Alyce - VintageGuitarPro.com

>>>It's hard to tell when reading an email, but I also get the sense that
you
may be comparing your son to your daughter (but I could be TOTALLY wrong
about that). That can change things, too, but I probably don't have to
tell you that. It's just something to watch for.

>>>I have an 8-year-old son who
doesn't read at all; he's magical).

>>>http://www.unschooling.com/library/index.shtml

>>>I hope this helps just a little.

>>>Marji

-----------------------------------------

Hi Marji - Thanks tons. I knew I'd get some mind-easing feedback from you
guys. I'm in a hs group near me composed of some pretty decent people, but
most of the kids are "classically" educated. The only unschoolers in the
group are very young, so I have really nobody firsthand to talk to here. As
for comparing my son to my daughter - I'd say actually I'm very good about
not doing that.. they've been very different from each other always. :)
And I have an 18 year old daughter as well who's different still.

Plus my mom was very big (and still is) about "comparing" kids... making one
feel like less than wonderful because another has done something she feels
is superior. Supposedly, this is motivational. I know how damaging this
can be. First it was me and my younger sister (2 years younger than me),
then it was my oldest daughter and my youngest sister (a year older than my
daughter), now it's my son and my neice (who's a year younger than he is and
of course a raging genious according to my mom.) Luckily, I live very far
away, so the torment is directed at me and only by phone on the rare
occasions I talk to her. I don't understand why she does this, but she
always has. Needless to say I feel I can't go back "home" til my kids are
grown. I love mom, but she's a terrible, ego-destroying influence. And as
you may be able to guess, completely against this home schooling. She'd
probably charter a red-eye flight out here if she knew I was going so far as
to "unschool". (Can you say - the gates of hell have opened?) lol... so
anyway... thank you!

I'd love to hear about the kinds of activities your son enjoys! I'm forever
looking for things to keep Jay entertained! Thanks again.

~Alyce

Alyce - VintageGuitarPro.com

>>>It's too early to worry!

>>>Sandra

Thanks Sandra. :) I need all the support I can get. lol. This is such
new territory for me. But like so many others who have discovered
unschooling, I feel very strong that this is the right answer. I just need
to break my own bonds.

~Alyce -flying without a net.

Alyce - VintageGuitarPro.com

Thank you EVERYONE who sent me their personal stories and links to articles
regarding the kids reading. As you probably guessed if you caught my first
letter, I came from a background where academics were not only the most
important thing, they were the ONLY thing. (I personally never got to take
any kind of art class, etc, when I was back in school - it was considered a
waste of time. needless to say I never went on to college, though I wanted
to - wanted to take music, art, writing, foreign language - but since none
of these involved resulting in my ending up getting job that ended with MD
and making buttloads of money, it was not allowed - anyway, sorry bout the
mini rant) I got some really good ideas too from your personal accounts as
well - more fun stuff to do. :)

I'm sorry I didn't respond to each of you individually, but the last two
digests I received were so full of info - about reading and tons of other
stuff too, it's well nigh impossible for me to weed out the specific posts -
I'm afraid I'd miss someone! Then I'd feel like a heel.

Thanks again, and I look forward to reading more. I have another question -
does anyone else have to hide the method of schooling from their families?
if so, how do you deal with it? I know on the surface the answer is
obvious, but how do you keep it from getting you down? How do you keep it
from affecting you? Really? I know I'm doing the right thing for my
kids... but I have absolutely nobody in my family who supports any of this.
I feel like I'm on the lamb sometimes. :) In a way I am since I had to
leave the state to get away from the immediate family influence (meddling).
ugh.

You guys are my calming influence, and for that I am grateful. Don't know
what I'd do without you!

~Alyce

Betsy

**I have another question -
does anyone else have to hide the method of schooling from their families?
if so, how do you deal with it? I know on the surface the answer is
obvious, but how do you keep it from getting you down? How do you keep it
from affecting you? Really? I know I'm doing the right thing for my
kids... but I have absolutely nobody in my family who supports any of this.
I feel like I'm on the lamb sometimes. :) In a way I am since I had to
leave the state to get away from the immediate family influence (meddling).
ugh.**

Hi, Alyce --

Leaving the state may be extreme, but is IS effective.

I don't have any really useful suggestions for you. (Sorry)

However, I will acknowledge that there ARE some unschoolers "in the
closet" and the closet isn't a very comfortable place to be.

Betsy

PS Are you hiding "unschooling" or are you even hiding the fact that
you homeschool? I wasn't sure.