Some prgress with dh and unschooling!
hmschleidt
As many of you know from a few times I have posted that my dh is not
sold on unschooling, especially not radical unschooling. He is ok
with it but doesn't encourage it and has been known to make my
children do certain "subjects" like math when he gets an itch.
Well, night before last we had a big long conversation because he is
reading a leadership book called Tiger Traits. It a mix of learning
leadership through the life of Tiger Woods. He was telling me about
how Tiger started playing golf at age 10 months and had won his first
tournament by age 2. I mentioned that he must of had VERY supportive
parents that let him follow his interests and passions and it was
like a LIGHT came on.
We went on talking and he has agreed to let me give my children the
allowance to pick any passion they are interested in and to let them
follow this passion/interest as much or little as they want and to
support them. His example (my dh loves golf) was our 5 yo that also
LOVES golf. My dh said that if our 5 yo were to learn reading and
writing and math naturally through golf without us forcing it on him
he would learn better and retain it more than kids that are "force-
fed" this information in the school systems. He got a kick out
making jokes like "Hey son, did you read your Golf Digest this
morning? Ok, you can go play golf now!"
So, at least now we are starting to be on the same playing field.
Although he has never actually told me I couldn't DO certain things
with my methods of unschooling the kids that isn't the same as having
his support. I feel we have made great strides. Thought I would
share.
Heather
sold on unschooling, especially not radical unschooling. He is ok
with it but doesn't encourage it and has been known to make my
children do certain "subjects" like math when he gets an itch.
Well, night before last we had a big long conversation because he is
reading a leadership book called Tiger Traits. It a mix of learning
leadership through the life of Tiger Woods. He was telling me about
how Tiger started playing golf at age 10 months and had won his first
tournament by age 2. I mentioned that he must of had VERY supportive
parents that let him follow his interests and passions and it was
like a LIGHT came on.
We went on talking and he has agreed to let me give my children the
allowance to pick any passion they are interested in and to let them
follow this passion/interest as much or little as they want and to
support them. His example (my dh loves golf) was our 5 yo that also
LOVES golf. My dh said that if our 5 yo were to learn reading and
writing and math naturally through golf without us forcing it on him
he would learn better and retain it more than kids that are "force-
fed" this information in the school systems. He got a kick out
making jokes like "Hey son, did you read your Golf Digest this
morning? Ok, you can go play golf now!"
So, at least now we are starting to be on the same playing field.
Although he has never actually told me I couldn't DO certain things
with my methods of unschooling the kids that isn't the same as having
his support. I feel we have made great strides. Thought I would
share.
Heather
Kelly Lovejoy
I love when that happens! <g>
Something you might want to ask him (maybe now right *now*! <g> Let him enjoy his new feeling!) is how would he feel if the interest were...say... skateboarding or macrame' or video gaming or horses or WWII? Would being passionate about any of those things make him as happy as he is about golf?
It can be easy to feed a child's passion if it coincides with our own passion(s). It's often very hard for us to accept and to feed a passion that's different from our own.
In my own family, I had NO trouble getting Cameron a fancy beagle pup when he decided he wanted to show dogs. My husband, the cyclist, had no problem buying him a good mountain bike and taking him to crazy parks all over the state. When he was into magic, I spent mega-bucks on cards and tricks and gimmicks and conventions. Drumming? A drum set---then a second one. And hours and hours at the jazz club to listen and play. Film-making? Classes and cameras and film and film and film. <G>
Skateboarding???
<G>
Although we certainly supported skating with boards and trucks and gear---and Camp Woodward (twice), I know we weren't AS supportive as we were for the other sports/interests. Not emotionally, anyway. Plus, we had little knowledge of skating---no direct interest or information. No passion. No contacts. We DID support it, but I feel we could have done better.
Our second child is 12. His passion is gaming---computer and console. Agai
n---Ben and I have NO personal interest in gaming. We know quite a lot ABOUT it now. <G> We own just about every system there is. He got a fancy-schmancy laptop for gaming for Christmas.
But we have learned over the years---and through these lists---to FEED those passions. Even if it's something we don't really care for. ESPECIALLY if it's something we don't really care for.
