quick introduction
David & Stephanie Mitchell
My goodness why am I doing this at 12.09 on Christmas morning... I just
realised the time.
Well anyway, I just wanted to give a quick introduction.
My name is Stephanie and I have been home educating for the past 3
years.
my boys are pre-teens and I have been questioning the whole natural
learning thing for the high school years and when I got home from work
tonight and the house was all quiet I decided to have a quick search on
the web to pursue some strand that I had read in a home ed magazine.
Well one link led to another and here I am... I stumbled upon this group
and joined up.
I am looking forward to chatting about natural learning in the teen
years as I have mostly seen examples of how well it work in the primary
school years. But for now I must shoot off and get some sleep.
Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas
Kind regards
Stephanie
Home Educating mum of Jordan (12) and Luke (10)
Being a fulltime mother is one of the highest salaried jobs in my field,
since the payment is pure love - Mildred B Vermont
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
realised the time.
Well anyway, I just wanted to give a quick introduction.
My name is Stephanie and I have been home educating for the past 3
years.
my boys are pre-teens and I have been questioning the whole natural
learning thing for the high school years and when I got home from work
tonight and the house was all quiet I decided to have a quick search on
the web to pursue some strand that I had read in a home ed magazine.
Well one link led to another and here I am... I stumbled upon this group
and joined up.
I am looking forward to chatting about natural learning in the teen
years as I have mostly seen examples of how well it work in the primary
school years. But for now I must shoot off and get some sleep.
Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas
Kind regards
Stephanie
Home Educating mum of Jordan (12) and Luke (10)
Being a fulltime mother is one of the highest salaried jobs in my field,
since the payment is pure love - Mildred B Vermont
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Sandrewmama
Hi Stephanie,
I just wanted to say "welcome" from a mom of an unschooled 14 yo.
I'm not sure if I've introduced
myself here -- my name is Chris and I have Zach 14 and Zoe 8. We've
been radically unschooling for about 2 years now. Life is so good!
They're so happy and so are my dh and I!
Happy Merry Everything!
Chris in IA
I just wanted to say "welcome" from a mom of an unschooled 14 yo.
I'm not sure if I've introduced
myself here -- my name is Chris and I have Zach 14 and Zoe 8. We've
been radically unschooling for about 2 years now. Life is so good!
They're so happy and so are my dh and I!
Happy Merry Everything!
Chris in IA
On Dec 25, 2005, at 6:48 AM, [email protected] wrote:
> Message: 3
> Date: Sun, 25 Dec 2005 00:16:06 +1030
> From: "David & Stephanie Mitchell " <mitchfam@...>
> Subject: quick introduction
>
> My goodness why am I doing this at 12.09 on Christmas morning... I
> just
> realised the time.
>
> Well anyway, I just wanted to give a quick introduction.
>
> My name is Stephanie and I have been home educating for the past 3
> years.
>
> my boys are pre-teens and I have been questioning the whole natural
> learning thing for the high school years and when I got home from work
> tonight and the house was all quiet I decided to have a quick
> search on
> the web to pursue some strand that I had read in a home ed magazine.
> Well one link led to another and here I am... I stumbled upon this
> group
> and joined up.
>
> I am looking forward to chatting about natural learning in the teen
> years as I have mostly seen examples of how well it work in the
> primary
> school years. But for now I must shoot off and get some sleep.
>
> Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas
>
> Kind regards
>
>
> Stephanie
>
> Home Educating mum of Jordan (12) and Luke (10)
>
> Being a fulltime mother is one of the highest salaried jobs in my
> field,
> since the payment is pure love - Mildred B Vermont
>
Success
To laugh often and much; to win the affection of children; to earn
the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false
friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave
the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch
or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed
easier because you have lived.
This is to have succeeded.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Ren Allen
"my boys are pre-teens and I have been questioning the whole natural
learning thing for the high school years "
Do you have any specific questions about those ages or unschooling
older children?
I have four children, ages 16 (as of Jan. 1st!), 12, 8 and 4.
I can say that unschooling works beautifully at all ages, I don't see
any need to interfere in their learning just because they get older,
but maybe that's not what you're questioning?
Let me know if there's anything specific you're pondering, or just
general unschooling philosophy. Welcome to the list Stephanie.
Ren
learning thing for the high school years "
Do you have any specific questions about those ages or unschooling
older children?
I have four children, ages 16 (as of Jan. 1st!), 12, 8 and 4.
