Comments on: Monday links & pics

By: Kris

Kris — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 01:05:45 +0000

Woops, sorry Ron – forgot where I was for a minute. I *definitely think that the US has a very money-centric nature. I know that’s generalizing and there are many people out there that don’t buy into it, but there are lots and lots who do.

By: Ron

Ron — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 03:52:00 +0000

Christine:
Thanks I think we would enjoy doing that. We followed a similar road.

Andrea:
Agreed. Too much? Is that possible? Hey now, they need to be symmetrical with something.

Kris:
Yer welcome. I think success = money is stronger in the US than in Canada. For example, it is unusual on Canadian TV to see commercials for Ambulance Chasers. So, someone here who won the lottery would not necessarily be considered successful. People would be more likely to base their opinion of the lottery winner on how they behaved after they had the money.

Kim:
Yes, exactly. Sometimes when I’m watching those shows the word project grates on my nerves because I think it may be integral in reducing the process to tasks to be done.

It’s a rare sort of thing that someone start out being exceptional at something. For most people and most things they start out being sloppy. So, like the picture of Emma painting, we strive to provide them a place where mistakes and sloppy-ness are acceptable because they are part of learning. Although it wasn’t a staged or planned thing, one of the reasons that she was painting without a drop cloth is that part of the process of painting is sometimes getting paint on something you don’t want it on. And whether at this age, if she were to drip and we wipe it up for her she will experience/see the whole process.

By: Kim

Kim — Tue, 24 Oct 2006 23:53:59 +0000

I see what you are saying, home repair can be a process too. And those shows of home repair do make it all seem so clean and easy. Kind of like Martha Stewart makes the kitchen look like a relaxing place to express your inner artiste. But the reality is that expressing yourself through any means can sometimes be slopyy, fun, and backbreaking. Sometimes the result is awesome (your house) and sometimes the end product is a half finished sock full of dropped stitches.

I think the best thing about giving kids the time to enjoy process is that they might actually find a passion they excel at rather than rushing through a series of gates designed to make them whole by someone else’s standards.

By: Kris

Kris — Tue, 24 Oct 2006 16:57:22 +0000

Andrea, thanks for including my thoughts! This is something that I feel strongly about and while I didn’t mention it in my post directly, I feel that for many people success = money. Sure, we have to have money to eat and live, and extra money may buy security for older age. But money does NOT buy happiness. Our house is always buried under at least five ongoing projects that the kids (and I) enjoy doing. We are happy putzing along with the things we do. If the kids continue to live life this way, I will be happy. I think they will be happy. My mother, not so much.

By: Andrea

Andrea — Tue, 24 Oct 2006 14:36:31 +0000

I remember that time. The stress level was far worse than it is now, doing what we are.

And yes, I think you (Ron, dear) enjoyed cutting tiles a little too much.

I swear, Christine, I think in some spots he laid it out like he did just so he could cut more tile.

By: Christine

Christine — Tue, 24 Oct 2006 14:04:41 +0000

Nice post – you covered a lot!

The tiles look great, will you come help with ours?

At some point in our homeschooling (I started out very tough academically) I realized that I don’t need to push them so much. If they enjoy life and are happy, I am happy. My idea of success has changed completely.
My brother is a comedian. Really. He is 40 and recently decided to to this, and all my parents do is dog him on his choices, judging his “success” in life based on his crappy car, irregular job, not being married, not owning a home, etc. They came from a different background than I could ever understand, and I know they want what they see as “best” for him, but it made me realize what I want for my kids is happiness, not misery at the cost of “success” and a guilt trip courtesy of me. And I’m darn proud of my brother – doing something I would never have the courage to do, doing what he wants despite criticism, doing something he could potentially fail at, but following his dream. If he is happy, I think he is more successful than most people today.