My overdue intro, plus TV/movies (LONG)
chixathome
Hi, group!
I've posted here a handful of times, but I've yet to offer
a "formal" intro (my bad!), so here we go!
My name is Paige Parr, and my family and I live and learn and laugh
and love in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia
(specifically, Waynesboro VA...about 30 min. from Charlottesville).
I'm mom to four amazing girls: Shelby (12), Tori (7), Ashlyn (6),
and Loryn (aka Lolo, 3). My two younger girls have been diagnosed
with autism. Ashlyn's diagnosis was the main reason I held off on
unschooling...I just thought it wasn't possible to unschool with
kids on the spectrum...everyone I spoke with about autism, every
book I read on the subject, stressed the need for structure:
structured school time, structured "playtime" (WHAT?), meals,
bedtimes, etc. To me, unschooling equaled FREEDOM, and every
resource I stumbled across stressed that "these children" couldn't
handle that (glorious!) freedom. It wasn't until I had dug deeper
that I found (through Sandra Dodd's site, and unschooling.info, and
the shine group) that MANY families with special needs kids were
unschooling, and their children were living beautiful FULL lives.
So we jumped in with both feet and haven't looked back since. And,
surprise, surprise...autism has barely entered my vocabulary since
we began our journey. It just hasn't been an issue...the girls are
just their own amazing selves and we no longer focus on how
to "help" them be more "normal" (whatever THAT is)!
Anyway, the recent TV thread has been interesting to read. Since we
began deschooling (almost a year ago), we've let go of tv controls.
We have three TVs now, big plasma screen with DVR in living room,
smaller TV with Gamecube in Tori's and Ash's room, and another big
TV in our bedroom (with PS2 and DVR). My husband and I enjoy LOTS
of TV, movies, and music that mainstream parents might try to
shelter their kids from...and to be honest, I sometimes wonder if
we're a little *too* open with regards to what the kids listen to or
watch.
One recent example: Shelby and Tori caught the tail end of the
movie "Love Actually" the other night on Showtime or HBO (not sure
which). Well, it just so happens that it's one of my most favorite
films ever, and it *was* at the end of the film, where all the
little stories are being tied up, happy endings and all that. *I*
had fun pointing out Alan Rickman, and telling the girls that he
played Snape in the Harry Potter films (to which they replied, "No
he DOESN'T...that guy is too OLD!") and also Emma Thompson, who
played Prof. Trelawney in the HP films, and that Liam Neeson had
played Ra's al Ghul in the latest Batman flick, so on and so on.
Shelby commented that Colin Firth was CUTE, then it was off and we
were getting changed for bed. Shelby asked me to see if it came on
again, and if I could record it on the DVR. She was pleased when I
told her that I owned the movie on DVD, and that she could watch it
anytime she wanted.
So then, next day I'm putting laundry away and I see Shelby in the
girls room watching "Love Actually" on the DVD player. I watched a
bit with her, then went on with the laundry. Fast forward an hour
or so, and Shelby comes up to me and says, "Hey Mom...what was the
deal with the actors who fell in love during the porn film?". (Side
note: in the movie there is a sub-plot or side-story about a man
and woman who *simulate* sexual positions on adult movies...they are
not the actual actors, but they "act out" the bits so that camera
positions and lighting can be set up. Anyway, the couple is very
sweet and innocent, this is just a job to them, and they end up
getting to know each other and falling in love). Well, you can
imagine that for a split second I was completely flustered and
kicking myself over NOT remembering that part of the movie. I just
had to quickly remind myself to be honest with her. I explained
that to me, it was funny...maybe ironic...that these two people
would fall in love on the set of an adult movie, and that sex had
NOTHING to do with their relationship...they were just very
innocently falling in love. She was just like, "OK", and that was
it...she just wanted to know more about that particular part of the
flick. No harm meant, and she trusted me enough to ask, and I
trusted her enough to answer her honestly, just as I would any
adult.
So anyway, that's us. I've enjoyed being here, learning from all of
you, and I'm looking forward to reading/learning even more here.
Thanks for having me!
Paige
I've posted here a handful of times, but I've yet to offer
a "formal" intro (my bad!), so here we go!
My name is Paige Parr, and my family and I live and learn and laugh
and love in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia
(specifically, Waynesboro VA...about 30 min. from Charlottesville).
