Unschooling Blog, Vol. 40: Hair Cut and Ice Cream Date for Me and the Boy!
My family and I were bumming around the house today, my beard too long, in need of a shower, some movement, and just a general change of outlook. Isaiah’s hair was all scraggly, too, since the last best effort at a haircut I gave him around a month ago.
I had to shake the stagnancy, and get us out to do something. I took out the clippers, shaved my head and gave my beard a trim. Then me and Isaiah hit the shower and tub, and headed out to get his hair cut, and get some ice cream!
I was very impressed with how he was able to hold a conversation with the stylist at the barber shop. He spoke to her in a very cheerful, almost “adult” fashion, until the end when he kept saying “Are you done? Are you done yet!?”
I was sitting on the other end of the room impressed. My little guy can more than hold his own in a conversation. I felt very proud of him.
After leaving the barber shop we headed to Baskin Robbins for some ice cream. There we talked about the different flavors, the English written on the store wall which read “Eat Dessert First!” and drew some pictures on small pieces of paper provided by the store for writing orders (or some other such purpose).
Isaiah drew some cool designs and then invited me to do the same. We came up with some neat stuff and figured we could make a card game out of it later. After we finished our ice cream, and I had imbibed a warm cup of coffee, we cleaned up our table and headed over to the resale shop down the street, for one final stop before heading home.
At the resale shop Isaiah found the hanko (name stamps used to sign official documents here in Japan) display, and began to make a game consisting of multiple levels, out of moving the various stamps around in different patterns. I didn’t understand the rules, but marveled at how he was so engaged and focused on the game he had created.
Life is learning. Learning never stops. We had a nice little outing full of unschool experiences and actual learning today, and for that I am very happy!
Wishing you all a fruitful and productive day full of unlearning the useless stuff! ;)
~*~
(Thanks for stopping by! If you missed the last Unschooling Blog, Vol. 39: “Polishing Rice and Making Some Crypto,” you can find it HERE.
~KafkA
Graham Smith is a Voluntaryist activist, creator, and peaceful parent residing in Niigata City, Japan. Graham runs the "Voluntary Japan" online initiative with a presence here on Steem, as well as Facebook and Twitter. (Hit me up so I can stop talking about myself in the third person!)
I feel with you.
I recently went for a walk with my daughter and have experienced again how easily kids tend to learn and had two takeaways for me:
First ->even the small things are interesting (puddle of water - what a nice toy)
Second-> slow down - there are so many things to see.
My daughter explained me in her own words (language) what she is doing - brilliant feeling for a dad.
Go for it
I love this. Thanks for sharing part of your experience with me here. Blessings to you and your wonderful daughter!
Oh.. pretty cool. Thanks
that's amazing dear, Isaiah is possibly going to be an artists, it's good as you study his activities for that is one of the way to discover what a child is really talented with rather than forcing him to do what is not inline with his personality, you have gotten his scope, so to know more of what he is capeable of, you need more and constant outing with him.
You never can imagine the ability of a child until you expose him to chances.
thanks for the short writeup.
MY REGARDS TO ISAIAH
Thanks so much for this warm and thoughtful comment.
wow, I really appreciate this dear, thanks a million.
Seeing him growing up must fill your heart with pride and joy but I'm sure on the other hand you would like or even rewind the time. I already have this feeling with our little girl, everything moves so fast or is it just me who became to slow?
I feel you. Sometimes I feel I have missed so much, and should have slowed down more to enjoy everything. The stream keeps moving. Enjoy what I can, and always try to remember that life is a gift.
Always try to enjoy it to the MAX!
I'm working on it!!
Somehow your post has inspired me to some writing, let's see what I will come up with
Kids are not only amazing but also very intelligent too. Your son is so cute and brelient to deal things properly. It's the results of a good company and support, I am sure he will be a hero to the people one day. Thanks for sharing such a beautiful post my friend, enjoy your day.
Thank you so much. I think that he will, too.
Blessings to you and your family.
Isaiah has such a cool dad. I tried to pick out a few methods you use to raise your kid. I'm very interested in how you teach and guide your kid through life, because I'm about to be a dad soon. Need to pick up on a few things here and there. You sharing these things with us, could be proven useful. Your son though, is lucky to have such a supporting Dad. Me personally didn't have this in life, I want to change this for my children. I want to be there for them and guide them, in as much as I can. There will be a time where they have to spread their own wings, but hopefully I can still be there when they need some help or advice.
It's hard man. Me and my dad's relationship was rough as well. He was too angry and emotionally volatile so I withdrew early, and this often was frustrating for him as well, as he truly did, I believe, want to be the best dad for me. We are doing better now.
The main thing is to be patient with yourself man. Lots of things usually need to heal after a rough childhood, and as a dad, you will definitely fuck up sometimes. Just remember it's all a process.
You should check out the books How Children Learn and How Children Fail by John Holt if you have time. I think they'd blow your mind. Also Summerhill by A.S. Neill. I'm sure I've probably mentioned these before, but they're definitely worth it, not only for your child, but for you, I'd guess!
These books helped me to heal and fucking set me free on so many levels! Peace!
Thanks man, the last time your recommendations we're about how to teach my kid English and English kids books. I'll check out Amazon today. Kinda late with the read, had a very shitty few days.... Stomach pain.
@kafkanarchy84 - It is really great to see how the creative mind of a child gets engaged in learning at every opportunity - irrespective of whether it is a 'formal' learning environment or not. The ability to create designs and think of creating games is something not normally seen in usual 'schooled' children. I think that is a great development and perhaps will further develop in future.
Thanks for sharing this. Interesting to learn new ways in which un-schooling does wonders. Upvoted.
Regards,
![](https://steemitimages.com/DQmaJ2HfMDXuvpZTno49rP8v8wu4YfC82iWMULLUjZJKv3b/image.png)
@vm2904
Brilliant kid :) It is always interesting to interact with kids and see what they are up to. Pure creativity and curiosity.
Thanks! Kids are amazing, aren’t they?
Indeed they are!
As a young adult (without children of my own), I can only say that I guess fatherhood is a whole new paradigm of feelings and experiences that cannot be described in words. I am looking forward to exploring that world someday.
very sweet boy. you seem to have a lot of fun @kafkanarchy84
There's absolutely nothing better in the world than spending time with your kids! Especially when they're so young. My (3) children are grown now, and I miss the days gone by, intensely, but we can never go back.
Thanks for you post. You have a beautiful son...and a new follower! lol