Sarah Shackleton

I just joined this group a week ago to find a community for unschooling as I
plan to unschool my son, who's just turned three. I had a couple of thoughts
about this situation so thought I'd share them. I have to say that I've not
followed all of the posts due to time restrictions so apologies if anyone
already said the same thing. It sounds of course like things have improved but
I've been thinking about you and your family a lot so thought that although it
seems like it's getting better, I'd still pass on my thoughts...
1. My husband is always saying how benificial martial arts are for boys and I
wondered if it would be worth asking your son if something like that interested
him. My husband says that it gives them a place to express aggression in a
controlled environment and learn how to deal with anger in a safe and
non-personal way.

2. Could your son take B vitamins? I am not a nutritional and so do not know
if children can even take Bs, but they are stress vitamins and really help with
any stressful situations and nerves and anxiety.

3. My husband and I are working with the most incredible man - Bill Stierle -
and I wondered if he might be a good person for you and your son to talk to. He
teaches parenting as well as being a mediator -- and his philosophy would not go
against the way it sounds like you are raising your children. He talks about
how different people think in different ways and he shows you how to communicate
more effectively with someone who thinks differently to you (ie your son). For
example if you are an emotional person and your son is analytical you each need
different ways of communication. He also works with 'needs based communication'
and non-violent communication. Obviously I am paraphrasing and it's relatively
new to me. What I do know is how absolutely amazing he is with children and
working out their needs. To see him with children is just an eyeopener. And he
is not a therapist so it would not be therapy as such, just a way to more
efficiently communicate and to find out the core of your son's troubles and
need.

Thanks for the group, I'm looking forward to the adventure of unschoolling.
Best wishes, Sarah




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