Annette

Hi, I've been lurking here for a while, learning a lot about what it really means to unschool. Sometimes that learning is more effective when experienced rather than read about. I'm a sahm to dd Sami 6yrs and ds Xander, 3 in April. We always planned to homeschool and I liked what I've read about unschooling (life learning). About a year ago I purchased a second hand Oak Meadow curriculum for K thinking that I should at least look at some kind of curriculum and that one appealed to me the best. That thing is still sitting in my "to read" pile and we've been doing our own thing which involves no structure though I do try and keep some kind of rhythm.
We have four fire signs living in this house which gets interesting. This afternoon Sami and I were butting heads about a few things. I got a little frustrated that she wouldn't listen to me about anything even though I was trying to show her an easy solution to some frustration that she was experiencing. I said "why won't you let me help you? This (meaning learning at home) is not going to work if you won't let me help you learn things." She declared most strongly "this IS working...I KNOW it is..it's MY way..My secret". I was the one learning a lesson about letting go and letting her find her way and helping when asked. A little later she said to me "Mum, I know a lot of things...letters, numbers, colours and shapes...but the most important thing is this.." ..and she hugged me. Another wonderful lesson from a very wise old soul. How lucky am I?!!
~ Annette
(Aussie gal stuck in the US desert)



Simplicity cannot be attained by striving, but only by letting go.


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In a message dated 2/11/04 12:09:20 AM, juicymum@... writes:

<< (Aussie gal stuck in the US desert) >>

I'm in the desert by choice; sorry you're stuck.
(Well I'm not in low yucky desert, high desert...)

<I said "why won't you let me help you? This (meaning learning at home) is
not going to work if you won't let me help you learn things." She declared
most strongly "this IS working...I KNOW it is..it's MY way..My secret". >>

I had my feelings hurt a few times when Kirby was little because he didn't
want my help. I pressed myself to learn to get over it.

You can still help, you just get to learn new and different ways to help.

Holly wanted a book of baby names to name a rat. I took her to a bookstore
where she looked at six different babynames books and chose one by the way the
text was laid out. I didn't mention that, specifically. It was also a trade
paperback, larger paper, nicer paper (not the high-end newsprint of the
smaller paperbacks). She's very happy with it. I'm guessing she'll have it for the
next 20 years or more and wouldn't be surprised if I someday have a
grandchild or two get named with a name she chooses sometime in the next year or so.

She's especially interested in Greek names, since the Hermione/Persephone
thing (which had to do with her watching the Arthur episode about Harry Potter
(kind of, obliquely <g>), and then going with me to play a game about word
origins with 6th and 7th graders.

One thing leads to other things.

Sandra