[email protected]

In a message dated 7/3/2004 10:54:47 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
we3deeves@... writes:

Unschooling has seemed in my
household to be promoting materialism, commercialism, etc....and I can't
help
but feel pangs of doubt when I look around at all the STUFF we're buying and
accumulating because dd sees it and wants it. Plus, I find that dd (age 5)
doesn't even really seem to care about most of it after she's gotten it.
I'd
love to hear what others feel who initially struggled but now have found
balance,
or a different perspective.



<<<<<<<

Well, the unschooling lifestyle doesn't *have* to promote materialism and
consumerism----unless you want it to.

Are you just buying everything she sees and asks for without discussing why?
Why?

~Kelly


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Valerie

> In a message dated 7/3/2004 10:54:47 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
> we3deeves@a... writes:
>
> Unschooling has seemed in my household to be promoting
materialism, commercialism, etc....and I can't help but feel pangs
of doubt when I look around at all the STUFF we're buying and
accumulating because dd sees it and wants it.

*****On Laurie's second holiday, she was given so many gifts that
she looked at me and said, "Do I have to open any more?" We asked
family to give her books or gift certificates after that. They were
buying expensive toys that she had no interest in. Blocks that my
dad made her, a mud puddle and small action figures were her
mainstays. That started a love of 'less is more' for us and both of
us enjoy the uncluttered minimalist type life now. If we don't use
something for a year, we donate it to Goodwill. We hate spending
money and only do so when necessary. She won't even buy name brand
clothing at Goodwill - saying that it advertises for companies she
doesn't want to support.

Unschooling doesn't HAVE to be about materialism. :-)

btw, I'm in Lake Charles

love, Valerie

mamaaj2000

--- In [email protected], kbcdlovejo@a... wrote:
> Well, the unschooling lifestyle doesn't *have* to promote
materialism and
> consumerism----unless you want it to.
>
> Are you just buying everything she sees and asks for without
discussing why?
> Why?

I've been reading Stephen Covey lately and yeh, the goal should be a
win-win situation, not doing something you are very uncomfortable
with.

I gave my 3.5 year old his own money to spend on toys 2 weeks ago and
I can already see a difference in how he acts about it. Now that he
has more control, he's not whining and demanding toys...

I'm liking it!

Now if I could only convince him to part with even one toy. We have
more half broken, rarely played with toys than I am comfortable with,
and dh is practically spastic about it. If I bring it up with Mikey,
he freaks about me giving away all his toys. I have a long way to go
to find a win-win situation here...

--aj

[email protected]

In a message dated 7/5/2004 1:47:35 PM Central Standard Time,
[email protected] writes:
Well, the unschooling lifestyle doesn't *have* to promote materialism and
consumerism----unless you want it to.

Are you just buying everything she sees and asks for without discussing why?
Why?

~Kelly
***
Well, lately the answer I get when we talk about 'why' she wants it, is
"Because I don't have THAT one and I want it"(remember, she's five).

I'm thinking about polly pockets, for instance, which if you know about them,
are made in lots of different 'sets'. Different dolls, different clothes,
different rooms, different...well you get the idea :(

How would you handle these answers?

Emma also wants nearly everything that she sees advertisements for on
t.v.....actually quoting the advertisement when asked why she wants it...and not just
toys, either! She's insisted we buy Brawny paper towels because the ads say
they are the strongest. That we need to buy an mattress with inner spring
coils to get a good nights sleep, etc. :)

Although, I have to admit that she is beginning to learn about ads being used
to manipulate you into buying their product...saying things that aren't
necessarily true.

So, for now I'm just sort of going with it, and hoping that as she gets
older/more mature and I keep giving her my own theories about it, she'll have a
paradigm shift of her own. : )

Warmly,
Denise


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Fetteroll

on 7/5/04 4:20 PM, mamaaj2000 at mamaaj2000@... wrote:

> Now if I could only convince him to part with even one toy. We have
> more half broken, rarely played with toys than I am comfortable with,
> and dh is practically spastic about it. If I bring it up with Mikey,
> he freaks about me giving away all his toys. I have a long way to go
> to find a win-win situation here...

It wasn't until my daughter was 12 that she felt comfortable parting with
anything. So don't hold your breath! ;-)

Joyce

Ren Allen

"Now if I could only convince him to part with even one toy. "

One thing we do around here, is regularly muck stuff out and take it
to Goodwill. My kids have never been forced to get rid of anything,
their stuff was always in their control. But because dh and I are
always sacking items up, hauling them to Goodwill and looking around
at the thrift stores, my kids automatically join in.
Not every time. I simply let them know I'm taking some stuff in, and
as if they have anything to add to the pile. Sometimes they'll throw
items in, sometimes not. But it's just a part of life around here,
so they've picked up on that.

