New with a problem
April
Hi! My name is April and I've been researching unschooling for my 5
and 3 yo boys. I've joined the AlwaysUnschooled list and really like
it. I just found this group though, and thought since it was a group
for newbies, I'd like it.
I'm having a bit of a problem. I've started saying yes more. My boys
LOVE sweets -- so whenever they've been asking for candy or cake or
whatever, I've said yes. The problem started today -- they've been
asking for it ALOT -- and now they're super cranky. I've discussed
with them *why* they're cranky -- but I'm not sure it's sinking in. I
feel like a terrible mom to let my children get this way. What would
you do? Am I interpereting unschooling the wrong way? Help!
and 3 yo boys. I've joined the AlwaysUnschooled list and really like
it. I just found this group though, and thought since it was a group
for newbies, I'd like it.
I'm having a bit of a problem. I've started saying yes more. My boys
LOVE sweets -- so whenever they've been asking for candy or cake or
whatever, I've said yes. The problem started today -- they've been
asking for it ALOT -- and now they're super cranky. I've discussed
with them *why* they're cranky -- but I'm not sure it's sinking in. I
feel like a terrible mom to let my children get this way. What would
you do? Am I interpereting unschooling the wrong way? Help!
Tyra Olufemi
Peace April,
I consider myself to be one step above newbie because I have only been a radical unschooler for almost a year now. When I started I was in a similar situation because we started around Halloween and my son threw up as a result of eating candy whenever he wanted. What I like about unschooling is that it takes the guilt out of it for me and empowers me to provides lots of choices for my children. I find that they binge most on sweets when I have not put other options out for them. Initially, I think they ate lots of sweets because they actually could without my input on when to stop. But now when they eat a lot I don't say a word, I just get in the kitchen and start pulling out other foods that have little to no sugar and they will almost immediately switch to the food that I am putting out.
I believe for most of us that at the beginning unschooling is more about the parent unschooling themselves. We have to deprogram our definition of good parenting and replace it with a more intuitive apporach of dealing with our children. My vote would be that you are not a bad mother, that it is not a bad thing that your children are cranky from eating to much candy. My vote would be that you are a mother who is in learning mode and whose children are also figuring this freedom to be thing out, too. I think what you have described is normal. Children eat too much candy some days. That is no biggie to me.
I wish you the best and am so very happy that you are on this beautiful journey to relating to your children in a way that allows both parent and child to truly be who they have come here to be.
Much Love
Tyra
From: "April" <aprilsmapril@...>
Date: 2006/08/16 Wed PM 05:12:12 CDT
To: [email protected]
Subject: [unschoolingbasics] New with a problem
The problem started today -- they've been
asking for it ALOT -- and now they're super cranky. I've discussed
with them *why* they're cranky -- but I'm not sure it's sinking in. I
feel like a terrible mom to let my children get this way. What would
you do? Am I interpereting unschooling the wrong way? Help!
I consider myself to be one step above newbie because I have only been a radical unschooler for almost a year now. When I started I was in a similar situation because we started around Halloween and my son threw up as a result of eating candy whenever he wanted. What I like about unschooling is that it takes the guilt out of it for me and empowers me to provides lots of choices for my children. I find that they binge most on sweets when I have not put other options out for them. Initially, I think they ate lots of sweets because they actually could without my input on when to stop. But now when they eat a lot I don't say a word, I just get in the kitchen and start pulling out other foods that have little to no sugar and they will almost immediately switch to the food that I am putting out.
I believe for most of us that at the beginning unschooling is more about the parent unschooling themselves. We have to deprogram our definition of good parenting and replace it with a more intuitive apporach of dealing with our children. My vote would be that you are not a bad mother, that it is not a bad thing that your children are cranky from eating to much candy. My vote would be that you are a mother who is in learning mode and whose children are also figuring this freedom to be thing out, too. I think what you have described is normal. Children eat too much candy some days. That is no biggie to me.
I wish you the best and am so very happy that you are on this beautiful journey to relating to your children in a way that allows both parent and child to truly be who they have come here to be.
Much Love
Tyra
From: "April" <aprilsmapril@...>
Date: 2006/08/16 Wed PM 05:12:12 CDT
To: [email protected]
Subject: [unschoolingbasics] New with a problem
The problem started today -- they've been
asking for it ALOT -- and now they're super cranky. I've discussed
with them *why* they're cranky -- but I'm not sure it's sinking in. I
feel like a terrible mom to let my children get this way. What would
you do? Am I interpereting unschooling the wrong way? Help!
April
So -- first of all, at dinner last night (after the mega candy binge),
we had penne rustica with garlic bread and broccoli. My 5 yo *asked*
for a salad. Wow.
Then, today, they've had ice cream and some dried cherries -- but
they've also eaten scrambled eggs and Annie's bbq bunnies.
They seem to be balancing it all out pretty well.
Peace
April
we had penne rustica with garlic bread and broccoli. My 5 yo *asked*
for a salad. Wow.
Then, today, they've had ice cream and some dried cherries -- but
they've also eaten scrambled eggs and Annie's bbq bunnies.
They seem to be balancing it all out pretty well.
Peace
April
[email protected]
-----Original Message-----
From: aprilsmapril@...
they've also eaten scrambled eggs and Annie's bbq bunnies.
-=-=-=-
That makes my stomach queasy---what exactly ARE Annie's bbq bunnies???
