Unschooling Changes Lots of Things....
Tea Lover Denise
Welcome, Joyce!
Your story is interesting. Did your homeschooling decision precipitate
your husband's midlife career change and your "former life?"
In my case ~ and I understand that this is not at all unusual ~ once we
made the decision to homeschool/unschool, it seemed to give me, the
"adult," the courage to change some things in *my* life, as well. For
one, I quit my job to be a stay-at-home wife/mom/grandmother; and I've
noticed that my thinking on some other issues (spiritual, mostly) have
become much more ... shall I say ... "radical" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think it boils down to the fact that I now unschool myself, as well.
Denise in South Carolina
<A little birdie (hi Linda!) told me the list had calmed down and was no
longer a danger to my poor overstuffed mail box :-) > Here's my intro:
I stumbled across unschooling in AOL's homeschooling forum about 5 years
ago and my almost 8 yo daughter Kathryn has been benefiting ever since.
We live not far from Boston. I was a software engineer/technical writer
in my former life and now I spend a lot of time playing on the computer.
My husband decided to make a midlife career change and is going back to
school for Athletic Administration. And my daughter is busy exploring
Nickelodeon after mining Cartoon Network for a couple of months, in
between drawing, writing, playing, talking and generally being a kid.
Joyce>
Your story is interesting. Did your homeschooling decision precipitate
your husband's midlife career change and your "former life?"
In my case ~ and I understand that this is not at all unusual ~ once we
made the decision to homeschool/unschool, it seemed to give me, the
"adult," the courage to change some things in *my* life, as well. For
one, I quit my job to be a stay-at-home wife/mom/grandmother; and I've
noticed that my thinking on some other issues (spiritual, mostly) have
become much more ... shall I say ... "radical" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think it boils down to the fact that I now unschool myself, as well.
Denise in South Carolina
<A little birdie (hi Linda!) told me the list had calmed down and was no
longer a danger to my poor overstuffed mail box :-) > Here's my intro:
I stumbled across unschooling in AOL's homeschooling forum about 5 years
ago and my almost 8 yo daughter Kathryn has been benefiting ever since.
We live not far from Boston. I was a software engineer/technical writer
in my former life and now I spend a lot of time playing on the computer.
My husband decided to make a midlife career change and is going back to
school for Athletic Administration. And my daughter is busy exploring
Nickelodeon after mining Cartoon Network for a couple of months, in
between drawing, writing, playing, talking and generally being a kid.
Joyce>
[email protected]
Thank you for the welcome :-)
In a message dated 6/27/99 5:22:57 PM, jalecroy@... writes:
<<Your story is interesting. Did your homeschooling decision precipitate
your husband's midlife career change and your "former life?">>
No, I'd say they were all pretty independent choices.
<<I've noticed that my thinking on some other issues (spiritual, mostly) have
become much more ... shall I say ... "radical" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! >>
But this is definitely true. :-) Actually it's been participating on
homeschooling message boards that has forced me to think coherently about
what I believe in so that I can explain it to others. It's made me realize
there was a radical beneath my fuddy-duddy mainstreamness.
Friends of ours bought a home in a neighborhood with a covenant. That means
there's certain standards about how everyone maintains their home. They
can't park a pop-up camper in the driveway or have an above ground pool. Any
changes to the house need to be approved by the neighborhood. (He said they
always do.)
I think at one time that type of thing might have appealed to me. It would
be safe and controlled and predictable. Now, just thinking about it gives me
the willies and I'd get the urge to paint the house flaming pink. :-)
Joyce
In a message dated 6/27/99 5:22:57 PM, jalecroy@... writes:
<<Your story is interesting. Did your homeschooling decision precipitate
your husband's midlife career change and your "former life?">>
No, I'd say they were all pretty independent choices.
<<I've noticed that my thinking on some other issues (spiritual, mostly) have
become much more ... shall I say ... "radical" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! >>
But this is definitely true. :-) Actually it's been participating on
homeschooling message boards that has forced me to think coherently about
what I believe in so that I can explain it to others. It's made me realize
there was a radical beneath my fuddy-duddy mainstreamness.
Friends of ours bought a home in a neighborhood with a covenant. That means
there's certain standards about how everyone maintains their home. They
can't park a pop-up camper in the driveway or have an above ground pool. Any
changes to the house need to be approved by the neighborhood. (He said they
always do.)
