Not So Mainstream It Turns Out

Not mainstream.

The evidence is mounting. I am not a mainstream person. And by association, neither are Commuter Husband, Oldest Son and Youngest Son.

It seems that I frequently find myself in situations or with opinions very few around me share.

Consider the following ...

The Obvious: 
Commuter Husband has a job in Houston and the rest of our little family works and goes to school in Dallas. While newspaper articles and experts claim more and more families are considered a Commuter Family, I personally know zero families who have made this choice.

The Week: None of these events were high on the mainstream spectrum especially within a 5 day period ...

• Politics - On October 16th, the boys' school held a "Civil Discourse on the Presidential Debate." Four debate coaches (one from University in NE) facilitated a screening of the Presidential Debate in an Upper School Lecture Hall. It was SO cool and Oldest Son and Youngest Son thought it was as cool as I did. I was the only parent there with a Middle School and/or Lower School student. While I did not expect a huge turn out, I was surprised to find the three of us being such oddballs.
• Human Rights - On October 17th, I attended a documentary screening and panel discussion of "It's A Girl" sponsored by the Gendercide Awareness Project, World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth and Embrey Human Rights Program of Southern Methodist University. I was thrilled that one person I knew from my Sunday morning Jewish Studies class hooked up with me there.
• Mud - On October 20th, Commuter Husband, Oldest Son and Youngest Son participated in a 5K Mud Race. It was hilarious and we joined one other unclean family for the occasion.
• While this was just one sample week, I find myself at stuff that very few others do. Allot.

The Liberal:
Thank goodness for my friends who tolerate me. I get more and more socially liberal every year. I mean I have really, really strong opinions about rights for women and gay/lesbian families.

Parenting:
Some of my not so mainstream tendencies include ...

• Free-range child rearing philosophy - see the link on my blog sidebar for an explanation
• Homework - No Homework for 6th grade and under; way, way less homework for 7th grade and above
• Chores & Play - If kids do not have a zillion hours of homework then they would have time to do lots more household chores and play outside
• AP Classes - why? go to college when in college
• Gaming, Phones, iPads, etc. - wait as long as possible, not never just not when age 6 or 7 or ...
• Limos - how about when they get married?
• No organized team sports before 3rd grade. None. Zilch.
• Better stop ... there is more of course ...

Jewish:
I converted from Southern Baptist to Reform Jewish. But even in my chosen Judaism, I am an outlier. Same theme, I make lots of choices that most Jews (I know) do not.

Random Life Thoughts:

• It is not Fair. Deal and move on. Apparently, I have an over-abundance of Grit.
• I am uncomfortable with overt recognition of any type.
• I enjoy talking about something other than my children on occasion. This includes conversations between Commuter Husband and me.
• I enjoy Rustic more than the Ritz.
• New experiences energize me.
• I want to change the world. Really. Not like a famous person but in a real way in a real community. I have just not figured out how to do it yet. At age 47, I am feeling a little mid-life pressure on this one.

I could go on and on ...