~Kelly
Kelly Lovejoy
Conference Coordinator
Live and Learn Unschooling Conference
http://liveandlearnconference.org
"It's a small world...but a BIG life!" ~Aaron McGlohn. aged 6
________________________________________________________________________
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From: aprilsmapril@...
they've also eaten scrambled eggs and Annie's bbq bunnies.
-=-=-=-
That makes my stomach queasy---what exactly ARE Annie's bbq bunnies???
~Kelly
Kelly Lovejoy
Conference Coordinator
Live and Learn Unschooling Conference
http://liveandlearnconference.org
"It's a small world...but a BIG life!" ~Aaron McGlohn. aged 6
________________________________________________________________________
Check out AOL.com today. Breaking news, video search, pictures, email
and IM. All on demand. Always Free.
[email protected]
-----Original Message-----
From: aprilsmapril@...
they've also eaten scrambled eggs and Annie's bbq bunnies.
-=-=-=-
Looked 'em up---not so frightening! <G>
Kind of like organic bbq-flavored goldfish in bunny shape. <g>
~Kelly
Kelly Lovejoy
Conference Coordinator
Live and Learn Unschooling Conference
http://liveandlearnconference.org
"It's a small world...but a BIG life!" ~Aaron McGlohn. aged 6
________________________________________________________________________
Check out AOL.com today. Breaking news, video search, pictures, email
and IM. All on demand. Always Free.
From: aprilsmapril@...
they've also eaten scrambled eggs and Annie's bbq bunnies.
-=-=-=-
Looked 'em up---not so frightening! <G>
Kind of like organic bbq-flavored goldfish in bunny shape. <g>
~Kelly
Kelly Lovejoy
Conference Coordinator
Live and Learn Unschooling Conference
http://liveandlearnconference.org
"It's a small world...but a BIG life!" ~Aaron McGlohn. aged 6
________________________________________________________________________
Check out AOL.com today. Breaking news, video search, pictures, email
and IM. All on demand. Always Free.
Michelle/Melbrigða
On 8/17/06, kbcdlovejo@... <kbcdlovejo@...> wrote:
organic mac and cheese the kids have no interest in the (much cheaper)
Kraft. My pocket book says OUCH but my heart says YAY! I can
purchase Kraft for 50¢ a box and Annie's is $1.59-$2.29 (depending on
if the coop has a sale). But I have to agree with them that Annie's
tastes much better.
--
Michelle
aka Melbrigða
http://eventualknitting.blogspot.com
[email protected] - Homeschooling for the Medieval Recreationist
>We love the Annie's products. Ever since I started buying the Annie's
> Looked 'em up---not so frightening! <G>
>
> Kind of like organic bbq-flavored goldfish in bunny shape. <g>
>
organic mac and cheese the kids have no interest in the (much cheaper)
Kraft. My pocket book says OUCH but my heart says YAY! I can
purchase Kraft for 50¢ a box and Annie's is $1.59-$2.29 (depending on
if the coop has a sale). But I have to agree with them that Annie's
tastes much better.
--
Michelle
aka Melbrigða
http://eventualknitting.blogspot.com
[email protected] - Homeschooling for the Medieval Recreationist
April
> That makes my stomach queasy---what exactly ARE Annie's bbq bunnies???LOLOLOLOL!!!!!!!!! I didn't think about how that would sound if you
>
didn't know what Annie's bunnies were!! They come in cheddar, bbq,
graham chocolate chip... etc...
BBQ'd bunnies -- now there's a mental picture. ;P
________________________________________________________________________
> Check out AOL.com today. Breaking news, video search, pictures, email
> and IM. All on demand. Always Free.
>
Mara
Sounds like what my kids have been eating. Breakfast
of ice cream for some time, followed by scrambled eggs
and toast. My 4 y.o. also recently asked me to have
some of my salad and gobbled it up. This from a kid
who until recently refused to eat anything green other
than avocaco and cucumber.
The also love the Annies Cheddar bunnies as a snack on
the road.
I also started giving my kids complete freedom to eat
what and when they want and it has been working out
wonderfully. The 2 year old would rather have Bok choy
(or carrots or eggs) than sweets most any time.
Love,
Mara
--- kbcdlovejo@... wrote:
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of ice cream for some time, followed by scrambled eggs
and toast. My 4 y.o. also recently asked me to have
some of my salad and gobbled it up. This from a kid
who until recently refused to eat anything green other
than avocaco and cucumber.
The also love the Annies Cheddar bunnies as a snack on
the road.
I also started giving my kids complete freedom to eat
what and when they want and it has been working out
wonderfully. The 2 year old would rather have Bok choy
(or carrots or eggs) than sweets most any time.
Love,
Mara
--- kbcdlovejo@... wrote:
>________________________________________________________________________
> -----Original Message-----
> From: aprilsmapril@...
>
> they've also eaten scrambled eggs and Annie's bbq
> bunnies.
>
> -=-=-=-
>
> That makes my stomach queasy---what exactly ARE
> Annie's bbq bunnies???
>
>
> ~Kelly
>
> Kelly Lovejoy
> Conference Coordinator
> Live and Learn Unschooling Conference
> http://liveandlearnconference.org
>
> "It's a small world...but a BIG life!" ~Aaron
> McGlohn. aged 6
>
>
>
> Check out AOL.com today. Breaking news, video__________________________________________________
> search, pictures, email
> and IM. All on demand. Always Free.
>
>
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