I think at one time that type of thing might have appealed to me. It would
be safe and controlled and predictable. Now, just thinking about it gives me
the willies and I'd get the urge to paint the house flaming pink. :-)
Joyce
[email protected]
In a message dated 6/27/99 9:44:53 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
JFetteroll@... writes:
<< I think at one time that type of thing might have appealed to me. It
would
be safe and controlled and predictable. Now, just thinking about it gives
me
the willies and I'd get the urge to paint the house flaming pink. :-)
old age.
Mary Ellen (different and proud of it :-) )
JFetteroll@... writes:
<< I think at one time that type of thing might have appealed to me. It
would
be safe and controlled and predictable. Now, just thinking about it gives
me
the willies and I'd get the urge to paint the house flaming pink. :-)
>>LOL! I agree. My dh says I am getting very opinionated and rebellious in my
old age.
Mary Ellen (different and proud of it :-) )
B & T Simpson
>means
>>
>
>>
>
>Friends of ours bought a home in a neighborhood with a covenant. That
>there's certain standards about how everyone maintains their home. TheyAny
>can't park a pop-up camper in the driveway or have an above ground pool.
>changes to the house need to be approved by the neighborhood. (He saidthey
>always do.)me
>
>I think at one time that type of thing might have appealed to me. It would
>be safe and controlled and predictable. Now, just thinking about it gives
>the willies and I'd get the urge to paint the house flaming pink. :-)>>>>pretty much does their own thing, but a family that lives on the corner
>
>Joyce, I can certainly relate to that!!! we live in a small town, everybody
behind us just think they are the best, and spend all of their time washing
the cars and mowingthe lawn in the right direction and picking just the
right (most expensive) clothing, (they live with mil so house is paid for!)
anyway, one day I had my laundry hanging on the line, and I was asked by
these people, if I was planning to leave my laundry on the line for a
week!!!
personally, I think they need to get a life!!! and that only makes me want
to hang my most personal items on the line for a MONTH!!!!!
Tanya
>
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[email protected]
In a message dated 6/27/99 2:23:05 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
jalecroy@... writes:
things I've wanted to do differently in my life for quite awhile but haven't
yet. Hence, I worry sometimes that if I unschool my children they'll develop
the same "lack-of-fulfilling-their-potential" thing that I feel I have. (Of
course, intellectually I realize that a large part of this comes from the
fact that I was forced into school rather than allowed to unschool but it's
harder to convince my heart or gut of something than my head sometimes. ;-))
But it makes sense to me that allowing that freedom for my family would
inspire changes in me. However, I imagine that the last thing most of my
friends think I should be is more radical. ;-)
Elizabeth
jalecroy@... writes:
> In my case ~ and I understand that this is not at all unusual ~ once weNow, THIS is the most encouraging thing I've read in a long time. There are
> made the decision to homeschool/unschool, it seemed to give me, the
> "adult," the courage to change some things in *my* life, as well. For
> one, I quit my job to be a stay-at-home wife/mom/grandmother; and I've
> noticed that my thinking on some other issues (spiritual, mostly) have
> become much more ... shall I say ... "radical" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
things I've wanted to do differently in my life for quite awhile but haven't
yet. Hence, I worry sometimes that if I unschool my children they'll develop
the same "lack-of-fulfilling-their-potential" thing that I feel I have. (Of
course, intellectually I realize that a large part of this comes from the
fact that I was forced into school rather than allowed to unschool but it's
harder to convince my heart or gut of something than my head sometimes. ;-))
But it makes sense to me that allowing that freedom for my family would
inspire changes in me. However, I imagine that the last thing most of my
friends think I should be is more radical. ;-)
Elizabeth
[email protected]
In a message dated 6/28/1999 10:23:13 AM EST, Evalsquid@... writes:
will ultimately be for our own good, the process is difficult!
That's why I love forums such as this. I can give and receive encouragement
for those days I need it! Thanks guys.
Eiraul
>haven't
> Now, THIS is the most encouraging thing I've read in a long time. There
> are
> things I've wanted to do differently in my life for quite awhile but
>(Of
> yet. Hence, I worry sometimes that if I unschool my children they'll
> develop
> the same "lack-of-fulfilling-their-potential" thing that I feel I have.
