I [Heart] My Life

Let's Pretend...

Let's pretend I just found this dog. Look, mama! A cute little dog! Can we keep her?

Sure, honey.

But, she's not ours!

(This last part is said while giving me a look like, "You'd steal another person's dog?!")

These days, there is so much role playing and imaginative play in our house. It almost seems like it arrived overnight -- "Let's pretend!" While it is all pretend, it seems there is a fine line between pretend and real.  I've seen Nia nearly crying because she was searching for an imaginary lost kitten!

Let's pretend you're the grandmother, and I'm the granddaughter.

Let's pretend you don't want me to smile.

Let's pretend you don't know who I am.

Let's pretend you're my ballet teacher. 

Let's pretend you're the farmer and I'm the farmer's daughter. 

This weekend I was reading about child development and came across this: "Imagination is key to the development of the literacy process. It is an extension of and support for the emerging sense of the reading experience, helping children to understand aspects of stories." (Pam Allyn, LitLife) 

I am very committed to the idea of "raising a reader," I just hadn't considered that all the pretend play that has recently blossomed in our house was a building block towards literacy!

I'm delighted to see all this imaginative play -- and can't help but see a parrallel to it in a move Joe and I took a month ago: We decided to cut way down on Nia's video-watching. While she was typically watching PBS shows, I became uncomfortable with how addicted she was becoming (and me, too -- OK, you watch something & I'll ______ 1) Take a shower, 2) Clean the kitchen, 3) Get some work done, 4) Make dinner, etc.) Also, the PBS was slowing turning into Nick Jr. thanks to Netflix. It was a slippery slope, for sure, and suddenly it was rare not to watch something each day. "Can I watch something?" and "What can I do?" became phrases I heard freqently.

The week of Christmas Nia went 5 days without watching anything because of the distraction of having visitors in the house. During that week it slowly dawned on me how nice it was not to have the TV as part of our lives at all. So we decided to extend it. Once the visitors left, she asked if she could watch something and we said no, watching will be for special occasions. It was hard on her for a week or so -- and me, too (see the list of previously accomplished tasks!). But then, after a week or so, she stopped asking to watch and started to play even more than before (no longer did she ask what she could do, either). It was wonderful to watch her revert back to relying on her own imagination and interests!

Now, don't get me wrong -- I'm not taking a "TV is evil" stance here.  I love movies a lot and there are some TV shows I look forward to with pleasure, plus Joe loves the sports, so we won't be trashing our TV anytime soon. Moderation is the keyword here. Nia will still watch movies now and then, as a planned activity. I want to bring consciousness to this "watching" situation. Slowly, almost without us even realizing it, TV had become the babysitter.

All of this is simply to say that since going cold turkey with the children's programming, wonderful play has been happening in our house -- and whereever we go! And to think it is all a building block for literacy. That's pretty cool!

this moment... first pedicure

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. Inspired by SouleMama. You can play, too!

Postcard From Santa Cruz

We got back into town from Austin around 9 last night, with a passed out little one in the back seat. The trip went well, but was exhausting. As these works trips always are! This morning, the sun was calling our names so we headed down to the beach. We found a boat that washed up on the beach in the storm over the weekend and Nia went to work on a "sand castle." After being cooped up in a hotel room all day Tuesday (thunder storms) and on a plane all day yesterday, it was wonderful to see her getting dirty and become totally absorbed in her work. ... and it was nice for me, too, come to think of it! Being in a hotel for days at a time probably isn't super healthy. ;)

It is lovely to be home!

Opportunities

In the past year, I've thought a lot about school options for Nia. Like all parents, I see a lot of potential in my child, and I feel it is my responsibility to ensure her schooling is one that inspires her and really educates her over the long haul from preschool to elementry school to high school and beyond. Like most parents, too, I know a lot of teachers and so know about some really great schools, and now about some I'd really rather avoid. Fortunately, there are nearly as many options out there for schooling as there are types of children.

Many of you know that Joe and I were homeschooled. Joe homeschooled from first grade on (as did my youngest brother, Kyle). I went to public school through 8th grade and then homeschooled my high school years. Part of my public school experience included a Waldforf style kindergarden in Saratoga, and beginning when I was 14, the junior college in Saratoga. Joe was primarily schooled at home, but also took a few high school classes at the high school in San Jose where his dad taught. So we had a mix. Which is to say we see pros and cons of both homeschooling and public schooling. 

In looking at Nia, I'd love to homeschool her. I think that we would learn so much at home together. But -- and this is a big "but" -- I don't think homeschooling would be right for her right now. I feel strongly that homeschooling is right for some kids, but not all. And homeschooling can be right for some kids at certain times in their lives. Right now, my daughter really wants to go to school. She wants to learn from other adults. She's not so interested in the other kids, but she really likes the idea of going somewhere to learn something from an expert. 

I realize all of this could change. For now, she seems like a more traditional school environment would be ideal. And so, that is what I'm researching here in Santa Cruz. 

In the last year, I've done a lot of research. I've talked Joe's ear off. I've talked to everyone I know about what they are doing for their own children. I've read tons of books and websites. I've talked to teachers; I've gone to open houses. I've layed awake at night, and woken up at 4a thinking about it.

And then one day last summer an opportunity came along. 

I learned about a group of dedicated parents and teachers who had a dream to build a Montessori charter school in Santa Cruz. I went to the first meeting and realized this would be perfect for Nia: mixed age classrooms, student-led learning, rich, engaging materials -- sign us up! I read everything I could about Montessori and discovered the incredible price tag ($18K/year!). And then I read everything I could about charter schools and what it means to blend a specific methodology with a public school option.

