two seasons later...
07.15.2009 The last time I wrote on my cozy shimmerglimpse blog, I was fretting over the same thing folks worldwide fret over....life's necessities. I find myself in the same space. My husband, who was laid off in October, is still looking for work. I have been engaged in all matter of activities related to trying to lower our mortgage payment, to no avail. I applied for food stamps and was kicked off because I made a little more money last month. This month, there will be less money since I had a one week unpaid vacation....
Although times are trying, Chris and I find ourselves in a unique position. This is our time to redefine our goals. It is also a time to test our relationship. Winter and spring were simply crazy. We were, in essence, reversing our roles and acclimating to them. I now work at the coffeeshop full time. I manage daily operations, cook, make up menus, coordinate events, place orders, and make delicious lattés for the good people of Richmond! I really, really love my job.
Chris is taking care of the daily operations of home, cooking most of the meals, shopping, doing laundry and schlepping k the kids to playdates. He's also looking for work and working small jobs here and there. With the help of family, we are somehow scraping by and for the most part we are happier...if only there wasn't the stress of money.
Alas, I take heart in knowing that we are not alone. Our modest home, paid for vehicles and big ole veggie garden do a whole lot to make a woman feel secure. Indeed, modest living will definitely be our saving grace!
On the homeschooling front, I've discovered some very interesting things this year. I've always leaned toward but been reluctant to fully embrace unschooling. In October, when Chris was laid off, we in advertently became WAY more unschooly and we decided to go with it. With the exception of teaching boychild (9 1/2) long division and two learning co-ops, we did no other structured learning.
Our free time together is spent reading, building with Legos,investigating nature, with friends, outside in nature, or working on projects, like owl pellets, papermaking, nature journaling or deep Star Wars exploration . Life is learning, and not just for the children my friends!
Reader Comments (1)
your kids are so smart and imaginative, mama. you and chris do an incredible job parenting and teaching (one and the same, yes?).
i think schools should be able to teach the way you do. where i teach, they use the outward bound curriculum...which is child-led learning...the closest you can get in a classroom, i think.
i am inspired by you, kimmy. xo you and your family are lovely.