Hurry up and wait.

Ive been thinking a lot about homeschooling lately.  Like a lot a lot.  I know that bubby isn't even two yet, but I want to get everything all set up.  I'm that excited.  But I know realisticly that to even start a 'program' its going to be about 4 or 5 years away. Not that I'm even sure that a 'program' is what I want to do.  There's a big appeal to unschooling too.  But again, that's a few years away.

That being said, there are things I want him to know, not because they will be important for college (which I'm ehh on anyway, but that's another post) , but because they are important for life. 

     I want him to know how to plant a garden, to grow his own food. 
     To know when foods are in season, what to eat and when.
     He should know basic medical concepts. How to splint a broken bone and stop bleeding.
     Basic laundry care.  How to use the washing machine and the dryer.  Ideally how to fold laundry (and not just because I hate folding)
     Cooking and cleaning.  He doesn't need to love it, but he needs to know how to do it.  I don't want him to go to college or his first apartment not knowing how to care for himself when he's on his own.
     Home maitnance.  I dont want him to have to run to a plumber or contractor at every little disaster.
     Appreciation for art. I don't care if he never picks up a brush himself, but I'd like him to understand what others can create.
     Kindness. I want him to be nice to the waiter.  ("The person that is nice to you, but is not nice to the waiter is not a nice person" - I don't know who said it, but I love it)
     Other then those things, I just want the basics.  Reading, writing, and maths. 

I know that almost everything on that list I can start teaching him now.  And most likely I will start teaching him those things now.  In a compleetly unstructured 'lets make this fun' type of way. 

Oh wait, that is unschooling.

Chalkboard Table Instruct-able!! a naptime project

if you follow me on twitter, facebook, or G+ (which is awesome by the way), you know that i've had an obsession of late with chalkboard paint.  i'm not sure what it is, but i love the stuff.  i blame pinterest.  that website has sucked away more of my life than angry birds ever did.  but i love it so.  i think i even threatened to chalkboard paint my kitchen counter tops.  it's still on the 'maybe' list.

couple my chalkboard obsession with the resolve to home school bubby.....  chalkboard table!!!  here's how it's made:

first, start with a tacky 70's coffee table.  (sorry hubby, but it was)

get a good quality chalkboard paint.  this was from Lowe's ( i love lowes)

i didn't pre-sand, and had no problems.  the first coat will go on looking a little thin.

but you'll be putting another coat on, don't worry.

it actually took less time for the paint to dry than for bubby to wake up from his nap.

i think he likes it, don't you?

my budding little artist

seriously, this was by far the easiest instruct-able i've ever done.  the whole thing was finished durring nap time, start to finish about 2 hours.  and most of that was watching paint dry.  i can totally see this table being well used in the future!