> course, intellectually I realize that a large part of this comes from theit's
> fact that I was forced into school rather than allowed to unschool but
> harder to convince my heart or gut of something than my head sometimes.;-))
>Making changes is always hard. No matter how much evidence there is that it
> But it makes sense to me that allowing that freedom for my family would
> inspire changes in me. However, I imagine that the last thing most of my
> friends think I should be is more radical. ;-)
>
> Elizabeth
will ultimately be for our own good, the process is difficult!
That's why I love forums such as this. I can give and receive encouragement
for those days I need it! Thanks guys.
Eiraul
[email protected]
I have a friend who teaches history at a Canadian university. He has one
son who, at the age of 12, quit liking school, and the rest is homeschooling
history.
Well, in the course of telling him what I knew and believed about
homeschooling, he became sold on unschooling. After the semester got going
again he wrote and said, "You know you've ruined me. I can't teach the same
way I did before."
I asked him to clarify and he said that he tells students that unless they
actually have an interest and a desire to be in the class that they should
drop out, and he talks about learning as opposed to teaching.
I've thought a time or two of going back to teach writing in the public
schools, but I think I'm ruined too.
Sandra
son who, at the age of 12, quit liking school, and the rest is homeschooling
history.
Well, in the course of telling him what I knew and believed about
homeschooling, he became sold on unschooling. After the semester got going
again he wrote and said, "You know you've ruined me. I can't teach the same
way I did before."
I asked him to clarify and he said that he tells students that unless they
actually have an interest and a desire to be in the class that they should
drop out, and he talks about learning as opposed to teaching.
I've thought a time or two of going back to teach writing in the public
schools, but I think I'm ruined too.
Sandra
Diana Asberry
---Original Message Follows----
From: "B & T Simpson" <michigan@...>
me>the willies and I'd get the urge to paint the house flaming pink.
:-)>>>>
pretty much does their own thing, but a family that lives on the corner
behind us just think they are the best, and spend all of their time anyway,
one day I had my laundry hanging on the line, and I was asked by
these people, if I was planning to leave my laundry on the line for a
week!!!
personally, I think they need to get a life!!! and that only makes me want
to hang my most personal items on the line for a MONTH!!!!!
Tanya
OOh Ya, Tanya! LOL ...add some extras too, like hanging notecards out on the
line that say, "if you can read this, your nose is way too close to my
business...."
I just love to push peoples hot buttons to see what rise i'll get from
them...
;~>
Diana
"the world is our classroom", mother to C-C & Libby; soon to hit the road,
again, for 16 hrs. back to NH
From: "B & T Simpson" <michigan@...>
>there's certain standards about how everyone maintains their home.it gives
me>the willies and I'd get the urge to paint the house flaming pink.
:-)>>>>
>everybody
>Joyce, I can certainly relate to that!!! we live in a small town,
pretty much does their own thing, but a family that lives on the corner
behind us just think they are the best, and spend all of their time anyway,
one day I had my laundry hanging on the line, and I was asked by
these people, if I was planning to leave my laundry on the line for a
week!!!
personally, I think they need to get a life!!! and that only makes me want
to hang my most personal items on the line for a MONTH!!!!!
Tanya
OOh Ya, Tanya! LOL ...add some extras too, like hanging notecards out on the
line that say, "if you can read this, your nose is way too close to my
business...."
I just love to push peoples hot buttons to see what rise i'll get from
them...
;~>
Diana
"the world is our classroom", mother to C-C & Libby; soon to hit the road,
again, for 16 hrs. back to NH
Debbie & Rhett Mitchell
---Original Message Follows----
From: "B & T Simpson" <<michigan@...>
<color><param>7F00,0000,0000</param>>there's certain standards about how everyone maintains their home.
</color>it gives me the willies and I'd get the urge to paint the house
flaming pink.
