*Scrappitydoodah*

This evening was our Autumn Equinox/Mabon tea.  After a trip to a local orchard, we made candle holders from four of the apples, which we lit as we each shared some things for which we are grateful.  The children were very pleased with our table, as well as our foods, and I couldn’t have asked for a better reception from them.  They want to do this more often.

We gathered things for our altar.

Apples from the orchard.  It was ninety degrees today, not exactly apple-picking weather.

Never again plan an outing to the zoo with four children the day after a slumber party in which two of the children (and myself) are up until two in the morning.

Not one of my smarter decisions.

The First Edition of the Charlotte Mason Blog Carnival is up at The Educational Life.

There are some great posts, and the story she put together is really cute. If you like Charlotte Mason, you will enjoy this carnival.

The guest on today’s The Diane Rehm show was Mark Penn, the man who coined the term soccer mom, Hillary Clinton’s chief presidential campaign adviser, and author of the book Microtrends: The Small Forces Behind Tomorrow’s Big Changes.

According to the book review by Publisher’s Weekly, microtrends are “relatively small patterns of behavior in our culture that are wielding great influence on business, politics, and our personal lives. Only one percent of the public, or three million people, is enough to launch a business or social movement.”

I think it’s fair to say that pockets of society are changing in fundamental ways, and I personally found this interview thought-provoking. While Mr. Penn touched on many areas in which he has identified a microtrend (late-breaking gays, higher-educated terrorists, and the working retired, among others), I was most interested in the segments on discipline and homeschooling. One caller, attempting to blame The Simpsons for the explosion of sassy children who backtalk teachers and misbehave in class, set off a discussion of permissive parenting. Most parents the author interviewed claimed they were strict, but other parents weren’t. However, when asked what they would do if their child were caught selling drugs at school, most of them responded they would ’sit them down and have a good talk.’ The act of disciplining children has radically changed. More and more parents are discerning that reasoning with kids is what works; there has been a fundamental shift from punitive discipline with corporal punishment, to mental discipline with rational conversation. This shift is why parents don’t see themselves as permissive, per se; rather, they see themselves as using a newer form of discipline, one they feel works, one that makes sense. He points to the growth of left-handed people as an example: parents no longer tie their children’s left hands behind their backs to force them to write with the right one; they are ‘letting the kids be who they are.’ Ms. Rehm wondered if this permissive parenting would lead to a lack of self-discipline in future generations. Only time will tell. I myself do not define ‘permissive parenting’ in this fashion; I suppose that means, then, that I am one.

The interview shifted then to homeschooling, as a caller asked if the rise in homeschooling has anything to do with No Child Left Behind and overtesting in schools. According to Mr. Penn, there has been a dramatic increase in homeschooling in recent years–from 1.7% to 2.2%–and he identified three primary reasons:

• religious beliefs
• a perceived dangerous, negative environment in public schools
• an increasing number of educated parents are realizing they like being with their kids

He touched on the need for and benefit of a supportive community for homeschoolers, adding that homeschoolers ‘live in a different environment’ and ‘frequently need additional help to get it all done.’ He ended this segment with a comment that while homeschooling was seen as odd a few years ago, it is now perceived as an admirable pursuit.

You can listen to the entire interview here.

I’ve been working on the plans for our celebration of the Fall Equinox. I’m hoping by the time we finish this five-day unit*, the children will:

• have an understanding of the equinox
• be familiar with the harvest and abundance stories in various mythologies (Demeter and Persephone, Ancient Greece; Modron and Mabon, British Isles; and Amiyao and the Magic Gongs, Philippines)
• identify similarities among the myths
• understand the symbolism of certain elements in the myths
• understand the symbolism of the changing seasons and the circle/cycle of life
• express appreciation for the abundance in our lives
• be familiar with reasons for altars and symbolism behind them

Monday

• story of Demeter and Persephone
• explore themes of equinox: balance, day & night, creation & destruction
• talk about ways to counter destruction in the environment
• walk along our neighborhood’s main road and gather roadside trash for disposal

Tuesday

• field trip to local park for nature hike, gathering items for crafts (later in week) and altar (for appreciation, not worship), which I suppose is more like a display
• find something for nature journal, spend some time drawing in journal
• set up nature altar/display once we return home
• begin work on nature craft (choose from among mobile, necklace, or wreath)

Wednesday

• complete nature craft if needed
• story of Modron and Mabon
• make an animal mask
• animal celebration (this is a fun activity which involves naming the animals we appreciate, then making animal sounds and movements while wearing the mask)
• prepare a treat for a special dog who lives with friends of ours, deliver to post office

Thursday

• field trip to the zoo

Friday

• story of Amiyao and the Magic Gongs
• field trip to local orchard to pick apples
• choose one animal, draw in nature journal and include facts (choose from owl, blackbird, stag, eagle, salmon)
• make candle holders from apples
• set table for teatime with one candle for each person
• at beginning of teatime, speak of things for which we are grateful; after each person speaks, a candle will be lit

*This is an interest-driven unit, not academic.

The Sun, preparing to warm her cup of tea in the microwave: Mama, how long do I set the timer?

Me: Fifty seconds.

The Sun: What?

The Moon (trying to be helpful): Five-zero-start.

The Sun (offended and scoffing): I know my alphabet, you know.

*very tongue in cheek.   I’m being sarcastic.  Not in a mean way toward my daughter; just seeing the humor.  She just used the wrong word and I thought it was cute.  That’s all.   Don’t judge.

This weekend I will be sharing here my plans for our celebration of the Fall Equinox/Mabon (which falls on September 23rd this year). Before that, I want to clarify where I stand regarding religious labels. I can’t really say I’m secular in the true spirit of the definition, but I also don’t believe in the Christian version of a god. Nor can I call myself a pagan, since I also don’t believe in other gods or goddesses. When it comes to science, I’m in awe, but it’s also difficult to think it was all some cosmic accident. It all combines for me in a vague perception of some universal power, whether that be divine or an intriguing accident, but in the end, it doesn’t really matter to me. What I am left with is an intense awareness of and appreciation for the natural circle of life, and I turn to nature to celebrate it.

One book that I have found that has wonderful activities for this purpose is Circle Round: Raising Children in Goddess Traditions. I use this book for its fun and interesting activities which show an appreciation for the changes each season brings, but we don’t pay homage to any god or goddess. I do, however, read stories about these gods and goddesses to my children, presenting them as mythology and not some deity we worship.

I’m not sure what to exactly call myself, but in the end, that doesn’t matter to me, either.

Fall Equinox/Mabon plans forthcoming.

Last night my husband dreamed he was nibbling on my ear, and it came off.  I  slapped it back on my head, laughing as I said  I never told you that thing was plastic!

I’m sure that means something.  Maybe he thinks I’m not really listening to him.  ???

This morning I presented the children with our new plan, which includes a chance to earn tickets to exchange for computer and other electronics time. Each ticket is worth ten minutes. This was met with much enthusiasm and was a huge success. Each person who didn’t interrupt when the other was in learning mode earned a ticket. There were others, such as not engaging in bickering and taunting, and although there was still a bit of nitpicking at one another, it was by no means unmanageable or even unreasonable among siblings. Today was peaceful. When I tucked The Comet in tonight, he said I can’t wait until tomorrow so I can earn more tickets!

Thank you for the responses of support to my last post.  I’m trying to figure out a good way to respond to comments without people having to come back and read again.   It’s good to know that I’m not the only one who lives with little stinkers at times.

Ragamuffin Rosie shared something today that reminded me of the good days. I love anecdotes such as this, because it serves as an affirmation that this is worth the time, worth the effort.