Interview Meme

I've "met" quite a few people through blogging that I don't know in real life. It's fun to meet new people in this way. Many of the people on my blogroll are people who differ significantly from me in philosphy and lifestyle, and others are people with whom I have a lot in common. I have at least something in common with each of them, even if it be only a love of words or the parenting of small children, and I feel I learn something from all of them.

One of the people I've most enjoyed getting to know through our blogs, e-mails and telephone conversations is Running2Ks of True-Blue Semi-Crunchy Mama. I appreciate her positive outlook on life, enthusiasm and friendliness.

She's hanging up her blogging hat to focus on other writing and on real life, so this post is sort of my goodbye post to her. I'll definitely miss her blog and her visits here.

Best wishes to you, R2Ks!

Back in September 2005, Running2Ks did an interview meme, and I volunteered to be interviewed. It took me this long to answer the questions because, well, I'm a terrible procrastinator and some of these questions are hard.

If any readers would like me to interview you, just say so in the comments and I'll come up with some questions to ask you.


Here are R2K's questions and my answers:

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Purple, you inspiring mama, here are your questions (just link back here whenever you finish them):

1. You homeschool, and I know that you dress for teaching. Do you follow a curriculum, formality, structure, or do you plan to unschool?

We are being pretty flexible this year, especially with the kids being so young and adding a new baby to the family. We do projects and workbooks, but largely just take the learning opportunities as they come. A lot of our learning happens in the car and over the dinner table as we have conversations and practice skills. We do lots of crafts, and the kids enjoy working in workbooks and learning through music. We also read lots of books.

Next year I do plan to be more structured. I probably won't be involved in any other committments during the day so that I can focus on the kids' schooling. We'll have lesson plans that will include a combination of textbooks/workbooks along with lots of stories, hands-on activities, field trips, and student-led learning.

The approach my mom took with my sisters and me, and that I plan to take with my kids, is to have a somewhat flexible but structured approach. We'll probably have regular school hours with curriculum that can be tailored to each child's learning styles and needs while making sure all the important subject areas are covered.

I doubt we'll ever pick a particular curriculum line to use exclusively; I like being able to put together a variety of materials to meet our needs and each child's learning style and interests.

2. What is your greatest wish for yourself now? And when the children are grown and you “retire”?

Talk about a deep philosophical question. I guess I'd say my wish, both now and in the future, is to have balance and peace in my life, and to be effective in fulfilling the tasks at hand. To have my life be significant in some small way. To fulfill my purpose, I guess. Above all to please the Lord and draw continually closer to Him, and to draw others toward a richer life in Him.

3. As I said before, I’m a big fan of lottery questions, so if you won a big lottery (more than paying off bills and debt; like, you can retire on this money), what would you do?

I'd let DH quit his job if he wanted to, and we'd probably travel and be involved in some kind of ministry. To me, the biggest advantage would be more time together as a family.

4. If you took the family to another country for a homeschooling vacation, where would you go and what would you study?

Well, we did just go to Mexico. I love it there and would enjoy going again any time. When the kids are older I'd love to take a trip like I got to do as a young adult, traveling around to visit missionaries and local families, see the places where my Dad grew up, and learn the language and culture.

I'd also love to go to Israel and study the places mentioned in the Bible, and to go to Europe (specifically England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, The Netherlands, and Czechoslovakia) to learn more about where my ancestors came from and who they were.

Can I list every place in the world? We have family all over the place, and someday I hope to visit some of them in places like Kuwait, Indonesia, China and Sri Lanka.

5. If you could time-travel back to your teenage years, what would you tell yourself?

What a hard question. I really don't know. Maybe a reminder to relish life and to work on developing important life skills like organization. That progress is more important than perfection. To keep up the good work, and continue pursuing God and the truly important things.

You still have a lot of growing and learning to do, but you're on the right path. Don't get discouraged. You are loved so much more even than you understand. That sort of thing. The same things I'll probably tell my kids when they're that age.