Digest
Tracy Oldfield
As I said before, I've returned home from a week away to find 37
digests for this group in my inbox. Now, while I'm glad to see that
this list is 'thriving,' (now where did I put that 'the life-cycle of an e-
list' message???) I just want to point out that for anyone on digest
it's a HUGE PITA to have posts repeated in folks replies. I
particularly got bored of seeing the unschooling-dotcom egroup sig
file up to 5 times on certain messages. I personally find it useful to
include the relevant part(s) of the message I'm replying to, but
PLEASE use that ol' pair of scissors when replying with the original
message included. Also, since the time-frame (and potential
volume of email) can be very variable from original to reply, it does
help to follow the thread if the relevant part is included.
Please, folks, spare a thought for those on digest!!
Tracy
digests for this group in my inbox. Now, while I'm glad to see that
this list is 'thriving,' (now where did I put that 'the life-cycle of an e-
list' message???) I just want to point out that for anyone on digest
it's a HUGE PITA to have posts repeated in folks replies. I
particularly got bored of seeing the unschooling-dotcom egroup sig
file up to 5 times on certain messages. I personally find it useful to
include the relevant part(s) of the message I'm replying to, but
PLEASE use that ol' pair of scissors when replying with the original
message included. Also, since the time-frame (and potential
volume of email) can be very variable from original to reply, it does
help to follow the thread if the relevant part is included.
Please, folks, spare a thought for those on digest!!
Tracy
[email protected]
I finally - after 4 months - got a used computer - Dell 266. I bought
my two sons Oregon Trail and they have been playing it for two days
straight. My 14 year old son has dyslexia and wasn't reading much -
tired of being forced to read meaningless words, etc. at public school.
I was concerned that he would get bored or frustrated quickly because
the game has a lot of reading to it. He really loves it. I am happy for
him. I have been watching the two boys as their interest and surprise
grows that they can go about their learning naturally. My 14 year old
has yelled at me a couple of times saying, "You're the teacher tell me
what to do!" He is "in transition":) as I am. Michele
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
my two sons Oregon Trail and they have been playing it for two days
straight. My 14 year old son has dyslexia and wasn't reading much -
tired of being forced to read meaningless words, etc. at public school.
I was concerned that he would get bored or frustrated quickly because
the game has a lot of reading to it. He really loves it. I am happy for
him. I have been watching the two boys as their interest and surprise
grows that they can go about their learning naturally. My 14 year old
has yelled at me a couple of times saying, "You're the teacher tell me
what to do!" He is "in transition":) as I am. Michele
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
I think marijuana should be made legal for pain relief. I recall my
greatgrandmother purchasing some green powder from the local drugstore
back in the 60's and burning it. She was dying of pnemonia at the time,
I believe. I am not sure but I think it was pot or something of that
nature.
I have 6 kids and the older ones have all tried marijuana, alcohol and
cigerettes. My husband and I have tried it all too when we were teens.
What I try to get across to my kids is that it isn't only the drugs,
alcohol, etc. it is the people that come with these experiences. The
fist fights, the sex for drugs that ends up in an unwanted pregnancy,
the diseases, the guilt, shame, anger, defeat, etc. The negativity.
People who feel worthy, loved, care-free, fulfilled usually are able to
let go of the idea quicker that some outside "thing" will MAKE them
happy, friends, quick money, etc. We live in a small town - about 10,000
- in rural Vermont. Almost every teen male we know sells drugs to make
easy money. Last week one of the teens that came to live with us
(daughters friend since childhood) from Florida got drunk and fell/was
thrown off a deck and broke her wrist so badly that she has 4-5 screws
in it and a cast up to her shoulder. The other teen who came to live
with us who really likes drugs and alcohol but was not using went home
to visit her parents and slit her wrist, needing 4-5 stitches. Her
adoptive mother keeps telling her she is unwanted, besides other issues.
