tjreynoso

Does anyone on the list work outside the home (full time) and
unschool? How do you manage to be attentive to your child's
interests?

Tanya

Jane Van Benthusen

I do. I have no trouble facilitating their learning at night, on the
weekends, over the phone or even while I'm working. My husband and I do
remodeling and often times they work with us or play with the other kids
that are at the house we are working on. :) Jane


----- Original Message -----
From: "tjreynoso" <tjreynoso@...>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, January 20, 2004 2:14 PM
Subject: [UnschoolingDiscussion] work and unschool


> Does anyone on the list work outside the home (full time) and
> unschool? How do you manage to be attentive to your child's
> interests?
>
> Tanya
>
>
> "List Posting Policies" are provided in the files area of this group.
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> To unsubscribe from this send an email to:
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>

Lyle W.

>Does anyone on the list work outside the home (full time) and
> unschool? How do you manage to be attentive to your child's
> interests?

I do. I go in very early in the morning, my boys don't get up until around 10-11 everyday, and I get home between 2-3 PM, so from mid-afternoon until around 10 PM I'm with them constantly. They can call me as many times as they want while I'm at work, and a lot of days I take off early (like today...yippppeeee!!!)just to get back home. On the weekends we go like hell, plus I get 4 weeks vacation, and probably the most important factor is I put VERY little energy into my job, so I'll have plenty left for the important stuff at home. <g>

I do most of my posting on message boards and lists while I'm at work, or sometimes at night if the boys are gone. When I'm with my boys, they are my focus.

It's not an ideal situation, but it's working out well for us so far. Beats the hell out of dealing with a school schedule!

:)

Lyle



----- Original Message -----
From: "Jane Van Benthusen" <jane@...>
Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2004 21:18:38 -0600
To: <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [UnschoolingDiscussion] work and unschool

> I do. I have no trouble facilitating their learning at night, on the
> weekends, over the phone or even while I'm working. My husband and I do
> remodeling and often times they work with us or play with the other kids
> that are at the house we are working on. :) Jane
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "tjreynoso" <tjreynoso@...>
> To: <[email protected]>
> Sent: Tuesday, January 20, 2004 2:14 PM
> Subject: [UnschoolingDiscussion] work and unschool
>
>
> > Does anyone on the list work outside the home (full time) and
> > unschool? How do you manage to be attentive to your child's
> > interests?
> >
> > Tanya
> >
> >
> > "List Posting Policies" are provided in the files area of this group.
> >
> > To unsubscribe from this send an email to:
> > [email protected]
> >
> > Visit the Unschooling website and message boards:
> http://www.unschooling.com
> >
> >
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> > To visit your group on the web, go to:
> > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/UnschoolingDiscussion/
> >
> > To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> > [email protected]
> >
> > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
> > http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
> >
> >
>
>



***Always remember, Lead By Example***

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[email protected]

I don't work now, but I did for a few years. I worked a 10 hour day, 4 days
per week, from 5:00 pm till 2:30 am, Friday through Monday. So during the
day, and right when I got up in the morning, when I was fresh, I could really
dedicate my time to them. It was great having 3 days off per week too, for dance
classes, visiting friends, shopping, etc.

I would have MUCH rather been home, but because I had to be on a schedule, I
was much more thorough about getting necessary things done quickly and
efficiently so the kids had all my time at home.

Nancy B. in WV


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

tjreynoso

Lyle and Jane,
How long have you unschooled? I think it beats school any day
also! But I think my son is still getting used to unschooling and
sometimes mentions school. although less and less. He went to
Montessori for two years and ps 1/2 year. I pulled him out of ps in
February when after volunteering I got a whiff of what was really
going on! I didn't think 6 yo's were capable of that much violence!
And I only saw two hours worth! Anyway, we started homeschooling out
of necessity and stayed with it because of love. We've been
unschooling for about five months and i've been back to work for
three months. He and his little brother stay with my mother. She's
a HUGE help and very supportive but I don't know her take on
unschooling yet. Did your kids go to ps? Did you have any issues
with them about going back to school? what about boredom?
Tanya :)


