multimomma

Just needed to share.
Tonight my dad and I went shopping to look for birthday presents for my oldest, he'll be
eleven next week. Somehow the conversation got around to how children learn and what
we're doing as far as 'homeschooling' was going, (Oh yes, my stepmom's concern at our lack
of program....that was it)

He is still not convinced...he agrees that kids learn better when they are interested, he agrees
that public schools aren't the best place to learn, but cannot let go of the perceived fact that
you need to force kids to learn what they should know.

The best thing is that the longer we talked about it, the more certain I felt of myself and how
things are going. I told him to not expect any change in our lifestyle any time soon, we're
happier than we've ever been, he KNOWS this is true. He just cannot trust that kids will learn
what they need to know. :-( I had hoped for his support, and while he won't butt in like my
ma, just knowing he's not behind me makes me sad.

Anyway, thanks for listening,
melissa in Oklahoma

Joanne

Hi Melissa...

I can imagine it must be hard to not have your parents behind your
decision to unschool. You say he agrees that kids learn best when
they're interested and that public school is not the best place to
learn. That's great! He may never get it 100%, but as long as he
respects your choices, all is good.
That's great that your conversation did a lot to reassure you. I
find that myself also. Talking to other people about my choices
(whether it's homeschooling, unschooling or adopting older kids)
somehow helps me process my thoughts also.

Hang in there!

~ Joanne ~
Mom to Jacqueline (7), Shawna (10) & Cimion (13)
Adopted into our hearts October 30, 2003
http://anunschoolinglife.blogspot.com/




--- In [email protected], "multimomma"
<autismhelp@c...> wrote:
>
> Just needed to share.
> Tonight my dad and I went shopping to look for birthday presents
for my oldest, he'll be
> eleven next week. Somehow the conversation got around to how
children learn and what
> we're doing as far as 'homeschooling' was going, (Oh yes, my
stepmom's concern at our lack
> of program....that was it)
>
> He is still not convinced...he agrees that kids learn better when
they are interested, he agrees
> that public schools aren't the best place to learn, but cannot let
go of the perceived fact that
> you need to force kids to learn what they should know.
>
> The best thing is that the longer we talked about it, the more
certain I felt of myself and how
> things are going. I told him to not expect any change in our
lifestyle any time soon, we're
> happier than we've ever been, he KNOWS this is true. He just
cannot trust that kids will learn
> what they need to know. :-( I had hoped for his support, and while
he won't butt in like my
> ma, just knowing he's not behind me makes me sad.
>
> Anyway, thanks for listening,
> melissa in Oklahoma
>

Ren Allen

":-( I had hoped for his support, and while he won't butt
in like my
ma, just knowing he's not behind me makes me sad."

It can be wearying to have family not be supportive. Let the joy of
your days with your children boost you!:)
And just remember what Kelly always says "the proof is in the
pudding"....know that your Dad will be seeing these interesting,
bubbly and intelligent kids in a few years and start to come around
(very likely) if he's at least not outright AGAINST unschooling right now.

I had some exhausting conversations with my folks early on. But we've
been bucking the system for long enough now, that I do have family
support. Before my Mom died, she was one of our biggest and loudest
advocates and My Dad and stepmom even came to a day of the Live and
Learn conference! You just never know. Time does amazing things.

Ren
learninginfreedom.com

frozenandcold

<<<<<<<<<<I had some exhausting conversations with my folks early on.
But we've
been bucking the system for long enough now, that I do have family
support. Before my Mom died, she was one of our biggest and loudest
advocates and My Dad and stepmom even came to a day of the Live and
Learn conference! You just never know. Time does amazing things.>>>>>

Before I looked to see who wrote this I thought "Wow, that sounds like
my story." Duh, it is my story since we have the same parents!!

Heidi