And then I joined the group. 

For the last six months, we've been working hard to build the Maria Montessori Charter School in Santa Cruz. It is ideal for where Nia is right now. 

It might be ideal for your child, too. 

We are hosting a Montessori Information Night on Wednesday, Jan. 25 at 6:30 at the Pacific Cultural Center on Seabright & Broadway. Come find out if Montessori is right for your child -- be it private or the new charter. 

 

At Maria Montessori Charter School, our mission is to inspire in children a passion for a lifelong love of learning in an environment which nurtures independence, creativity, confidence and tolerance while developing a sense of responsibility for self and community through a public charter based on the principles and philosophy of Dr. Maria Montessori.

Our program rests on four pillars:

1) The cultivation within our students of a passion for excellence in everything they do, both in and outside of school

2) The development of a strongly held set of universal values, which include self-respect, respect for others, honesty, integrity, responsibility, empathy, compassion, kindness, peacefulness, a sense of concern for others, warmth and a love of community

3) The development of a global perspective and sense of international understanding

4) A lifelong commitment to give something back through service to others who are in need

 

Book Weather

With all the grey clouds today & the building of a storm, I thought it seemed like a good day to talk about books. 

I love where we are with Nia in terms of books -- she loves a good picture book and even sometimes still likes a board book or two from her babyhood, but she also is able to sit and listen to a book with no pictures for long periods of time, too. We've gotten into a great habit of reading Nia to sleep each night, and often Nia and I read first thing in the morning. Such a lovely way to begin and end each day, especially now that we are reading books that I enjoy. When we were reading stacks and stacks of picture books, I'd get really fatigued, but reading aloud from Hiedi or Charlie and the Chocolate Factory feels fun and easy. 

Here are some of the books we are enjoying now:

One Hundred-and-One Read Aloud Classics is a wonderful book. Nia just recieved it for Christmas & it is unabridged chapters from books like Black Beauty, Petter Rabit, Dr. Dolittle, Ramona the Pest, Charlotte's Web, etc. It gives us a chance to try out a book and see if Nia is ready for it and then we can check it out of the library, which was the case with Johanna Spyri's Heidi. And there really are 101 books represented!

Recently I was in Bookshop Santa Cruz looking for longer chapter books to read aloud when the reference "librarian" shared with me that it is really important not to skip over the longer picture books because they do a lot for children being able to link words to pictures on a page. And she implied that if you don't get that as a kid, you can't get it later! So, the above are two longer picture books that my dad gave Nia for Christmas, and I really like them. We haven't exposed Nia to the Disney princesses yet (though she's definitely aware of them as the marketing is everywhere) so I was weary of Cinderella stories. But, it seems there is something valuable kids get from fairytales, even the princess ones. And these versions of this story were recommended, so we gave them a try. And, like I said, it turns out I really like them. One is a Chinese Cinderella story and the other is a Persian Cinderella story. Of course they are very similiar to one another and to the American version as well, but it is also fun to observe the cultural differences.

And here and there Joe & I get to do a little sustained silent reading ourselves. :)

I'll leave you with a picture of Nia playing a song she made up called "Heidi & The Little Goat." I wish I had a video. Next time...

Baby, It's Cold Outside!

In our little corner of the central coast of California, one sometimes has to look close to find signs of winter. Especially this winter. It's been so sunny & particularily warm this December & January. I send Nia out in seaon-appropriate clothes and she sheds the layers quickly. At night she kicks off all the covers.

But this weekend, things turned cold. Nia and I were at the farmers' market on Sunday (eating ice cream) when the wind picked up and blew in a cold blast. It chased us out and it was exciting to feel the change in the air. 

Since then, signs of Jack Frost's paint brush have been on the rooftops and cars every morning, with ice on the shallow dishes of water around. And our covers are up to our chins all night! It is a beautiful and welcome shift. 

Plus, it has had me humming this song all morning, which I love. :)

 

I checked the weather forecast and can I tell you that seeing rain in there gave me a little jolt of excitement? Rain walks, sailing boats in puddles, hot showers after playing in cold rain... Hooray! 

Welcome, Father Winter.

(Better soak up the sun today!)

... this moment

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. Inspired by SouleMama. You can play, too!

Make Way for Chickens!

No, this isn't the post where you get to see adorable little chicks. Sorry if I got your hopes up with that title. We aren't quite there yet.

No. This is the post where you get to see chicken preparations: (adorable) manly men doing (adorable) manly things in our backyard, like cutting down 3 trees. 

The trees were very close to both our house, the fence, and the neighbor's house. So George & Dale tied a rope to the portion to be cut each time and then Dale would cut and George would pull -- hard! --, and in that way they directed the cut pieces where they wanted them to land. It was pretty impressive (adorable, even?).

While they did this, Pam, Nia and I reduced what we could for the yard waste can and moved what we could out of the way to make room for more.

I should clarify: We didn't need to move the two large trees between the house for the chicken coop. Just one small tree in the backyard had to come down for that. But these other trees were in a bad place next to the house, so they came out at the same time.

Now the chicken coup can go in! Well, we may have a little clean up to do first. 

Thanks, guys!! I adore you!!

 

11 January

Sleepytime tea in the kitchen with my kiddo.... 9:37 on the oven clock. Please, sweetheart, for the love of God, go the &*%! to sleep!

;)

Good-Bye, Christmas.

So long. 

Adios. 

See ya. 

Wait! ... same place, same time next year, right?