We often look around at various thrift/bargain stores, I think they
feel if they want something we're going to help them get it, so no
neediness associated with "stuff".
They've had their own weekly spending money for a while, and that's
probably helped them be judicious consumers more than anything.
I help them buy whatever they want if it's truly in my budget. Other
times I can't, and it's nice for them to have their own money to
spend.

We talk a lot about items they want....imagine what it would be like
to own it etc... I think just honoring their feelings sometimes
takes the neediness out of the situation. If they feel their
possessions are truly theirs, they will be able to release them when
they are good and ready. Some people just like more
stuff than others, there's nothing wrong with that. He'll probably
have an easier time being choosy with what he keeps, as he matures.
I know my oldest didn't like getting rid of anything at a young age,
but he's almost a minimalist
now! Well, except for computer parts. His room looks like a computer
store.:)

Ren

[email protected]

In a message dated 7/6/2004 9:34:56 AM US Eastern Standard Time,
starsuncloud@... writes:


> Well, except for computer parts. His room looks like a computer
> store.:)
>
> Ren
>

so is my 18 yr.olds room..i close the door and just dont worry about it
anymore
June


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

mamaaj2000

--- In [email protected], "Ren Allen"
<starsuncloud@n...> wrote:
If they feel their
> possessions are truly theirs, they will be able to release them
when
> they are good and ready.

Yes, I think that part of how Mikey is is because of dh putting
things away as soon as Mikey glanced away and griping about too many
toys, etc. The fact that he (Mikey) always worries about me giving
away ALL his toys shows me how worried he is. I've been reassuring
him for months, almost a year, that I won't give away any of his
stuff unless he says it's okay.

He helped me box up some shoes and send them off to Iraq for kids
with no shoes. That was easy to explain, the shoes were hand me downs
that I've had for years that are still 3 sizes too big for him, so
they were never really his, so he was cool about it.

Dh has started in on the too many toys theme again. I said, yeh, we
have a lot of stuff we don't use and I want to get rid of some stuff
before we move next year. Let's start with our stuff; are you ever
going to sell your (original) Nintendo and Laserdisc player on Ebay?

That should keep him off Mikey's back for a while, lol!!

mamaaj2000

--- In [email protected], Fetteroll <fetteroll@e...>
wrote:
> It wasn't until my daughter was 12 that she felt comfortable
parting with
> anything. So don't hold your breath! ;-)
>
> Joyce

Waaaahhhh!! Joyce made me cry...

;-)

--aj

Robyn Coburn

<<<I'm thinking about polly pockets, for instance, which if you know about
them,
are made in lots of different 'sets'. Different dolls, different clothes,
different rooms, different...well you get the idea :(

How would you handle these answers?>>>

We are so fortunate to live a few miles from the Mattel Factory outlet, and
get this stuff for pennies on the dollar. Jayn loves Polly Pocket. Have you
been to their online game site? www.PollyPocket.com

<<<Emma also wants nearly everything that she sees advertisements for on
t.v.....actually quoting the advertisement when asked why she wants it...and
not just toys, either! She's insisted we buy Brawny paper towels because
the ads say they are the strongest. That we need to buy an mattress with
inner spring coils to get a good nights sleep, etc. :)

Although, I have to admit that she is beginning to learn about ads being
used to manipulate you into buying their product...saying things that aren't

necessarily true.>>>>


Wow, Jayn appears to be so oblivious to any commercial that is not a toy ad.
Sounds like Emma is quite observant and has a really good memory. Perhaps
she is an auditory learner, recalling what she hears. How cool.

What about re-creating some of the "experiments" they do in the ads to test
the theory, like Brawny and the pouring water? Do you know anyone working in
commercials? If so perhaps you could visit a set and show her some of the
tricks the art department, props master and stylists do to make the products
look so good. There are specialists who only do food presentation for
commercials.

BTW, we have a sleep number bed - no innersprings for us - it really does
lessen the transfer of movement from one side to the other. That is why we
bought it after trying it out in the store.

