Kim S.'s Page

Today, Gabe, Oskar and I were in the car for a brief ride to a friend's house. I don't remember how the conversation got started, but we were talking about Harry Potter, which I have been reading out loud to them. We are all enjoying the story, the characters, the setting - we love talking about what we are envisioning when we hear the story. Somehow, we started to compare the characters from Harry Potter to the characters in Star Wars. We matched them up by personality and motive. There was ple… Continue

I've discovered that no matter what we say to other people about the way we live, they perceive "homeschooling" in one way ... with a curriculum. So many times, I am asked by friends about what I am "teaching" the boys, and how they are keeping up with their studies. I've given up trying to explain. I just give vague answers, as they don't seem comfortable with anything else.

I've had two amusing conversations with the administrator at the boys' karate school. I remember last year, as we were h… Continue

It's often conversations with schooled friends that makes me take a second look at the way we live, and the value I place on my kids' ability to learn. Today, one of my friends was visiting with her son (since they are still on Christmas break), and she was talking about her frustration with her son's reading teacher (he is in 1st grade). She said her son can read anything, but has trouble with comprehension. In my mind, I am wondering, is that *really* reading? Yes, I know it is, but what is th… Continue

Today I took both boys to the pediatrician to check on a cough they've had a for a few weeks. I suspected it was all allergies, but thought I ought to have them looked since it's been going on for a while. The doctor started out by asking the kids if they have been sleeping well (meaning, is the cough interrupting their sleep). I've always appreciated that their doctor speaks to them, and doesn't look to me unless she needs more information. Oskar started telling her he has a hard time sleeping… Continue

I just got back from the pediatric cardiologist Oskar (4). He had 2 small holes in his heart when he was an infant, and needed to be retested to see if those holes closed. We went to a satellite office of Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, so I fully expected the staff to be fantastic with kids. The receptionist was wonderful - had smiles for my son, and was efficient and kind to me. It went downhill from there. The nurse who took us back to do his measurements and ekg was AWFUL! She was loud,… Continue