Noah spent most of Sunday on the computer with friends and in his room, fiddling with
Audacity. (
I.T., music) I desperately wish I could afford to give him the equipment he needs to
really record his music, but hey -- many a musician has made due with less, right? I mean, at least he's not growing up in the projects. And if he's truly motivated, he'll find creative solutions.
So I keep telling myself.
Anyway, he also mowed the lawn this weekend, which he absolutely hates, but I find it to be a good character-building endeavor. (
life skills) Besides, he gets paid to do it. But I don't think I'd hire him next year: his attention to detail sucks. Aengus won't be old enough to use the riding mower yet, though, so I might have to {gasp!} do it myself for a season or two. Blech.
Aengus and I played a lot of different games yesterday, something we haven't done as much since the XBox entered our lives. We played outside for a while, including a variation of baseball; threw the ball to the dogs; and played Tickle Monster. (
P.E.) He was going to help make funnel cake, but mysteriously disappeared when it was time to do so. He showed up in time to eat it, of course.
(Noah's assessment of the funnel cake: "Meh. Not as good as at the carnival." My assessment of Noah's assessment: "Fuck you. Cover anything in powdered sugar ftw!")
Aengus also worked on his
reading, which has seen marked improvement. I've found another difference in the way unschoolers learn: while Aengus remembers every sound each of the letters makes, including the exceptions to rules, he still can't remember what some of the letters
are. For example, I have to sometimes tell him, "That's an 'H'," but then he remembers just fine the sound it makes. Completely the opposite of how Noah learned. I also remember when
I was learning to read that it was difficult for me to make that transition from individual sounds to understanding what the whole word is. Aengus has no problems with that.
Me (when I was five, people!): "Huh. Aaaa. Tuh. Huhaaa. Tuh. Huhaaatuh. What's a huhaaatuh?"
Aengus: "What's that letter again? Oh, okay. Huh. Aaaa. Tuh. Hat."
I must take a minute here to admit something: I did a bad, bad thing. Please don't tell SandramotherfuckingDodd, lest I be kicked out of the Unschoolers Club, but I ...
bribed Aengus.
In addition to the video games (about $200 worth for Aengus), recording equipment (about $500 worth for Noah) and the drumset ($300), they now both want netbooks for Xmas. They're like, $300 each! The boys know we can't afford that, but they both reallyreallyreally want one.
With that knowledge in the back of my brain, I may have -- accidentally -- promised to buy Aengus a netbook when he learns to read.
That Bad Mother of the Year trophy WILL be mine!!!
He has not forgotten this promise and has been diligent in his reading practice ever since. I feel like a shit for resorting to bribery, and with the way he's working at it, I might have to get a second job here soon to pay up.
Silver lining: it's working!