confused about unschooling
mascire2
I have asked for help before, and here I am again. I don't post much
at all, but I am starting to feel like I just don't get unschooling.
In theory, yes it makes total sense to me. And, the thought of
sending my kids to school just doesn't make sense to me. (And the
fact that they don't want to). My problem is that I read about all
of these cool, fun things that other people do, and I just don't see
that happening for us. I have all of these ideas in my head, but
seem to have a hard time bringing them to fruition. I feel like a
deadbeat. I am not writing this to get sympathy, I know that is not
what this list is all about. I am getting some help for anxiety, so
that is part of my problem. I am overwelmed with "should be's",
which leads to anxiety,which leads to me doing nothing. Maybe I need
to be de-schooled more?! I think if someone told me what to do with
the kids each day, I could do it. I know unschooling isn't like this
though.
My kids are watching too much tv right now because they are bored. I
have read so many books and articles and it all makes complete
sense. It is putting these things into real life that I don't get.
My kids don't have these cool projects going on. They do play
outside alot, and with some neighbor kids, and they are each taking
a class (gymnastics and trampoline). It just doesn't feel "right" to
me. I am trying to be more present, which is a big problem for me. I
tend to escape in reading, I am working on this. Another problem is
that I don't feel like I have interesting things going on in my
life. The worst part is that I can't really think of anything that
sounds interesting to me.
I don't know what I am asking for. Maybe others that have been in
this place? I don't know.
Thank you,
Amie
at all, but I am starting to feel like I just don't get unschooling.
In theory, yes it makes total sense to me. And, the thought of
sending my kids to school just doesn't make sense to me. (And the
fact that they don't want to). My problem is that I read about all
of these cool, fun things that other people do, and I just don't see
that happening for us. I have all of these ideas in my head, but
seem to have a hard time bringing them to fruition. I feel like a
deadbeat. I am not writing this to get sympathy, I know that is not
what this list is all about. I am getting some help for anxiety, so
that is part of my problem. I am overwelmed with "should be's",
which leads to anxiety,which leads to me doing nothing. Maybe I need
to be de-schooled more?! I think if someone told me what to do with
the kids each day, I could do it. I know unschooling isn't like this
though.
My kids are watching too much tv right now because they are bored. I
have read so many books and articles and it all makes complete
sense. It is putting these things into real life that I don't get.
My kids don't have these cool projects going on. They do play
outside alot, and with some neighbor kids, and they are each taking
a class (gymnastics and trampoline). It just doesn't feel "right" to
me. I am trying to be more present, which is a big problem for me. I
tend to escape in reading, I am working on this. Another problem is
that I don't feel like I have interesting things going on in my
life. The worst part is that I can't really think of anything that
sounds interesting to me.
I don't know what I am asking for. Maybe others that have been in
this place? I don't know.
Thank you,
Amie
Sandra Dodd
On May 2, 2006, at 10:52 PM, mascire2 wrote:
http://sandradodd.com/checklists
http://www.sandradodd.com/strew/deblist.html
http://sandradodd.com/strew
http://www.sandradodd.com/strew/tadaa.html
http://sandradodd.com/typical
http://sandradodd.com/gameplay
You can't reproduce anyone's whole day, but you can do ONE of the
things they did.
-=-My kids are watching too much tv right now because they are bored. I
have read so many books and articles and it all makes complete
sense. It is putting these things into real life that I don't get.
My kids don't have these cool projects going on. They do play
outside alot, and with some neighbor kids, and they are each taking
a class (gymnastics and trampoline). It just doesn't feel "right" to
me.-=-
You should be watching with them.
You should have cool projects going on.
You should play outside with them.
It seems they're doing some things and you're doing some other things.
Find things to do together, and if you can't lure them to your
things, go to theirs.
Do you have computer games or video games? If you're at all musical,
consider getting one of the music games like Donkey Konga, Karaoke
Revolution or Guitar Hero, but only if YOU will play with them. If
you can afford to do one of those, get two sets of drums, two
headsets or two guitars (especially important in the drums area).
You talked about TV, but didn't talk about DVDs, movies...
-=-I tend to escape in reading, I am working on this. -=-
Maybe you need to escape out away from the house, with the kids.
-=-The worst part is that I can't really think of anything that
sounds interesting to me. -=-
Does sending your kids to school sound interesting to you?
You need to make what you're doing BETTER than school, better in ways
that any social worker or relative or neighbor can easily see.
It won't happen overnight, but it will NEVER happen if you escape in
books while they watch TV and play outside.
Sandra
> I think if someone told me what to do withEvery day, do two things from one of these lists or descriptions:
> the kids each day, I could do it. I know unschooling isn't like this
> though.
http://sandradodd.com/checklists
http://www.sandradodd.com/strew/deblist.html
http://sandradodd.com/strew
http://www.sandradodd.com/strew/tadaa.html
http://sandradodd.com/typical
http://sandradodd.com/gameplay
You can't reproduce anyone's whole day, but you can do ONE of the
things they did.
-=-My kids are watching too much tv right now because they are bored. I
have read so many books and articles and it all makes complete
sense. It is putting these things into real life that I don't get.
My kids don't have these cool projects going on. They do play
outside alot, and with some neighbor kids, and they are each taking
a class (gymnastics and trampoline). It just doesn't feel "right" to
me.-=-
You should be watching with them.
You should have cool projects going on.
You should play outside with them.
It seems they're doing some things and you're doing some other things.
Find things to do together, and if you can't lure them to your
things, go to theirs.
Do you have computer games or video games? If you're at all musical,
consider getting one of the music games like Donkey Konga, Karaoke
Revolution or Guitar Hero, but only if YOU will play with them. If
you can afford to do one of those, get two sets of drums, two
headsets or two guitars (especially important in the drums area).
You talked about TV, but didn't talk about DVDs, movies...
-=-I tend to escape in reading, I am working on this. -=-
Maybe you need to escape out away from the house, with the kids.
-=-The worst part is that I can't really think of anything that
sounds interesting to me. -=-
Does sending your kids to school sound interesting to you?
You need to make what you're doing BETTER than school, better in ways
that any social worker or relative or neighbor can easily see.
It won't happen overnight, but it will NEVER happen if you escape in
books while they watch TV and play outside.
Sandra
Angela S.
One thing I did one year was to make a list of all the places I'd like to
take the kids that they weren't familiar with and over the course of the
year we picked a few of the ideas off the list on quiet days and we went to
them. We usually had a lot of fun. Do you have any historical museums or
forts you can visit? Museums, children's museums, art museums, zoos, animal
sanctuaries, a neighbor with a farm? Another thing that I did often with my
children esp. when they were smaller was play board games. We all enjoy
them and they are a lot of fun.
Here is a list of fun ideas I made for the days we couldn't think of
something to do. (before we were horse crazy)
Play mailman - At our house we each live in a different room. We use a box
or container for our mailbox and we send each other notes, bills, and
homemade junk mail.
Listen to books on tape - They are especially great for in the car.
Finger knitting.
Finger crochet.
Plastic canvas and yarn projects .
Hand sewing (felt works well for little ones), make bean bags, rice bags (to
heat and sleep with), stuffed animals, doll blankets and pillows, and other
doll items.
Read aloud. Ask your friends or email buddies what their favorites are.
Make bubble gum - you can buy gum base on line in a craft kit for under $10
if you look around.
Make silly putty- recipes on-line .
Borax snowflakes- recipes on line.
Blow soap bubbles when it's below zero, they freeze and break when they
crash.
Rent a movie.
Go to a museum, children's, state, history, art, etc.
Play store - Price items in your home and use real or play money and take
turns being the cashier.
Scavenger hunt - inside or outside, finding the things on your list or find
things other have hidden.
Learn to follow a compass and make an Orienteering course to follow to find
a treasure.
Bury a time capsule.
Have some friends over for a club with a theme. My kids like Club Survivor
or Fear Factor, where they dare each other to eat gross things and win
prizes.
Guess the smell...blindfolded
Guess the item (by feel) ...blindfolded.
Ask for a tour of a local business.
Make candles, soap, or candy.
Go for a nature walk and collect rocks and leaves. See if you can identify
the trees or leaves.
Visit a local farm and bring the animals a treat. Horses and goats love
carrots or apples.
Volunteer at a farm to brush the horses or goats, shovel stalls, etc.
Go skiing, snow shoeing, or sliding.
Go to the beach or go camping. It doesn't have to be 80 degrees out. The
beach is beautiful when it is 50 and sunny. The sand is warm and the wind
gives you healthy rosy cheeks.
Build a campfire in your yard (might need a permit) and toast marshmallows
or make smores.
Play a board game or a card game.
Write a story. Pick a topic and get going...You could have a story night
with a different topic each week. Mystery, Horror, Love, Family,
Non-fiction, etc.
Make your own newspaper about your family. You can put in pictures too.
Make paper Decorate your house for the next holiday...hearts on the windows,
snowflakes hanging from the ceiling, shamrocks, pumpkins, leaves, bats, etc.
Make tissue paper snowflakes.
Make a bank or mask from paper mache'.
Make clay pots with self drying clay.
Paint ornaments or little wooden figures from the craft store.
Paint a picture.
Tie dye your underwear, socks, or t-shirts.
String beads for necklaces or bracelets.
Make necklaces or bracelets out of cotton string.
Paint a clay flower pot with a whimsical motif.
Work with polymer clay, make pins, beads, little figures, or magnets.
Make cards with rubber stamps.
Make a bank from recyclable plastic containers.
Print out coloring pages with your favorite theme and color them.
Buy shrinky dinks, color and shrink them.
Angela
game-enthusiast@...