I'm mom to four amazing girls: Shelby (12), Tori (7), Ashlyn (6),
and Loryn (aka Lolo, 3). My two younger girls have been diagnosed
with autism. Ashlyn's diagnosis was the main reason I held off on
unschooling...I just thought it wasn't possible to unschool with
kids on the spectrum...everyone I spoke with about autism, every
book I read on the subject, stressed the need for structure:
structured school time, structured "playtime" (WHAT?), meals,
bedtimes, etc. To me, unschooling equaled FREEDOM, and every
resource I stumbled across stressed that "these children" couldn't
handle that (glorious!) freedom. It wasn't until I had dug deeper
that I found (through Sandra Dodd's site, and unschooling.info, and
the shine group) that MANY families with special needs kids were
unschooling, and their children were living beautiful FULL lives.
So we jumped in with both feet and haven't looked back since. And,
surprise, surprise...autism has barely entered my vocabulary since
we began our journey. It just hasn't been an issue...the girls are
just their own amazing selves and we no longer focus on how
to "help" them be more "normal" (whatever THAT is)!
Anyway, the recent TV thread has been interesting to read. Since we
began deschooling (almost a year ago), we've let go of tv controls.
We have three TVs now, big plasma screen with DVR in living room,
smaller TV with Gamecube in Tori's and Ash's room, and another big
TV in our bedroom (with PS2 and DVR). My husband and I enjoy LOTS
of TV, movies, and music that mainstream parents might try to
shelter their kids from...and to be honest, I sometimes wonder if
we're a little *too* open with regards to what the kids listen to or
watch.
One recent example: Shelby and Tori caught the tail end of the
movie "Love Actually" the other night on Showtime or HBO (not sure
which). Well, it just so happens that it's one of my most favorite
films ever, and it *was* at the end of the film, where all the
little stories are being tied up, happy endings and all that. *I*
had fun pointing out Alan Rickman, and telling the girls that he
played Snape in the Harry Potter films (to which they replied, "No
he DOESN'T...that guy is too OLD!") and also Emma Thompson, who
played Prof. Trelawney in the HP films, and that Liam Neeson had
played Ra's al Ghul in the latest Batman flick, so on and so on.
Shelby commented that Colin Firth was CUTE, then it was off and we
were getting changed for bed. Shelby asked me to see if it came on
again, and if I could record it on the DVR. She was pleased when I
told her that I owned the movie on DVD, and that she could watch it
anytime she wanted.
So then, next day I'm putting laundry away and I see Shelby in the
girls room watching "Love Actually" on the DVD player. I watched a
bit with her, then went on with the laundry. Fast forward an hour
or so, and Shelby comes up to me and says, "Hey Mom...what was the
deal with the actors who fell in love during the porn film?". (Side
note: in the movie there is a sub-plot or side-story about a man
and woman who *simulate* sexual positions on adult movies...they are
not the actual actors, but they "act out" the bits so that camera
positions and lighting can be set up. Anyway, the couple is very
sweet and innocent, this is just a job to them, and they end up
getting to know each other and falling in love). Well, you can
imagine that for a split second I was completely flustered and
kicking myself over NOT remembering that part of the movie. I just
had to quickly remind myself to be honest with her. I explained
that to me, it was funny...maybe ironic...that these two people
would fall in love on the set of an adult movie, and that sex had
NOTHING to do with their relationship...they were just very
innocently falling in love. She was just like, "OK", and that was
it...she just wanted to know more about that particular part of the
flick. No harm meant, and she trusted me enough to ask, and I
trusted her enough to answer her honestly, just as I would any
adult.
So anyway, that's us. I've enjoyed being here, learning from all of
you, and I'm looking forward to reading/learning even more here.
Thanks for having me!
Paige
[email protected]
In a message dated 1/22/2006 3:48:16 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,
chixathome@... writes:
Shelby commented that Colin Firth was CUTE
*****************
Watch Pride and Prejudice, BBC/A&E mini-series version ASAP!!! :)
I do recommend watching with the captions on until you get the Austen-speak
down.
Oh, and welcome Paige! I "know" you a bit from Shine.
Leslie in SC
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
chixathome@... writes:
Shelby commented that Colin Firth was CUTE
*****************
Watch Pride and Prejudice, BBC/A&E mini-series version ASAP!!! :)
I do recommend watching with the captions on until you get the Austen-speak
down.
Oh, and welcome Paige! I "know" you a bit from Shine.
Leslie in SC
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Paige Parr
Hi, Leslie!
Thanks for recommending "Pride and Prejudice"...I just put it on hold with my library. I'm trying to find other films with Colin Firth...I recorded "Girl with a Pearl Earring", so maybe we'll give that a shot.
