Travel and Learning

Hey Kids,

Today I am getting ready for a trip to Tucson with all of you, my family. I am so excited to have the chance to see caves and stars in the same city! What a wonderful learning experience for my children. The art, the atmosphere, the beauty of the desert sky at night. I am thrilled and can not wait!

I was thinking today about all the places I have visited, traveled too and lived through out this wonderful country in my life time. I have been more places then most ever get a chance to and yet I know I have yet to scratch the surface. As a world traveler I am sadly lacking having only lived in one other country and visited only a handful more.

My thoughts however went to the idea that part of who I am, part of what has helped create who I am is all the traveling I have done. I have seen the world from "another's" point of view and it has opened me up to more ideas and more understandings. I see travel as a necessary part of Homeschooling. Only by seeing other places, meeting other people, living in another persons shoe even for only a few days or weeks can help broaden your view and enlighten you to more of what life has to offer.

We are living in a strange time full of paradox. Science and Morality at odds with each other. Nature and Mankind struggling to find a balance. Conservative religious zealots afraid of any changes to the status quo and a world full of people who can not and will not be kept down anymore for the comfort of a few.

Everyday in millions of ways I am presented with learning and teaching opportunities for myself and my children. Teaching the truth and not the party line is not easy but you have all become wonderful debaters and can discuss a wide variety of deep and even abstract ideas with shocked adults.

All of you will have a broader view of this country and our global community. I do not know who you will become as adults, Advocates, Doctors, Teachers or Artist but it matters little because I trust the process and I like who you are as people.
I genuinely like who you are already.

My teenager you are smart, funny, articulate, talented and able to "think" for yourself. My seven year old you amazes me with the level of questions you ask and the depth of his ability to retain knowledge. My two year old, you expresses compassion and gratitude on a level well beyond your years.

My children are learning to think for themselves.

Plato said "It is the sign of an educated mind to be able to entertain and idea without having to except it."

I use that as a guide stick for teaching all of you. I want you to meet people, go places and gather all kinds of information, thoughts and ideas; then be able to study, think and reason out the truth for yourselves.

Raising children who will be adults that can "THINK" what a revolutionary concept today.

So now I am getting ready for Tucson and all the adventures and ideas this tip might bring us. Who will we meet along the way? What will we see that will broaden our thinking or open us to a new idea? Who will we inspire to think beyond their current reach? The possibilities are truly endless aren't they!

To Be Continued...