I can say that unschooling works beautifully at all ages, I don't see
any need to interfere in their learning just because they get older,
but maybe that's not what you're questioning?
Let me know if there's anything specific you're pondering, or just
general unschooling philosophy. Welcome to the list Stephanie.
Ren
David & Stephanie Mitchell
Hi Ren (and all)
To be honest I am just scared.... normal parental paranoia ... how will
they turn out... what will they do when they "grow up" etc. I want them
to have the option to go to university or not.
I live in Australia, and there is a huge stigma with not going to
University. I don't necessarily agree that uni is an essential step on
the road to success, I guess I am just facing the demons of my
upbringing, that quietly whisper that uni would be preferable.
I certainly don't want my boys to not go to Uni just because they don't
know their maths or English well enough. But I also don't want them to
go just because they "should".
I know all the unschooling theory to answer each one of my own issues,
but that doesn't quieten the "voices".
So I joined this group just to see what others are up to.
We are very social folks and have a great network of other natural
learners, here in Adelaide. But my boys do love their computer games and
so I find I need to limit those to weekends. And to be brutally honest,
if I don't prod them along they don't seem to do much during the day. I
spend a lot of time "entertaining' them. Playing with them etc, and when
I have to do my chores they complain.... does that sound familiar to
anyone else?
Look forward to your responses
Stephanie
Home Educating mum of Jordan (12) and Luke (10)
Being a fulltime mother is one of the highest salaried jobs in my field,
since the payment is pure love - Mildred B Vermont
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Ren Allen
Sent: Monday, 26 December 2005 4:17 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [unschoolingbasics] quick introduction
"my boys are pre-teens and I have been questioning the whole natural
learning thing for the high school years "
Do you have any specific questions about those ages or unschooling
older children?
I have four children, ages 16 (as of Jan. 1st!), 12, 8 and 4.
I can say that unschooling works beautifully at all ages, I don't see
any need to interfere in their learning just because they get older,
but maybe that's not what you're questioning?
Let me know if there's anything specific you're pondering, or just
general unschooling philosophy. Welcome to the list Stephanie.
Ren
_____
YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS
* Visit your group "unschoolingbasics
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/unschoolingbasics> " on the web.
* To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
[email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]?subject=Unsubscrib
e>
* Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of
Service <http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/> .
_____
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
To be honest I am just scared.... normal parental paranoia ... how will
they turn out... what will they do when they "grow up" etc. I want them
to have the option to go to university or not.
I live in Australia, and there is a huge stigma with not going to
University. I don't necessarily agree that uni is an essential step on
the road to success, I guess I am just facing the demons of my
upbringing, that quietly whisper that uni would be preferable.
I certainly don't want my boys to not go to Uni just because they don't
know their maths or English well enough. But I also don't want them to
go just because they "should".
I know all the unschooling theory to answer each one of my own issues,
but that doesn't quieten the "voices".
So I joined this group just to see what others are up to.
We are very social folks and have a great network of other natural
learners, here in Adelaide. But my boys do love their computer games and
so I find I need to limit those to weekends. And to be brutally honest,
if I don't prod them along they don't seem to do much during the day. I
spend a lot of time "entertaining' them. Playing with them etc, and when
I have to do my chores they complain.... does that sound familiar to
anyone else?
Look forward to your responses
Stephanie
Home Educating mum of Jordan (12) and Luke (10)
Being a fulltime mother is one of the highest salaried jobs in my field,
since the payment is pure love - Mildred B Vermont
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Ren Allen
Sent: Monday, 26 December 2005 4:17 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [unschoolingbasics] quick introduction
"my boys are pre-teens and I have been questioning the whole natural
learning thing for the high school years "
Do you have any specific questions about those ages or unschooling
older children?
I have four children, ages 16 (as of Jan. 1st!), 12, 8 and 4.
I can say that unschooling works beautifully at all ages, I don't see
any need to interfere in their learning just because they get older,
but maybe that's not what you're questioning?
Let me know if there's anything specific you're pondering, or just
general unschooling philosophy. Welcome to the list Stephanie.
Ren
_____
YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS
* Visit your group "unschoolingbasics
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/unschoolingbasics> " on the web.
* To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
[email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]?subject=Unsubscrib
e>
* Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of
Service <http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/> .
_____
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
In a message dated 12/28/2005 9:28:25 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
mitchfam@... writes:
I
spend a lot of time "entertaining' them. Playing with them etc, and when
I have to do my chores they complain.... does that sound familiar to
anyone else?
**********
Hi Stephanie!
