Unschooling

I support public schools (and public libraries and public transportation and the public option), but the past few days have shown me how unschooling could be the perfect choice for the right parent (and child).

On Monday, we went to the local airport. Since that day, Bella has asked eight million different questions about airplanes and flight, and now she wants to fly kites for her birthday. Today we went to the local Nature Center -- and a whole new avenue for thought and creativity opened up for us.

I just wanted to get out of the house -- little did I know my girl would be so intrigued by the snakes, frogs, lizards, turtles and other local wildlife on display. She was thrilled and excited by everything (thrilled-scared by the snakes, thrilled-happy by the gliding squirrels), but the highlight of her day was the turtles.

We spent at least thirty minutes looking at the same four: a spotted turtle, a yellowbelly slider turtle, a painted turtle, and a mud turtle. (She had zero interest in getting near the gnarly snapping turtle!) We talked about why they swam so much, why they looked so different, what they ate, whether they'd bite, and which one looked most like Tuck. She wouldn't get too close to the glass, but she was enthralled.

Later, we walked outside to watch the waterfall before heading home for lunch. Bella wanted to know why the water was all moving in the same direction, why it wouldn't stay still, what makes the water fall, what can live in moving water, why doesn't the grass grow where the water is, and why the rocks are slippery where the water is. Somehow I wound up giving an impromptu lesson on gravity, on the four seasons, and on the properties of water.

I'm pretty amazed at both of us. Who knew that two year olds care about these things? I don't remember Javi being so full of questions, and the questions he did ask didn't seem so thoughtful. It's like I can see her making connections, piecing things together, and learning by doing and seeing. I don't know that I could do this everyday or actually spin conversations and questions into knowledge, but I have a better understanding now of why so many people choose to tackle that challenge.

Tomorrow we're supposed to be hit with an icy deluge (which never really happens 'round here). I can't help but wonder -- and look forward to -- the path that'll take us down.