"Mom, what is Latin for house cat?" "I don't know. Feline something or other?" "Well, I think its Felis domesticus." The golden moment is upon us. A second or two after I digested this little conversation I said to the children, "Dear ones, well educated people study a second language. So sometime during your homeschooling, you will be expected to study a second language. You may pick any language you desire. It really doesn't matter which you choose. But you are expected to choose one, at some point. This is a requirement, if you want to consider yourself well educated. Any decent college will check to see if you have done so." Henry chooses Japanese and Ry wants to study Spanish.

I have always planned, deep in the back of my mind, to spend a year in Mexico. Because I fantasize that our whole family might become fluent together as a homeschooling project. And what better way? Living in Spain, perhaps, but Mexico seems a bit more doable. I've always pushed this fantasy off into the misty realms of "when the kids get older." Which, as any good parent knows, actually means, "some day when we can afford it."

News flash: the kids are getting older. Henry is now in double digits. (Too Weird!) And I am beginning to realise this little excursion fantasy "might" not be feasible. Alright then. Deep breath. Time to search for language resources. I've no clue how to proceed with Japanese. But I can offer a wondeful Spanish resource: Canciones De Mazapan who are musically wonderful and lyrically rich with songs such as:
Tortuga Concha
Ronda, Ronda Primitos Chicos
and, Una Cuncuna Amarilla.
Their music will educate without driving you insane. A girlfriend from Chile hooked me up, way back when we lived Texas. Back when I learned to detect the difference between Mexican accents and South American accents... Sigh. Japanese? I'm lost. Could he not pick something easier For Me? That's homeschooling for ya. I leave off with THIS, the cutest video by far and a fair portrait of homeschool at its sweetest.