People ask us about our kids’ schooling a lot. This is a pretty good example of “school” for them. The Edison and Ford winter estates are practically next door to us here. They walk around, see a bunch of cool stuff, listen to a bunch of random facts about two of the most influential and interesting men in history, and have a fun day out. Then we spend a couple of nights reading the “Who Was Thomas Alva Edison” book. In a couple of days they’ve learned something, and done it in a way that they probably don’t even realize they’ve been in school. Ali also found a “Sea School” out on Sanibel Island where they’ve gone a few times and had field trips learning about alligators, sharks, and octopus. They come home totally stoked, and with all sorts of new knowledge of these things that I didn’t even know. Point is, school is not hard to find, it just takes a little effort.
We don’t know anything about these sailing dinghies, so we’ve had to bust out the YouTube videos just to figure out how to rig the little sail. By the time we had that stuff sort of figured out the wind had kicked up and confined us to staying tied to the dock. I wasn’t quite ready to let the kids loose in a marina full of million dollar yachts in a stiff breeze. Seems a nice anchorage with a chase dinghy is likely a better idea for starters. Not that we couldn’t have fun just goofing around while tied up.
Halloween time. Every year we find ourselves somewhere new, but Ali always finds us a fun place to go to fill up the candy baskets.
The kids chose their costumes this year, and kept it very old school simple.
There’s one neighborhood in every town that goes over the top with Halloween, and they pretty much save the day for us Wanderers that are just passing through.
Even ghosts need a drink of water now and then.
18 Comments on “Halloween”
Your kids will be just fine with their education. I spend my days in a room filled with students that I long to educate through sharing the world just like you are doing. Instead I do the best I can with books, videos, and pictures. It’s the best I can do for now but doesn’t come close to what your kids are getting. Well done.
Yes there are many different ways to learn, and we all do the best with what we got. Keep sharing and teaching, Susan.
Not all education in done in a classroom. Ouest and Lowe are getting the best education possible in how the world is and they are able to study in depth things they want to know.
Something you once wrote has stuck with me, and I think epitomizes the best way for kids to learn. I paraphrase here: “Lowe is about to swing out of a tree on a rope he tied himself and I didn’t check. He’s about to learn a lesson in life, one way or another.”
Keep up the good work raising those beautiful kids.
Thanks, George. Learning is all around us, building, tying, trying, and most importantly; failing.
Remember to toss a PFD in the dinghy when the kids sail. I was busted as a 12 year old 20 feet from my parents boat. Dad paid the ticket for me.
Love the costumes!
Ugh thanks for the reminder.
Love your simple approach to homeschooling. Our four boys are home-schooled, or “unschooled” too. It’s really easy on a day to day basis, math workbooks when they want, reading games and leapreaders, and reading chapter books together when they want, playing board games with them, creating our own comic books together, etc etc etc, and going on fun “field trips” to museums and the science center and family adventures are key! Apathy is the only thing we have to be careful of! If our children see that we still enjoy learning every day and that we’re engaged and interested in the world around us, they will develop the same curiosity and love of learning, naturally.
P.S. Ouest is looking so grown up recently! Time has flown.
Yes, agree. And you don’t have to tell us – she is going to be 9 in a month!
I believe the Latin root for ‘educate’ is “to nourish the potential within”-which you’re doing in a wonderfully experiential way.
So often sitting in a classroom has the opposite effect, stifling a child’s innate curiosity & love of learning! Wish we all had such great examples for parents! You constantly challenge yourselves with new adventures & learning opportunities! Best of all, your kids always look so happy-a claim few can make these days. We’re in our 60’s, traveling around Europe in a camper van, & see too many grumpy old farts who fail to realize what fun life is. Keep enjoying yours!
Very nicely put. Well except for the “grumpy old farts…” part – too funny. Good thing you are in a camper van and can just roll on out.
Just saw at least one of you driving north around Palm Harbor/Dunedin. Need local beta or use of a pick up truck, bed, internet…..? Hit me back. Have fun.
Thanks, Steve, appreciate the offer.
Hi Ali,
My wife Linda and I ran into you the other day while walking our dogs near the Target store.
It was amazing how much we had in common (right down to how our first borns came about ) haha. We moved out of our townhouse and got rid of all that junk that everyone said we had to have to be normal. We bought a motorhome and started living the free life and have never really gone back.
In time though I began to think about what a friend I had worked with when I was learning the VW trade had told me. He said this earth is the paradise that people were meant to live on and enjoy forever but many people have ruined it for so many others. On the up side he showed me a verse in the bible that says that the wicked will be gone and the meek will possess the earth and live forever on it. Psalms 37:10, 11, 29 . My friend was one of Jehovah’s Witnesses and we looked him up and found that that time is so close now and there is so much more in store for us.
I don’t want to sound preachy but you just seemed like someone who could appreciate how great this could be.
Rick and Linda
It was so nice talking to you both as well. Funny how we find each other: the love of vintage wheels, traveling, and babies coming about. The Travelall was returned to her owner on Saturday. I miss her already and all the great people I talked to daily.
We are trying half a year of unschooling and homeschooling while driving with our old campervan through Morocco. The homeschooling (sit down and do two pages in tge Math Workbook) doesn‘t work out too good. The unschooling way of going to a market, dealing with other currencies, ringing a bell to have a tea in an old riad …. works out great and they even like to write or draw about the best things of the day in their traveldiaries. You can see us on Insta: Nina.Nordend
Salam aleikum
Nina
I love your campervan! And my goodness, ditch the two pages of Math, and just enjoy yourselves. Your kids could be our kids. Have a blast (and now I will waste an hour looking at all your amazing photos).
Yipyip, your compliment really means a lot to us. ? If you ever come cruising Europe, tell us! We will love to meet you. Say hi to Oest and Lowe from Matilda and Jona. They‘d make some good beachbuddies! ??♀️
I just spent the last 3 hours reading about your adventures. What a incredible life you guys have been leading.
Do you still have your gorgeous Travel all?
If you do and every decide to sell please let me know
I have been doing Historic preservation for over 38years and have been looking for one for years the “Lemon 68” has always been my favorite
Happy Trails and Wakes
Diane