allie recently posed the question of why i (well, "the group" as i'm calling us) am searching for an alternative education for you. it's a really good question, actually, since the answer reveals so much about my philosophy as your mama. i was at first a bit intimidated, and took it as some sort of test to see how much i knew about education, our local resources, and generally what my plans were. i tend to take most things in life as tests so i need to step back often. i have so much to learn. i know this. but then i started to think about the answer, not the justification of why i was going through this process of looking for alternatives. it turns out there are two main reasons for my search; to ensure you a better experience than i did, and because i truly believe i am your teacher and the more i know about you and what's out there the better off we'll all be as you grow up and into whatever system/school/non-school you attend.

i have more to say...but want to just post this now. i LOVE the idea of having a bit of structure to when we meet and what the topics could be. maybe we should get together or have a phone call together to hash it all out.

craft sites

i found some interesting site that include crafts you can either do with the kids, or without (felting, puppets, etc). in the end they are all kid-friendly and inspiring.

http://bkids.typepad.com/bookhoucraftprojects/

http://belladia.typepad.com/crafty_crow/

http://smashedpeasandcarrots.blogspot.com/2009/11/turkey-feast-and-other-birthday-goodies.html

love this idea for road trips especially: http://spiralmontessorimama.blogspot.com/2008/02/i-love-felt.html

enjoy and happy t-day

creating a support system

here's the link to the renee trudeau recording on creating a support network:

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN NOW to "The Transformative Power of Self-Care", Chapter Two from The Mother's Guide to Self-Renewal, by Renee Trudeau. Feel free to share the download with other women in your life and invite them to check out Renee’s blog The Journey and join the dialogue on our Live Inside Out Facebook page.

Praise vs Encouragement

I have this chart posted in my classroom to remind me to encourage and not praise when appropriate. I like how it is simple and clear.
- Tara

beating myself up

i try to be careful of what parenting advice i listen to or read about. it can take me on a downward spiral of self-doubt that doesn't help anyone, especially lea. however, i clearly have a lot to learn about how to be the kind of parent that i wish i had. i need help. i have no image to guide me. no model to turn to. i love that you all have done so much work to be good mamas. i love that sarah's mom is her model and that her mom must be enormously proud and honored to have her so close. i love that allie and her mom have worked to have a trusting relationship (would love to learn more about this). i love that tara has created the life she has based on the strength she found while dealing with her own mother and mother figures. i love that we have our group. you are all inspiring to me in more ways than you can know. i already am a better mom since knowing you all.

alfie kohn articles

here is the link the the articles alfie has posted to his site.

along the lines of praise...from tara

That one about praise is great! I saw Alfie speak a while ago and that (along with another strange experience that happened around the same time) really got me thinking and reading about progressive education. All of his thoughts make sense to me. Seeing him made me get in touch with Katy, the director at Peninsula, who knows Alfie personally and we had a great talk about him and his ideas. The DVD of Unconditional Parenting is worth watching and pretty much verbatim what his lecture was about.

Along the line of praise, I went to see Carol Dweck speak a few weeks ago and her research is very noteable. Her new book, called Mindset is somethign I want to check out, but I think it would just repeat her lecture... It's worth looking for sure: at http://mindsetonline.com/

Nurture Shock by Po Bronson also has a chapter on praise that refers to Dweck's research. Here is an NPR Forum that you can listen to online. The 2nd half was less interesting to me, but I ended up reading the book anyway. http://www.kqed.org/epArchive/R909041000