malcolm waiting for the max train

Unschooling malcolm

So today was one of those days when I realize how much he is learning, and how integrated that learning is into everything. First, he is counting everything. Today we counted birds in English and Swahili, and then some of the birds flew away then we counted again and realized they were less.

We worked on colors by naming the colors of each and every car of the freight train that went pass. We have been talking about when events take place by where they fall in our routine. Here is an example, "Malcolm, we are going to see Benjamin tomorrow." (Benjamin is one of his best friends-they are like cousins) "Benjamin! Get dressed, see Benjamin!" "No, Benjamin is sleeping. We are going to take a bath, brush teeth, read a story, sleep, wake up, eat breakfast, get dressed, play, and then see Benjamin." Then Malcolm rattles off that order of events. We have also been talking about days by when the moon and the sun sleep. It has really been amazing to how he is growing, and is really working on becoming a three year old.

He is also really interested in reading now. He is asking me to read a lot of things to him. Oh, and one more thing he still loves Obama. Tonight when he was resisting going to bed, I had to reassure him that Barack Obama was also sleeping.

On Spiders, Caterpillars, Being two, and Trains

Malcolm has had a bit of challenging time adjusting to me being a teacher at his school, and he has been going through some challenges. All of these are very appropriate challenges for being two. He has been going through a hitting and pulling hair phase that has driven me crazy, but I think that we are getting through it. We have been doing a lot of talking about all the fun and positive ways we can get our friends' attention if we want to play with them. That seems to be working, but it is still a process.

Yesterday, I wasn't feeling well. I had a bladder infection so when my bubbly boy woke up at 6:30, I handed him to Uncle Nathaniel. Then they went out to the garden. Since the beginning of September I have noticed that spiders are everywhere in the garden, and yesterday was no exception. Nathaniel and Malcolm counted spiders and then apparently took note of their patterns and went to the computer to look up what type of spider they were.

This train of thought really excited Malcolm. I think that he loved the idea that something he could find in our garden would also appear in the computer.

Later, after I had been to the doctor and he had played for a while at Aunty Diane's and had a nap, we sat outside in the sunshine on the sidewalk. I didn't feel like doing anything too active, but figured we should soak up all the rays that God affords us now because the rains will be here soon enough. So I thought we could just sit there and look at things near where we were sitting and discuss them. At that moment at caterpillar went by so we watched the caterpillar. Malcolm did not want me put anything in the path of the caterpillar or to pick it up.He asked if he could touch it, but I wasn't sure what type of caterpillar it was, and some can cause allergic reactions so I said "No." So we watched the caterpillar walk by.

A little bit later we went into the garden in the back and then counted all the caterpillars we could find. I tried to identify our caterpillar friends with him on the computer later, but all I could figure out is that they are more likely to become moths than butterflies, but I am not sure what kind of moths. The caterpillars too are very recent guests, and I really love that we are learning so much about all the more subtle changes the seasons bring to our area.

The garden really has kept us busy. We have tomatoes growing to an unbeliavable amount. We have made salsa and tomato sauce and cooked with the tomatoes and given some away and we still have more. I am in fact planning on calling the Oregon Food Bank to see if we can donate some of our garden produce. I think that it will be a great civic lesson for Malcolm.

There were many days in which we got food boxes from the food bank when things were tight and he was a baby. I think that it is really wonderful to give back to the same source that gave to us when we have extra so that others who are struggling will be blessed the way we were blessed in the midst of our struggles.

Today was Sunday so we had church. Malcolm now goes to the pre-school class upstairs. It is called the Fish Class. Even though he was not quite three yet, I wanted to make sure tht he moved up with his little church friends that he loves so much, and in that setting he is really thriving. He was so excited to go to Sunday School today that he could not wait throughout the church service that comes before the children go upstairs. He kept shouting "Children go upstairs!" The new teacher up there loves him too, and speaks very highly of how well he does. I am glad that he is starting to get a spirtual education, and we are starting to have wonderful conversations about all kinds of things because he language is developing so fast.

After church Malcolm went on a journey with his Baba. Geoffrey had to take him to the Max, the lightrail that passes through Portland. Geoffrey had planned to take the Max through the tunnel on the way to the zoo, but Malcolm wanted to get off downtown so Geoffrey decided to take the trolley to the Lloyd Center. Geoffrey talked to the driver, and let him know how much Malcolm loves trains and other public transportation vehicles so the driver let Malcolm sit with him upfront and help. He got to pull the trolley bell and tell all the people to get off the train on the loud speaker. Geoffrey said the people really laughed to hear a two year old announce "Get off the train!"

I love that he gets to have all these adventures and learn about all different things in Portland. I do really feel that he is developing a sense of his place here, and in fact I am learning a lot about the Pacific Northwest too. I can't wait until the Salmon Festival!

Malcolm's Cutest Kid in the Universe Pic

I am really going to send this picture into the parenting magazine I get. They have a cutest kid in the universe section every issue, and I have been waiting for just the right picture for my Boo to make his debut, and here it is! You just can't beat this in terms of silliness!

We have been harvesting lately

On top-apple picking with Auggie across the street from our house. Our neighbor said we could take as many as we wanted, and we were dreaming of apple sauce.

The bottom picture-Berry Picking at Sauvie Island just before the naptime crash.

This summer has been all about food, picking berries on Sauvie's Island, making jam and tomato sauce from our harvest, and apple picking. I have fallen in love with hanging out in the sunshine watching my Boo go around naked or half naked munching on whatever he could find growing. It has made Malcolm's body healthier and has been better for my spirit.

We are also going through lots of transitions now. I have taken a job at Mountain Valley, his nursery school that I have mentioned earlier in this blog, and left the African Women's Coalition. Now I get spend a lot more time with Malcolm, and get to teach children in a loving community environment builds community and heals some of the pain of living in such an individualistic society.

I love spending this time with the children and giving Malcolm this opportunity to has such a supportive village experience, but there are a lot of adjustments as he gets used to me in his space and I get used to being an absolutely full time mom.