Robyn L. Coburn


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.714 / Virus Database: 470 - Release Date: 7/2/2004

Deb Lewis

***Emma has just turned 5 and she doesn't want to give up any of her
toys. ***

My son is twelve and it's only been in the last year he's decided to pass
along the things he's finished with.
Conveniently he has a new cousin who's ready for the toddler toys. : )
That worked out better than we could have planned. We could have forced
him to give up the things he was finished with but then we wouldn't have
had so many cool things to pass along to my brother's daughter. <g>

Dylan recently donated something like seventy books to our library.
Their place on his shelves is slowly being filled with Calvin and Hobbes
and Edward Gorey collections. <g>

He used to have a huge pile of stuffed animals on his futon and each
night he would select one to sleep with. He would talk to it and wrap it
in his little baby quilt and his little baby afghan and call it his
bundle of snuggles. He said he knew they weren't really alive but just
in case they could understand him somehow he wanted them to know he'd
always love them.

Just a few weeks ago he was up in his room for awhile and when I went up
later he'd put them all away in bins into the storage area under the
eaves. He's growing up and doesn't need his bundle of snuggles anymore.
I can't tell you how I felt. I had this flash that in the next minute
he'd be leaving home and out in the world on his own. Honestly, if I
could have one more night to look at that pile of critters or to
listening to him talk sweetly to a little stuffed dinosaur I'd take it.
<g>

I don't think acquiring a lot of stuff as a child is materialism. I
don't think kids understand what materialism means, and are not making
social or political decisions when they find something they'd like to
take home with them. I think they're exploring and learning and
experimenting. If you could look at it that way maybe it would ease you
a little?

If you were of the school mind set and your kids were really interested
in the latest "educational" toys and gizmos, you'd probably be thrilled
and feel quite pleased if you could provide them with those things.

As an unschooler you come to have this awareness that every little thing
your kids have exposure to will contribute to their store of knowledge
and their understanding of the world.

I don't know, but I think, it's more likely for a person who feels
deprived to grow up to be materialistic.

Another consideration is we can't know what will really be important to
our kids. We can live a principled life and share it as best we can with
our kids as a natural part of being together but we can't decide what
will be best for them. They will make that decision . If we're trying
to live a more natural lifestyle we can explain why we walk or ride our
bikes to the store instead of driving. We can talk about why we chose an
electric car vs. gas. We can talk about why we don't use chemical
fertilizers or pesticides.

But if we make choices for our kids, like not buying toys, etc., because
of our ideals and those choices leave our children feeling resentful and
deprived, we won't be sharing the things we really hope to share with
them. I believe a life style that leaves our kids feeling like they're
missing something won't be embraced by them as they grow older and are
out on their own. I think they might even resent it for a long time and
those feelings of resentment might lead them to overlook the very best
parts of a philosophy we as parents hoped to passed on to them.

That is not to say I think parents need to buy every toy a child
expresses interest in. Natural limitations are real. We don't always
have the money. We don't always feel like we can spend the money we do
have on something that can wait until the next payday. We don't always
have room, or a way to get it home. I think children understand natural
limitations, or can if we give them a chance to.

I don't need a cuisinart or a blender or a microwave or furniture or
electricity or running water or a flush potty or gas heat or a car or a
pair of Birkenstocks, but I have those things. I *could* live without
them. My decision to have those things for the convenience they provide
me has probably impacted the world in bigger ways than the toys my son
has had over the years.

In the end I think if we can be the best example of our principals and
ideals to our kids, and if we can provide the happiest, most respectful,
kid friendly home possible, we have a greater probability of passing on
to our children those things we feel are important.

Deb Lewis

Alison Broadbent

>
> Well, the unschooling lifestyle doesn't *have* to promote materialism and
> consumerism----unless you want it to.
>
> Are you just buying everything she sees and asks for without discussing why?
> Why?
>

I guess I'm wondering what the difference would be between following a
child's interest in tv and not having limits and their wanting new and
varied toys lots of the time. The only thing I say to my child is about
cost if something is too expensive. My son(4 1/2) sounds very similar in
that he wants lots of things and then often doesn't play w/ it except for
that day. WE will limit the choices by cost and try to get to thrift
stores. I assume there's something that he needs in the variation at this
point but like this poster I have pangs that sometimes I'm creating a
materialism.

I'd be very interested to hear how you view discussing why a child wants to
buy things, as different from discussing why a child wants to watch a
certain tv show. Or maybe you do do that and then I'd be interested in
hearing what those discussions are like too. I mean I do give my opinions
about shows but think I was in the minority. I see these things similarly
and would like to hear how others might apply a different philosophy to
this. I am truly interested. Mavbe there's a piece here that I"m missing
and I'd love to know what others do.