_____
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
take the kids that they weren't familiar with and over the course of the
year we picked a few of the ideas off the list on quiet days and we went to
them. We usually had a lot of fun. Do you have any historical museums or
forts you can visit? Museums, children's museums, art museums, zoos, animal
sanctuaries, a neighbor with a farm? Another thing that I did often with my
children esp. when they were smaller was play board games. We all enjoy
them and they are a lot of fun.
Here is a list of fun ideas I made for the days we couldn't think of
something to do. (before we were horse crazy)
Play mailman - At our house we each live in a different room. We use a box
or container for our mailbox and we send each other notes, bills, and
homemade junk mail.
Listen to books on tape - They are especially great for in the car.
Finger knitting.
Finger crochet.
Plastic canvas and yarn projects .
Hand sewing (felt works well for little ones), make bean bags, rice bags (to
heat and sleep with), stuffed animals, doll blankets and pillows, and other
doll items.
Read aloud. Ask your friends or email buddies what their favorites are.
Make bubble gum - you can buy gum base on line in a craft kit for under $10
if you look around.
Make silly putty- recipes on-line .
Borax snowflakes- recipes on line.
Blow soap bubbles when it's below zero, they freeze and break when they
crash.
Rent a movie.
Go to a museum, children's, state, history, art, etc.
Play store - Price items in your home and use real or play money and take
turns being the cashier.
Scavenger hunt - inside or outside, finding the things on your list or find
things other have hidden.
Learn to follow a compass and make an Orienteering course to follow to find
a treasure.
Bury a time capsule.
Have some friends over for a club with a theme. My kids like Club Survivor
or Fear Factor, where they dare each other to eat gross things and win
prizes.
Guess the smell...blindfolded
Guess the item (by feel) ...blindfolded.
Ask for a tour of a local business.
Make candles, soap, or candy.
Go for a nature walk and collect rocks and leaves. See if you can identify
the trees or leaves.
Visit a local farm and bring the animals a treat. Horses and goats love
carrots or apples.
Volunteer at a farm to brush the horses or goats, shovel stalls, etc.
Go skiing, snow shoeing, or sliding.
Go to the beach or go camping. It doesn't have to be 80 degrees out. The
beach is beautiful when it is 50 and sunny. The sand is warm and the wind
gives you healthy rosy cheeks.
Build a campfire in your yard (might need a permit) and toast marshmallows
or make smores.
Play a board game or a card game.
Write a story. Pick a topic and get going...You could have a story night
with a different topic each week. Mystery, Horror, Love, Family,
Non-fiction, etc.
Make your own newspaper about your family. You can put in pictures too.
Make paper Decorate your house for the next holiday...hearts on the windows,
snowflakes hanging from the ceiling, shamrocks, pumpkins, leaves, bats, etc.
Make tissue paper snowflakes.
Make a bank or mask from paper mache'.
Make clay pots with self drying clay.
Paint ornaments or little wooden figures from the craft store.
Paint a picture.
Tie dye your underwear, socks, or t-shirts.
String beads for necklaces or bracelets.
Make necklaces or bracelets out of cotton string.
Paint a clay flower pot with a whimsical motif.
Work with polymer clay, make pins, beads, little figures, or magnets.
Make cards with rubber stamps.
Make a bank from recyclable plastic containers.
Print out coloring pages with your favorite theme and color them.
Buy shrinky dinks, color and shrink them.
Angela
game-enthusiast@...
_____
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Momma
I had these same feelings for a while and still do occasionally. What helps
me is to remember what I heard once, I think on this list a while back,
"Live like there is no such thing as school." Pretend like it is summer
vacation or a Saturday. I know it may sound kind of strange but it really
does help. When your talking about "should be's" your still thinking of
schoolish type things you want them to be doing, right? I have a little list
of things I know my children enjoy and ask me to do with them often and also
new ideas we think of, (baking, sewing, board games, craft projects,
swimming, hiking, wood working, puzzles, etc.) I go to this list often,
especially when I start to get that panicky feeling, and ask the kids if
they would like to do this or that today. We've only been unschooling for
about a year now so I know very well these feelings you're having.
Also, read some Holt if you haven't already. I had a very difficult time
understanding unschooling until I read some of his books. Now I am able to
really see how they are learning and growing without anything schoolish in
their way to inhibit them.
Just live life! Take them grocery shopping, take them for a walk, take them
to the car wash, cook with them, play with them, encourage questions, ask
questions yourself, enjoy their company, Get school out of your head. That
was the biggest hurdle for me. Don't picture your self in a teacher roll.
Just be their mom.
If seeing their progress on paper would help, you can do this without them
knowing about it. Jot down what you see them doing, conversations you have
with them or that they have with each other, or new discoveries they make,
or what you all did today, or all of this. Keep a journal if it makes you
feel more organized.
I also went through a long period of not having any hobbies or interests of
my own too. I am still working on that but I am a little better. When we
stopped homeschooling and I realized I had spent a year doing lesson plans
and lessons, I had made that my whole life. When we started unschooling I
had nothing to fill my days anymore. Nothing of my own. When I started to
relax a little I found a few things I enjoy but I'm still a work in progress
as far as that goes.
I have been right where you are now and it sucks but it will get better if
you stop holding on to the ideas of what "should be" happening in your home.
Just live life. Work WITH your kids, talk to them about how you feel. When I
was going though this I told my ds that I thought I was a terrible mother.
He said, "You're a great mom!" I told him I didn't feel that way at all. He
said, "Well, it doesn't really matter what you think. It only matters what
we think." He was right. I had to stop beating myself up and live up to what
they knew I was. Discuss your feelings with them and the changes you are
trying to make within yourself. Don't be afraid to share your feelings and
thoughts with your kids. They will feel joy that you are confiding in them
and making yourself venerable. Unschooling is a big transition especially
for those of us that are so schooled we can't se past so many things. Give
yourself a break.
Hope this helps,
Dawn
_____
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]
On Behalf Of mascire2
Sent: Tuesday, May 02, 2006 11:53 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [AlwaysLearning] confused about unschooling
I have asked for help before, and here I am again. I don't post much
at all, but I am starting to feel like I just don't get unschooling.
In theory, yes it makes total sense to me. And, the thought of
sending my kids to school just doesn't make sense to me. (And the
fact that they don't want to). My problem is that I read about all
of these cool, fun things that other people do, and I just don't see
that happening for us. I have all of these ideas in my head, but
seem to have a hard time bringing them to fruition. I feel like a
deadbeat. I am not writing this to get sympathy, I know that is not
what this list is all about. I am getting some help for anxiety, so
that is part of my problem. I am overwelmed with "should be's",
which leads to anxiety,which leads to me doing nothing. Maybe I need
to be de-schooled more?! I think if someone told me what to do with
the kids each day, I could do it. I know unschooling isn't like this
though.
My kids are watching too much tv right now because they are bored. I
have read so many books and articles and it all makes complete
sense. It is putting these things into real life that I don't get.
My kids don't have these cool projects going on. They do play
outside alot, and with some neighbor kids, and they are each taking
a class (gymnastics and trampoline). It just doesn't feel "right" to
me. I am trying to be more present, which is a big problem for me. I
tend to escape in reading, I am working on this. Another problem is
that I don't feel like I have interesting things going on in my
life. The worst part is that I can't really think of anything that
sounds interesting to me.
I don't know what I am asking for. Maybe others that have been in
this place? I don't know.
Thank you,
Amie
SPONSORED LINKS
Unschooling
<http://groups.yahoo.com/gads?t=ms&k=Unschooling&w1=Unschooling&w2=Attachmen
t+parenting&w3=John+holt&w4=Parenting+magazine&w5=Single+parenting&c=5&s=104
&.sig=O82AQhD_DXKdsA55u0IORA>
Attachment
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Attachment+parenting&w3=John+holt&w4=Parenting+magazine&w5=Single+parenting&
c=5&s=104&.sig=mWlG37faHBsTH26WLfJbUw> parenting
John
<http://groups.yahoo.com/gads?t=ms&k=John+holt&w1=Unschooling&w2=Attachment+
parenting&w3=John+holt&w4=Parenting+magazine&w5=Single+parenting&c=5&s=104&.
sig=aXLviSaeQBQ0Koa1fFBC0w> holt
Parenting
<http://groups.yahoo.com/gads?t=ms&k=Parenting+magazine&w1=Unschooling&w2=At
tachment+parenting&w3=John+holt&w4=Parenting+magazine&w5=Single+parenting&c=
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chment+parenting&w3=John+holt&w4=Parenting+magazine&w5=Single+parenting&c=5&
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_____
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
me is to remember what I heard once, I think on this list a while back,
"Live like there is no such thing as school." Pretend like it is summer
vacation or a Saturday. I know it may sound kind of strange but it really
does help. When your talking about "should be's" your still thinking of
schoolish type things you want them to be doing, right? I have a little list
of things I know my children enjoy and ask me to do with them often and also
new ideas we think of, (baking, sewing, board games, craft projects,
swimming, hiking, wood working, puzzles, etc.) I go to this list often,
especially when I start to get that panicky feeling, and ask the kids if
they would like to do this or that today. We've only been unschooling for
about a year now so I know very well these feelings you're having.
Also, read some Holt if you haven't already. I had a very difficult time
understanding unschooling until I read some of his books. Now I am able to
really see how they are learning and growing without anything schoolish in
their way to inhibit them.
Just live life! Take them grocery shopping, take them for a walk, take them
to the car wash, cook with them, play with them, encourage questions, ask
questions yourself, enjoy their company, Get school out of your head. That
was the biggest hurdle for me. Don't picture your self in a teacher roll.
Just be their mom.