I said recently that I am trying something new with my kids. I am (not
perfectly, of course) attempting to do my chores in the morning, being less
available for my kids and then have the afternoon to spend with them. So far,
this has worked well. It took a couple of days of getting used to, but now it
is more or less routine.
I had to do something! My stuff wasn't getting done and I was stressed and
not a happy mommy. Now they have a more relaxed mommy that has her mind on
them, not on the million things that needed to get done.
Hope you find something that works for you and your boys!
Leslie in SC
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
mitchfam@... writes:
I
spend a lot of time "entertaining' them. Playing with them etc, and when
I have to do my chores they complain.... does that sound familiar to
anyone else?
**********
Hi Stephanie!
I said recently that I am trying something new with my kids. I am (not
perfectly, of course) attempting to do my chores in the morning, being less
available for my kids and then have the afternoon to spend with them. So far,
this has worked well. It took a couple of days of getting used to, but now it
is more or less routine.
I had to do something! My stuff wasn't getting done and I was stressed and
not a happy mommy. Now they have a more relaxed mommy that has her mind on
them, not on the million things that needed to get done.
Hope you find something that works for you and your boys!
Leslie in SC
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Ren Allen
First, I want to let you know that you're not alone in dealing with
those darn "voices" Stephanie. Even after years of questioning and
letting go, I'll get the strangest responses internally....and I have
to have these little internal dialogues.
Your kids don't have to know about it, you can just coach yourself
through the moment, realize it's not about University or careers or
success...it's just your schooled mind kicking in, breathe deep and
choose to trust.:) It sounds simple, and it is, but it's also really
difficult sometimes.
"But my boys do love their computer games and
so I find I need to limit those to weekends. And to be brutally honest,
if I don't prod them along they don't seem to do much during the day. I
spend a lot of time "entertaining' them. Playing with them etc, and
when I have to do my chores they complain.... does that sound familiar
to anyone else?"
First of all, you'll get a lot of advice here about not limiting your
children's computer games and not prodding anymore. It might be
backfiring on you.
Unschooling is built on trust, and we tell our children we don't trust
them when we control the activities they love or push them to do
things they don't enjoy.
What is it that you fear if you let them play computer games more?
There's lots of learning going on in those games. I think it's
possible that the way you view their activities has more to do with it
than anything. That was sure true for myself.
Once you shift your view to seeing everything THEY love as valuable,
everything that interests them as learning, then things will unfold
more smoothly.
Hang in there and welcome.
Ren
those darn "voices" Stephanie. Even after years of questioning and
letting go, I'll get the strangest responses internally....and I have
to have these little internal dialogues.
Your kids don't have to know about it, you can just coach yourself
through the moment, realize it's not about University or careers or
success...it's just your schooled mind kicking in, breathe deep and
choose to trust.:) It sounds simple, and it is, but it's also really
difficult sometimes.
"But my boys do love their computer games and
so I find I need to limit those to weekends. And to be brutally honest,
if I don't prod them along they don't seem to do much during the day. I
spend a lot of time "entertaining' them. Playing with them etc, and
when I have to do my chores they complain.... does that sound familiar
to anyone else?"
First of all, you'll get a lot of advice here about not limiting your
children's computer games and not prodding anymore. It might be
backfiring on you.
Unschooling is built on trust, and we tell our children we don't trust
them when we control the activities they love or push them to do
things they don't enjoy.
What is it that you fear if you let them play computer games more?
There's lots of learning going on in those games. I think it's
possible that the way you view their activities has more to do with it
than anything. That was sure true for myself.
Once you shift your view to seeing everything THEY love as valuable,
everything that interests them as learning, then things will unfold
more smoothly.
Hang in there and welcome.
Ren
David & Stephanie Mitchell
thanks Leslie
Stephanie
Home Educating mum of Jordan (12) and Luke (10)
Being a fulltime mother is one of the highest salaried jobs in my field,
since the payment is pure love - Mildred B Vermont
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of
Leslie530@...
Sent: Thursday, 29 December 2005 2:06 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [unschoolingbasics] quick introduction
In a message dated 12/28/2005 9:28:25 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
mitchfam@... writes:
I
spend a lot of time "entertaining' them. Playing with them etc, and
when
I have to do my chores they complain.... does that sound familiar to
anyone else?
**********
Hi Stephanie!
I said recently that I am trying something new with my kids. I am (not
perfectly, of course) attempting to do my chores in the morning, being
less
available for my kids and then have the afternoon to spend with them.
