Clara's Clearing

I'm on sabbatical already (and why)

Friday, September 30, 2011

I’ve only homeschooled Jack for a grade and a half and I’m already in desperate need of a sabbatical. More

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Comments

Terra Linda commented on 30-Sep-2011 12:22 PM

I hear you Clara. There is a tendency for homeschoolers to only talk about all the good things about homeschoolers... and there are many advantages. but there is a price too. We have to know what we're getting ourselves into!

: ) commented on 30-Sep-2011 12:43 PM

You're not alone Clara!

Stone commented on 02-Oct-2011 10:29 PM

of course both you and your kid need time away from each other. You should do it not just so you don't kill each other but becuase it is good for both of you.

Anonymous commented on 03-Oct-2011 12:52 AM

Thank you for your honesty!! I can relate to your feelings on so many levels. It is always good to take a break, to step back, and to see the big picture again. Remember that, in homeschooling, it's a marathon, not a sprint.

Clara commented on 03-Oct-2011 10:28 AM

@ Anonymous: Thanks very much for the sprint vs. marathon idea. I really think I sprinted too much last year hence the burn out. Nothing like a good metaphor to help you see things more clearly! I feel much better now thinking of the marathon.

Ron commented on 05-Oct-2011 11:48 AM

I don't blame you at all Clara. I wonder what percentage of homeschoolers are reluctant homeschoolers as you call them. I don't even understand how people can't be reluctant!!

non homeschooler commented on 05-Oct-2011 01:18 PM

I totally agree that kids and parents need time away from each other. I don't even know how homeschoolers do it! I would definitely go crazy and so would my kids.

Karen T commented on 06-Oct-2011 01:07 PM

Hey Clara nice blog and my sympathy but I wanted to comment about the videos you recently posted. The Dying Swan of Lil Buck is just awsome -- and right next to a ballerina doing it is great!!! I also noticed that there is the other video on the left side
of boys in ballet class. I loved all of them together!!!! You rock Clara. Sorry I'm commenting about the videos here but there's no place to leave comments on them.

Brenda commented on 18-Nov-2011 10:46 AM

I understand and sympathize Clara. You have been doing too much!!! you must also take some time away for yourself. good luck with everything and I hope you continue to write.

Trish commented on 19-Dec-2011 10:03 AM

the mom comes up for breath!!! How strange. Mothers need oxygen?!!

anon2 commented on 28-Dec-2011 11:04 AM

ha ha ha... mom burnt out!! Not the first time it happened!!!

anon2 commented on 16-Jan-2012 12:14 PM

You have earned a well-deserved break. I have a feeling you'll be back!!!

Jack London Park: What it means to close it

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Last June Lillyth Quillan, one of the mothers on our homeschoolers list, came across an article in the New York Times reporting on the permanent closure of Jack London State Historic Park. She brought it to our attention and immediately started organizing a trip to the park and, equally importantly, a campaign to add our voice to those opposing the closure. More

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LQ commented on 14-Sep-2011 12:04 PM

That was so beautifully written. I cried several times. I think Jack would have been proud of what you write, and in fact, I can almost feel him smiling down at you.

Clara commented on 14-Sep-2011 12:06 PM

@ LQ: You were certainly one of "forces" behind it!

hs01 commented on 14-Sep-2011 04:59 PM

What a lovely piece. All power to you.

Lourdes commented on 14-Sep-2011 06:29 PM

How sad. Thank you for spreading the word and good luck. These are certainly valuable lessons for kids.

Tara Cambridge commented on 14-Sep-2011 09:41 PM

What a shame. Clearly the environment and education are not anybody's priority. A very well written article nonetheless!

--------------- commented on 15-Sep-2011 01:10 PM

Well, nice try... I hate to be so negative but no amount of smart mothers and promising kids can put a stop to the stupidity of closing down parks while bailing out banks and funding wars.

Anonny commented on 15-Sep-2011 09:00 PM

Quite agree with the above

Julie commented on 16-Sep-2011 07:06 AM

I agree that we might not be able to save the parks with our *small* efforts but this is a valuable effort and certainly a good lesson for our kids. We can't just sit by and do nothing. Will that ever change anything?

Anonny commented on 16-Sep-2011 12:05 PM

Agree with the above too.

Clark commented on 18-Sep-2011 11:17 PM

I love Jack London too. You're a good mother.

: ) commented on 23-Sep-2011 11:15 AM

they threatened to close the parks in 2009 too but then they *found* money to keep them open. Maybe this time money will be found too. Let's hope.

What does it mean to have no life?

Saturday, September 03, 2011

What people usually mean by “having no life” is having no time to do what they want. That’s one thing. More

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Comments

Anonymous commented on 03-Sep-2011 12:35 PM

You sound like you hate having a kid. why did you have one?

Clara commented on 03-Sep-2011 02:15 PM

@ Anonymous: I don't hate having a kid! But you have a point. Perhaps I do write more about the difficulties than the joys of having a kid. But I think we all in general talk more about things that go wrong that what goes right. I don't know why!

hs01 commented on 06-Sep-2011 11:48 AM

The comment by Anonymous above demonstrates why women hardly ever talk about the difficult parts of motherhood. they get accused of hating their kids and that there's something wrong with a mother who is not always having the time of her life taking care
of and raising children. Look, no human being -- young or old -- is easy. Why should taking care of one in all kinds of complicated ways be easy? Why shouldn't mothers be allowed to talk about harships?

Tabitha commented on 06-Sep-2011 12:43 PM

I totally like this blog. It's a great description of how it physically feels to be so tied up to the rhythms of a little kid. I don't see why it means that she hates having a kid. Stop and go traffic is torture, whether in a car or on foot. What's so
"child hating" about that?

Cindy commented on 06-Sep-2011 11:39 PM

And what about all the bending and kneeling and lifting you do during your stop and go?!! It is definitely torture and the sweet sticky face that looks up at you is the torturer!!!

TIR345 commented on 07-Sep-2011 10:35 PM

LOL I remember those days!!!!

mom from denver commented on 08-Sep-2011 03:13 PM

Is it still taboo to talk about the not-entirely-pleasant parts of motherhood?!

ha ha ha commented on 13-Sep-2011 04:01 PM

forget about mental activity!!!! when your kids are little weeks go by when all you've done is talk baby talk!!!

: ) commented on 14-Sep-2011 11:30 AM

Forget about having a life. All these bright-eyed and bushy-taled moms on all these parenting websites are fake. They are invented by the site administrators!