It really got me thinking, that likely no matter what my kids are interested in, we can find resources to help them really experience and learn about their interests. It really does make me wonder why some people still think public school is necessary. I’m not trying to start a debate about public vs home school, that’s been done many times, but more to comment on how easy it is for kids to learn anything they need to know just by doing things they love to do.

I remember in grade 11, I adored genetics. To me, it was the coolest part of school. I looked forward to my biology classes when we were doing the genetics unit. We did one unit in Bio 11 and one in Bio 12 (I did both courses in grade 11), and I couldn’t get enough. (And, though I got really good grades, I wasn’t a good student by most people’s definitions. I skipped a lot of school and procrastinated until the last minute on most of my homework. But I never skipped bio.) I read the textbook during lunch periods, and even asked my teacher if there were other things I could do or read to learn more about it. He told me I’d have to wait until university. And that was basically the end of that. By the time I got to university, my interest had waned somewhat. I would have had to take a bunch of prerequisite courses that weren’t even relevant to genetics before I could begin to take the actual genetics courses. I never did get to them. I had no support or help in pursuing my interest outside of school, even though at the time I thought the best job in the world would be to be some sort of geneticist or gene researcher or… But alas, I had school work to do and as far as my parents and teachers were concerned, that was far more important than my interest in genetics. I wonder sometimes how far I would have taken that interest had I had the time and resources to pursue it further.

Kris and I were talking recently about how we think it’s good for the kids to see us pursuing our own interests too. I want to take a class that’s held locally about local herbs and plants and in the end you end up with your own herbal tea made completely from local plants. He’s thinking of taking some drawing courses. I’d love to do photography and guitar lessons in the future. I believe it’s important for our kids to see that learning happens all the time, and at any age, and that any interest is worth pursuing, even if the only real point is that it’s something you enjoy.

I can’t afford photography or guitar lessons right now, so I’m teaching myself both. Photography by taking lots of pictures and practicing on friend’s children, guitar lessons through books and online courses. I want to learn cello in the future, and one day we’ll have a piano again and I’ll likely play almost every day. I hope to play flute and/or piccolo in an orchestra or band again. Kris sometimes goes for walks just to sit somewhere quiet and draw. I think it’s great for Meredith and Fiona to see us doing things just for our own pleasure.

I have to be honest, I’m really looking forward to a few years in the future when my kids really start having these separate interests and hobbies and wanting to learn about new things. I think it will be really interesting for all of us to find resources: courses, people, games, books, movies… Basically whatever we need is likely out there. And I love that my kids won’t be restricted to learning only what someone else feels it’s necessary they should learn, or feeling they don’t have time to do what they want because of school and homework.

Related posts:

1. More on TV and life learning
2. Lifelong Learning
3. More unschooly learning

I have always loved photography, since I was a little girl. I got a camera at a young age and I’ve rarely been without one at any event or gathering ever since. It’s only been recently though that I’ve delved into the DSLR world.

I’m really wanting to get more practice, and taking pictures of my own daughter only gets me so far. She’s gotten to the point that she’s almost too easy, and will sit still and smile when she sees the camera. I also really want to do more maternity shoots. I’ve only done one and I’d only had my camera less than a month, and I think I’ve come a long way since then.

I’ve decided to try and see if I can pick up a couple of photography clients. Not a lot, especially to start with. A couple a month maybe. I guess we’ll see how much interest I get. I plan to charge really low prices to start because the main point would be for me to build up my portfolio. I’ve been working on a website, but I’m not going to share it yet because it’s still a major work in progress. But I thought I’d share some of my pictures here. When and if I get any clients, I’ll likely start a photography blog, but for now this will have to do. Click on the pictures to see bigger ones.

Related posts:

1. Pictures!
2. First Post
3. Meredith’s birthday on Mayne Island