Re: [AlwaysLearning] Our Rainy Day/nasty neighbors
[email protected]
In a message dated 10/10/02 10:37:05 AM Central Daylight Time,
ddzimlew@... writes:
book shelves :o( boring!)
Our neighbor once had the nerve to come over and tell me that it wasn't fair
that my kids got to play outside during the day. I asked why it mattered to
her, her kids are in school all day. She told me that every time they are at
home on a parent teacher conference day or other holiday from school, they
see my kids running around playing. Since she was at work, her kids had to
stay inside until she got home at 5, and they spent the day calling her at
work asking to play outside. This of course is very disruptive to her work
day and she doesn't want to have to deal with it. I had suggested that she
let the kids come out to play, I was out with the kids, they would have fun.
She, very meanly, told me, she didn't want her children getting the idea that
hsing is fun. :o( She then told me she had gone to great lengths to tell her
kids that Moly and Jack had to do all the same things they did at school, all
the bookwork and tests and that them seeing ours out disputed that idea in
her kids heads. So I told her hsing didn't have to be that way, my kids don't
have bookwork or tests, my kids are free to play and be kids. She sent her
kids home too, after hearing me say that.
Since then, her children have come over often, asking questions about hsing.
They are very curious about our lives, and how Moly and Jack learn to read
and do things like math and science. (Moly said she wished they would get the
idea and just play, since she isn't too fond of feeling like a monkey in the
zoo.) It is a constant source of wonder when I explain that we don't divide
our learning into groups like math, reading, and science. When they see Moly
reading about the human body and playing with her models, I hear things like
"We don't get to learn about that until high school." When they see Jack
reading a book with chapters, the youngest Jack's age, made a comment that
she didn't "get" to read *chapter books* until next year. (Jack wanted to
know what a chapter book was.) Many times I have had to sit and explain that
I have never grouped books into categories like chapter books. They are
amazed that my kids can read and write. By the things they say, I am sure
their mother has gone to great lengths to get them to believe they would
never learn by just being kids. :o(
~Nancy Who would rather hear all about everyone's great and not-so-great
unschooling days than any 'ole neighbor. <g>
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ddzimlew@... writes:
> and then toldI want to be your neighbor! (the kids and I are spending the day reorganizing
> me she didn't appreciate me saying stuff like that in front of her
> kids... She didn't seem to think it was a problem that she was in my
> yard, in front of my kid telling me WE shouldn't be outside because HER
> kids weren't allowed in the rain.... well, whatever.
>
> Your mud story made me happy. = ) You want to come and be my neighbor?
>
> Deb L
book shelves :o( boring!)
Our neighbor once had the nerve to come over and tell me that it wasn't fair
that my kids got to play outside during the day. I asked why it mattered to
her, her kids are in school all day. She told me that every time they are at
home on a parent teacher conference day or other holiday from school, they
see my kids running around playing. Since she was at work, her kids had to
stay inside until she got home at 5, and they spent the day calling her at
work asking to play outside. This of course is very disruptive to her work
day and she doesn't want to have to deal with it. I had suggested that she
let the kids come out to play, I was out with the kids, they would have fun.
She, very meanly, told me, she didn't want her children getting the idea that
hsing is fun. :o( She then told me she had gone to great lengths to tell her
kids that Moly and Jack had to do all the same things they did at school, all
the bookwork and tests and that them seeing ours out disputed that idea in
her kids heads. So I told her hsing didn't have to be that way, my kids don't
have bookwork or tests, my kids are free to play and be kids. She sent her
kids home too, after hearing me say that.
Since then, her children have come over often, asking questions about hsing.
They are very curious about our lives, and how Moly and Jack learn to read
and do things like math and science. (Moly said she wished they would get the
idea and just play, since she isn't too fond of feeling like a monkey in the
zoo.) It is a constant source of wonder when I explain that we don't divide
our learning into groups like math, reading, and science. When they see Moly
reading about the human body and playing with her models, I hear things like
"We don't get to learn about that until high school." When they see Jack
reading a book with chapters, the youngest Jack's age, made a comment that
she didn't "get" to read *chapter books* until next year. (Jack wanted to
know what a chapter book was.) Many times I have had to sit and explain that
I have never grouped books into categories like chapter books. They are
amazed that my kids can read and write. By the things they say, I am sure
their mother has gone to great lengths to get them to believe they would
never learn by just being kids. :o(
~Nancy Who would rather hear all about everyone's great and not-so-great
unschooling days than any 'ole neighbor. <g>
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Aileen Bath
I loved reading this!! We live in the city -- and sometimes I get a little weirded out about certain puddles (such as the ones with car fluids floating on top)....but mostly I let dd jump away! About a week ago, I drained all the water from her swimming pool. Dd proceeded to get her water boots on and splashed around wildly in the street as the water flowed down to the storm drain. My neighbor came out, made a face, and stated (angrily) "Ach! That water is dirty! Why are you letting her jump in dirty water?" I informed her that my daughter was having fun and does take baths.
I grew up in a small town with a big back yard. My fondest memory of being a little kid is playing in the dirt, stomping in streams, puddle jumping....basically we loved anything that involved getting totally filthy. I will never deny my daughter similar opportunities!
Aileen
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I grew up in a small town with a big back yard. My fondest memory of being a little kid is playing in the dirt, stomping in streams, puddle jumping....basically we loved anything that involved getting totally filthy. I will never deny my daughter similar opportunities!
Aileen
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