> I do. I go in very early in the morning, my boys don't get up
until around 10-11 everyday, and I get home between 2-3 PM, so from
mid-afternoon until around 10 PM I'm with them constantly. They can
call me as many times as they want while I'm at work, and a lot of
days I take off early (like today...yippppeeee!!!)just to get back
home. On the weekends we go like hell, plus I get 4 weeks vacation,
and probably the most important factor is I put VERY little energy
into my job, so I'll have plenty left for the important stuff at
home. <g>
>
> I do most of my posting on message boards and lists while I'm at
work, or sometimes at night if the boys are gone. When I'm with my
boys, they are my focus.
>
> It's not an ideal situation, but it's working out well for us so
far. Beats the hell out of dealing with a school schedule!
>
> :)
>
> Lyle
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Jane Van Benthusen" <jane@k...>
> Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2004 21:18:38 -0600
> To: <[email protected]>
> Subject: Re: [UnschoolingDiscussion] work and unschool
>
> > I do. I have no trouble facilitating their learning at night,
on the
> > weekends, over the phone or even while I'm working. My husband
and I do
> > remodeling and often times they work with us or play with the
other kids
> > that are at the house we are working on. :) Jane
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "tjreynoso" <tjreynoso@y...>
> > To: <[email protected]>
> > Sent: Tuesday, January 20, 2004 2:14 PM
> > Subject: [UnschoolingDiscussion] work and unschool
> >
> >
> > > Does anyone on the list work outside the home (full time) and
> > > unschool? How do you manage to be attentive to your child's
> > > interests?
> > >
> > > Tanya
> > >
> > >
> > > "List Posting Policies" are provided in the files area of
this group.
> > >
> > > To unsubscribe from this send an email to:
> > > [email protected]
> > >
> > > Visit the Unschooling website and message boards:
> > http://www.unschooling.com
> > >
> > >
> > > Yahoo! Groups Links
> > >
> > > To visit your group on the web, go to:
> > > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/UnschoolingDiscussion/
> > >
> > > To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> > > [email protected]
> > >
> > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
> > > http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>
>
> ***Always remember, Lead By Example***
>
> --
> ___________________________________________________________
> Sign-up for Ads Free at Mail.com
> http://promo.mail.com/adsfreejump.htm

Lyle W.

>>How long have you unschooled?<<

Ummmm...I'm terrible with time passing, but I think we're into our 4th year now. My mind doesn't work in dates and times, I kinda go by the 'feel' of passing time, lol. I think it's 4 years.

>>Did your kids go to ps?<<

Yup. My oldest for 10 years (including preschool) and my youngest for 7.

>>Did you have any issues
> with them about going back to school?<<

Not at all. After the experiences my kids had in school, you couldn't drag them back with a bulldozer. There is nothing on this earth that would cause my kids to want to go back to school. A little while back all my FIL's grandkids were at their house and he was handing out money for good grades on report cards. (We didn't know it was report card day, we just happened to be there.) When he got to my youngest he said, "Sorry, no report card, no money". (There's a lot of history behind all of this, but in a nutshell I had a 'talk' with him and told him to either get on board with what we were doing, or stay out of the way. He stays out of the way, for the most part.) Dylan just grinned at him (he's used to grandpa's schoolish insinuations) and said, "Going to school isn't worth money, grandpa". He wasn't falling for grandpa's bribery.

>>what about boredom?<<

What about it? I've never thought boredom was something to panic over. I think sometimes boredom is necessary to help our minds move onto something new. Sure, my kids get bored sometimes, but it never lasts long. I see boredom as an opportunity to introduce something different in their lives. Or to revisit something we haven't been into for awhile. Usually when we've left a certain something behind and then come back to it at a later date, there is always something new about it because we've learned other things in the mean time and a whole new set of connections can be made. Things that didn't make sense before, or that were ignored because we had no knowledge base to pull from, suddenly fall into place because of other, new connections that hadn't previously existed.

Boredom isn't something to fear, it can be utilized to your advantage as long as you don't panic, lol. I've found that I can usually strew our way out of a boredom attack. I can pull out things that have been buried under a mountain of other stuff, and present them strewingly (how's that for a word?) as something new and exciting.

