Gisèle

Hi Joyce,
I really appreciated your post a few days ago "live as if on vacation, but not a summer vacation".

I realize that if that is unschooling, I'm closer then I thought and I tend towards that at all times. The thing is I had a few kids who felt that they were missing out on certain knowledge and wanted more. So I decided to listen to their request (the eldest, the younger ones are still mostly unschooled).

By reading messages on this group and after seing the film "Yes Man", I decided to stop fighting with the computer (the kids love it) and to say YES more often. We bought 2 extra computers (which makes 8 computers in the house - with 7 kids it was important). I got all the educational cd's and games out and got a year enrollment to a school supplement on internet - Maxicours (French). Now they get up and ask me to put on the computer as soon as 7 in the morning, the answer is always YES.

I've put away the books. I do ask them once in a while to write an essay (or to their grandparents...).

I know that I'm not a radical unschooler, but I do offer lot's of life experiences to our kids (in and outside the house). I do appreciate this site and thank you all for your ideas and input. I'll keep on reading (even if I don't write very often).

Thank you again.
Gisèle