If seeing their progress on paper would help, you can do this without them
knowing about it. Jot down what you see them doing, conversations you have
with them or that they have with each other, or new discoveries they make,
or what you all did today, or all of this. Keep a journal if it makes you
feel more organized.
I also went through a long period of not having any hobbies or interests of
my own too. I am still working on that but I am a little better. When we
stopped homeschooling and I realized I had spent a year doing lesson plans
and lessons, I had made that my whole life. When we started unschooling I
had nothing to fill my days anymore. Nothing of my own. When I started to
relax a little I found a few things I enjoy but I'm still a work in progress
as far as that goes.
I have been right where you are now and it sucks but it will get better if
you stop holding on to the ideas of what "should be" happening in your home.
Just live life. Work WITH your kids, talk to them about how you feel. When I
was going though this I told my ds that I thought I was a terrible mother.
He said, "You're a great mom!" I told him I didn't feel that way at all. He
said, "Well, it doesn't really matter what you think. It only matters what
we think." He was right. I had to stop beating myself up and live up to what
they knew I was. Discuss your feelings with them and the changes you are
trying to make within yourself. Don't be afraid to share your feelings and
thoughts with your kids. They will feel joy that you are confiding in them
and making yourself venerable. Unschooling is a big transition especially
for those of us that are so schooled we can't se past so many things. Give
yourself a break.
Hope this helps,
Dawn
_____
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]
On Behalf Of mascire2
Sent: Tuesday, May 02, 2006 11:53 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [AlwaysLearning] confused about unschooling
I have asked for help before, and here I am again. I don't post much
at all, but I am starting to feel like I just don't get unschooling.
In theory, yes it makes total sense to me. And, the thought of
sending my kids to school just doesn't make sense to me. (And the
fact that they don't want to). My problem is that I read about all
of these cool, fun things that other people do, and I just don't see
that happening for us. I have all of these ideas in my head, but
seem to have a hard time bringing them to fruition. I feel like a
deadbeat. I am not writing this to get sympathy, I know that is not
what this list is all about. I am getting some help for anxiety, so
that is part of my problem. I am overwelmed with "should be's",
which leads to anxiety,which leads to me doing nothing. Maybe I need
to be de-schooled more?! I think if someone told me what to do with
the kids each day, I could do it. I know unschooling isn't like this
though.
My kids are watching too much tv right now because they are bored. I
have read so many books and articles and it all makes complete
sense. It is putting these things into real life that I don't get.
My kids don't have these cool projects going on. They do play
outside alot, and with some neighbor kids, and they are each taking
a class (gymnastics and trampoline). It just doesn't feel "right" to
me. I am trying to be more present, which is a big problem for me. I
tend to escape in reading, I am working on this. Another problem is
that I don't feel like I have interesting things going on in my
life. The worst part is that I can't really think of anything that
sounds interesting to me.
I don't know what I am asking for. Maybe others that have been in
this place? I don't know.
Thank you,
Amie
SPONSORED LINKS
Unschooling
<http://groups.yahoo.com/gads?t=ms&k=Unschooling&w1=Unschooling&w2=Attachmen
t+parenting&w3=John+holt&w4=Parenting+magazine&w5=Single+parenting&c=5&s=104
&.sig=O82AQhD_DXKdsA55u0IORA>
Attachment
<http://groups.yahoo.com/gads?t=ms&k=Attachment+parenting&w1=Unschooling&w2=
Attachment+parenting&w3=John+holt&w4=Parenting+magazine&w5=Single+parenting&
c=5&s=104&.sig=mWlG37faHBsTH26WLfJbUw> parenting
John
<http://groups.yahoo.com/gads?t=ms&k=John+holt&w1=Unschooling&w2=Attachment+
parenting&w3=John+holt&w4=Parenting+magazine&w5=Single+parenting&c=5&s=104&.
sig=aXLviSaeQBQ0Koa1fFBC0w> holt
Parenting
<http://groups.yahoo.com/gads?t=ms&k=Parenting+magazine&w1=Unschooling&w2=At
tachment+parenting&w3=John+holt&w4=Parenting+magazine&w5=Single+parenting&c=
5&s=104&.sig=1vVhu6yG9zKP6tD21Ys9qw> magazine
Single
<http://groups.yahoo.com/gads?t=ms&k=Single+parenting&w1=Unschooling&w2=Atta
chment+parenting&w3=John+holt&w4=Parenting+magazine&w5=Single+parenting&c=5&
s=104&.sig=86a8STGJlXAgNag9XEqGWA> parenting
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Sandra Dodd
On May 3, 2006, at 6:52 AM, Momma wrote:
Any mom who isn't spending many hours a day with her children,
though, whether they're in school or not, isn't being as good a mom
as her kids need. It IS possible for someone to use unschooling as a
cover for doing too little. If this list can encourage a mom to take
a kid to the car wash and talk with him and play with him, we all did
a great thing together.
Sandra
> Just live life! Take them grocery shopping, take them for a walk,That sounds good. Good way to put it without fancy bells and whistles.
> take them
> to the car wash, cook with them, play with them, encourage
> questions, ask
> questions yourself, enjoy their company,
Any mom who isn't spending many hours a day with her children,
though, whether they're in school or not, isn't being as good a mom
as her kids need. It IS possible for someone to use unschooling as a
cover for doing too little. If this list can encourage a mom to take
a kid to the car wash and talk with him and play with him, we all did
a great thing together.
Sandra
Julia Swancy
> I am trying to be more present, which is a biglife. The worst part is that I can't really think
> problem for me. I tend to escape in reading, I am
> working on this. Another problem is that I don't
> feel like I have interesting things going on in my >
> of anything that sounds interesting to me.Amie, I can only respond from my own experience (as is
>
> I don't know what I am asking for. Maybe others that
> have been in this place? I don't know.
>
> Thank you,
> Amie
true for all of us, of course-- well, and what we've
read or learned from others), so if this is way off
base just take what works and leave the rest, as the
saying goes. I am also a dreamer, and a reader, and
tend to drift off and isolate myself. being present is
*not* what we're taught in this culture! after all, if
NOW is fine, how can you be manipulated?! ;) I still
struggle with this, but I hear it gets easier lol!
you mentioned anxiety, and in that as well as what I
quoted above I recognize some things I have been
through. I don't know how bad your anxiety is, but a
few months ago I was experiencing severe panic
attacks. I have had them in the past, many years ago
before I became a mom, but nothing like these. anxiety
and depression go hand in hand, as you may know, and I
hear depression in your statements about having
nothing interesting in your life. you mentioned that
you are getting treated for the anxiety; this can mean
many things, but your statement was a passive one.
ultimately YOU will have to decide to stand up and
change your life. medication can be useful and even
necessary-- it was for me for a very brief period--
but solving the problem (why you're depressed and
anxious) is what will resolve the symptoms
permanently. I happen to have a great therapist who
knows me very well and operates from a similar pov to
mine, and one session with her really shifted my
thinking. I'm slipping a little OT here, pausing to
think... when I was at my worst I frantically started
looking into preschools and applying for jobs. luckily
nothing panned out, while it kept me busy enough to
figure out what was going on. here's what I figured
out as it pertains to parenting and unschooling
(parenthetical summaries where I could think of them):
1. meeting my own needs means that I can be the
unschooling mom I need and want to be. (recharge)
2. I found some of my hs'ing books and remembered why
I believe in this approach. (reaffirm)
3. I realized my social and intellectual needs were
starving, and started seeking outlets for myself.
(recharge) imo, this is extremely important modeling.
how do you want your kids to take care of themselves
as adults?
4. I noticed all the signals my body had been giving
me over many months that I had ignored, so that I had
to be "hit over the head" with panic attacks before I
would change anything. (listen to self)
5. I got online and found this list and the AU list.
from there, by mentioning my location, I found some
semi-local moms-- one that I actually knew irl! (get
connected)
6. I looked at all the areas of elevated stress in my
life-- there were quite a few-- and started taking
concrete steps to make changes. as long as I was
taking some baby step, I could steer clear of the
panic. (take action!)
7. I consciously worked on reconnecting with nature.
for me, this is my constant, my place where I can find
that feeling that life is meaningful. if it works for
you too, it's getting easier now that we're moving
into summer-- make sure you're not deprived of natural
light, get your hands in dirt, even if you don't
garden, which I highly recommend! (get connected)
8. I started exercising, very important for clearing
those toxic panic feelings and the associated
biochemistry. (be healthy)
so my suggestion, then, would be to figure out what
you need to recharge and feel that your life is
meaningful, and go get it! I once heard bernie siegel
speak, and he said "If you lose your keys, you go find
them, right? if you lose your health, go find it!" the
same is true for our motivation and our zest for life.
go find your joy! and take your kids! it will snowball
once you get rolling. but you're the only one who can
pull you out of the quicksand.
if this is ringing true for you, I'm happy to talk
more offlist as well. oh, and a great gardening book
imo is roots, shoots, buckets and boots by sharon
lovejoy. it's pretty and fun and full of easy ideas,
if you're looking for inspiration and that is an area
which speaks to your heart.
good luck!
Julia, off to find directions to the nearest zoo, per
ds's request :)
freepsgal
Hi Amie,
As I read your note, I see a marked difference between what they
(the children) do and what you (the adult) does. Instead of
thinking 'they', think 'us'.
I think sometimes it's difficult for adults to play with children.
Afterall, children can be silly and immature and use their
imaginations a great deal. These are things that aren't generally
associated with being an adult. In our family, there are some
things the kids do that I don't participate in, such as role playing
Star Wars. I just can't get into taking on a Star Wars character's
persona and running around with a gun, shooting the enemy. There
are some things I do that my kids aren't interested in. That's
fine. The key is finding common ground. There are lots of things
we do together: watch tv, movies, play games, Nintendo, read aloud,
window shop at the mall, eat lunch out, garden, ride bikes, hot tub,
draw and color, build with legos, housework, library, cook, grocery
shop, and talk.