Someone emailed me a few days ago, asking how they are supposed to know what to strew. My answer was simple: LISTEN TO THEM. BE with them. Pay attention to them. It doesn't mean to get too specific with strewing; kids will make connections that someone else may never think of, but by hanging out with them we can get a pretty good idea of what they're into and what catches their interest.

But anyway, back to boredom....the best boredom buster there is, IMO, is getting out of the house! Go somewhere. Do something. Drag yourself up out of the rut and have some fun!

Don't sweat boredom. It's a pretty easy fix once you get the hang of it.

:)

Lyle




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tjreynoso

I see what you mean. But I can feel one of those panic stages
coming on when you're still in the beginning stages of something.

I think it's got to do with how young he is and getting used to
unschooling. He calls me at work and asks me if I forgot to leave
work for him. I say "No, but did you want work?" He says "No" and
gives a sigh of relief. Today I went home for lunch and he asked me
if I could make sawdust. sawdust? I told him I couldn't make him
any right now with tools but if he grabbed some sandpaper he could
make some himself. He was experimenting with sawdust and dirt
concoctions to see what he could come up with. I think tomorrow
I'll show him where the plaster of paris is and let him make a mess!

I'm not afraid of boredom. It seems to help pull him from one thing
to another. He finally stoppped playing Playstation! So I guess
boredom isn't so bad!

It's just a combo of being a newbie and seeing him have his own
doubts doesn't ease mine.

I'm glad that my job doesn't take any major brainwork and I don't
have to bring it home with me. I'm also close enough to see them at
lunchtime even if it's only for 1/2 hour. I love the feeling of
seeing those smiling faces every day!

Thanks ;)
Tanya
Thanks :)

Lyle W.

>>He says "No" and
gives a sigh of relief.<<

I think this is your tip off that the doubtful stage is about to end. At least for him, lol.

It all takes time, and I know it can be hard at first, but believe me, withing a few months you'll have forgotten all about these worries. The next set of worries will be smaller and not seem as...worrisome, and the one's after that will seem even less meaningful. Eventually they will disappear altogether.

RELAX and do a lot of BREATHING. Trust in your son. Showing your trust will go a long way in building up his confidence in himself and in unschooling. Spend as much time together as possible and have some fun! Talk with him, play with him, watch TV with him. Do what he's doing. Do things you like to do while he's around.

My 12 year old just came in and asked who I was writing to, and I gave him a quick run down on your questions and worries. Here's his response: "Tell her not to worry. Learning stuff is easy. All you have to do is see something you like and do it." I think that's unschooling in a nutshell. :)

He also recommends keeping lots of pencils and drawing paper around, lol. (He's an aspiring artist.)

RELAX and BREATHE. Go have some fun!

:)

Lyle




----- Original Message -----
From: "tjreynoso" <tjreynoso@...>
Date: Thu, 22 Jan 2004 20:00:23 -0000
To: [email protected]
Subject: [UnschoolingDiscussion] Re: work and unschool

> I see what you mean. But I can feel one of those panic stages
> coming on when you're still in the beginning stages of something.
>
> I think it's got to do with how young he is and getting used to
> unschooling. He calls me at work and asks me if I forgot to leave
> work for him. I say "No, but did you want work?" He says "No" and
> gives a sigh of relief. Today I went home for lunch and he asked me
> if I could make sawdust. sawdust? I told him I couldn't make him
> any right now with tools but if he grabbed some sandpaper he could
> make some himself. He was experimenting with sawdust and dirt
> concoctions to see what he could come up with. I think tomorrow
> I'll show him where the plaster of paris is and let him make a mess!
>
> I'm not afraid of boredom. It seems to help pull him from one thing
> to another. He finally stoppped playing Playstation! So I guess
> boredom isn't so bad!
>
> It's just a combo of being a newbie and seeing him have his own
> doubts doesn't ease mine.
>
> I'm glad that my job doesn't take any major brainwork and I don't
> have to bring it home with me. I'm also close enough to see them at
> lunchtime even if it's only for 1/2 hour. I love the feeling of
> seeing those smiling faces every day!
>
> Thanks ;)
> Tanya
> Thanks :)
>



