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Hi all,

Thanks for being out there!

I'm Michelle, married to Bob, momma to George (6yo), Theo (almost 3yo), and Elijah (almost 2mos). None of them have ever been in any kind of school. Although I always planned to keep my children out of school, when G was three we thought we'd give nursery school a try, see if he liked it as a fun activity, meet some kids. The first day, I watched as a mom handed over her wailing child to the teacher and ran out, in tears herself. : ( My husband and I stayed with George as he was nowhere near ready for us to leave. When it was time to go outside, we were talking to the teacher about George's reaction to things that day (he was hating it). She said, "Well, we'll need to phase you both out."

Phase us out.

We never went back and that was our last encounter with school. Phase us out???

Reading posts on this list over the past week or so has been very helpful in firming my resolve about unschooling. I'm prone to thinking those typical thoughts about getting "behind", feeling defensive to the grandparents, wanting to get out the workbooks, etc.

Just last week, I had a hit of anxiety and did get out the workbooks, some asinine thing about matching up letters. G did one line of it, hated it, we had a big power struggle with raised voices and him removing himself into his room. I walked by ten minutes later and he said, "Momma? Want to do some blocks with me and count them? That's learning too..."

Oy. Good thing one of us has his act together!

Thanks again for being out there with your thoughtful words. You're helping me clear my head and my children's path.

Michelle B.

Tracey Inman

>>Just last week, I had a hit of anxiety and did get out the workbooks, some
asinine thing about matching up letters.<<

I am so glad to hear there is someone else out there that has those moments
of anxiety. My anxiety level has been building for last couple of weeks.
Last night took me over the edge. I am the music minister at our church and
had choir practice to lead and my husband who is the pastor needed to go
visit someone. He mentioned that Barbara would hang around and keep an eye
on the girls for me. I had a fleeting thought that they really didn't need
anyone (they are 12 &9) but thought what could it hurt. Well, was I so
wrong! She ended up taking them to her house. She grilled them on how
"moma does school" Oh, bless there hearts, they tried to tell her about
child led learning and about things they do in a day, but kept saying, "you
really need to ask our mom because she can explain it better." My 12 yo
said the lady gave a look of disapproval and kept grilling. I was more than
irate! My 12 yo said she got really scared. I think that's what added my
anger. I don't like my girls feeling scared over situations like that. We
had this long conversation about how they didn't need to tell others
anything except they are allowed to learn about the things that interests
them and to talk with moma. Gosh I was so taken back that I really don't
even remember my whole conversation with my girls. Then the panic hit! I
came home and pulled out the library sheet where they can read so many hours
for an ice cream at Ben and Jerry's and then the math workbook. O.K., I
know what you are thinking.....What was she thinking? I wasn't! :( I
finally settled down. But the truth is I don't feel like I do enough with
my girls. It is so hard to explain in an e-mail. Our lives have been so
crazy for the past year. We have had three moves and new jobs, etc. I feel
like I am still settling. I read about all the neat things others are doing
and think.... I am such a failure. I keep telling myself we are o.k. and we
all just needed time to settle after such a whirlwind in our lives.

Thanks for letting me vent. Yours posts are what keep me going most days.

~Tracey I.

"Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre
minds." Albert Einstein

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Seth W Bartels

>Our lives have been so
>crazy for the past year. We have had three moves and new jobs, etc. I
feel
>like I am still settling. I read about all the neat things others are
doing
>and think.... I am such a failure. I keep telling myself we are o.k.
and we
>all just needed time to settle after such a whirlwind in our lives.

hi tracey :)

i just wanted to write ya and say that you're right! you *are* ok....in
fact, you're perfect right now in this moment. :)

we all slip up and have to refocus our intentions sometimes. give
yourself credit where credit is due, apologize when you make a mistake
and move forward! we just moved recently (this is our 3rd move in a year
too!) and we've been through several job changes and a bankruptcy. i
*know* where you're at! give yourself permission to absorb the newness
of where you are...veg a little, pamper yourself, love your kids with all
you have. the *neat things* will come when everything's settled.

no worries...all is well. :)

>Thanks for letting me vent. Yours posts are what keep me going most
days.

isn't it amazing what an inspiration all these fabulous people are? i
thank goddess for every single one of you, each & every day. :)

much love,
lisa

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Tracey Inman

Lisa, Thank you so much for your words of encouragement. I can't begin to
tell you how much your words encouraged me and help me give myself that
permission I need to just "be". You know, I started not to post last night,
but I am so glad I did. It is a reassuring feeling to know others can
identify. Even though I don't want others to have to go through what we
did, it helps to hear others have walked a similar path and survived! It is
so easy to drown in the negative around you by others who have no idea what
you are or have been through. This list makes the world a smaller place for
me. You are right about one thing...these are fabulous people! Thank you
all! :)

Peace,
Tracey


>>>hi tracey :)

i just wanted to write ya and say that you're right! you *are* ok....in
fact, you're perfect right now in this moment. :)

we all slip up and have to refocus our intentions sometimes. give
yourself credit where credit is due, apologize when you make a mistake
and move forward! we just moved recently (this is our 3rd move in a year
too!) and we've been through several job changes and a bankruptcy. i
*know* where you're at! give yourself permission to absorb the newness
of where you are...veg a little, pamper yourself, love your kids with all
you have. the *neat things* will come when everything's settled.

no worries...all is well. :)

>Thanks for letting me vent. Yours posts are what keep me going most
days.

isn't it amazing what an inspiration all these fabulous people are? i
thank goddess for every single one of you, each & every day. :)

much love,
lisa<<<

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