Sandra Dodd

I cut this off the bottom of a post about what cooking is about, and
what housecleaning is about.

Yesterday in the chat we talked about relatives quizzing kids, and
asking the moms questions about unschooling, and about the defensive
feelings that can arise in the mom. Sometimes the other person has
no sinister purpose, but is just being awkwardly conversational.
Sometimes they honestly want to know more about unschooling.
Sometimes they want to be intimidating and insulting. Rather than
have a policy on how to respond, it's good to consider what their
motives and intent are.

What is their purpose in asking?

What is the purpose of baking?

What is the purpose of a house? What are houses for? What are houses
about?

What is learning about?
That's a good question that's been in my head lately.
What is the purpose of learning?

Sandra



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Su Penn

On Jun 2, 2009, at 10:29 AM, Sandra Dodd wrote:

>
> What is the purpose of a house? What are houses for? What are houses
> about?

In the otherwise horrible remake of Yours, Mine, and Ours, Rene
Russo's characters is getting ready for her first date with Dennis
Quaid's character, and her many children ask her if perhaps she
shouldn't clean up the house before he comes. She says, "Homes are for
self-expression, not good impressions." I would totally cross-stitch
that on a sampler if I had the time and talent!

Su

mom of Eric, 8; Carl, 5; Yehva, almost 2

Sandra Dodd

About houses, I was going to look up what others had written. I found
a quote that said a house was a machine for living in, but that's too
much like Krang's Android Body or the Power Rangers big bots. My
house isn't a machine, though the doors might be, in a way.

I thought of other ways to look it up, and found laws and such, but
not philosophy. I'm sure it's out there. I did come across the
phrase "dwelling unit," to refer to whatever: house, apartment, tent
or just whatever it might be.

George Carlin said a house is a place to put your stuff.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvgN5gCuLac
(It turns a little "particular" at the end, but the beginning is good
for any audience.)

Sandra

guideforthree

===== "Homes are for self-expression, not good impressions." ====


This reminded me of my favorite line from a book I read years ago:

"We're raising boys now. We'll raise grass later."

I think of that anytime I start to get uptight about the house, yard, etc.

Tina

Sandra Dodd

-=-"We're raising boys now. We'll raise grass later."

I think of that anytime I start to get uptight about the house, yard,
etc.-=-

My yard this year is full and thick and a little bit prissy, even,
because my kids are 17 and 20 and Gone, and so I'm not worried that
kids will tromp through. When/if there are grandchildren who want
to play in my yard, I will forego any prissiness and plan for kid-
tromping.

Years back when we knew way in advance that a young friend was going
to visit in October, I planted a flower house for her (an A-frame
morning glory house) and a pumpkin patch. Nowadays there are trees
and lawn where that pumpkin patch once was, but I wanted her to be
able to pick her own jack-o-lantern, and she did and we had a great
time.

The purpose of the yard is to be a place we can go to do something,
and store some things. This year our yard has more garden function
than other years. I have potatoes, onions, dill, cumin (don't know if
that will work) and tomatoes. But if there are years in the future
with no edibles I won't be crushed. We live a one-minute walk from a
supermarket.

Sandra

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Joanna Murphy

... and tomatoes. But if there are years in the future
> with no edibles I won't be crushed. We live a one-minute walk from a
> supermarket.
>
> Sandra
>
Oh--but the heavenly joy of those fresh garden tomatoes... Excuse me, I have to clean the drool off of the keyboard! <bwg>

Joanna