Our children are not us. I'm sure everyone here has passions that their parents didn't buy into hook, line, and sinker. Mine was showing dogs and horses. My parents were VERY supportive. Lucky for me! <g> But neither had ever ridden a horse. Neither could tell a English setter from an Irish setter. <g> But they bought me dogs and horses. Took me to shows---and later let me go to shows. <g>
But they weren't as supportive as some of my friends' parents---those parents who also rode horses or bred dogs themselves. Mine weren't as supportive of the dogs and horses as they were of my interest in science (my father's a doctor <g>). I got a microscope and petri dishes if I even whispered an interest. <g>
Just keep in mind that Tiger's dad LIKED golf! <g> Imagine what his life would have been like if dad had hated golf---or felt it wasn't worth all the time out on a golf course---or thought he should be a doctor.
Imagine how many other children's passions are squashed or dismissed or starved EVERY DAY. Imagine what ALL children could be if their parents fed their passi
ons---no matter what!
We have that power. We really do. Feed, feed, FEED passions!
~Kelly
-----Original Message-----
From: hmschleidt <hmschleidt@...>
As many of you know from a few times I have posted that my dh is not
sold on unschooling, especially not radical unschooling. He is ok
with it but doesn't encourage it and has been known to make my
children do certain "subjects" like math when he gets an itch.
Well, night before last we had a big long conversation because he is
reading a leadership book called Tiger Traits. It a mix of learning
leadership through the life of Tiger Woods. He was telling me about
how Tiger started playing golf at age 10 months and had won his first
tournament by age 2. I mentioned that he must of had VERY supportive
parents that let him follow his interests and passions and it was
like a LIGHT came on.
We went on talking and he has agreed to let me give my children the
allowance to pick any passion they are interested in and to let them
follow this passion/interest as much or little as they want and to
support them. His example (my dh loves golf) was our 5 yo that also
LOVES golf. My dh said that if our 5 yo were to learn reading and
writing and math naturally through golf without us forcing it on him
he would learn better and retain it more than kids that are "force-
fed" this information in the school systems. He got a kick out
making jok
es like "Hey son, did you read your Golf Digest this
morning? Ok, you can go play golf now!"
So, at least now we are starting to be on the same playing field.
Although he has never actually told me I couldn't DO certain things
with my methods of unschooling the kids that isn't the same as having
his support. I feel we have made great strides. Thought I would
share.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Something you might want to ask him (maybe now right *now*! <g> Let him enjoy his new feeling!) is how would he feel if the interest were...say... skateboarding or macrame' or video gaming or horses or WWII? Would being passionate about any of those things make him as happy as he is about golf?
It can be easy to feed a child's passion if it coincides with our own passion(s). It's often very hard for us to accept and to feed a passion that's different from our own.
In my own family, I had NO trouble getting Cameron a fancy beagle pup when he decided he wanted to show dogs. My husband, the cyclist, had no problem buying him a good mountain bike and taking him to crazy parks all over the state. When he was into magic, I spent mega-bucks on cards and tricks and gimmicks and conventions. Drumming? A drum set---then a second one. And hours and hours at the jazz club to listen and play. Film-making? Classes and cameras and film and film and film. <G>
Skateboarding???
<G>
Although we certainly supported skating with boards and trucks and gear---and Camp Woodward (twice), I know we weren't AS supportive as we were for the other sports/interests. Not emotionally, anyway. Plus, we had little knowledge of skating---no direct interest or information. No passion. No contacts. We DID support it, but I feel we could have done better.
Our second child is 12. His passion is gaming---computer and console. Agai
n---Ben and I have NO personal interest in gaming. We know quite a lot ABOUT it now. <G> We own just about every system there is. He got a fancy-schmancy laptop for gaming for Christmas.
But we have learned over the years---and through these lists---to FEED those passions. Even if it's something we don't really care for. ESPECIALLY if it's something we don't really care for.
Our children are not us. I'm sure everyone here has passions that their parents didn't buy into hook, line, and sinker. Mine was showing dogs and horses. My parents were VERY supportive. Lucky for me! <g> But neither had ever ridden a horse. Neither could tell a English setter from an Irish setter. <g> But they bought me dogs and horses. Took me to shows---and later let me go to shows. <g>
But they weren't as supportive as some of my friends' parents---those parents who also rode horses or bred dogs themselves. Mine weren't as supportive of the dogs and horses as they were of my interest in science (my father's a doctor <g>). I got a microscope and petri dishes if I even whispered an interest. <g>
Just keep in mind that Tiger's dad LIKED golf! <g> Imagine what his life would have been like if dad had hated golf---or felt it wasn't worth all the time out on a golf course---or thought he should be a doctor.
Imagine how many other children's passions are squashed or dismissed or starved EVERY DAY. Imagine what ALL children could be if their parents fed their passi
ons---no matter what!