Hope this helps a little.
Beth M.
As I read your note, I see a marked difference between what they
(the children) do and what you (the adult) does. Instead of
thinking 'they', think 'us'.
I think sometimes it's difficult for adults to play with children.
Afterall, children can be silly and immature and use their
imaginations a great deal. These are things that aren't generally
associated with being an adult. In our family, there are some
things the kids do that I don't participate in, such as role playing
Star Wars. I just can't get into taking on a Star Wars character's
persona and running around with a gun, shooting the enemy. There
are some things I do that my kids aren't interested in. That's
fine. The key is finding common ground. There are lots of things
we do together: watch tv, movies, play games, Nintendo, read aloud,
window shop at the mall, eat lunch out, garden, ride bikes, hot tub,
draw and color, build with legos, housework, library, cook, grocery
shop, and talk.
Hope this helps a little.
Beth M.
Pamela Sorooshian
> Just live life!You might have to make a conscious attempt to be more curious and
more interesting, though.
> Take them grocery shopping -Right - but while you're there, look at the weirdest thing in the
produce department - bright orange cactus? BUY one - go home and get
online and try to figure out what to do with it. Or just slice it
open to see what is inside.
Or buy a coconut - shake it to see if it has liquid inside. Let the
kid pound on it with a hammer until it cracks open. While they're
doing that, do a quick google on coconuts so you have some background
knowledge. Don't "teach" them - but if something seems cool, just say
it as an interesting, cool thing to know, "Wow, coconuts are SEEDS!
And, oh my gosh, they sometimes float in the ocean for years before
washing up on some island and sprouting into a coconut tree."
How about a pineapple - bought one fresh, lately? Talked about
Hawaii? Just say, "Aloha," while handing the kids a slice. Or, maybe
you'll get really into the whole idea of Hawaii and you'll see
connections everywhere - Hawaiian shirts at the thrift store, flowers
to me leis, someone playing a ukelele, a video of a volcano exploding
(maybe that will inspire you to want to make your own volcano with
baking soda and vinegar).
I'm not saying to prepare a lesson on cactus or coconuts or
pineapples. I'm saying that, if you're not already an interesting
person with interesting information to share with your children, then
you'll have to make an effort to BE more interesting. The way to do
that is to develop your own sense of curiosity, wonder, fascination,
and enthusiasm.
It might have to seem a little artificial, for a while, if it isn't
natural to a parent to just "be" this way.
> , take them for a walk,Same thing - when you go for a walk, don't be boring, be alert to
interesting things. Yesterday, my daughter and I were walking down
the street and there was a cat on the top of a car - all spread out,
sound asleep. It was a little chilly and one of us said, "That car
must be nice and warm, holding the heat from the day."
> take them to the car wash,"Where does all that soapy water go, I wonder?"
> cook with themMake it super easy fun stuff, not a "cooking lesson." Put peanut
butter on celery and then stick raisins on that and call it, "Ants on
a log."
> , play with them, encourage questions, askJust be their really interesting mom - not their boring mom, though.
> questions yourself, enjoy their company, Get school out of your
> head. That
> was the biggest hurdle for me. Don't picture your self in a teacher
> roll.
> Just be their mom.
-pam
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Nancy Wooton
On May 3, 2006, at 9:35 AM, Pamela Sorooshian wrote:
carrying it on a line between them?
Nancy (tying the topic to film, comedy, Arthurian legends,
geography...)
> Or buy a coconut - shake it to see if it has liquid inside. Let theYou mean they're not carried by a swallow? Not even by two swallows,
> kid pound on it with a hammer until it cracks open. While they're
> doing that, do a quick google on coconuts so you have some background
> knowledge. Don't "teach" them - but if something seems cool, just say
> it as an interesting, cool thing to know, "Wow, coconuts are SEEDS!
> And, oh my gosh, they sometimes float in the ocean for years before
> washing up on some island and sprouting into a coconut tree."
carrying it on a line between them?
Nancy (tying the topic to film, comedy, Arthurian legends,
geography...)
Sandra Dodd
-=-How about a pineapple - bought one fresh, lately? Talked about
Hawaii? Just say, "Aloha," while handing the kids a slice. Or, maybe
you'll get really into the whole idea of Hawaii and you'll see
connections everywhere - Hawaiian shirts at the thrift store, flowers
to me leis, someone playing a ukelele, a video of a volcano exploding
(maybe that will inspire you to want to make your own volcano with
baking soda and vinegar).-=-
Elvis.
http://sandradodd.com/dot/elvis
Sandra
Hawaii? Just say, "Aloha," while handing the kids a slice. Or, maybe
you'll get really into the whole idea of Hawaii and you'll see
connections everywhere - Hawaiian shirts at the thrift store, flowers
to me leis, someone playing a ukelele, a video of a volcano exploding
(maybe that will inspire you to want to make your own volcano with
baking soda and vinegar).-=-
Elvis.
http://sandradodd.com/dot/elvis
Sandra
Rod Thomas
Why do you suppose it is that I meet quite a few children whose parents
pretty much ignore them yet they seem to make their way in the world
quite well, seem to have lots of interests, initiative, drive. I just
went to dinner at a friends house who are not very into their kid (Dad
is verbally abuse, actually), yet she seems so creative, and can
entertain herself for hours, and enjoys herself, and I find her very
interesting, not much interest in TV, not bored.
Flyerkat
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Sandra Dodd
Sent: Wednesday, May 03, 2006 8:02 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [AlwaysLearning] confused about unschooling
pretty much ignore them yet they seem to make their way in the world
quite well, seem to have lots of interests, initiative, drive. I just
went to dinner at a friends house who are not very into their kid (Dad
is verbally abuse, actually), yet she seems so creative, and can
entertain herself for hours, and enjoys herself, and I find her very
interesting, not much interest in TV, not bored.
Flyerkat
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Sandra Dodd
Sent: Wednesday, May 03, 2006 8:02 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [AlwaysLearning] confused about unschooling
On May 3, 2006, at 6:52 AM, Momma wrote:
> Just live life! Take them grocery shopping, take them for a walk,
> take them
> to the car wash, cook with them, play with them, encourage
> questions, ask
> questions yourself, enjoy their company,
That sounds good. Good way to put it without fancy bells and whistles.
Any mom who isn't spending many hours a day with her children,
though, whether they're in school or not, isn't being as good a mom
as her kids need. It IS possible for someone to use unschooling as a
cover for doing too little. If this list can encourage a mom to take
a kid to the car wash and talk with him and play with him, we all did
a great thing together.
Sandra
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Kim H
<Build a campfire in your yard (might need a permit) and toast marshmallows
or make smores.>
Hi Angela,
This is OT but have wondered for a long time now - what are smores? This Aussies has no clue!
Kim
PS Loved your list!
or make smores.>
Hi Angela,
This is OT but have wondered for a long time now - what are smores? This Aussies has no clue!
Kim
PS Loved your list!
----- Original Message -----
From: Angela S.
To: [email protected]
Sent: Wednesday, May 03, 2006 9:29 PM
Subject: RE: [AlwaysLearning] confused about unschooling
One thing I did one year was to make a list of all the places I'd like to
take the kids that they weren't familiar with and over the course of the
year we picked a few of the ideas off the list on quiet days and we went to
them. We usually had a lot of fun. Do you have any historical museums or
forts you can visit? Museums, children's museums, art museums, zoos, animal
sanctuaries, a neighbor with a farm? Another thing that I did often with my
children esp. when they were smaller was play board games. We all enjoy
them and they are a lot of fun.
Here is a list of fun ideas I made for the days we couldn't think of
something to do. (before we were horse crazy)
Play mailman - At our house we each live in a different room. We use a box
or container for our mailbox and we send each other notes, bills, and
homemade junk mail.
Listen to books on tape - They are especially great for in the car.
Finger knitting.
Finger crochet.
Plastic canvas and yarn projects .
Hand sewing (felt works well for little ones), make bean bags, rice bags (to
heat and sleep with), stuffed animals, doll blankets and pillows, and other
doll items.
Read aloud. Ask your friends or email buddies what their favorites are.
Make bubble gum - you can buy gum base on line in a craft kit for under $10
if you look around.
Make silly putty- recipes on-line .
Borax snowflakes- recipes on line.
Blow soap bubbles when it's below zero, they freeze and break when they
crash.
Rent a movie.
Go to a museum, children's, state, history, art, etc.
Play store - Price items in your home and use real or play money and take
turns being the cashier.
Scavenger hunt - inside or outside, finding the things on your list or find
things other have hidden.
Learn to follow a compass and make an Orienteering course to follow to find
a treasure.
Bury a time capsule.
Have some friends over for a club with a theme. My kids like Club Survivor
or Fear Factor, where they dare each other to eat gross things and win
prizes.
Guess the smell...blindfolded
Guess the item (by feel) ...blindfolded.
Ask for a tour of a local business.
Make candles, soap, or candy.
Go for a nature walk and collect rocks and leaves. See if you can identify
the trees or leaves.
Visit a local farm and bring the animals a treat. Horses and goats love
carrots or apples.
Volunteer at a farm to brush the horses or goats, shovel stalls, etc.
Go skiing, snow shoeing, or sliding.
Go to the beach or go camping. It doesn't have to be 80 degrees out. The
beach is beautiful when it is 50 and sunny. The sand is warm and the wind
gives you healthy rosy cheeks.
Build a campfire in your yard (might need a permit) and toast marshmallows
or make smores.
