12.29.2008

What I Learned in 2008


Just a partial list of some of the random things I learned in the past year. I learned:


* That I have a compulsion to have a picture included in every blogpost and that without my laptop, my photo sharing skills are severely limited.

* That I have a very strong attachment to my laptop, and how I have it set up, and I miss it terribly now that it's STILL being fixed.

* That it really is as great as I imagined it would be to visit and stay at other unschoolers' homes.

* That I am shy on-line, like in real life. I am very good with one-on-one conversations, but typically am pretty quiet in a group setting. I realized that I rarely post on all the lists I've subscribed to, because I feel it's just like speaking up in a group converstion. I have no problem, however, in stopping by people's blogs and leaving comments, which seems so much more like talking to just one person. So, I learned that my on-line personna is pretty true to my real life personality.

* That my kids and I can take really long road trips, and have fun in the car!

* More about the nature of God, and my faith.

* That I need to keep on learning how to be more patient, more forgiving, more tolerant and accepting, more bold, and more myself. It will never be a done job.

* That my oldest son would like to go to college.

* That my youngest son seems to have a natural talent for pottery.

* That my daughter was seeing the world in much less focus than most of us, and that she needed glasses. I shared her joy and excitement at seeing the leaves on the trees so clearly.

* How to live more frugally.

* How to knit, again.

* How to foster pets.

* That the current legal "system" can be used to enforce a parent's will (no matter how harmful) on a child.

* A bit about Facebook.

* That I'm not that crazy about Myspace.

* All kinds of new crochet patterns.

* That I'm not as opposed to plastic surgery as I thought I was. (My eyelids always feel so heavy!)

* How to live without prescription antidepressants (at least for now).

* That every year, without fail, I will hide some Christmas present, and not be able to find it for Christmas.

* That I very likely will always need my kids to help me with technology.

* That my son and his girlfriend celebrated their one year "anniversary".

* Embroidery, again.

* That I love looking at the clouds and taking pictures of them.

* That although I don't like apple pie, I love a cut-up apple steamed and topped with cinnamon.


* A little bit about Facebook.


* That I really can't drink coffee without getting headaches


* That I still love living in Florida, despite the appeal of many other places.


* That my true nature is optimistic and hopeful.


* How to make and can kumquat marmalade.


* How to needle and wet felt from wool roving.


* How to play and win at several versions of Solitaire.


* That I could hardly make a comprehensive list of all that I learned in one year, so it would be impossible to record all that my children learn in a year! And that's okay! :)



Happy New Year! Hope it's full of love, laughter, and of course learning(I know it will be. ).

6 comments:

Heather said...

Looks like you had a great year, here's to another one!

Now I'm off to look you up on Facebook! I don't like MySpace either.

Alex Polikowsky said...

I can't live without my laptop either!
Hey if you are up around here come visit us anytime!

Unschoolers Rock the Campground said...

Happy New Year to you, too!

Sandra Dodd said...

I am becoming happily dependent on my camera phone, but I don't have a laptop.

Florida's a long way from New Mexico, but if you happen to be here, on a long road trip, you'll need a place to stay. We have room.

Deanne said...

Thanks for the invites Sandra and Alex! I may very well take you up on the offer someday. While we save up and plan for our next adventure, you are very welcome to visit with us in warm, sunny FL! I'd love to show you around. :D

ps pirro said...

ooo, Deanne, kumquat marmalade! That just sounds so exotic and wonderful. Love that gorgeous family picture.

Happy New Year!

xox, peggy