My name is JOJO and I'm a...

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Cosmic Fool, a Clown, all with capital letters AS I see these things
AS a higher calling!

I stumbled on this site and hope to share some thoughts and conversation. I'm an older single woman raising my second
family having adopted a little girl when I was 45. She has been
dx with AS and we enjoy our life, though I seem to have taken
an esoteric vow of poverty.

We homeschool and do lots of art and learn history through art,
not war. I've recently taken up drawing with colored pencils and find it a fascinating, soothing... stim.
Here's hoping for acceptance and meaning.

JOJO, autism art, auti smart, autismart!

Hi,

What is the 'esoteric' view of poverty?

Welcome to the site.

Hi! I'm homeschooling my kids, too. This is our 12th year.
I don't understand most of your post.

Hi Postperson, thanks for the welcome. I don't think esoteric is the right word for what I was trying to say. It seems that upon the adoption, even though I didn't really take a vow of poverty, for the past 12 years I've been totally pennyless. I guess I was trying to say that there seemed to be a vow taken but I didn't really take it.

Cindy, nice to meet another homeschooler. I'm hoping that the question marks in your post mean that you're asking me to explain what I was trying to convey about myself.

I was trying to say in my post that I look upon the fool, the clown etc. in a favorable light. Those terms are not put downs to me.

I adopted a child when I was 45. I also have a 40yo NT daughter.
So first I raised one child to adulthood then began over again with a baby. We have been pennyless ever since.

Art is a big part of our homeschool program. We study history through study of art. We do art projects daily.

I've just started drawing with colored pencils and you just draw layer after layer till you cover a blank page with a picture. You don't mix colors like with oil paint or watercolor but achieve colors through layers. Making those layers is very soothing to me.

Lastly I am hoping to be accepted here and have meaningful conversation.

Peace, JOJO

Your colored pencil drawing sounds fascinating!
I also do a lot of art work with my kids.

There is history in art, but to refuse to aknowledge the history behind war will leave her ignorant of how the world came to be the way it is and how thing might be changable.

hello and welcome...have to say that I am not too high on the "homeschool" bit though...oh well... hope you enjoy it here.

Hi, Jojo. Welcome!

I think it's fascinating that you have a little girl who was diagnosed with AS. How smart is she?

Do you like to learn new things? I do, and I like history because it reminds me not to make the same mistakes I had made before.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy posting here, and you remember that a number of us are online throughout the day. We are here when you need us!

[quote="Sean
There is history in art, but to refuse to aknowledge the history behind war will leave her ignorant of how the world came to be the way it is and how thing might be changable.

Thoughtful reply Sean, thanks. We don't completely ignore the
concept of war, but we focus little on the individual battles and the definition of history as a string of wars. We also keep our learning somewhat in line with state/age level standards. For instance 6th graders learn about the Civil War. We have researched the visual art of that era and place, sort of as a reference point to discuss the issues that led to such a bloody, horrific civil war. We have read the available journals and diaries written by children living through (for instance) the destruction of Atlanta, which was shocking and real to her on her level. (and also opened her eyes to the different roles children had during that time period. )

That being said we concentrate more on the art and culture of civilizations (right now ancient Greece), during which the conflicts, invasions and resulting changes cannot be ignored.

I don't know if that makes sense, but I'm trying to teach her in a way that does not define things as, say, US history curriculum = The revolutionary War, Civil War, World War 1, World War 2 etc...

JOJO