Play a board game or a card game.
Write a story. Pick a topic and get going...You could have a story night
with a different topic each week. Mystery, Horror, Love, Family,
Non-fiction, etc.
Make your own newspaper about your family. You can put in pictures too.
Make paper Decorate your house for the next holiday...hearts on the windows,
snowflakes hanging from the ceiling, shamrocks, pumpkins, leaves, bats, etc.
Make tissue paper snowflakes.
Make a bank or mask from paper mache'.
Make clay pots with self drying clay.
Paint ornaments or little wooden figures from the craft store.
Paint a picture.
Tie dye your underwear, socks, or t-shirts.
String beads for necklaces or bracelets.
Make necklaces or bracelets out of cotton string.
Paint a clay flower pot with a whimsical motif.
Work with polymer clay, make pins, beads, little figures, or magnets.
Make cards with rubber stamps.
Make a bank from recyclable plastic containers.
Print out coloring pages with your favorite theme and color them.
Buy shrinky dinks, color and shrink them.
Angela
game-enthusiast@...
_____
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
SPONSORED LINKS Unschooling Attachment parenting John holt
Parenting magazine Single parenting
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Momma
Flyerkat wrote---
Why do you suppose it is that I meet quite a few children whose parents
pretty much ignore them yet they seem to make their way in the world
quite well, seem to have lots of interests, initiative, drive.
I think that children are experts at being able to adapt to just about any
environment they are in. Just take a look at all of those children who are
sexually abused and no one ever knows, sometimes not even the parents. Does
this mean they are okay? No, it means they can adapt to what is going on and
still function in the world.
Dawn
_____
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Why do you suppose it is that I meet quite a few children whose parents
pretty much ignore them yet they seem to make their way in the world
quite well, seem to have lots of interests, initiative, drive.
I think that children are experts at being able to adapt to just about any
environment they are in. Just take a look at all of those children who are
sexually abused and no one ever knows, sometimes not even the parents. Does
this mean they are okay? No, it means they can adapt to what is going on and
still function in the world.
Dawn
_____
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Sandra Dodd
On May 4, 2006, at 6:38 AM, Kim H wrote:
The name S'mores is short for "some more."
They're actually kind of nasty, but artsy. They ideally happen
outside with campfires.
You need Graham Crackers (which you might not have) and they are
scored to break into quarters, but for s'mores you only break them in
half, so it's a square about the size of the palm of your hand. You
need both halves.
Then you get a plain Hershey bar. The main problem here is they've
changed the mold into which they pour Hershey bars years ago. But
they used to also be very flat and scored. So you would take four
squares of the Hershey bar, which was a little smaller than the
cracker. That part is on standby—must be in hand and ready to go.
Last ingredient is a marshmallow. I don't know if or what size of
marshmallows you get if you have any, but you need the big one
that's about an inch and a half across (4 cm or so) and you "roast"
that—try to get it browned and soft inside without it catching fire—
and then someone helps you close that up between the cracker halves,
you pull the stick out while they're holding some pressure on it, and
then you wait a few seconds for it to start melting the chocolate.
They're messy, WAY sweet, and traditional.
But lately there's "s'more flavored" bunch of everything—granola
bars, ice cream, breakfast cereal—which then just means it has Graham
cracker, marshmallow and milk chocolate flavors and probably lumps in
there.
Sandra
> This is OT but have wondered for a long time now - what are smores?They came out of the Girl Scouts, probably around WWII.
> This Aussies has no clue!
The name S'mores is short for "some more."
They're actually kind of nasty, but artsy. They ideally happen
outside with campfires.
You need Graham Crackers (which you might not have) and they are
scored to break into quarters, but for s'mores you only break them in
half, so it's a square about the size of the palm of your hand. You
need both halves.
Then you get a plain Hershey bar. The main problem here is they've
changed the mold into which they pour Hershey bars years ago. But
they used to also be very flat and scored. So you would take four
squares of the Hershey bar, which was a little smaller than the
cracker. That part is on standby—must be in hand and ready to go.
Last ingredient is a marshmallow. I don't know if or what size of
marshmallows you get if you have any, but you need the big one
that's about an inch and a half across (4 cm or so) and you "roast"
that—try to get it browned and soft inside without it catching fire—
and then someone helps you close that up between the cracker halves,
you pull the stick out while they're holding some pressure on it, and
then you wait a few seconds for it to start melting the chocolate.
They're messy, WAY sweet, and traditional.
But lately there's "s'more flavored" bunch of everything—granola
bars, ice cream, breakfast cereal—which then just means it has Graham
cracker, marshmallow and milk chocolate flavors and probably lumps in
there.
Sandra
Sandra Dodd
> Why do you suppose it is that I meet quite a few children whoseSome people are able to overcome massive problems and others aren't.
> parents
> pretty much ignore them yet they seem to make their way in the world
> quite well, seem to have lots of interests, initiative, drive.
Some people are fragile in one way or another even if their
upbringing was ideal.
So the main question for us on this list isn't "how much can my child
endure" but "how mindful a parent can I be?"
Some trees grow up through concrete. Some trees die despite special
care.
If you want to grow a tree, what decisions will you make?
Sandra
Willa Ryan
----- Original Message -----
From: "Momma" <southernbelle@...>
I think that children are experts at being able to adapt to just about any
environment they are in. Just take a look at all of those children who are
sexually abused and no one ever knows, sometimes not even the parents. Does
this mean they are okay? No, it means they can adapt to what is going on and
still function in the world. >>>
That's what I think. I know so many strong beautiful people who came from
really difficult homes. Well, I guess John Holt was one of those. Somehow
many people are able to draw good out of their upbringing even if it was
mostly not good. That gives me hope on bad days when everything I'm doing
is going wrong, but it's not an excuse to leave it up to my kids to make up
for my deficits. There will be enough mistakes I make with the best
intentions.
Willa
diana
--- In [email protected], "Momma" <southernbelle@...>
wrote:
about any environment they are in.<snip> it means they can adapt to
what is going on and still function in the world.
-----------------------------------------
And some of us realize that even though we're okay, we don't want
our kids to ever, ever have to *get to* okay, we want them to never,
ever leave being okay.... we unschool.
:) diana
wrote:
>parents
> Flyerkat wrote---
>
> Why do you suppose it is that I meet quite a few children whose
> pretty much ignore them yet they seem to make their way in theworld
> quite well, seem to have lots of interests, initiative, drive.I think that children are experts at being able to adapt to just
> -=-=-=-=-=-=-->
about any environment they are in.<snip> it means they can adapt to
what is going on and still function in the world.
-----------------------------------------
And some of us realize that even though we're okay, we don't want
our kids to ever, ever have to *get to* okay, we want them to never,
ever leave being okay.... we unschool.
:) diana
Pamela Sorooshian
On May 4, 2006, at 6:38 AM, Sandra Dodd wrote:
April 30, 2006
A Question of Resilience
By EMILY BAZELON
The full article is here
<http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/30/magazine/30abuse.html>
Here are a few little bits of it:
The everyday meaning of the word "resilience" extends to anything that
bounces back. Estée Lauder makes Resilience Lift Eye Crème and Hanes
makes Resilience Pantyhose. But in psychology, resilience has a specific
meaning. It's the word for springing back from serious adversity, like
abuse, war or natural disasters. You exhibit resilience (as opposed to
plain competence) if you cope with terrible misfortune and live a
relatively successful life as defined by mental health, success in
school or at work or solid relationships.
In studies of the long-term effects of physical and sexual child abuse,
20 to 40 percent of victims show few signs of behavioral or
mental-health problems. And many of them don't appear damaged later in
life. As Ann Masten, a resilience researcher, has written, resilient
children have the benefit of "ordinary magic." When it comes to abuse
victims, though, this finding is rarely trumpeted, for fear that saying
abuse isn't always inevitably harmful is tantamount to saying it's not
always bad.
Over the last several decades, a small group of researchers has tried to
understand how a minority of maltreated children exceed
expectations. . .
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> Some people are able to overcome massive problems and others aren't.Interesting article about children and resilience -
> Some people are fragile in one way or another even if their
> upbringing was ideal.
April 30, 2006
A Question of Resilience
By EMILY BAZELON
The full article is here
<http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/30/magazine/30abuse.html>
Here are a few little bits of it:
The everyday meaning of the word "resilience" extends to anything that
bounces back. Estée Lauder makes Resilience Lift Eye Crème and Hanes
makes Resilience Pantyhose. But in psychology, resilience has a specific
meaning. It's the word for springing back from serious adversity, like
abuse, war or natural disasters. You exhibit resilience (as opposed to
plain competence) if you cope with terrible misfortune and live a
relatively successful life as defined by mental health, success in
school or at work or solid relationships.
In studies of the long-term effects of physical and sexual child abuse,
20 to 40 percent of victims show few signs of behavioral or
mental-health problems. And many of them don't appear damaged later in
life. As Ann Masten, a resilience researcher, has written, resilient
children have the benefit of "ordinary magic." When it comes to abuse
victims, though, this finding is rarely trumpeted, for fear that saying
abuse isn't always inevitably harmful is tantamount to saying it's not
always bad.
Over the last several decades, a small group of researchers has tried to
understand how a minority of maltreated children exceed
expectations. . .
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
s.waynforth
I don't know if Australia has graham crackers, they have Kraft Mac and
Cheese which Britain doesn't have, so maybe they have graham crackers.
But, we've found that plain digestive biscuits are a pretty close
replacement.
Schuyler
Sandra Dodd wrote:
Cheese which Britain doesn't have, so maybe they have graham crackers.
But, we've found that plain digestive biscuits are a pretty close
replacement.