***Always remember, Lead By Example***

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___________________________________________________________
Sign-up for Ads Free at Mail.com
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Jane Van Benthusen

We've unschooled for 8 years. Our oldest son went to PS for 3 years (K-2).
Neither of the boys wants to go back at all. They are 12 and almost 15 now.
No boredom here at all. It always stikes the boys as funny when any age
person is bored. They seem to think there is plenty to do. :) Jane


----- Original Message -----
From: "tjreynoso" <tjreynoso@...>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, January 22, 2004 10:47 AM
Subject: [UnschoolingDiscussion] Re: work and unschool


> Lyle and Jane,
> How long have you unschooled? I think it beats school any day
> also! But I think my son is still getting used to unschooling and
> sometimes mentions school. although less and less. He went to
> Montessori for two years and ps 1/2 year. I pulled him out of ps in
> February when after volunteering I got a whiff of what was really
> going on! I didn't think 6 yo's were capable of that much violence!
> And I only saw two hours worth! Anyway, we started homeschooling out
> of necessity and stayed with it because of love. We've been
> unschooling for about five months and i've been back to work for
> three months. He and his little brother stay with my mother. She's
> a HUGE help and very supportive but I don't know her take on
> unschooling yet. Did your kids go to ps? Did you have any issues
> with them about going back to school? what about boredom?
> Tanya :)
>
>
> > I do. I go in very early in the morning, my boys don't get up
> until around 10-11 everyday, and I get home between 2-3 PM, so from
> mid-afternoon until around 10 PM I'm with them constantly. They can
> call me as many times as they want while I'm at work, and a lot of
> days I take off early (like today...yippppeeee!!!)just to get back
> home. On the weekends we go like hell, plus I get 4 weeks vacation,
> and probably the most important factor is I put VERY little energy
> into my job, so I'll have plenty left for the important stuff at
> home. <g>
> >
> > I do most of my posting on message boards and lists while I'm at
> work, or sometimes at night if the boys are gone. When I'm with my
> boys, they are my focus.
> >
> > It's not an ideal situation, but it's working out well for us so
> far. Beats the hell out of dealing with a school schedule!
> >
> > :)
> >
> > Lyle
> >
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Jane Van Benthusen" <jane@k...>
> > Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2004 21:18:38 -0600
> > To: <[email protected]>
> > Subject: Re: [UnschoolingDiscussion] work and unschool
> >
> > > I do. I have no trouble facilitating their learning at night,
> on the
> > > weekends, over the phone or even while I'm working. My husband
> and I do
> > > remodeling and often times they work with us or play with the
> other kids
> > > that are at the house we are working on. :) Jane
> > >
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: "tjreynoso" <tjreynoso@y...>
> > > To: <[email protected]>
> > > Sent: Tuesday, January 20, 2004 2:14 PM
> > > Subject: [UnschoolingDiscussion] work and unschool
> > >
> > >
> > > > Does anyone on the list work outside the home (full time) and
> > > > unschool? How do you manage to be attentive to your child's
> > > > interests?
> > > >
> > > > Tanya
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > "List Posting Policies" are provided in the files area of
> this group.
> > > >
> > > > To unsubscribe from this send an email to:
> > > > [email protected]
> > > >
> > > > Visit the Unschooling website and message boards:
> > > http://www.unschooling.com
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Yahoo! Groups Links
> > > >
> > > > To visit your group on the web, go to:
> > > > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/UnschoolingDiscussion/
> > > >
> > > > To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> > > > [email protected]
> > > >
> > > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
> > > > http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> > ***Always remember, Lead By Example***
> >
> > --
> > ___________________________________________________________
> > Sign-up for Ads Free at Mail.com
> > http://promo.mail.com/adsfreejump.htm
>
>
>
> "List Posting Policies" are provided in the files area of this group.
>
> To unsubscribe from this send an email to:
> [email protected]
>
> Visit the Unschooling website and message boards:
http://www.unschooling.com
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
> To visit your group on the web, go to:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/UnschoolingDiscussion/
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> [email protected]
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
> http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>