make up to and brush their hair and I recalled how much Katie loved to put a gazillion barretts in my hair when she was very little.  I asked Makana if she wanted to brush my hair.  She did and found two brushes and an elastic band and while she tried to put it in a ponytail, I watched Kanoa jumping and twirling his rope/belt.  He got out so much energy jumping and twirling!  He picked up the extra brush and said he wanted to brush hair too and jump at the same time.  He tried.  Then one of them got upset with the other and Makana was going to cough and Kanoa wanted to go downstairs but only if I went with him and I told him I needed to stay with Makana to help her feel more comfortable, but that when she was done coughing we could go downstairs.  He didn't like that, but saw that I was sitting next to Makana on the bed (waiting for the cough) and he might have felt a little jealous and snuggled up with me too.  I snuggled both of my little bunnies and told them how much I loved them and we chatted.  Kanoa ended up giving both Makana and I lots of kisses with mmmmm noise when he kissed.  He was so sweet.  A moment that could have gone sour turned out to be so sweet!  She coughed and gagged for her first cough since yesterday (she didn't cough all night for the first time) and joked that it "tasted like chicken!" (ewwww!)

I came downstairs and found Katie had written me back a sweet note on a paper I wrote to her last night before bed.  So nice!  I was so glad she missed us too while we were away.  Glad to be back together again!

Makana enjoyed an avocado and lettuce sandwich that I made for her a while ago.  This morning, we had one ripe avocado left and she wanted to cut it by herself and asked me if this is how to cut it (and she motioned how she was going to do it).  I went over how I did it and she gave it a go with the steak knife.  After making a couple of cuts with it, she asked me to finish cutting it.  Well, really she was done.  So I offered to spread the avocado on her bread and did so.  She wondered what kind of mayonaise I had used when she had that sandwich before.  I told her Veganaise and she got it out while I washed and chopped up some lettuce for her.  She put on the Veganaise while I sprinkled on the chopped lettuce.  She then put the top piece of bread on the sandwich and cut it herself.  I told her that her sandwich looked so good that I would make one myself and popped two pieces of bread in the toaster.  But....I got caught up in laundry, checking email, doing something with Kanoa and back to email.  She asked me if I was going to make my sandwich as my toast was getting cold and I said I would in a little while.  Suddenly there she was standing next to me with an avocado and lettuce and veganaise sandwich in her hands!  Wow!  That was so so nice!!!  I thanked her and told her how delicious it was!  It felt so good to be taken care of!

Li asked me if he could make a smoothie.  I said yes.  He asked me if I wanted any and I said sure.  He made extra and I gave most of it to Kanoa (who had seconds as he loved it so much) and had a bit for myself too!

Li and Makana were skyping and playing games on the computer today and it is so cool to notice how much they are doing and learning as they play.  Makana asked me if you spell "is" IS and I said yes.  Li asked me, "Is "peeler" spelled P-E-E-L-E-R?" and I said yes.  They both asked me to spell various words and I did.  And they negotiate things with people online and figure things out and today they were both looking at and exploring a new game that Makana joined.  It is so wonderful that they get along so well and enjoy each other's company so much!

Jim and I had the nicest chat on facebook today.  I love him so much and there is so much joy in both of our hearts today....our cups are more than full!  And it feels so good!  Wish I could bottle this up!

What else wonderful will happen today?

Love Notes On The Wall

I was sitting at the computer today and noticed some writing on the wallpaper in front of me.  I took a closer look and read, "Love Mom."  I knew it must be Makana as she sometimes writes things or draws little faces or hearts. There is even a picture she drew from a few years ago!  Later this evening, before I told her I saw it, she said, Mom!  "Did you see all the little hidden notes I made for you?  I hid them all around the house!"  And I saw a new one and smiled and then she hinted at where some others were.  Awww.  

Jim was not pleased with the writing on the wall and wishes Makana would use paper instead.   He  wiped off the ones on the painted walls, but left this one.  I feel I must honor how he wishes the house to be kept as it is his house too, although I wish he wasn't upset by the sweet writings Makana made.  In my opinion, if the marks come off easily and we can just talk to Makana about how much it means to Daddy to keep the walls free of writing, there is no need to be upset.  However, that is my feelings and Jim felt upset and I don't want to dismiss his feelings (although I think I did at first...I apologized).  I will now remind Makana to use paper instead.  I think one reason Jim felt upset was that he didn't feel appreciated at how hard he works.  We'll have to help him feel appreciated as he does work hard and is a great provider and we love him and are grateful and want him to feel loved and good and appreciated!  I think being away - working out of the house - for so long is hard on him and everyone.  Wish he at least worked at home!  

This was something Makana drew a long time ago and Jim left this one up as it was in a low corner.  Think it was  supposed to be her and her friend Azure. I still smile when I see it as it reminds me of how happy she was!