Lucie Caunter

"Sometimes you just have to take the leap, and build your
wings on the way down."
--Kobi Yamada
Wrote the following for another list. Then I thought,...

Been here for a while. Time to come out of my shell. Here is my intro.
Friendship. Lucie


Name: Lucie Caunter

Age: 46

Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. We live on the eastern side of the
capital right now ( sub-urban). But our house is for sale. We're
looking for a new home south central of the Ottawa region ( more rural).
Traveled a lot over the years. Lived in 4 provinces and one state, so
far. Think we're back home permanently.

Profession: Good question? Mother , home manager, student, freelance
writer, Adult guide to three boys ( my son Lewis gave me that title ),
mate, taxi driver ( That might change soon. Now that the twins are
16. ).

Interest: organic gardening, permaculture, animals rights, plants
rights, biomimicry, social activism, world peace, environments
protection, Home, hiking, camping, folk art painting, world culture and
world religions, reading, music, arts, homeopathy, natural healing
methods, Natural health, Creative writing, yoga, Tae Kwon Do, my family

Favorite book, authors: Very eclectic taste. Daniel Quinn, Alice
Walker, Marc Kingwall, Shel Silvestein, Jane Jacob, Christopher
Alexander, Lewis Thomas, Margaret Laurence, Charles De Lint.... I read
fiction novel, Science fiction - fantasy, Non-fiction, Biography,... In
books format, short story, or in magazines.
Favorite magazines: Utne Reader, Organic Gardening, The Sun, Natural
life, Natural Learning, HEM Mag., and lots more...

Spouse's name: Brian

Spouse's profession: Information security consultant (second carreer ).
My editor.

Spouse's interest: Drummer, woodworking, cars, reading, music, playing
sport games with his sons, games, movies, sports on T.V., golf, Me

Children's name and ages: Marc 16, Philip 16, Lewis 10

Twins interest: Reading( science fictions especially), writing, music (
playing and listening), sports games, card games , chess, sports on
T.V., movies, curves on the street ( especially on girls), Drama,
discussing issues, hiking, computer games, Tae Kwon Do (ITF),
Architecture, A.I., golfing, Popular science, Star Trek, Internet, email
with their friends, "Who's line it is anyway" type shows, piano and guitar

Lewis interests: The Simpsons, movies, music, drama, playing games of
any kind, some reading of adventure stories, (Very outspoken and
auditory), roller blading, skateboard (or snow boarding in the winter) ,
Tae Kwon Do, Scout, hiking, camping, computer games, golfing, space,
Star Trek, sleep over with his friends, piano , guitar, singing, lego (
big ships and robots),

Favorites books: For the twins: R.H. Hamilton, Frank Herbert ( or his
son) , or any other science fiction authors. They read series. They
like comedy also. And lots more...
For Lewis: Scott Adams, Calvin & Hobbes, and J.Fritzgerald McCurdy (
Still sorting out reading )

Unschooling experiences: The boys have never been in schools. They
have taken organized classes. They have been to workshops. They have
done workshops. I read all ( the late) John Holt books, some before
the boys were born. I read all Growing Without Schooling ( from # 1 to
the end), I read all( the late) Donn Reed's books, and lots more.
We don't school. If we use a text book it's as reference and by
choice. We live, learn, argue, have great conversations, enjoy, play a
lot, travel, enjoy good food which we shop for, grow, cook together .
In the next few days, we will be shopping for a new Home together.
Each of us, five, are different learner types, different
personalities. We tend to view ideas from different perspectives. Makes
for lively discussions. In 1998, I read Mary Griffith' book "The
Unschooling Handbook" and thouht : "Ah, Ah! This is what we've been
doing. It does seem to have an official name"...

Unschooling Questions or Concerns: University opportunity in Ontario
for home based learner ( not so good).

Unschooling Joys: Blessings are understood in the background of their
absences. When I compare my happy sons with teenagers on the streets...
I feel bless.
But there are also these moments, I would like to trap in time: Like
when the three of them played guitar in a concert last month ( they only
started to play last November ); or seeing them acting plays they
authored; Or seeing the twins and one of their friend putting a whole
service for the fellowship ( Philip was the service leader ! ); Or
listening to Lewis discussing computer system configurations with one
of our specialist friend...( and our friend was awed by his knowledge,
which was way over my head )
In other words, seeing them fit so well in life.

Unschooling does work. It's learning with pleasure. An unschooler is a healthy life-long learner.
Lucie






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