Tuesday was our first day back to CC community for the new school year. I thoroughly enjoyed our well-deserved time off for the holidays, but I’m glad to be back into the swing of things.

Driving the organic schoolbus

And considering that “When do we go back to CC?” had been the kids’ refrain the second Christmas came to an end, I know the 3 Amigos are rested and ready for this semester’s adventures in learning. I suppose there’s something in all people, even the type-B personality, that craves routine and structure.

I (a naturally leaning type-A gal) am careful not to take regimen to an extreme, though. After all, this chaotic world requires sane people to sometimes make peace with disorder.

Also, letting go of rigid perfectionism and scheduling can open up the gates of creativity and spontaneity. In fact, this is often when we as a homeschool family to our best and most productive work.

Christie describes my teaching style as “organic,” to wit I always ask, “Is that just your nice way of calling me a slacker?” Ever-honest and sweet, Christie, of course, is seriously paying me a compliment.

I strive to be the driver, not the driven, and try to avoid letting the anxiety-inducing details and relentless inessentials cloud my simple educational mission. This is my guiding philosophy not just in home education, but also in politics and in parenting.

Driving the limousine liberals nuts

Remember back in a November blog when I wrote that freedom is increasingly perceived by the masses as being uncool? It’s one of the things the progressives and socialists do best — incrementally co-opt language — and they are brilliant at it.

For instance, a Georgetown University professor of law closed out 2012 by writing in the NY Times that America has a “dysfunctional political system” because of “our obsession with the Constitution … with all its archaic, idiosyncratic and downright evil provisions.”

“But before abandoning our heritage of self-government,” concludes Prof. Seidman, “we ought to try extricating ourselves from constitutional bondage so that we can give real freedom a chance.”

In other words, freedom can only exist by getting rid of the very document that was designed to protect human liberty; and anything less than this is slavery. See how he so cavalierly dismisses history, and twists knowledge, truth and the meaning of words?

Knowledge & history: When not blatantly ignored by those sworn to uphold it, the Constitutional separation of powers and its methodical approach guard against despotism, mob rule and overreaching laws by purposefully slowing down the wheels of government. It is our safety net.

That is not archaic; it is as current as ever. There are more than 4,000 federal statutes on the books now. Honestly, who thinks we are lacking in the number of laws and need to speed up the pace at which bureaucrats usurp our liberties?

It is he, Seidman, who preaches a doctrine that is as old as time: the covetous want of power and influence (which always lead to loads of taxpayer cash) as his monarch sits atop the throne, coupled with a God-complex notion that he and his aristocratic brethren know what’s best.

Meaning of words: As a writer, this tool long used by propagandists — spanning the globe from tinpot dictatorships to imperial oligarchies, and fashionable fascists to homegrown authoritarians — is an annoyance I take rather particularly to heart. Here are some of my favorites:

“Choice” means “only the option the statists endorse,” “tolerance” means “acceptance,” “equality” means “equal outcome,” not “equal opportunity,” “fairness” means “redistribution of wealth,” “diversity” means “elevating one group over another,” “multi-culturalism” means “you should feel guilty,” “free” means “something that comes from legal plunder” and “self-defense” means being “pro-murder.”

To me, freedom is the “exemption from external control, interference, regulation” and the power to “act, speak or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint,” as long as your action doesn’t infringe upon another individual’s liberties.

To Seidman, freedom is government picks winners and losers, grants rights and has the purview to take them away, endorses group rights over the individual, and should be unstoppable in its efforts to grow the insatiable bureaucratic behemoth — all with no check, no counter, no buffer to its lust for power and profit.

But as the saying goes, “Those who anger you, control you,” so becoming enraged at the authoritarian rants of a law professor in a publication of disinformation is counterproductive. Plus, it bums me out.

At its conclusion, the CC Timeline song says, “Rising tide of freedom … I’m part of my timeline.” And that’s exactly right: liberty-loving individuals like me and you must take the wheel and drive home the fact that freedom is always cool, in vogue and on the march. Let’s get busy, folks!

Driving the kiddie train to discipline depot

Considering that the boys are all determined, willful little buggers, I have to be extremely purposeful in my parenting. Otherwise, the 3 Amigos — who all know what buttons to push — would be the conductors and I would simply be an aimless passenger.

To try to decrease my emotionality and increase my intentionality, I have created the Clan Dillingham Family Rules (thanks for the idea, Nanny 911). The document, which is a work in progress, is not meant to be a harsh edict, but rather a guideline for everyone in the family, parents and kids alike.

It is amazing that something as simple as a list of rules has actually helped. I have been more methodical and calm in my approach, and subsequently, the boys have been easier to parent.

Stephen and I are also reading “You Can’t Make Me (But I Can Be Persuaded),” by Cynthia Ulrich Tobias. Not just your average self-help book, the author is a former cop and teacher, an admitted strong-willed personality and mother of one strong-willed child.

We were first introduced to Tobias while listening to a Focus On the Family podcast series and her advice was so fresh and different from any parenting/discipline advice we’d ever heard. Check out the Top 10 List for Bringing Out the Best in a Strong-Willed Child.

They’re all smart tips, but No. 5 has probably been the easiest for me. For instance, every time tantrum-prone Zeke screeches “I want …” during the onset of a meltdown, the rest of us holler, “Whistling pig!” It ticks Zeke off initially, but he usually ends up laughing along with the rest of us.

Another one of my comedic tricks is the use of Looney Tunes characters Speedy Gonzalez and his cousin, Slowpoke Rodriguez. I showed the boys some YouTube videos to familiarize them with the storied mice — definitely an easy sell to the 3 Amigos.

Now when I need them to be fast and efficient, we joke about whoever’s being Slowpoke; when I need them to concentrate or be calm, we joke about Speedy. It’s not a sure cure for the zaniness of boyhood, but it works much of the time, and gets us giggling at the very least.

Honorable mentions

Since Stephen and I are old and tired, we did nothing special for New Year’s Eve, even though it was 14 years ago that night when we fell in love in the Big Apple. Perhaps we’ll get out next year to celebrate our crystal anniversary. (Hint hint.)

Last Saturday, Gabriel didn’t have basketball, so Stephen took the boys swimming at the Y. They hadn’t gone to the pool in ages and all the kids had a blast showing daddy their pool moves from summer.

We’re thinking that when basketball wraps up, we’re going to take a break from sports in order to free up our Saturdays. The more open our schedules, the more boys-only and family outings we can have … and the more likely we can finally take the whole clan camping.

Till next time, I wish you good health and happiness for the new year!