We have that power. We really do. Feed, feed, FEED passions!
~Kelly
-----Original Message-----
From: hmschleidt <hmschleidt@...>
As many of you know from a few times I have posted that my dh is not
sold on unschooling, especially not radical unschooling. He is ok
with it but doesn't encourage it and has been known to make my
children do certain "subjects" like math when he gets an itch.
Well, night before last we had a big long conversation because he is
reading a leadership book called Tiger Traits. It a mix of learning
leadership through the life of Tiger Woods. He was telling me about
how Tiger started playing golf at age 10 months and had won his first
tournament by age 2. I mentioned that he must of had VERY supportive
parents that let him follow his interests and passions and it was
like a LIGHT came on.
We went on talking and he has agreed to let me give my children the
allowance to pick any passion they are interested in and to let them
follow this passion/interest as much or little as they want and to
support them. His example (my dh loves golf) was our 5 yo that also
LOVES golf. My dh said that if our 5 yo were to learn reading and
writing and math naturally through golf without us forcing it on him
he would learn better and retain it more than kids that are "force-
fed" this information in the school systems. He got a kick out
making jok
es like "Hey son, did you read your Golf Digest this
morning? Ok, you can go play golf now!"
So, at least now we are starting to be on the same playing field.
Although he has never actually told me I couldn't DO certain things
with my methods of unschooling the kids that isn't the same as having
his support. I feel we have made great strides. Thought I would
share.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Heather & Markus Schleidt
Great points, Kelly. We did talk about the fact that there are probably 100's of kids that COULD have been like Tiger but their parents didn't feed their passion and they became accountants because they felt they should. I can see nothing worse than getting into a job that I hate and I don't want my children to be that way.
A lady I know once asked me (mind you, my oldest was at Kindergarten-level at this time) how I could justify not having a regular structure for my child because they wouldn't learn how to hold down a 9-5 job. This was my first encounter with someone really questioning my methods of learning. I thought to myself, maybe my child will WANT a 9-5 job and if he does, there are plenty, plenty of those types of jobs out there. I, personally, can see nothing worse than having that type of situation. My husband and I own our own business and the hours are nothing but 9-5 and we love it that way. Maybe my kids won't, but they will adjust.
On another note, my dh did agree to feed my oldest child's passion about art, which he has no interest in, but has graciously bought him many art materials so far. We certainily are making progress.
To: [email protected]; Sandra@...: kbcdlovejo@...: Fri, 9 Jan 2009 18:06:40 -0500Subject: Re: [unschoolingbasics] Some prgress with dh and unschooling!
I love when that happens! <g>Something you might want to ask him (maybe now right *now*! <g> Let him enjoy his new feeling!) is how would he feel if the interest were...say... skateboarding or macrame' or video gaming or horses or WWII? Would being passionate about any of those things make him as happy as he is about golf? It can be easy to feed a child's passion if it coincides with our own passion(s). It's often very hard for us to accept and to feed a passion that's different from our own.In my own family, I had NO trouble getting Cameron a fancy beagle pup when he decided he wanted to show dogs. My husband, the cyclist, had no problem buying him a good mountain bike and taking him to crazy parks all over the state. When he was into magic, I spent mega-bucks on cards and tricks and gimmicks and conventions. Drumming? A drum set---then a second one. And hours and hours at the jazz club to listen and play. Film-making? Classes and cameras and film and film and film. <G>Skateboarding??? <G>Although we certainly supported skating with boards and trucks and gear---and Camp Woodward (twice), I know we weren't AS supportive as we were for the other sports/interests. Not emotionally, anyway. Plus, we had little knowledge of skating---no direct interest or information. No passion. No contacts. We DID support it, but I feel we could have done better.Our second child is 12. His passion is gaming---computer and console. Again---Ben and I have NO personal interest in gaming. We know quite a lot ABOUT it now. <G> We own just about every system there is. He got a fancy-schmancy laptop for gaming for Christmas. But we have learned over the years---and through these lists---to FEED those passions. Even if it's something we don't really care for. ESPECIALLY if it's something we don't really care for.Our children are not us. I'm sure everyone here has passions that their parents didn't buy into hook, line, and sinker. Mine was showing dogs and horses. My parents were VERY supportive. Lucky for me! <g> But neither had ever ridden a horse. Neither could tell a English setter from an Irish setter. <g> But they bought me dogs and horses. Took me to shows---and later let me go to shows. <g> But they weren't as supportive as some of my friends' parents---those parents who also rode horses or bred dogs themselves. Mine weren't as supportive of the dogs and horses as they were of my interest in science (my father's a doctor <g>). I got a microscope and petri dishes if I even whispered an interest. <g>Just keep in mind that Tiger's dad LIKED golf! <g> Imagine what his life would have been like if dad had hated golf---or felt it wasn't worth all the time out on a golf course---or thought he should be a doctor.Imagine how many other children's passions are squashed or dismissed or starved EVERY DAY. Imagine what ALL children could be if their parents fed their passions---no matter what!We have that power. We really do. Feed, feed, FEED passions!