Our family is in an unheavel at this time. My oldest daughter thinks we
are all nuts and doesn't want to talk to any of us. I called my oldest
son to talk to him. He lives with his girlfriend and her alcoholic
father. The father answered the phone by saying "everyone is dead." I
hung up because if I didn't I would have told him what I thought of him
and I didn't want to cause my son any grief. That son smoked 4 joints a
few years ago with a few friends and it triggered a psychotic break
down. He hasn't been the same since. I mean that. He is a wonderful,
sensitive, caring young man who has been deeply injured. He works at a
liquor store and sees a great majority of adults from our town buying
liquor Monday - Sunday. Some buy it in the little bottles so they can
sneak it to work, while driving, etc. They say it is their "happy
juice." This is their life. Day in and day out. Trying to hide and
self-medicate. It is supposed to be a secret. Yet, the secret is out. We
all have choices to make no matter what happens to us or doesn't happen
for us in life. Looking back I did the best I knew how. I do the best I
can at this time, too. What I see for the kids who are using is that
there is a lack of communication, forgiveness, unconditional love,
talking, action, etc. in their lives with their parents. It is difficult
and painful at times to come face to face with our own shortcomings, our
own embarrassments, our shame, guilt, etc. When we have teens/kids they
have a way of triggering things in us. They push our buttons, push us to
the edge, push us away (and still have a need for us), etc. My kids know
I used and what experiences I had. They know some of my friends are dead
because they stayed on the negative path. Even with telling my kids and
other teens this, they will still make their own decisions. We can guide
and share - we do not own anyone. Today I may be saying goodbye to a
daughter. This is normal. It has been this way generation after
generation. Kids grow up and seperate from us. I am letting go. It hurts
and there is joy. I know I gave her all I had to give. It is up to her
now. Michele
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
greatgrandmother purchasing some green powder from the local drugstore
back in the 60's and burning it. She was dying of pnemonia at the time,
I believe. I am not sure but I think it was pot or something of that
nature.
I have 6 kids and the older ones have all tried marijuana, alcohol and
cigerettes. My husband and I have tried it all too when we were teens.
What I try to get across to my kids is that it isn't only the drugs,
alcohol, etc. it is the people that come with these experiences. The
fist fights, the sex for drugs that ends up in an unwanted pregnancy,
the diseases, the guilt, shame, anger, defeat, etc. The negativity.
People who feel worthy, loved, care-free, fulfilled usually are able to
let go of the idea quicker that some outside "thing" will MAKE them
happy, friends, quick money, etc. We live in a small town - about 10,000
- in rural Vermont. Almost every teen male we know sells drugs to make
easy money. Last week one of the teens that came to live with us
(daughters friend since childhood) from Florida got drunk and fell/was
thrown off a deck and broke her wrist so badly that she has 4-5 screws
in it and a cast up to her shoulder. The other teen who came to live
with us who really likes drugs and alcohol but was not using went home
to visit her parents and slit her wrist, needing 4-5 stitches. Her
adoptive mother keeps telling her she is unwanted, besides other issues.
Our family is in an unheavel at this time. My oldest daughter thinks we
are all nuts and doesn't want to talk to any of us. I called my oldest
son to talk to him. He lives with his girlfriend and her alcoholic
father. The father answered the phone by saying "everyone is dead." I
hung up because if I didn't I would have told him what I thought of him
and I didn't want to cause my son any grief. That son smoked 4 joints a
few years ago with a few friends and it triggered a psychotic break
down. He hasn't been the same since. I mean that. He is a wonderful,
sensitive, caring young man who has been deeply injured. He works at a
liquor store and sees a great majority of adults from our town buying
liquor Monday - Sunday. Some buy it in the little bottles so they can
sneak it to work, while driving, etc. They say it is their "happy
juice." This is their life. Day in and day out. Trying to hide and
self-medicate. It is supposed to be a secret. Yet, the secret is out. We
all have choices to make no matter what happens to us or doesn't happen
for us in life. Looking back I did the best I knew how. I do the best I
can at this time, too. What I see for the kids who are using is that
there is a lack of communication, forgiveness, unconditional love,
talking, action, etc. in their lives with their parents. It is difficult
and painful at times to come face to face with our own shortcomings, our
own embarrassments, our shame, guilt, etc. When we have teens/kids they
have a way of triggering things in us. They push our buttons, push us to
the edge, push us away (and still have a need for us), etc. My kids know
I used and what experiences I had. They know some of my friends are dead
because they stayed on the negative path. Even with telling my kids and
other teens this, they will still make their own decisions. We can guide
and share - we do not own anyone. Today I may be saying goodbye to a
daughter. This is normal. It has been this way generation after
generation. Kids grow up and seperate from us. I am letting go. It hurts
and there is joy. I know I gave her all I had to give. It is up to her
now. Michele
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
jmcseals SEALS
That's wonderful, Michele! What a great story! :)
Jennifer
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Jennifer
_________________________________________________________________
MSN 8 with e-mail virus protection service: 2 months FREE*
http://join.msn.com/?page=features/virus
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]