The Orangutan Academy

Thanksgiving is about gratitude, family & friends. This Thanksgiving I'm grateful for all of the above but also for two particular moments that really helped me gain insight into the people my sweet twins are becoming.

Nobody wants a sick child. What if I told you about a secret source of healing that may not be highly recognizable ...but could potentially save you and your child heartache, trauma and even money? Listen to our story and decide for yourself what is best for you and your family.

We've said it before...it takes all kinds of kind to make this world go round. This concept is being heavily introduced into our homeschooling styles of learning and observations. While finding gratitude in the functionality of our family household unit we are simultaneously finding gratitude in the awareness of differences among those in our community.

Where did our childlike minds go after we assumed the responsibilities of adulthood? Did we have to make that sacrifice? How can we get it back and if we do get it back could this evolve into a tremendously more perfect way to help our children understand our world?

Connections and conversations with the people around us impacts our every decision. It is within these relationships we find the strength to muster up the courage to allow growth opportunities to take place no matter how painful they may be.

Establishing boundaries is not easy but it is necessary. Teaching how to establish boundaries with our children and for our children seems even harder and can only be done through conscious effort and observation...at least that's the case in our household.

What does living in America mean? Freedom! We can say, think, feel & express what it is we think will make this country even better than it was yesterday. At The Orangutan Academy we are making sure these kids understand the impact of their own voice.

Any origin of inspiration can be viewed as if it were a tree with roots that grow and branch into new ideas and better ways to accomplish our goals on Earth. Today I am interviewing my husband to discuss his unusual hobby and how this hobby, having it's own origin, has further developed new origins for those around him. Other podcast mentioned- Caroline Leaf

Entropy by definition is lack of order or predictability. Wildly colorful entropy is the creative space in my mind that allows me to set whimsical goals that are accomplished through the application of art and color. I'm recognizing this same concept within my own children which has in turn allowed me the privilege of witnessing their own products come to life and how this changes their attitude f...

Is it gasoline or CO2 or fossil fuels? Could it possibly be the way we've been driven to strive for ‘better’ for our families and our houselholds? Where does your energy go?... And who decides for you where your energy goes and what your dreams should be?

Life gets hard and when we find ourselves in the arms of complacency the effects can be detrimental to our mental, emotional and physical health. In this episode I share my experience in tackling these seasonal pests born from our own stagnation and resistance or the combination of the two.

I'm sure there are very few worlds where these two items, tatoos and toothbrushes, have much in common. Within my experience on this planet, I want to share with you how dreams and inspiration have lead to potential inspiration and achievement for whatever is important to one's self...potentially being my children. Podcast mentioned: Rachel Hollis

The definition of a Wonderful Soul in our household has inspired our children's view of death and what death means. I couldn't have imagined this blessing that has allowed this transition of such a complex topic...especially with our toddlers and young children. This topic is not scary and it is not to be avoided or suppressed but simply embraced. This accidentally stumbled upon description of dea...

We've all heard the saying "Give the man a fish he eats for a day. Teach the man the to fish he eats for a lifetime". This is no different in the Orangutan Academy classroom. And even though we are not perfect and we fail, there are moments of triumph that deserve to be discussed because within those moments lies hope for what is to come. We owe our children the opportunity for the best version of...

There are experiences from childhood that help shape me into the adult I've become. Sometimes there are amazing siblings that help further guide you once you've become an adult. But most importantly, I think, there can be further growth within in our own minds when we recognize that our children are not a reincarnation of our childhood and childhood experiences; however, there is so much to be lea...

One of the most magical inner spaces for me is often reached from circumstances in which I found myself vulnerable. Although this uneasy feeling most often time feels unbearable, it somehow forges this path that, I believe, could be the key to building a protective and loving community for our kids. My most recent experience involves the twins soccer registration for this spring season. Netflix co...

"OH. MY GOSH... my child makes me feel SO frustrated because they ____________ (fill in the blank)". But what if...WHAT IF... it's possible to recognize that my feeling of frustration is my own and that feeling stems from a past experience mixed with stubborn neural pathways built to do and react a certain way?...And WHAT IF there is this magical, invisible & spooky link between parent and child d...

Oh the things we do not know. For example... did you know loofah's grow on vines? They do! And we grow them here at The Orangutan Academy. This is the story of when I became the student and my twins the teachers... and it started with seeds.

This Mamma’s journey begins with…food labels! YES! FOOD LABELS! I’ll walk you through the beginning of Mammahood for me and how events in my life led to the decision to homeschool our twins. Even when this mission felt impossible, the path was already being paved.