questions

Happier Days

| Kelly Barrow @ Faithacre Studio

Happier days are indeed here!

But…

The challenge is cleaning up the mess that’s left behind from days past.  The actual mess that exists in my home from the days that clear thought and any hope of organization were impossible.  The multitude of things left undone because I simply couldn’t deal with any of it.  And, worst of all, the guilt and self-recrimination.  The constant little (but loud) voice in my head that keeps saying “What’s wrong with you.  You are the worst housekeeper ever. Why can’t you keep up with things?  Everyone else can!”

I’m trying to replace the voice with a more positive message.  It’s hard.  And I wonder where the negative messages originated.  Are they literal messages from my childhood?  Am I repeating something that I’ve heard before?  Are they actually my thoughts?  In any case, why is it so hard to be nice to myself?

But, enough of the negative.

Art work has been made – remember the little canvases?

IMAG1045IMAG1048I placed them in a old drawer that I find at a vintage (junk) store.  I wish I could take a better photo because the canvases are very textural and “damaged”.  I didn’t really plan this one out.  Just stared at it a lot and rearranged them…and painted on them some more.  Then last night I started looking at some paper from my stash and decided on houses again.  Then when I was putting everything up for the night…I saw the drawer and it was a done deal.  I like the simplicity of the design and the calming colors.  I like the neatness in the drawer.  Everything all tidy and peaceful.

Hmmmm.  Art imitating what I’d like for my life.  Peaceful, tidy, calm, simple?  I love the way my art can speak more clearly what’s in my head.  How it can become the truth that I am seeking.  How my art can answer questions and clear away the confusion that I am feeling.  Maybe I need to be making more art.

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Conundrums and Quandaries?

| Kelly Barrow @ Faithacre Studio

thCA73529CA few questions as I ponder the possibility about maybe eventually getting ready for the new “school” year. 

  • How do we enjoy the rest of the carefree days of summer if we’re setting up and planning for school?
  • How will we start school if I don’t organize and make a plan?
  • Do you need to schedule a time to start learning?  Shouldn’t it be happening all the time?  “Wait, don’t learn that now…it’s not the right time!”
  • If I do schedule a start time, how do I know when we’re finished?  Can you really finish? “Okay, I’m done.  I’ve learned everything there is to know?”  Who would grade that test?
  • How do you adequately prepare a child for a world that hasn’t happened yet?
  • Who decided that all children should be reading by the age of 6 (or earlier)?
  • Who decided that worksheets are the best way to learn?  Wouldn’t actually using a map be a better way?
  • Why are you supposed to sit down to learn?  Can’t you learn while you are hopping on one foot?
  • Can you learn to cook just by reading a book?
  • What can you learn to do just by reading a book?
  • Do you really need $60 worth of school supplies to learn something?  Free education?
  • Why was the high school graduate who waited on me at Sonic today unable to make change?
  • Why does everyone have to go to college?
  • Why do we gage someone’s success by how much money they make and if they went to college?
  • When in life does someone give you the answers before they ask the question?
  • Why can’t we just accept the fact that not everyone needs to learn calculus or trigonometry? I’m not saying that it’s not important, but I’ve never personally needed it.  Somebody definitely should learn it. (Not sure that everyone needs to read Moby Dick either)
  • Isn’t it possible that everyone doesn’t need to learn everything?  What if we recognized that people had unique talents and abilities?  (Check out a story called The Animal School by George H. Reavis for more on this topic.)

Just a few thoughts from this homeschooling mom as September looms.  Back to school supplies on store shelves tell me I’m already running behind.  It’ll be Christmas before I know it.