Thanks,

Aliosn

mamaaj2000

--- In [email protected], Alison Broadbent
<abzb@e...> wrote:
My son(4 1/2) sounds very similar in
> that he wants lots of things and then often doesn't play w/ it
except for
> that day. WE will limit the choices by cost and try to get to
thrift
> stores. I assume there's something that he needs in the variation
at this
> point but like this poster I have pangs that sometimes I'm creating
a
> materialism.

How would you define materialism? I talked about this with dh last
night and we each meant something different by it.

Many of us have found that our kids like to pick things out, carry
them around the store, or look at a catalog and say 'this is what I
want' without having to go home with the toy. The experience kids
have with the store and the toys is a little different than I thought
they wanted.

It's great to have control over what you choose to have in your
house. If you bought a kitchen appliance, would it be okay if you
didn't use it for the first week? Or month? I have lots of
kitchen "toys" that I use once a year, but they are important to me.
I love to go to kitchen stores and I want EVERYTHING, too.

My neighbor told me about how she was tired and her 8 yr old wanted
to play. She made a deal with him that she'd take a nap and take him
to the toy store the next day. That and other comments lead me to
think that toys are supposed to make him happy and she's suprised
when they don't.

Just a few random thoughts...

--aj

mamaaj2000

--- In [email protected], Deb Lewis <ddzimlew@j...>
wrote:
> But if we make choices for our kids, like not buying toys, etc.,
because
> of our ideals and those choices leave our children feeling
resentful and
> deprived, we won't be sharing the things we really hope to share
with
> them. I believe a life style that leaves our kids feeling like
they're
> missing something won't be embraced by them as they grow older and
are
> out on their own. I think they might even resent it for a long
time and
> those feelings of resentment might lead them to overlook the very
best
> parts of a philosophy we as parents hoped to passed on to them.

Thanks for this, Deb. I talked about it with dh last night and I
ended up telling him it's okay with me if he keeps the Nintendo NES
as long as he wants!! He's thinking of hooking it up to play with
Mikey.

It's amazing, the more I open my mind, the more fits in there!

--aj

Millie Rosa

Does your dd know that there are children who don't have any toys? I
am a big tosser and go to the goodwill box every week, but ds wasn't
cool with me tossing any of his toys, even broken ones. But just
before Christmas, when I knew he was getting a train table and needed
to clear some stuff out of his room, I told him that there were poor
boys and girls who didn't have any toys to play with, and would he
like to send them anything. He was real hip to this and sent some of
his favorite things. On his birthday, he received two identical fire
trucks, and when he opened the second one he was more excited than
when he opened the first, saying "we can give this one to a poor
boy." Sometimes when we are shopping he will ask me to buy some toy
to send to the poor boy!
HTH
Love, Millie



--- In [email protected], kbcdlovejo@a... wrote:
>
> In a message dated 7/3/2004 10:54:47 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
> we3deeves@a... writes:
>
> Unschooling has seemed in my
> household to be promoting materialism, commercialism, etc....and I
can't
> help
> but feel pangs of doubt when I look around at all the STUFF we're
buying and
> accumulating because dd sees it and wants it. Plus, I find that
dd (age 5)
> doesn't even really seem to care about most of it after she's
gotten it.
> I'd
> love to hear what others feel who initially struggled but now have
found
> balance,
> or a different perspective.
>
>
>
> <<<<<<<
>
> Well, the unschooling lifestyle doesn't *have* to promote
materialism and
> consumerism----unless you want it to.
>
> Are you just buying everything she sees and asks for without
discussing why?
> Why?
>
> ~Kelly
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Dana Matt

> He used to have a huge pile of stuffed animals on
> his futon and each
> night he would select one to sleep with. He would
> talk to it and wrap it
> in his little baby quilt and his little baby afghan
> and call it his
> bundle of snuggles. He said he knew they weren't
> really alive but just
> in case they could understand him somehow he wanted
> them to know he'd
> always love them.

Deb, I love this story about Dylan. My brother has
always been like this. Now that he's married, I'm not
sure if he still does, but up until a couple of years
ago (he's in his 30's) he still had an enormous basket
of dolls and stuffed animals, which he would get out
regularly "so they could breathe".... :)
Dana



__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Mail - 50x more storage than other providers!
http://promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail

Laura Gates-Lupton

Oh, Deb. This is how I feel when I see my kids move from one stage to the next. They are little-- 6, 4 and 18 mos.-- but still, I find myself wanting to hug each stage tightly. The cute, mispronounced words, the stiff-legged baby walk, nursing, the "love yous" and cuddles from my 4 year old son. I love to see their growth, of course, but I wish they'd linger a little longer at these wonderful stages. It all goes so fast. Even when the days feel long and I feel spread too thin, I'm aware that it's all going too fast. I just love them so much.