Schuyler
Sandra Dodd wrote:
> On May 4, 2006, at 6:38 AM, Kim H wrote:
>
>
>> This is OT but have wondered for a long time now - what are smores?
>> This Aussies has no clue!
>>
>
>
> They came out of the Girl Scouts, probably around WWII.
>
> The name S'mores is short for "some more."
>
> They're actually kind of nasty, but artsy. They ideally happen
> outside with campfires.
>
> You need Graham Crackers (which you might not have) and they are
> scored to break into quarters, but for s'mores you only break them in
> half, so it's a square about the size of the palm of your hand. You
> need both halves.
>
> Then you get a plain Hershey bar. The main problem here is they've
> changed the mold into which they pour Hershey bars years ago. But
> they used to also be very flat and scored. So you would take four
> squares of the Hershey bar, which was a little smaller than the
> cracker. That part is on standby—must be in hand and ready to go.
>
> Last ingredient is a marshmallow. I don't know if or what size of
> marshmallows you get if you have any, but you need the big one
> that's about an inch and a half across (4 cm or so) and you "roast"
> that—try to get it browned and soft inside without it catching fire—
> and then someone helps you close that up between the cracker halves,
> you pull the stick out while they're holding some pressure on it, and
> then you wait a few seconds for it to start melting the chocolate.
>
> They're messy, WAY sweet, and traditional.
>
> But lately there's "s'more flavored" bunch of everything—granola
> bars, ice cream, breakfast cereal—which then just means it has Graham
> cracker, marshmallow and milk chocolate flavors and probably lumps in
> there.
>
> Sandra
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
s.waynforth
Rod Thomas wrote:
They have lots of battles of wills over things like television and food
and bedtimes. Those things are just part of their fabric of life. I have
no sense that their children will grow up any more distant from them
then my children will grow up from me. But I do know that my now beats
the pants off of their nows. I know that I enjoy so much being an active
participant in Simon's life and in Linnaea's life that I would not begin
to worry about the future outcome of someone else's limiting or
neglectful choices.
Schuyler
> Why do you suppose it is that I meet quite a few children whose parentsWe have friends who parent their children in fairly traditional ways.
> pretty much ignore them yet they seem to make their way in the world
> quite well, seem to have lots of interests, initiative, drive. I just
> went to dinner at a friends house who are not very into their kid (Dad
> is verbally abuse, actually), yet she seems so creative, and can
> entertain herself for hours, and enjoys herself, and I find her very
> interesting, not much interest in TV, not bored.
> Flyerkat
>
They have lots of battles of wills over things like television and food
and bedtimes. Those things are just part of their fabric of life. I have
no sense that their children will grow up any more distant from them
then my children will grow up from me. But I do know that my now beats
the pants off of their nows. I know that I enjoy so much being an active
participant in Simon's life and in Linnaea's life that I would not begin
to worry about the future outcome of someone else's limiting or
neglectful choices.
Schuyler
Betsy Hill
**
make sure you're not deprived of natural
light**
One thing I did this winter, as I tried to avoid slipping into seasonal depression with the short cloudy days, was to sit by the sunniest window in the house as much as I could in the mornings. This morphed into morning sessions reading to my son by the window. Since we have no set bedtime routine and rarely read at night, as a book fiend, I was happy that this opportunity cropped up to get bookish together. (Our current book is about 900 pages long, so this looks like a habit that might last awhile. <g>)
Julia, I thought your whole post was really insightful, and could have been written about me. (Yes, I excercised this morning. And I'm trying to get the judgemental voiced in my head to shut up, or at least not pass my lips!)
A friend of mine who was feeling poorly and having panic attacks eventually was diagnosed with thyroid disease. Since underperforming thyroid is a fairly common and easily overlooked health problem in women over thirty, I thought I'd mention it. It might be relevant to someone who is sitting around a lot and feeling "blah". The problem is not always willpower, although revving up the "will" can often help anything (if you refrain from beating yourself up.)
Betsy
make sure you're not deprived of natural
light**
One thing I did this winter, as I tried to avoid slipping into seasonal depression with the short cloudy days, was to sit by the sunniest window in the house as much as I could in the mornings. This morphed into morning sessions reading to my son by the window. Since we have no set bedtime routine and rarely read at night, as a book fiend, I was happy that this opportunity cropped up to get bookish together. (Our current book is about 900 pages long, so this looks like a habit that might last awhile. <g>)
Julia, I thought your whole post was really insightful, and could have been written about me. (Yes, I excercised this morning. And I'm trying to get the judgemental voiced in my head to shut up, or at least not pass my lips!)
A friend of mine who was feeling poorly and having panic attacks eventually was diagnosed with thyroid disease. Since underperforming thyroid is a fairly common and easily overlooked health problem in women over thirty, I thought I'd mention it. It might be relevant to someone who is sitting around a lot and feeling "blah". The problem is not always willpower, although revving up the "will" can often help anything (if you refrain from beating yourself up.)
Betsy
Angela S.
<<This is OT but have wondered for a long time now - what are smores? This
Aussies has no clue!>>
Smores are graham crackers ( I prefer the chocolate ones) with toasted
marshmallows and chocolate bars sandwiched in between. We always make them
when we go camping. Yum!
Angela
game-enthusiast@...
_____
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Aussies has no clue!>>
Smores are graham crackers ( I prefer the chocolate ones) with toasted
marshmallows and chocolate bars sandwiched in between. We always make them
when we go camping. Yum!
Angela
game-enthusiast@...
_____
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Sandra Dodd
On May 4, 2006, at 9:51 AM, Pamela Sorooshian wrote:
And one was how schools always say they produce successes. But they
produce WAY more failures than successes. TONS more. They do it on
purpose, too, because without drop outs and flunkies, the successes
aren't special, aren't "honor" anything or "A" anything. And maybe
every one of those successes would have been a success anyway, and
school didn't "create" them at all, just warehoused them until they
could finally serve enough time to be let into the minimum security
atmosphere of the university for another stint.
And about parenting, I think I wrote something like that yesterday or
today, or at least I thought it. <g> If in a given instance it
really makes no difference to the child's longterm success or peace
how a parent acts, then why should the parent act better?
To be a better parent.
IF in some instance an abused child was stronger psychologically and
emotionally than the loser abuser, that doesn't mean the abuser
didn't make himself a very bad person, regardless of the longterm
result.
If a person lies in a forest (not in the Waldorf kind of way, but in
the pants-on-fire way) and nobody hears him, is he still a liar?
Sandra
> As Ann Masten, a resilience researcher, has written, resilientAs I was driving around today thoughts came through by themselves.
> children have the benefit of "ordinary magic." When it comes to abuse
> victims, though, this finding is rarely trumpeted, for fear that
> saying
> abuse isn't always inevitably harmful is tantamount to saying it's not
> always bad.
And one was how schools always say they produce successes. But they
produce WAY more failures than successes. TONS more. They do it on
purpose, too, because without drop outs and flunkies, the successes
aren't special, aren't "honor" anything or "A" anything. And maybe
every one of those successes would have been a success anyway, and
school didn't "create" them at all, just warehoused them until they
could finally serve enough time to be let into the minimum security
atmosphere of the university for another stint.
And about parenting, I think I wrote something like that yesterday or
today, or at least I thought it. <g> If in a given instance it
really makes no difference to the child's longterm success or peace
how a parent acts, then why should the parent act better?
To be a better parent.
IF in some instance an abused child was stronger psychologically and
emotionally than the loser abuser, that doesn't mean the abuser
didn't make himself a very bad person, regardless of the longterm
result.
If a person lies in a forest (not in the Waldorf kind of way, but in
the pants-on-fire way) and nobody hears him, is he still a liar?
Sandra
Kim H
<Smores are graham crackers ( I prefer the chocolate ones) with toasted
marshmallows and chocolate bars sandwiched in between. We always make them
when we go camping. Yum>
They certainly sound delicious. What's another alternative to graham crackers (have no idea what they are - not water crackers????). Also what sort of chocolate bars - like rows of block chocolate or something different? And do you just put them together and eat them or do you put them in the fire in foil??? Would really love to do some with Lewi and give him a taste of the US!!!
Kim
marshmallows and chocolate bars sandwiched in between. We always make them
when we go camping. Yum>
They certainly sound delicious. What's another alternative to graham crackers (have no idea what they are - not water crackers????). Also what sort of chocolate bars - like rows of block chocolate or something different? And do you just put them together and eat them or do you put them in the fire in foil??? Would really love to do some with Lewi and give him a taste of the US!!!
Kim
----- Original Message -----
From: Angela S.
To: [email protected]
Sent: Friday, May 05, 2006 8:06 AM
Subject: RE: [AlwaysLearning] confused about unschooling
<<This is OT but have wondered for a long time now - what are smores? This
Aussies has no clue!>>
Smores are graham crackers ( I prefer the chocolate ones) with toasted
marshmallows and chocolate bars sandwiched in between. We always make them
when we go camping. Yum!
Angela
game-enthusiast@...
_____
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
SPONSORED LINKS Unschooling Attachment parenting John holt
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No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.1.385 / Virus Database: 268.5.1/328 - Release Date: 1/05/2006
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Kim H
Hi Sandra,
Yum, yum! Thanks for the s'mores details - I'm definitely going to
experience them now. The graham crackers - are they like a salada?(I'm
gathering not as saladas are more savoury). What could I use as a substitute
as we just don't have anything (that I'm aware of) called a graham cracker?
Kim
Yum, yum! Thanks for the s'mores details - I'm definitely going to
experience them now. The graham crackers - are they like a salada?(I'm
gathering not as saladas are more savoury). What could I use as a substitute
as we just don't have anything (that I'm aware of) called a graham cracker?
