Unschooling

 

As I have written in previous posts, one of the most valuable lessons that parenting teaches me is flexibility. Personally, I struggle with control. Control of my environment, control of my emotions, control of my creativity and now that I am a mother, control of my child and HER environment, emotions and creativity. Oy vey!!

 Camille is like most kids I know who just wants to be free to do her own thing and within reason, that is totally okay so this is where my flexibility lesson comes in to play. Home school is no exception since it is preschool and all she really needs to be learning are things that she has a pretty firm grasp on like, colors, shapes, letters and numbers. Everything else is just gravy at this point so lately, we have been branching out and exploring some things outside of the curriculum and having a great time bonding at the same time.

 It's amazing the things you learn while baking, mixing watercolors, dyeing fabric or scouring the beach for sea shells. The possibilities for discovery are endless. What a beautiful life we live!

La Luna And Dome Dreams



Skylight of main dome of eco-dome |  www.calearth.org
 

 Argh, la luna! You are magnificent and powerful and tonight, you are stealing my sleep. Occasionally, when I shift from Camille's bed to my own once she has drifted off, I am struck with relentless inspiration. In the quiet, my mind overflows with visions of clothes not yet stitched, rooms not yet decorated or foods not yet cooked. Our apartment is compact and efficient and I love it so much that I rarely fantasize about moving but tonight I am dreaming of the refuge of a small studio or sewing hut to quiet these thoughts and invite sleep. Since we have no such thing, I have revisited an old flame, a sometimes obsession...the earthbag home. Because what more an inspiring place to work than a hive shaped studio?

Eco dome at dusk | www.calearth.org
 

Several years ago, I stumbled on this most economic and eco-friendly way of home building. The idea of building an earthbag home is one of my lotto win fantasies. Not because it is an expensive endeavor but a time consuming one unless you hire a lot of labor. Iranian-American architect and founder of California Institute of Earth Art and Architecture (Cal-Earth ), Nader Khalili, was the mastermind behind this sustainable type of construction. Khalili was inspired by Rumi's wisdom concerning humanity and the elements of Earth, Water, Air, and Fire. Earthbag architecture reflects the sensibilities and is energy efficient, inexpensive to build and uses primarily sustainable materials...the ground beneath our feet!



Exterior of Eco Dome | www.calearth.org
 

Entry of Eco Dome | www.calearth.org

Eco Dome | www.calearth.org
 

Earth One South Exterior Detail | www.calearth.org
 

At first glance, the buildings have that Hobbit, hippie house look, an aesthetic I would not normally be drawn to. The more I studied the photos and the philosophy behind this kind of construction, the more I felt that this is a very calming and creatively inspiring way to live. Someone recently referred to me as an "earth mother" which I found completely hysterical but nights like this one make me realize that it might not be as ridiculous as it seems. Maybe if Lucile Ball could have been an earth mother, then that is what I am.



Inerior view of construction of main dome Eco Dome | www.calearth.org

Construction of Eco Dome | www.calearth.org

Construction with forms and compasses of Eco Dome | www.calearth.org
 

I love the idea that these buildings can be constructed by real people and looking at the photos of one being built, it looks like an old-time barn raising. What a sense of community and accomplishment the builders must feel when they have finished building these delightful structures. I often get stressed out that I am nearly 41 years old and still have so many things left to do and ideas to work out. This earthbag home obsession is one of those things that makes me feel like I have wasted too much of my life but who says we can't build our dream earth home at the age of 50, 60 or 70? It just might take us longer and we'll have to have more help.

Earth One entry interior | www.calearth.org

Earth One view from kitchen | www.calearth.org

Earth One view of kitchen from dining space | www.calearth.org

Emergency shelter Eco Village plan | www.calearth.org
 

Since everything these days can be looped back in to a lesson at Lucile Preschool, I am planning a family outing to check out CalEarth and fuel my dome home dreams even more. They have an open house and pot luck the first Saturday of every month.

Visiting day; Rumi Dome - right, Eco Dome- left | www.calearth.org
 

Maybe it will inspire my conventional spouse to dream with me or encourage Camille to think outside the box (literally!) when it comes to making her own home some day. Check out the CalEarth website for more info and get inspired by the idea that trees do not have to give their lives to shelter us. www.calearth.org

2013 Open House Dates	2014 Open House Dates
January 5, 2013 February 2, 2013 March 2, 2013 April 6, 2013 May 4, 2013 June 1, 2013 July 6, 2013 *no open house in August* September 7, 2013 October 5, 2013 November 2, 2013 December 7, 2013	January 4, 2014 February 1, 2014 March 1, 2014 April 5, 2014 May 3, 2014 June 7, 2014 July 5, 2014 *no open house in August* September 6, 2014 October 4, 2014 November 1, 2014 December 6, 2014
In the case of rain, Open House is postponed to the following Saturday

*All images are from the CalEarth website.

oxo-n

Anything I Can Do She Can Do Better

 

It was funny, the moment I realized that I had given birth to my spouse's best friend. I mean, we all need one so why not? But sometimes when Carl and Camille are off in "imaginative play" land, I can't help but feel like I am failing somehow. They are like peanut butter and jelly. Carl has endless hours of dolly diapering and lego building up her sleeves where I would rather work on a puzzle, go hiking or teach her to cook and sew. They crack each other up all the time and Camille is the apple of Carl's eye. It is cute and I wouldn't have it any other way but between loads of laundry I do get a pit in my stomach at the thought of losing my connection with my only child.

When we decided to take Camille out of preschool and teach her at home I thought "now this is my moment to shine!". I was always an enthusiastic student. My mom bought me a learning program when I was three and it was my favorite toy. I loved the grease pencils and the cellophane overlay, the dotted letters and numbers to trace and then the blank lines that followed them to show off my newly acquired talents. Surely, this was a place that I could wedge myself in and show Camille that I have more to offer than beverages and snacks at the appropriate time and a clean house in which to creatively display her various projects.

The first few days were a little challenging but still fun. Realizing that the lessons are planned in five to ten minute intervals to keep the little wanderer's attention was interesting. I loved seeing how much she already knew and watching her face light up when she discovered something new. In my reverie, I envisioned an idyllic experience from which I could draw on for many a inspired blog post. I would become that Waldorfian educator. Ushering Camille into a new way of being: creative, calm and extremely intelligent. My utopia was destroyed the first day Carl was home while school was in session. She offered to teach so I could work on some sewing. I took her up on it because I figured I really need to get this clothing business off the ground even if it only happens in three hour snatches.

As with everything Carl puts her mind to, she was a huge success. From my work table, I heard them laughing together and Camille responding to the lessons without a lot of cajoling. It is her way. That is the only way to describe it. Carl has a way. She is quiet and attentive. She has no agenda. She is non-confrontational and easy. Let's face it, that is what an energetic kid is going to respond to. At that moment I realized that we all have our role to play. Mine is to keep things on a schedule and organized which is valuable too. I am still going to be the main teacher at Lucile Preschool but at this school, the substitute teacher is more fun. I'm okay with that as long as she knows that I love her with all of my heart and soul even if I am a little boring!