Laura (tearful just thinking about it, in RI)

<< I can't tell you how I felt. I had this flash that in the next minute
he'd be leaving home and out in the world on his own. Honestly, if I
could have one more night to look at that pile of critters or to
listening to him talk sweetly to a little stuffed dinosaur I'd take it.>>







---------------------------------
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Mail Address AutoComplete - You start. We finish.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Valerie

***** Last night Laurie and I were sitting in the living room after
her last day of work at the bookstore. She quit so that she can
spend the next month at home with me before leaving for grad school.
I'm finally going to experience empty nest and I tear up everytime I
think about it.

Last night she asked me if there was anything I'd like to do during
this month. We started thinking of going to my parents camp for a
weekend with no distractions - just the two of us. Then she
said, "Well, we don't have to get away somewhere to talk. We talk
all the time." I nodded and fought back a few tears and she took my
hand and said how weird it's going to be to not be living in the
same house, etc. We had a silent moment and a hug and she said, "God
Mom. I'm going to have to cook and do my own laundry. Couldn't you
come with me?" That girl can make me laugh.

We decided that we'd just enjoy doing everyday things together for
the next month. She'll be home to help me in the kitchen, the yard
and doing the housework. We're going to make her a recipe book from
all of her favorite recipes over the years.

Yeah, I've cherished every stage she's gone through and I'm going to
cherish this one too. She's well-equipped to handle the world and I
plan on visiting her often with home-cooked meals. It's only a two-
hour drive!

love, Valerie
www.ubpub.com

--- In [email protected], Laura Gates-Lupton
<Laura_Gates@Y...> wrote:
> Oh, Deb. This is how I feel when I see my kids move from one
stage to the next. They are little-- 6, 4 and 18 mos.-- but still,
I find myself wanting to hug each stage tightly. The cute,
mispronounced words, the stiff-legged baby walk, nursing, the "love
yous" and cuddles from my 4 year old son. I love to see their
growth, of course, but I wish they'd linger a little longer at these
wonderful stages. It all goes so fast. Even when the days feel
long and I feel spread too thin, I'm aware that it's all going too
fast. I just love them so much.
>
> Laura (tearful just thinking about it, in RI)
]

Joan Labbe & Salvatore Genovese

Thanks for sharing this, Valerie. I love these little glimpses into your
life with Laurie. It makes me feel I'm flash forwarding into the future and
it makes me hug my daughter a lot tighter (till she squeals and I have to
let go)...

Joan


-----Original Message-----
From: Valerie [mailto:valerie@...]
Sent: Sunday, July 11, 2004 10:18 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [unschoolingbasics] kids moving on


***** Last night Laurie and I were sitting in the living room after
her last day of work at the bookstore. She quit so that she can
spend the next month at home with me before leaving for grad school.
I'm finally going to experience empty nest and I tear up everytime I
think about it.

Valerie

You're welcome Joan. Believe it or not, that's really why this old
fart is here - in hopes that more kids get more hugs. :-)

love, Valerie
www.ubpub.com

--- In [email protected], "Joan Labbe & Salvatore
Genovese" <salgenovese@w...> wrote:
> Thanks for sharing this, Valerie. I love these little glimpses
into your
> life with Laurie. It makes me feel I'm flash forwarding into the
future and
> it makes me hug my daughter a lot tighter (till she squeals and I
have to
> let go)...
>
> Joan
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Valerie [mailto:valerie@u...]
> Sent: Sunday, July 11, 2004 10:18 AM
> To: [email protected]
> Subject: [unschoolingbasics] kids moving on
>
>
> ***** Last night Laurie and I were sitting in the living room after
> her last day of work at the bookstore. She quit so that she can
> spend the next month at home with me before leaving for grad
school.
> I'm finally going to experience empty nest and I tear up everytime
I
> think about it.

Laura Gates-Lupton

Thanks for sharing this, Valerie. I cried reading it but it's nice to know that others feel as I do, embracing each stage. One of the reasons I convinced my dh to have baby #3 is that I didn't want this all to end too soon. There are times when he and I feel completely outnumbered, yet I'm grateful for being able to linger a little longer in the world of babies. What a gift!