Kim
----- Original Message -----
From: "Sandra Dodd" <Sandra@...>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, May 04, 2006 11:24 PM
Subject: [AlwaysLearning] S'Mores (was confused about unschooling)
>
> On May 4, 2006, at 6:38 AM, Kim H wrote:
>
>> This is OT but have wondered for a long time now - what are smores?
>> This Aussies has no clue!
>
>
> They came out of the Girl Scouts, probably around WWII.
>
> The name S'mores is short for "some more."
>
> They're actually kind of nasty, but artsy. They ideally happen
> outside with campfires.
>
> You need Graham Crackers (which you might not have) and they are
> scored to break into quarters, but for s'mores you only break them in
> half, so it's a square about the size of the palm of your hand. You
> need both halves.
>
> Then you get a plain Hershey bar. The main problem here is they've
> changed the mold into which they pour Hershey bars years ago. But
> they used to also be very flat and scored. So you would take four
> squares of the Hershey bar, which was a little smaller than the
> cracker. That part is on standby—must be in hand and ready to go.
>
> Last ingredient is a marshmallow. I don't know if or what size of
> marshmallows you get if you have any, but you need the big one
> that's about an inch and a half across (4 cm or so) and you "roast"
> that—try to get it browned and soft inside without it catching fire—
> and then someone helps you close that up between the cracker halves,
> you pull the stick out while they're holding some pressure on it, and
> then you wait a few seconds for it to start melting the chocolate.
>
> They're messy, WAY sweet, and traditional.
>
> But lately there's "s'more flavored" bunch of everything—granola
> bars, ice cream, breakfast cereal—which then just means it has Graham
> cracker, marshmallow and milk chocolate flavors and probably lumps in
> there.
>
> Sandra
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> --
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG Free Edition.
> Version: 7.1.385 / Virus Database: 268.5.1/328 - Release Date: 1/05/2006
>
>
Kim H
<I don't know if Australia has graham crackers, they have Kraft Mac and
have doubts about the s'mores now <g>
Kim
>Cheese >Ooohhh, yuk! The graham crackers aren't savoury are they? I'm starting to
have doubts about the s'mores now <g>
Kim
----- Original Message -----
From: "s.waynforth" <s.waynforth@...>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, May 05, 2006 2:29 AM
Subject: Re: [AlwaysLearning] S'Mores (was confused about unschooling)
>I don't know if Australia has graham crackers, they have Kraft Mac and
> Cheese which Britain doesn't have, so maybe they have graham crackers.
> But, we've found that plain digestive biscuits are a pretty close
> replacement.
>
> Schuyler
>
> Sandra Dodd wrote:
>> On May 4, 2006, at 6:38 AM, Kim H wrote:
>>
>>
>>> This is OT but have wondered for a long time now - what are smores?
>>> This Aussies has no clue!
>>>
>>
>>
>> They came out of the Girl Scouts, probably around WWII.
>>
>> The name S'mores is short for "some more."
>>
>> They're actually kind of nasty, but artsy. They ideally happen
>> outside with campfires.
>>
>> You need Graham Crackers (which you might not have) and they are
>> scored to break into quarters, but for s'mores you only break them in
>> half, so it's a square about the size of the palm of your hand. You
>> need both halves.
>>
>> Then you get a plain Hershey bar. The main problem here is they've
>> changed the mold into which they pour Hershey bars years ago. But
>> they used to also be very flat and scored. So you would take four
>> squares of the Hershey bar, which was a little smaller than the
>> cracker. That part is on standby—must be in hand and ready to go.
>>
>> Last ingredient is a marshmallow. I don't know if or what size of
>> marshmallows you get if you have any, but you need the big one
>> that's about an inch and a half across (4 cm or so) and you "roast"
>> that—try to get it browned and soft inside without it catching fire—
>> and then someone helps you close that up between the cracker halves,
>> you pull the stick out while they're holding some pressure on it, and
>> then you wait a few seconds for it to start melting the chocolate.
>>
>> They're messy, WAY sweet, and traditional.
>>
>> But lately there's "s'more flavored" bunch of everything—granola
>> bars, ice cream, breakfast cereal—which then just means it has Graham
>> cracker, marshmallow and milk chocolate flavors and probably lumps in
>> there.
>>
>> Sandra
>>
>>
>>
>> Yahoo! Groups Links
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> --
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG Free Edition.
> Version: 7.1.385 / Virus Database: 268.5.1/328 - Release Date: 1/05/2006
>
>
Joyce Fetteroll
On May 5, 2006, at 3:05 AM, Kim H wrote:
Graham crackers are slightly sweet. They're used as a base for
cheesecake but apparently Australian recipes use sweet biscuits
(cookies). It says in one recipe: "If you live in a country where
Graham crackers aren't available, simply use Digestive biscuit crumbs
instead and omit the sugar." So that suggests Digestive biscuits
would be sweeter than graham crackers.
Here's two Australian s'mores recipes:
==========
My Guides love cooking (and eating) S'mores but we don't use graham
crackers and chocolate instead we use a biscuit (cookie) called Choc
Weatens. It's like an ordinary plain biscuit with a chocolate coating
on one side.
The girls toast their marshmallow then sandwich it between two
biscuits with the chocolate on the marshmallow side. Yummo!!!
Susan Cokley
Leader - Pt Danger Guides
Australia
===========
We were first exposed to them in 2004 (here) and we have started
using an Australian equivalent. We don't have Graham crackers here
and we wanted nicer chocolate than Hershey's and tasty Australian
Marshmallows.
Australian Smores
Ingredients
2 Morning Coffee biscuits
2 Marshmallows
2 squares Cadbury chocolate
Method
Melt the marshmallows over fire embers. The outside whould be thin
and crunchy with the centre all melted.
Place the chocolate on the biscuit and using the top biscuit move the
marshmallow from the stick onto the biscuit and squeeze. The
marshmallow melds the top and bottom biscuit with the chocolate
meling in the middle. The name comes from the first thing the person
eating it says with their mouth full, "'smore please".
==========
Honey Graham Crackers Recipe
Ingredients
1/3 cup milk
1/4 cup honey
1-1/2 cups graham flour (whole wheat may be substituted)
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/3 cup butter
1/4 cup shortening
Instructions
In a small bowl stir together milk and honey. Set milk mixture aside.
In a large bowl stir together graham flour, all-purpose flour, brown
sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Using a
pastry blender, cut in butter and shortening till mixture resembles
coarse crumbs. Make a well in center of flour mixture. Add milk
mixture all at once. Using a fork, stir till mixture can be gathered
into a ball. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead
dough by gently folding and pressing dough for 12 to 15 strokes or
till dough is nearly smooth. Divide dough in half.
Sprinkle surface with additional graham flour. Roll each half of
dough to 1/8-inch thickness. Using a pastry wheel or sharp knife, cut
dough into 2-inch squares. Place on ungreased baking sheet. Using the
tines of a fork, prick crackers well. Bake in a 350-degree F oven for
12 to 15 minutes or until done. Remove crackers from sheet and cool
on a wire rack.
VARIATION:
Cinnamon Graham Crackers
Prepare Honey Graham Crackers as directed above, except stir 1/4
teaspoon ground cinnamon into the flour mixture. After pricking the
crackers, sprinkle crackers with a mixture of 3 Tablespoons sugar and
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon.
Yield: 72 crackers
Credits
Recipe from: Better Homes & Gardens
Joyce
Answers to common unschooling questions:
http://home.earthlink.net/~fetteroll/rejoycing/
Blog of writing prompts for speculative fiction writers:
http://dragonwritingprompts.blogsome.com/
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> The graham crackers - are they like a salada?(I'mSalada look like what we call soda crackers maybe.
> gathering not as saladas are more savoury). What could I use as a
> substitute
> as we just don't have anything (that I'm aware of) called a graham
> cracker?
Graham crackers are slightly sweet. They're used as a base for
cheesecake but apparently Australian recipes use sweet biscuits
(cookies). It says in one recipe: "If you live in a country where
Graham crackers aren't available, simply use Digestive biscuit crumbs
instead and omit the sugar." So that suggests Digestive biscuits
would be sweeter than graham crackers.
Here's two Australian s'mores recipes:
==========
My Guides love cooking (and eating) S'mores but we don't use graham
crackers and chocolate instead we use a biscuit (cookie) called Choc
Weatens. It's like an ordinary plain biscuit with a chocolate coating
on one side.
The girls toast their marshmallow then sandwich it between two
biscuits with the chocolate on the marshmallow side. Yummo!!!
Susan Cokley
Leader - Pt Danger Guides
Australia
===========
We were first exposed to them in 2004 (here) and we have started
using an Australian equivalent. We don't have Graham crackers here
and we wanted nicer chocolate than Hershey's and tasty Australian
Marshmallows.
Australian Smores
Ingredients
2 Morning Coffee biscuits
2 Marshmallows
2 squares Cadbury chocolate
Method
Melt the marshmallows over fire embers. The outside whould be thin
and crunchy with the centre all melted.
Place the chocolate on the biscuit and using the top biscuit move the
marshmallow from the stick onto the biscuit and squeeze. The
marshmallow melds the top and bottom biscuit with the chocolate
meling in the middle. The name comes from the first thing the person
eating it says with their mouth full, "'smore please".
==========
Honey Graham Crackers Recipe
Ingredients
1/3 cup milk
1/4 cup honey
1-1/2 cups graham flour (whole wheat may be substituted)
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/3 cup butter
1/4 cup shortening
Instructions
In a small bowl stir together milk and honey. Set milk mixture aside.