~Kelly-----Original Message-----From: hmschleidt <hmschleidt@...>As many of you know from a few times I have posted that my dh is not sold on unschooling, especially not radical unschooling. He is ok with it but doesn't encourage it and has been known to make my children do certain "subjects" like math when he gets an itch.Well, night before last we had a big long conversation because he is reading a leadership book called Tiger Traits. It a mix of learning leadership through the life of Tiger Woods. He was telling me about how Tiger started playing golf at age 10 months and had won his first tournament by age 2. I mentioned that he must of had VERY supportive parents that let him follow his interests and passions and it was like a LIGHT came on. We went on talking and he has agreed to let me give my children the allowance to pick any passion they are interested in and to let them follow this passion/interest as much or little as they want and to support them. His example (my dh loves golf) was our 5 yo that also LOVES golf. My dh said that if our 5 yo were to learn reading and writing and math naturally through golf without us forcing it on him he would learn better and retain it more than kids that are "force-fed" this information in the school systems. He got a kick out making jokes like "Hey son, did you read your Golf Digest this morning? Ok, you can go play golf now!" So, at least now we are starting to be on the same playing field. Although he has never actually told me I couldn't DO certain things with my methods of unschooling the kids that isn't the same as having his support. I feel we have made great strides. Thought I would share.[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
_________________________________________________________________
Windows Live� Hotmail�: Chat. Store. Share. Do more with mail.
http://windowslive.com/howitworks?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t1_hm_justgotbetter_howitworks_012009
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
A lady I know once asked me (mind you, my oldest was at Kindergarten-level at this time) how I could justify not having a regular structure for my child because they wouldn't learn how to hold down a 9-5 job. This was my first encounter with someone really questioning my methods of learning. I thought to myself, maybe my child will WANT a 9-5 job and if he does, there are plenty, plenty of those types of jobs out there. I, personally, can see nothing worse than having that type of situation. My husband and I own our own business and the hours are nothing but 9-5 and we love it that way. Maybe my kids won't, but they will adjust.
On another note, my dh did agree to feed my oldest child's passion about art, which he has no interest in, but has graciously bought him many art materials so far. We certainily are making progress.
To: [email protected]; Sandra@...: kbcdlovejo@...: Fri, 9 Jan 2009 18:06:40 -0500Subject: Re: [unschoolingbasics] Some prgress with dh and unschooling!
I love when that happens! <g>Something you might want to ask him (maybe now right *now*! <g> Let him enjoy his new feeling!) is how would he feel if the interest were...say... skateboarding or macrame' or video gaming or horses or WWII? Would being passionate about any of those things make him as happy as he is about golf? It can be easy to feed a child's passion if it coincides with our own passion(s). It's often very hard for us to accept and to feed a passion that's different from our own.In my own family, I had NO trouble getting Cameron a fancy beagle pup when he decided he wanted to show dogs. My husband, the cyclist, had no problem buying him a good mountain bike and taking him to crazy parks all over the state. When he was into magic, I spent mega-bucks on cards and tricks and gimmicks and conventions. Drumming? A drum set---then a second one. And hours and hours at the jazz club to listen and play. Film-making? Classes and cameras and film and film and film. <G>Skateboarding??? <G>Although we certainly supported skating with boards and trucks and gear---and Camp Woodward (twice), I know we weren't AS supportive as we were for the other sports/interests. Not emotionally, anyway. Plus, we had little knowledge of skating---no direct interest or information. No passion. No contacts. We DID support it, but I feel we could have done better.Our second child is 12. His passion is gaming---computer and console. Again---Ben and I have NO personal interest in gaming. We know quite a lot ABOUT it now. <G> We own just about every system there is. He got a fancy-schmancy laptop for gaming for Christmas. But we have learned