So far,
this has worked well. It took a couple of days of getting used to, but
now it
is more or less routine.
I had to do something! My stuff wasn't getting done and I was stressed
and
not a happy mommy. Now they have a more relaxed mommy that has her
mind on
them, not on the million things that needed to get done.
Hope you find something that works for you and your boys!
Leslie in SC
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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* Visit your group "unschoolingbasics
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/unschoolingbasics> " on the web.
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[email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]?subject=Unsubscrib
e>
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Service <http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/> .
_____
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Stephanie
Home Educating mum of Jordan (12) and Luke (10)
Being a fulltime mother is one of the highest salaried jobs in my field,
since the payment is pure love - Mildred B Vermont
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of
Leslie530@...
Sent: Thursday, 29 December 2005 2:06 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [unschoolingbasics] quick introduction
In a message dated 12/28/2005 9:28:25 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
mitchfam@... writes:
I
spend a lot of time "entertaining' them. Playing with them etc, and
when
I have to do my chores they complain.... does that sound familiar to
anyone else?
**********
Hi Stephanie!
I said recently that I am trying something new with my kids. I am (not
perfectly, of course) attempting to do my chores in the morning, being
less
available for my kids and then have the afternoon to spend with them.
So far,
this has worked well. It took a couple of days of getting used to, but
now it
is more or less routine.
I had to do something! My stuff wasn't getting done and I was stressed
and
not a happy mommy. Now they have a more relaxed mommy that has her
mind on
them, not on the million things that needed to get done.
Hope you find something that works for you and your boys!
Leslie in SC
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
SPONSORED LINKS
Secondary
<http://groups.yahoo.com/gads?t=ms&k=Secondary+school+education&w1=Secon
dary+school+education&w2=Graduate+school+education&w3=Home+school+educat
ion&w4=Graduate+school+education+online&w5=High+school+education&w6=Chic
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<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/unschoolingbasics> " on the web.
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e>
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Service <http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/> .
_____
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
David & Stephanie Mitchell
Thanks Ren
It is about trust... letting go of my expectations of them is a hard
thing.... and dh finds it even harder. LOL, but he is a trusting old
soul and even thought he doesnt understand this whole unschooling thing,
he trusts me to find the right path for the boys.... Oh isnt that
interesting... I just realised one of the flaws in my thinking, having
written that last sentence... Dh is trusting me, and I am trusting ME...
rather than us trusting the children..... Mmmm that's interesting!!!
Thanks for your words about the "voices" - I was afraid you would think
I was off with the fairies.
Stephanie
Home Educating mum of Jordan (12) and Luke (10)
Being a fulltime mother is one of the highest salaried jobs in my field,
since the payment is pure love - Mildred B Vermont
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Ren Allen
Sent: Thursday, 29 December 2005 3:02 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [unschoolingbasics] quick introduction
First, I want to let you know that you're not alone in dealing with
those darn "voices" Stephanie. Even after years of questioning and
letting go, I'll get the strangest responses internally....and I have
to have these little internal dialogues.
Your kids don't have to know about it, you can just coach yourself
through the moment, realize it's not about University or careers or
success...it's just your schooled mind kicking in, breathe deep and
choose to trust.:) It sounds simple, and it is, but it's also really
difficult sometimes.
"But my boys do love their computer games and
so I find I need to limit those to weekends. And to be brutally honest,
if I don't prod them along they don't seem to do much during the day. I
spend a lot of time "entertaining' them. Playing with them etc, and
when I have to do my chores they complain.... does that sound familiar
to anyone else?"
First of all, you'll get a lot of advice here about not limiting your
children's computer games and not prodding anymore. It might be
backfiring on you.
Unschooling is built on trust, and we tell our children we don't trust
them when we control the activities they love or push them to do
things they don't enjoy.
What is it that you fear if you let them play computer games more?
There's lots of learning going on in those games. I think it's
possible that the way you view their activities has more to do with it
than anything. That was sure true for myself.
Once you shift your view to seeing everything THEY love as valuable,
everything that interests them as learning, then things will unfold
more smoothly.
Hang in there and welcome.
Ren
_____
YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS
* Visit your group "unschoolingbasics
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/unschoolingbasics> " on the web.
* To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
[email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]?subject=Unsubscrib
e>
* Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of
Service <http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/> .
