Maisha Khalfani

Sorry for sending this to the lists. I would have sent it to some
individual email addresses, but I didn't have them all. I'm emailing all
of you in the hopes that you can give me some encouragement and support.



I have gone back to work full time, which means the children (ages 8, 7, 4,
2) will be going to school and daycare. This is partly not my choice. We
have been homeless this past year and were accepted into a transitional
housing program. Part of the requirement is that both adults in the home
have to work. So..here I am. I thought about a night job, but they are
scarce here in the DC area, and then there's the matter of staying up all
day with energy for my children - HA! This is the move we have to make
right now. Add to that my children were bored and frustrated because we
weren't doing anything all day. No trips (no funds), no classes (no funds),
etc, etc. We spent our days in the house and I think we were all tired of
looking at our four walls.



I don't intend this move to be forever. While I do love the job that I have
now, I love my children more. Once we are out of this program we will look
for more creative ways to earn an income and create a more flexible
schedule. Until then..how can I help my children transition? Safiya (who
will be 9 this month) will be going into the 3rd grade instead of the 4th,
to ease some of the academic stress that she'll be facing. This change is
hardest on her. She has no desire to go to school at all. Dakari (who will
be 8 in October) will be going into the 2nd grade. He has wanted to go to
school for some time now, so he's thrilled about going. He requires a type
or regimented structure that I'm just not able to give him at home. Khalid
(4) and Khidar (2) will be going to daycare. I'm not sure how they'll take
it.



You can email me offlist so we don't clog the lists with stuff that doesn't
pertain to unschooling.



Peace,

Maisha







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