Re: [unschoolingbasics] Interacting with the rest of the world
[email protected]
In a message dated 7/5/2004 4:47:10 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
[email protected] writes:
I try to choose my words wisely and keep my mouth
shut more than I've been used to in the past.
*
So often, imo, this is the right answer. :)
Not volunteering at the ps sounds right to me too. If it doesn't fit, you
must quit?
OTOH, in some sort crazed moment, I talked to the Boys & Girls Club near me
about volunteering as a reading tutor. There is no way I will have time to
actually do this -- I got home with the form to fill out and haven't even had time
to do that much. :)
But, aside from my temporary insanity, I did one thing right I think. I
mentioned right away that we are hsers. That my hours are flexible. (This was
before I realized that they may be flexible but I don't have enough of them.) The
G&B lady was very nice but said these are kids who are in ps so they need vols
during the after school hours. 3:00 and on.
My job is not to change them or their schedule but to fit myself into their
world -- imo -- if I ever (when the kids are older?) am able to vol there.
And I won't expect to have conversations about learning and hsing and
unschooling -- or to make friends with the Moms or B&G staff. If it happens, it
happens. But I would go into it knowing that there is a huge difference between our
chosen lifestyles.
And, imo, don't let the pushy playground lady upset you -- tell her off and
get back to having fun. Take her aside if you need to. But don't let her get
you down. Don't expect to change her either. Her unhappiness is not your problem
though. When we have met people like this, my kids and I have had nice
conversations on the way home about how certain people need to have sticks removed
from . . . well, you get the idea.
OTOH, I don't like rudeness and when someone else's kid is disturbing us, I
let the kid know. (No, I don't think your son was rude -- just not aware of the
etiquette perhaps and excited.) And if the parent is sitting right there --
well, they get to see me explain to their child how running and yelling in the
middle of someone else's time to be heard or have quiet is not acceptable
(This usually starts out with me saying: "I'm not shushing you just to be mean.
There is a reason. And the reason is . . ." ). So then I am the mean Mom and the
other parent can go home all upset with me. Sigh. . .
Nance
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected] writes:
I try to choose my words wisely and keep my mouth
shut more than I've been used to in the past.
*
So often, imo, this is the right answer. :)
Not volunteering at the ps sounds right to me too. If it doesn't fit, you
must quit?
OTOH, in some sort crazed moment, I talked to the Boys & Girls Club near me
about volunteering as a reading tutor. There is no way I will have time to
actually do this -- I got home with the form to fill out and haven't even had time
to do that much. :)
But, aside from my temporary insanity, I did one thing right I think. I
mentioned right away that we are hsers. That my hours are flexible. (This was
before I realized that they may be flexible but I don't have enough of them.) The
G&B lady was very nice but said these are kids who are in ps so they need vols
during the after school hours. 3:00 and on.
My job is not to change them or their schedule but to fit myself into their
world -- imo -- if I ever (when the kids are older?) am able to vol there.
And I won't expect to have conversations about learning and hsing and
unschooling -- or to make friends with the Moms or B&G staff. If it happens, it
happens. But I would go into it knowing that there is a huge difference between our
chosen lifestyles.
And, imo, don't let the pushy playground lady upset you -- tell her off and
get back to having fun. Take her aside if you need to. But don't let her get
you down. Don't expect to change her either. Her unhappiness is not your problem
though. When we have met people like this, my kids and I have had nice
conversations on the way home about how certain people need to have sticks removed
from . . . well, you get the idea.
OTOH, I don't like rudeness and when someone else's kid is disturbing us, I
let the kid know. (No, I don't think your son was rude -- just not aware of the
etiquette perhaps and excited.) And if the parent is sitting right there --
well, they get to see me explain to their child how running and yelling in the
middle of someone else's time to be heard or have quiet is not acceptable
(This usually starts out with me saying: "I'm not shushing you just to be mean.
There is a reason. And the reason is . . ." ). So then I am the mean Mom and the
other parent can go home all upset with me. Sigh. . .
Nance
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]