Holly Selden

Hello everyone! I've been lurking for a bit and reading a lot. I wanted to just pop in and introduce myself and my son.

My name is Holly Selden. I'm a mother of three. Morgan (8 1/2), Madison (7) and Max (5 1/2).

I'll give you a little history...pardon if it gets long. I can get long winded. :)

My husband and I have been together for 10 years. We are both part of a group called the SCA (Society for Creative Anachronisms). We met on a 22 mile long gravel road at 2am while both lost and looking for an event in Mississippi. When I met him, I knew there was something special about him. It took him a while to finally come out of the proverbial closet and tell me that he was "homeschooled".

Nathan's mother and father were travelling musicians and when he was in 3rd Grade (and his brother in Kindergarten) Rose pulled them out of school. She spent a ton of money on a cirriculum/school called American School. It really didn't ever get used. The boys just taught themselves. In retrospect, they were unschooled....they just didn't call it that.

Both my husband and my brother-in-law have always impressed me. How smart, kind and enjoyable they are to be around. When we had kids, I kept tossing around the idea of homeschooling, but never felt myself in a position to "pull it off".

This year was the first year that all three of my kids were in school. I thought "Whew, I get a break!!!!"....HAHAHAHAH - Not.

Madison struggled through Kindergarten and wasn't actually "passed". He was placed in a program called "Transitional First" and labeled as "immature". When we moved back to my husband's hometown, they didn't offer Transitional First and he was subsequently tested and placed in First Grade. From the beginning his teacher wanted to have him tested for ADHD. By the second 9 weeks, Madison was carrying straight A's, had been awarded as the top reader in his class and had an A in conduct. Still, his teacher complained "He asks too many questions and squirms in his chair".

We went through the testing for ADHD although we stated up front that we would not medicate him. If his grades weren't suffering and he was not considered a behavoiral problem, then I refused to drug him into oblivion for the sake of the teacher wanting to be lazy. The results were in and didn't even place Madison at borderline ADHD. Yet, his teacher continued to call me daily saying "Please take him to his pediatrician and have them prescribe something for him".

Madison was starting to show severe signs of stress. Throwing up almost every day after school, complaining of heartburn, headaches, and overall grumpiness. I said "That's it. I'm done with this."

I had been putting pressure on him as well. At some point, I was trying to fit him into their mold just so I didn't have to get the phone calls anymore. This led to much arguing and stress between myself and my son and one morning, I woke up and had had enough. He's got so much to offer...and I was quelching it. I was killing his spirit.

My first instinct was "I cannot take on all three of them at once." Although now that Madison is home and leading his own way, I think it would be easier to have them all home.

Madison is definately a great candidate for being an unschooler. He likes to play music and computer games (how my brother in law learned to read) and when he wants to know something, he'll ask about it...or look it up...or make his own deductions.

So here we are. I was really glad to have found this group and have been learning a lot simply by reading the emails.

In the two weeks that Madison has been home, he has blossomed. He's happy again. He smiles all the time and doesn't throw up anymore. He's doing great. I'm so glad I was able to give him this gift and I really feel like *I* am going to learn a lot from him.

It's great to meet you all, and I am sure I'm going to have tons of questions. Those won't be as long winded as this, though. *grin*

Holly



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Lisa H

What a beautiful story Holly. Your perception as a parent will serve you and your children well. Welcome to the wonderful world of unschooling.
Lisa H.


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pam sorooshian

On Feb 4, 2004, at 7:06 AM, Holly Selden wrote:

> In the two weeks that Madison has been home, he has blossomed. He's
> happy again. He smiles all the time and doesn't throw up anymore.
> He's doing great. I'm so glad I was able to give him this gift and I
> really feel like *I* am going to learn a lot from him.

Congratulations Holly!!!

It was great to hear your story and I am sure you will always be glad
and proud that you rescued Madison and his siblings!!

-pam
National Home Education Network
<www.NHEN.org>
Serving the entire homeschooling community since 1999
through information, networking and public relations.

[email protected]

Holly,

Yes it was great reading your story and I too have to say congratulations.
Your family will never regret your decision.

Lynn


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