Laura in RI

Valerie <valerie@...> wrote:
***** Last night Laurie and I were sitting in the living room after
her last day of work at the bookstore. She quit so that she can
spend the next month at home with me before leaving for grad school.
I'm finally going to experience empty nest and I tear up everytime I
think about it.

Last night she asked me if there was anything I'd like to do during
this month. We started thinking of going to my parents camp for a
weekend with no distractions - just the two of us. Then she
said, "Well, we don't have to get away somewhere to talk. We talk
all the time." I nodded and fought back a few tears and she took my
hand and said how weird it's going to be to not be living in the
same house, etc. We had a silent moment and a hug and she said, "God
Mom. I'm going to have to cook and do my own laundry. Couldn't you
come with me?" That girl can make me laugh.

We decided that we'd just enjoy doing everyday things together for
the next month. She'll be home to help me in the kitchen, the yard
and doing the housework. We're going to make her a recipe book from
all of her favorite recipes over the years.

Yeah, I've cherished every stage she's gone through and I'm going to
cherish this one too. She's well-equipped to handle the world and I
plan on visiting her often with home-cooked meals. It's only a two-
hour drive!

love, Valerie
www.ubpub.com

--- In [email protected], Laura Gates-Lupton
wrote:
> Oh, Deb. This is how I feel when I see my kids move from one
stage to the next. They are little-- 6, 4 and 18 mos.-- but still,
I find myself wanting to hug each stage tightly. The cute,
mispronounced words, the stiff-legged baby walk, nursing, the "love
yous" and cuddles from my 4 year old son. I love to see their
growth, of course, but I wish they'd linger a little longer at these
wonderful stages. It all goes so fast. Even when the days feel
long and I feel spread too thin, I'm aware that it's all going too
fast. I just love them so much.
>
> Laura (tearful just thinking about it, in RI)
]





Yahoo! Groups Links







---------------------------------
Do you Yahoo!?
New and Improved Yahoo! Mail - Send 10MB messages!

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Geneva Goza

Laura - I'm crying from reading your post!! It is such a gift!
- Geneva in Dallas

----- Original Message -----
From: Laura Gates-Lupton
To: [email protected]
Sent: Monday, July 12, 2004 7:18 PM
Subject: Re: [unschoolingbasics] kids moving on (reply to Valerie)


Thanks for sharing this, Valerie. I cried reading it but it's nice to know that others feel as I do, embracing each stage. One of the reasons I convinced my dh to have baby #3 is that I didn't want this all to end too soon. There are times when he and I feel completely outnumbered, yet I'm grateful for being able to linger a little longer in the world of babies. What a gift!

Laura in RI



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Deb Lewis

***Oh, Deb. This is how I feel when I see my kids move from one stage to
the next.
They are little-- 6, 4 and 18 mos.-- but still, I find myself wanting to
hug
each stage tightly. The cute, mispronounced words, the stiff-legged baby
walk,
nursing, the "love yous" and cuddles from my 4 year old son. I love to
see
their growth, of course, but I wish they'd linger a little longer at
these
wonderful stages. It all goes so fast. Even when the days feel long and I
feel
spread too thin, I'm aware that it's all going too fast. I just love them
so
much.

Laura (tearful just thinking about it, in RI)***


Laura, then, you can e-mail me and we can sniff and boo hoo and
commiserate.<G>
Dylan (12) said last night as we were watching a movie, "It used to be
easier to snuggle you when I was smaller." And I said, "Easy doesn't
matter only the snuggles matter". My arm did go to sleep, but it was
worth it. <g>

Deb Lewis

Laura Gates-Lupton

Thanks, Geneva. I'm so glad I'm not alone.

(btw, I had an aunt Geneva and wanted to name one of my girls after her but dh vetoed that idea. I just love the name; it's so beautiful.)

Geneva Goza <goza@...> wrote:
Laura - I'm crying from reading your post!! It is such a gift!
- Geneva in Dallas

----- Original Message -----
From: Laura Gates-Lupton
To: [email protected]
Sent: Monday, July 12, 2004 7:18 PM
Subject: Re: [unschoolingbasics] kids moving on (reply to Valerie)


Thanks for sharing this, Valerie. I cried reading it but it's nice to know that others feel as I do, embracing each stage. One of the reasons I convinced my dh to have baby #3 is that I didn't want this all to end too soon. There are times when he and I feel completely outnumbered, yet I'm grateful for being able to linger a little longer in the world of babies. What a gift!

Laura in RI



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]





Yahoo! Groups Links







---------------------------------
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Mail - 50x more storage than other providers!

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]