What have your kids been doing lately?

As an unschooling family, this seemingly innocent question can be a stumper. Of course our days are full of activity, but sometimes it doesn't always sound "productive" to others.

Yesterday I was at a friend's house because her son was hosting a D&D get together & Shaun was attending. The other kids were from homeschooling families, but not unschooling families. Much of the discussion was around the different studies the children were involved with - particularly math. After a long discourse on the different branches of mathematics & the national exams the kids were taking, etc., I got asked The Question. What have your kids been doing lately?

Gulp.

"Well, we've been big on watching the Buffy the Vampire Slayer & Angel series. We've been trading videos with our friends down in Georgia. We just got back from Tennessee & North Carolina & have been busy talking about the things we want for our finished basement. Umm, & we've been, umm..."

Blech!

As I said the above I knew it sounded lame in comparison to what the others had just been talking about, but that's what popped into my head. Of course I forgot that we had recently been to the Boston Science Museum & learned about mythological creatures & the myth stories that came from the constellations. And I forgot that while in Asheville, our friend Alice brought us to this cool open art gallery at the old Woolworth building that had displays of paintings, including digital, photography, pottery, jewelry & sculptures. And, of course, all that driving from here to the south & back gives us plenty of time to talk about a whole host of topics, but that is so hard to use as "Proof of Learning". Our learning - each of us - is happening in the moment, as we see things, hear things, feel things, taste things. I know it's happening, it just can be so hard to describe it in conversation with others.

Oh, well...maybe I'll describe it better next time!