The Homeschool Choice

We decided early on that we would homeschool the boys. Right now, they are just-turned three and almost two and are currently driving me up the wall. I'm sticking with the decision, even though they are currently such a handful.

When I was growing up, I did well in public school academically, but not socially. In the eighth grade, I started falling behind academically and doing much better socially. Most of what I remember about high school has absolutely nothing to do with what my teachers were trying to teach.

I'm not knocking teachers at all. It's a tough job and those who take it on should be respected and admired. But the educational system doesn't allow for every child's academic needs to be met. There's a schedule to keep.

So, right now I'm reading about teaching my boys at home. There are so many choices and decisions to be made that I'm glad I've started my research early. A couple of books I'm finding rather helpful are:

"The Homeschooling Handbook" by Mary Griffith

"Home Learning Year by Year: How to Design a Homeschool Curriculum from Preschool Through High School" By Rebecca Rupp

That's all I've got for today. Meanwhile, here's a link to a great Bizarro book for Kindle by John Smallberries (aka Josh Myers):

"Octopope!" By John Smallberries

A Less-Than-Stellar Day

The post that I had originally planned for today was about homeschooling, complete with links and all that jazz. I'm going to do that another day. Today's entry will be about my day so far.

It's 2:37-ish and I put the boys up for a nap about 20 minutes ago. Unfortunately, it sounds like they are choosing to not nap. Again.

This morning, we had to leave the playground early because my 3-year-old wouldn't obey the "no pushing" rule. He's been having this pushing issue for the last few weeks now. He's testing me at every turn and it's just wearing me out. I feel like "that mom" with "that kid."

I'm dog-tired, but that's probably because I haven't had a decent night's sleep in over 3 years now.

I was really hoping that today would be a nap day so I could get some things done or maybe just nap as well.

Oh, and my 2-year-old ate a spider.

That's all I have the energy for today. Here's a pic of some of the Magic the Gathering cards I'll be hawking on eBay soon.

Having Kids "Late" in Life

Today I took my boys out in the double stroller to hit some yard sales. At one sale I picked up some kids' DVDs and a nifty Fisher Price airplane. I said to my guys, jokingly, "We'll be taking this stuff home and your daddy's not going to be too happy!." The woman having the sale said "Well, that's what grandmas are for." I just smiled and said "I'm their mother." She became super apologetic and I just smiled and strolled the boys away.

Last year, the "grandma" assumption really irked me. I mean, REALLY? It's like asking a woman with a large belly when the baby is due. Not always a smart assumption to make. I'm used to the granny comments now and they don't irk me anymore since they people saying them aren't intentionally being rude.

I'm glad I had my kids "later" in life, although I don't really consider just-past-mid-thirties to be that old. Sure, I'm not as spry as I used to be and my energy level isn't always the best, but I have more patience and life experience to make up for it. If I'd had kids in my early twenties, I'd have fucked them, and myself, up royally for sure.

Now, I'm content to focus on THEM instead of myself. I've sown my wild oats, so to speak, and am content to settle down and enjoy my children. That's not to say that I don't have dreams of my own. I'm saying that I'm ready to include my family in my endeavors to achieve them.

That's it 'til next time. Meanwhile, here's a pic of my friend Josh wearing a pink, sparkly, beanie hat that I crocheted for him.

Dogs in Condos

Last night, from our porch, I watched a woman from our complex with two large dogs walk them past a neighbor's porch where another large dog started barking and growling. The woman with the leashed dogs, with great effort, was able to tug and pull her dogs toward the parking lot and continue on their walk.

We live in a complex of townhouse condominiums that have railed decks, but just a tiny, unfenced square of grass that is liberally referred to as a yard. As I watched the short canine display of machismo, I realized just how many large dogs live in our complex. There's some pits, huskies, a boxer and some other mutts of indeterminable origin. There's a big, black dog that barks from a unit's upper deck whenever someone enters its view.

I bring this up because I find it strange...and rather unfair to these pups. Our units are two-story and not particularly large and don't have fenced yards. Even if there were fenced yards, the rules state that animals cannot be outside without a leash and are forbidden to pee and poo on condo property. If poo is found near a unit, they will be fined...EVEN IF THEY DON'T OWN A DOG. I also have quite a few snitches and complainers as neighbors. So, people take their mutts across the street to crap on another housing building's yard and those folks, in turn, bring their dogs to our lot.

Now, I'm talking about big dogs here, not pugs or chihuahuas. These poor guys and gals have nowhere to exercise and run around near their own house. Which begs the question...why move into a condo like ours if you have big dogs? Or get a large pooch when you already live here?

Now that I have kids who want to run and play all of the time, I find our housing situation inadequate. A parking lot is no place for kids to play, but at least I don't have to keep them on a leash.

That's my ramble for today. Meanwhile, here's a pic of our cat lounging in the dryer:

Floridian Author Extraordinaire

I've been on a Carl Hiaasen kick lately. If you're not familiar with Hiaasen, he's a novelist out of Florida who also writes a column for the Miami Herald. I introduced myself to Hiaasen's work in the late 90's by reading his novels "Double Whammy," "Lucky You," and "Striptease" (the book that the movie of the same name starring Demi Moore is based on).

Hiaasen's books are set in Florida and are filled with environmentalism, corrupt politicians, wacky characters, bizarre crimes and darkly hilarious humor.

In the past few weeks, I've immersed myself in his novels. I powered through "Tourist Season," "Skinny Dip," "Stormy Weather," "Skin Tight," "Double Whammy" (again) and "Nature Girl." Currently, I'm reading "Sick Puppy." I dig this dude's work.

Here's a link to his bibliography on Amazon:
Carl Hiaasen on Amazon

His books are available on Kindle, but if you're looking for hard copy, I suggest you try your local library or local, independent bookstore.

That's it for today. Meanwhile, here's a pic of my cat flashing you.

Greetings and Salutations!

This is my new blog. What's it about? Well, it's about whatever the hell I want it to be about at any given moment in time. Topics will include: being a parent, Bizarro and horror fiction, crochet, homeschooling and any other damn thing I feel like posting about. I'm still figuring this blog crap out, so bear with me and please be gentle...for awhile, at least. That's all for the moment. I'll get the hang of this baring-my-soul shit soon, I'm sure. Cheers!

Meanwhile, here's a pic of a squid fingerpuppet that I crocheted.