_____
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
It is about trust... letting go of my expectations of them is a hard
thing.... and dh finds it even harder. LOL, but he is a trusting old
soul and even thought he doesnt understand this whole unschooling thing,
he trusts me to find the right path for the boys.... Oh isnt that
interesting... I just realised one of the flaws in my thinking, having
written that last sentence... Dh is trusting me, and I am trusting ME...
rather than us trusting the children..... Mmmm that's interesting!!!
Thanks for your words about the "voices" - I was afraid you would think
I was off with the fairies.
Stephanie
Home Educating mum of Jordan (12) and Luke (10)
Being a fulltime mother is one of the highest salaried jobs in my field,
since the payment is pure love - Mildred B Vermont
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Ren Allen
Sent: Thursday, 29 December 2005 3:02 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [unschoolingbasics] quick introduction
First, I want to let you know that you're not alone in dealing with
those darn "voices" Stephanie. Even after years of questioning and
letting go, I'll get the strangest responses internally....and I have
to have these little internal dialogues.
Your kids don't have to know about it, you can just coach yourself
through the moment, realize it's not about University or careers or
success...it's just your schooled mind kicking in, breathe deep and
choose to trust.:) It sounds simple, and it is, but it's also really
difficult sometimes.
"But my boys do love their computer games and
so I find I need to limit those to weekends. And to be brutally honest,
if I don't prod them along they don't seem to do much during the day. I
spend a lot of time "entertaining' them. Playing with them etc, and
when I have to do my chores they complain.... does that sound familiar
to anyone else?"
First of all, you'll get a lot of advice here about not limiting your
children's computer games and not prodding anymore. It might be
backfiring on you.
Unschooling is built on trust, and we tell our children we don't trust
them when we control the activities they love or push them to do
things they don't enjoy.
What is it that you fear if you let them play computer games more?
There's lots of learning going on in those games. I think it's
possible that the way you view their activities has more to do with it
than anything. That was sure true for myself.
Once you shift your view to seeing everything THEY love as valuable,
everything that interests them as learning, then things will unfold
more smoothly.
Hang in there and welcome.
Ren
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Ren Allen
" Dh is trusting me, and I am trusting ME...
rather than us trusting the children..... Mmmm that's interesting!!!"
Hey, that's not all bad!!! If you can find trust in yourselves again,
then it will be easier to learn how to trust your children.
People that doubt themselves all the time, have a harder time learning
to trust their children. Not that we don't doubt ourselves at
times...I'm just talking generally here.
John Holt said: "Trust Children. Nothing could be more simple, or more
difficult. Difficult because to trust children we must first learn to
trust ourselves, and most of us were taught as children that we could
not be trusted."
(from "How Children Learn")
As to those voices, I've got a quote for that too: Nietzsche said "one
must still have chaos in oneself to be able to give birth to a dancing
star"
It give me great comfort.;)
Ren
P.S. Don't forget all the wonderful conference CD's you guys!! They're
on sale at liveandlearnconference.org. Great way to give yourself a
little boost of confidence when you need one.
rather than us trusting the children..... Mmmm that's interesting!!!"
Hey, that's not all bad!!! If you can find trust in yourselves again,
then it will be easier to learn how to trust your children.
People that doubt themselves all the time, have a harder time learning
to trust their children. Not that we don't doubt ourselves at
times...I'm just talking generally here.
John Holt said: "Trust Children. Nothing could be more simple, or more
difficult. Difficult because to trust children we must first learn to
trust ourselves, and most of us were taught as children that we could
not be trusted."
(from "How Children Learn")
As to those voices, I've got a quote for that too: Nietzsche said "one
must still have chaos in oneself to be able to give birth to a dancing
star"
It give me great comfort.;)
Ren
P.S. Don't forget all the wonderful conference CD's you guys!! They're
on sale at liveandlearnconference.org. Great way to give yourself a
little boost of confidence when you need one.
nrskay
Leslie:
I do this also. My 11 yo dd is a late sleeper so I do all my chores
in the am while she's a sleep and then we do stuff together in the
afternoon when she is up.
It took me a while to work it out, trying to be quiet while vacuuming
can be a bit of a challenge.
We love doing arts, neopets and video games together. She got the new
pacman 3 for her PS2 for Christmas and we have been playing it
together since.
Kay
I do this also. My 11 yo dd is a late sleeper so I do all my chores
in the am while she's a sleep and then we do stuff together in the
afternoon when she is up.
It took me a while to work it out, trying to be quiet while vacuuming
can be a bit of a challenge.
We love doing arts, neopets and video games together. She got the new
pacman 3 for her PS2 for Christmas and we have been playing it
together since.
Kay