over the years---and through these lists---to FEED those passions. Even if it's something we don't really care for. ESPECIALLY if it's something we don't really care for.Our children are not us. I'm sure everyone here has passions that their parents didn't buy into hook, line, and sinker. Mine was showing dogs and horses. My parents were VERY supportive. Lucky for me! <g> But neither had ever ridden a horse. Neither could tell a English setter from an Irish setter. <g> But they bought me dogs and horses. Took me to shows---and later let me go to shows. <g> But they weren't as supportive as some of my friends' parents---those parents who also rode horses or bred dogs themselves. Mine weren't as supportive of the dogs and horses as they were of my interest in science (my father's a doctor <g>). I got a microscope and petri dishes if I even whispered an interest. <g>Just keep in mind that Tiger's dad LIKED golf! <g> Imagine what his life would have been like if dad had hated golf---or felt it wasn't worth all the time out on a golf course---or thought he should be a doctor.Imagine how many other children's passions are squashed or dismissed or starved EVERY DAY. Imagine what ALL children could be if their parents fed their passions---no matter what!We have that power. We really do. Feed, feed, FEED passions!~Kelly-----Original Message-----From: hmschleidt <hmschleidt@...>As many of you know from a few times I have posted that my dh is not sold on unschooling, especially not radical unschooling. He is ok with it but doesn't encourage it and has been known to make my children do certain "subjects" like math when he gets an itch.Well, night before last we had a big long conversation because he is reading a leadership book called Tiger Traits. It a mix of learning leadership through the life of Tiger Woods. He was telling me about how Tiger started playing golf at age 10 months and had won his first tournament by age 2. I mentioned that he must of had VERY supportive parents that let him follow his interests and passions and it was like a LIGHT came on. We went on talking and he has agreed to let me give my children the allowance to pick any passion they are interested in and to let them follow this passion/interest as much or little as they want and to support them. His example (my dh loves golf) was our 5 yo that also LOVES golf. My dh said that if our 5 yo were to learn reading and writing and math naturally through golf without us forcing it on him he would learn better and retain it more than kids that are "force-fed" this information in the school systems. He got a kick out making jokes like "Hey son, did you read your Golf Digest this morning? Ok, you can go play golf now!" So, at least now we are starting to be on the same playing field. Although he has never actually told me I couldn't DO certain things with my methods of unschooling the kids that isn't the same as having his support. I feel we have made great strides. Thought I would share.[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
_________________________________________________________________
Windows Live� Hotmail�: Chat. Store. Share. Do more with mail.
http://windowslive.com/howitworks?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t1_hm_justgotbetter_howitworks_012009
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Robin Bentley
>Kelly, which laptop did you get for Duncan? We're looking at the
> Our second child is 12. His passion is gaming---computer and
> console. Agai
> n---Ben and I have NO personal interest in gaming. We know quite a
> lot ABOUT it now. <G> We own just about every system there is. He
> got a fancy-schmancy laptop for gaming for Christmas.
Toshiba Qosmio X305.
Other suggestions, anyone?
Robin B.
Kelly Lovejoy
With red flames? That's the one we got for Dunc. Recommended by Tim Traaseth. He got one for Kyra.
~Kelly
-----Original Message-----
From: Robin Bentley <robin.bentley@...>
Toshiba Qosmio X305.
Other suggestions, anyone?
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
~Kelly
-----Original Message-----
From: Robin Bentley <robin.bentley@...>
>Kelly, which laptop did you get for Duncan? We're looking at the
> Our second child is 12. His passion is gaming---computer and
> console. Agai
> n---Ben and I have NO personal interest in gaming. We know quite a
> lot ABOUT it now. <G> We own just about every system there is. He
> got a fancy-schmancy laptop for gaming for Christmas.
Toshiba Qosmio X305.
Other suggestions, anyone?
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Robin Bentley
Yeah, that's it! Thanks!
Robin B.
Robin B.
On Jan 28, 2009, at 4:05 PM, Kelly Lovejoy wrote:
> With red flames? That's the one we got for Dunc. Recommended by Tim
> Traaseth. He got one for Kyra.
>
>
> ~Kelly
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Robin Bentley <robin.bentley@...>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>>
>> Our second child is 12. His passion is gaming---computer and
>> console. Agai
>> n---Ben and I have NO personal interest in gaming. We know quite a
>> lot ABOUT it now. <G> We own just about every system there is. He
>> got a fancy-schmancy laptop for gaming for Christmas.
>
> Kelly, which laptop did you get for Duncan? We're looking at the
> Toshiba Qosmio X305.
>
> Other suggestions, anyone?
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>