In a large bowl stir together graham flour, all-purpose flour, brown
sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Using a
pastry blender, cut in butter and shortening till mixture resembles
coarse crumbs. Make a well in center of flour mixture. Add milk
mixture all at once. Using a fork, stir till mixture can be gathered
into a ball. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead
dough by gently folding and pressing dough for 12 to 15 strokes or
till dough is nearly smooth. Divide dough in half.
Sprinkle surface with additional graham flour. Roll each half of
dough to 1/8-inch thickness. Using a pastry wheel or sharp knife, cut
dough into 2-inch squares. Place on ungreased baking sheet. Using the
tines of a fork, prick crackers well. Bake in a 350-degree F oven for
12 to 15 minutes or until done. Remove crackers from sheet and cool
on a wire rack.
VARIATION:
Cinnamon Graham Crackers
Prepare Honey Graham Crackers as directed above, except stir 1/4
teaspoon ground cinnamon into the flour mixture. After pricking the
crackers, sprinkle crackers with a mixture of 3 Tablespoons sugar and
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon.
Yield: 72 crackers
Credits
Recipe from: Better Homes & Gardens
Joyce
Answers to common unschooling questions:
http://home.earthlink.net/~fetteroll/rejoycing/
Blog of writing prompts for speculative fiction writers:
http://dragonwritingprompts.blogsome.com/
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
s.waynforth
No, they aren't savory, they are sweet. Brown sugar sweet like Hovis
digestive biscuits sweet.
Schuyler
Kim H wrote:
digestive biscuits sweet.
Schuyler
Kim H wrote:
> <I don't know if Australia has graham crackers, they have Kraft Mac and
>
>> Cheese >
>>
>
> Ooohhh, yuk! The graham crackers aren't savoury are they? I'm starting to
> have doubts about the s'mores now <g>
>
> Kim
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "s.waynforth" <s.waynforth@...>
> To: <[email protected]>
> Sent: Friday, May 05, 2006 2:29 AM
> Subject: Re: [AlwaysLearning] S'Mores (was confused about unschooling)
>
>
>
>> I don't know if Australia has graham crackers, they have Kraft Mac and
>> Cheese which Britain doesn't have, so maybe they have graham crackers.
>> But, we've found that plain digestive biscuits are a pretty close
>> replacement.
>>
>> Schuyler
>>
>> Sandra Dodd wrote:
>>
>>> On May 4, 2006, at 6:38 AM, Kim H wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>> This is OT but have wondered for a long time now - what are smores?
>>>> This Aussies has no clue!
>>>>
>>>>
>>> They came out of the Girl Scouts, probably around WWII.
>>>
>>> The name S'mores is short for "some more."
>>>
>>> They're actually kind of nasty, but artsy. They ideally happen
>>> outside with campfires.
>>>
>>> You need Graham Crackers (which you might not have) and they are
>>> scored to break into quarters, but for s'mores you only break them in
>>> half, so it's a square about the size of the palm of your hand. You
>>> need both halves.
>>>
>>> Then you get a plain Hershey bar. The main problem here is they've
>>> changed the mold into which they pour Hershey bars years ago. But
>>> they used to also be very flat and scored. So you would take four
>>> squares of the Hershey bar, which was a little smaller than the
>>> cracker. That part is on standby—must be in hand and ready to go.
>>>
>>> Last ingredient is a marshmallow. I don't know if or what size of
>>> marshmallows you get if you have any, but you need the big one
>>> that's about an inch and a half across (4 cm or so) and you "roast"
>>> that—try to get it browned and soft inside without it catching fire—
>>> and then someone helps you close that up between the cracker halves,
>>> you pull the stick out while they're holding some pressure on it, and
>>> then you wait a few seconds for it to start melting the chocolate.
>>>
>>> They're messy, WAY sweet, and traditional.
>>>
>>> But lately there's "s'more flavored" bunch of everything—granola
>>> bars, ice cream, breakfast cereal—which then just means it has Graham
>>> cracker, marshmallow and milk chocolate flavors and probably lumps in
>>> there.
>>>
>>> Sandra
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Yahoo! Groups Links
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>> Yahoo! Groups Links
>>
>>
>>
>>
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Sandra Dodd
-=-The graham crackers - are they like a salada?(I'm
These two items are fairly different, but are used similarly (e.g. to
make crumb crusts for a cheesecake). Graham crackers are sweeter, and
are available in different flavors (e.g. cinnamon, chocolate).
Digestive biscuits are richer, and while slightly sweet, are often
used eaten with cheese. They are also available coated on one side
with milk or dark chocolate.
Wikipedia has that here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_food_terms
I saw a few things on that chart I didn't know, and even more I don't
believe.
Our lemonade isn't the same as English lemonade at ALL.
And I know what popovers are, and I've had Yorkshire pudding in
Yorkshire, and they're not even nearly related.
The chart says that in Australia "cheerios" are what Americans call "
Lil' smokies or teeny weenies"
I've heard them called cocktail weenies more than "teeny."
They show no Canadian or English equivalent
Cheerios is one of our oldest breakfast cereals, here.
The chart seems to suggest American don't have a word for spinach, or
don't know what spinach is. Thanks to canned spinach and school
cafeterias, many people would like to pretend they don't know.
(Ditto stewed plums and 'fruit cocktail.')
Sandra
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> gathering not as saladas are more savoury). What could I use as aDigestive biscuits and Graham crackers
> substitute
> as we just don't have anything (that I'm aware of) called a graham
> cracker?-=-
These two items are fairly different, but are used similarly (e.g. to
make crumb crusts for a cheesecake). Graham crackers are sweeter, and
are available in different flavors (e.g. cinnamon, chocolate).
Digestive biscuits are richer, and while slightly sweet, are often
used eaten with cheese. They are also available coated on one side
with milk or dark chocolate.
Wikipedia has that here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_food_terms
I saw a few things on that chart I didn't know, and even more I don't
believe.
Our lemonade isn't the same as English lemonade at ALL.
And I know what popovers are, and I've had Yorkshire pudding in
Yorkshire, and they're not even nearly related.
The chart says that in Australia "cheerios" are what Americans call "
Lil' smokies or teeny weenies"
I've heard them called cocktail weenies more than "teeny."
They show no Canadian or English equivalent
Cheerios is one of our oldest breakfast cereals, here.
The chart seems to suggest American don't have a word for spinach, or
don't know what spinach is. Thanks to canned spinach and school
cafeterias, many people would like to pretend they don't know.
(Ditto stewed plums and 'fruit cocktail.')
Sandra
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Kim H
OK, great. So a sweet sort of plain bicky would be a good alternative? Yum.
Off to the supermarket I go...
kim
Off to the supermarket I go...
kim
----- Original Message -----
From: "s.waynforth" <s.waynforth@...>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, May 05, 2006 7:57 PM
Subject: Re: [AlwaysLearning] S'Mores (was confused about unschooling)
> No, they aren't savory, they are sweet. Brown sugar sweet like Hovis
> digestive biscuits sweet.
>
> Schuyler
>
> Kim H wrote:
>> <I don't know if Australia has graham crackers, they have Kraft Mac and
>>
>>> Cheese >
>>>
>>
>> Ooohhh, yuk! The graham crackers aren't savoury are they? I'm starting to
>> have doubts about the s'mores now <g>
>>
>> Kim
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "s.waynforth" <s.waynforth@...>
>> To: <[email protected]>
>> Sent: Friday, May 05, 2006 2:29 AM
>> Subject: Re: [AlwaysLearning] S'Mores (was confused about unschooling)
>>
>>
>>
>>> I don't know if Australia has graham crackers, they have Kraft Mac and
>>> Cheese which Britain doesn't have, so maybe they have graham crackers.
>>> But, we've found that plain digestive biscuits are a pretty close
>>> replacement.
>>>
>>> Schuyler
>>>
>>> Sandra Dodd wrote:
>>>
>>>> On May 4, 2006, at 6:38 AM, Kim H wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> This is OT but have wondered for a long time now - what are smores?
>>>>> This Aussies has no clue!
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>> They came out of the Girl Scouts, probably around WWII.
>>>>
>>>> The name S'mores is short for "some more."
>>>>
>>>> They're actually kind of nasty, but artsy. They ideally happen
>>>> outside with campfires.
>>>>
>>>> You need Graham Crackers (which you might not have) and they are
>>>> scored to break into quarters, but for s'mores you only break them in
>>>> half, so it's a square about the size of the palm of your hand. You
>>>> need both halves.
>>>>
>>>> Then you get a plain Hershey bar. The main problem here is they've
>>>> changed the mold into which they pour Hershey bars years ago. But
>>>> they used to also be very flat and scored. So you would take four
>>>> squares of the Hershey bar, which was a little smaller than the
>>>> cracker. That part is on standby—must be in hand and ready to go.
>>>>
>>>> Last ingredient is a marshmallow. I don't know if or what size of
>>>> marshmallows you get if you have any, but you need the big one
>>>> that's about an inch and a half across (4 cm or so) and you "roast"
>>>> that—try to get it browned and soft inside without it catching fire—
>>>> and then someone helps you close that up between the cracker halves,
>>>> you pull the stick out while they're holding some pressure on it, and
>>>> then you wait a few seconds for it to start melting the chocolate.
>>>>
>>>> They're messy, WAY sweet, and traditional.
>>>>
>>>> But lately there's "s'more flavored" bunch of everything—granola
>>>> bars, ice cream, breakfast cereal—which then just means it has Graham
>>>> cracker, marshmallow and milk chocolate flavors and probably lumps in
>>>> there.
>>>>
>>>> Sandra
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Yahoo! Groups Links
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Yahoo! Groups Links
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>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>> Version: 7.1.385 / Virus Database: 268.5.1/328 - Release Date: 1/05/2006
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>>>
>>>
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