I just love watching British films/actors, and it's a really good way for Shel and I to connect after the little ones have gone to bed, or are otherwise occupied. One of my faves is "Sense and Sensibility", directed by Ang Lee, who did "Brokeback Mountain" (AND "The Ice Storm" which is beautifully filmed). What a cool thing that "Sense and Sensibility" stars Emma Thompson, Hugh Grant, Kate Winslet (all faves here) AND Alan Rickman! Gotta love these connections...they're EVERYWHERE!
Shelby has been talking about England A LOT recently. She's got ME all excited about it...books, movies, music...she says she'd like to visit there one day. Who knows...maybe it'll happen!
Leslie530@... wrote:
In a message dated 1/22/2006 3:48:16 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,
chixathome@... writes:
Shelby commented that Colin Firth was CUTE
*****************
Watch Pride and Prejudice, BBC/A&E mini-series version ASAP!!! :)
I do recommend watching with the captions on until you get the Austen-speak
down.
Oh, and welcome Paige! I "know" you a bit from Shine.
Leslie in SC
---------------------------------
Yahoo! Photos Showcase holiday pictures in hardcover
Photo Books. You design it and well bind it!
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Thanks for recommending "Pride and Prejudice"...I just put it on hold with my library. I'm trying to find other films with Colin Firth...I recorded "Girl with a Pearl Earring", so maybe we'll give that a shot.
I just love watching British films/actors, and it's a really good way for Shel and I to connect after the little ones have gone to bed, or are otherwise occupied. One of my faves is "Sense and Sensibility", directed by Ang Lee, who did "Brokeback Mountain" (AND "The Ice Storm" which is beautifully filmed). What a cool thing that "Sense and Sensibility" stars Emma Thompson, Hugh Grant, Kate Winslet (all faves here) AND Alan Rickman! Gotta love these connections...they're EVERYWHERE!
Shelby has been talking about England A LOT recently. She's got ME all excited about it...books, movies, music...she says she'd like to visit there one day. Who knows...maybe it'll happen!
Leslie530@... wrote:
In a message dated 1/22/2006 3:48:16 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,
chixathome@... writes:
Shelby commented that Colin Firth was CUTE
*****************
Watch Pride and Prejudice, BBC/A&E mini-series version ASAP!!! :)
I do recommend watching with the captions on until you get the Austen-speak
down.
Oh, and welcome Paige! I "know" you a bit from Shine.
Leslie in SC
---------------------------------
Yahoo! Photos Showcase holiday pictures in hardcover
Photo Books. You design it and well bind it!
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
In a message dated 1/23/2006 3:15:22 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,
chixathome@... writes:
I just love watching British films/actors, and it's a really good way for
Shel and I to connect after the little ones have gone to bed, or are otherwise
occupied.
**********
I know you will enjoy P&P!
I think I've learned most of my European history/culture from Brit films.
They are much more liberal with the "f" word, so they tend to get R ratings
here. But if you can get over that I recommend "Billy Elliott" which is about
a striking coalminer's son that is born to be a dancer.....great movie.
Also, "Impromptu", the story of Chopin's (early Hugh Grant) affair with the
female writer Georges Sands (nom de plume). I haven't seen it for awhile, so I
can't remember anything to be aware of. And "Room with a View" (no f-word but
full frontal male nudity when the men go for a swim). It has Maggie Smith,
a.k.a. Professor McGonnigal! In a way, a great unschooling movie as it about
living with passion and being true to oneself.
I still haven't seen the Ice Storm, will put that on my Netflix queue!
Have fun! Leslie in SC
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
chixathome@... writes:
I just love watching British films/actors, and it's a really good way for
Shel and I to connect after the little ones have gone to bed, or are otherwise
occupied.
**********
I know you will enjoy P&P!
I think I've learned most of my European history/culture from Brit films.
They are much more liberal with the "f" word, so they tend to get R ratings
here. But if you can get over that I recommend "Billy Elliott" which is about
a striking coalminer's son that is born to be a dancer.....great movie.
Also, "Impromptu", the story of Chopin's (early Hugh Grant) affair with the
female writer Georges Sands (nom de plume). I haven't seen it for awhile, so I
can't remember anything to be aware of. And "Room with a View" (no f-word but
full frontal male nudity when the men go for a swim). It has Maggie Smith,
a.k.a. Professor McGonnigal! In a way, a great unschooling movie as it about
living with passion and being true to oneself.
I still haven't seen the Ice Storm, will put that on my Netflix queue!
Have fun! Leslie in SC
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]