:-)>>>>
Guess it's time for my intro cos I've GOT to respond to this. :-D
I have the nosy neighbor from H*LL - he calls the city with
complaints WEEKLY. It's always stupid things (like calling 911
because my car - in my driveway! - was blocking the sidewalk!! - it
was only blocking part of it and it was easy to go around). One
couple bought the house on the other side of this guy and moved
out after only a month because they couldn't handle the
harrassment. (I outlived the old fart before him, I'll outlive this guy,
too. :-D ) Well, . . . . He called and complained that my
house needed to be painted. The inspector came out and ***OH
MY GOODNESS!!!*** the paint had some CRACKS in it and a
couple of spots were actually beginning to flake!! We got a notice
from the city that we couldnt' have doors and fascia on our house.
:-D (Idiots only typed half of the complaint.) So the inspector
came out, looked at the notice and said he'd have to put it back
through - it was supposed to be that I needed paint or varnish on
the doors and fasccia. Well, the fascia WAS painted and the door
WAS varnished, BUT little cracks do count for the city. :-P
Long story short, we HAD planned to paint that summer anyway,
but I have a real problem with Big Brother telling me what to do, SO
. . . . .
We waited until the day before the inspector was due back, then
painted it all PURPLE!! :-D :-D (They can tell you to paint, but
they can't tell you what COLOR to paint.)
OK - quick intro: I'm Debbie Mitchell, wife of RHett (15 1/2 years),
mom of Ariane (14 year old, about to be 15, girl) Gabrielle (11year
old girl), Nicholas (6 year old boy) and Zachary (10 month old boy),
three dogs and one cat. We're in Alabama - homeschool for nine
years. I'm President of the North Alabama Home Educators and
manage the Unschoolers' Circle and Alabama Unschoolers lists.
Nice to be here. :-D
Debbie :-D
<nofill>
dragnz@...
Family Page: http://dragnz.ourfamily.com
AU: http://AlabamaUnschoolers.freeservers.com
UC: http://UnschoolersCircle.freeservers.com
NAHE: http://NorthAlabamaHomeEducators.freeservers.com
GirlScouts: http://GirlScoutTroop1135.freeservers.com
From: "B & T Simpson" <<michigan@...>
<color><param>7F00,0000,0000</param>>there's certain standards about how everyone maintains their home.
</color>it gives me the willies and I'd get the urge to paint the house
flaming pink.
:-)>>>>
Guess it's time for my intro cos I've GOT to respond to this. :-D
I have the nosy neighbor from H*LL - he calls the city with
complaints WEEKLY. It's always stupid things (like calling 911
because my car - in my driveway! - was blocking the sidewalk!! - it
was only blocking part of it and it was easy to go around). One
couple bought the house on the other side of this guy and moved
out after only a month because they couldn't handle the
harrassment. (I outlived the old fart before him, I'll outlive this guy,
too. :-D ) Well, . . . . He called and complained that my
house needed to be painted. The inspector came out and ***OH
MY GOODNESS!!!*** the paint had some CRACKS in it and a
couple of spots were actually beginning to flake!! We got a notice
from the city that we couldnt' have doors and fascia on our house.
:-D (Idiots only typed half of the complaint.) So the inspector
came out, looked at the notice and said he'd have to put it back
through - it was supposed to be that I needed paint or varnish on
the doors and fasccia. Well, the fascia WAS painted and the door
WAS varnished, BUT little cracks do count for the city. :-P
Long story short, we HAD planned to paint that summer anyway,
but I have a real problem with Big Brother telling me what to do, SO
. . . . .
We waited until the day before the inspector was due back, then
painted it all PURPLE!! :-D :-D (They can tell you to paint, but
they can't tell you what COLOR to paint.)
OK - quick intro: I'm Debbie Mitchell, wife of RHett (15 1/2 years),
mom of Ariane (14 year old, about to be 15, girl) Gabrielle (11year
old girl), Nicholas (6 year old boy) and Zachary (10 month old boy),
three dogs and one cat. We're in Alabama - homeschool for nine
years. I'm President of the North Alabama Home Educators and
manage the Unschoolers' Circle and Alabama Unschoolers lists.
Nice to be here. :-D
Debbie :-D
<nofill>
dragnz@...
Family Page: http://dragnz.ourfamily.com
AU: http://AlabamaUnschoolers.freeservers.com
UC: http://UnschoolersCircle.freeservers.com
NAHE: http://NorthAlabamaHomeEducators.freeservers.com
GirlScouts: http://GirlScoutTroop1135.freeservers.com
B & T Simpson
<<<We waited until the day before the inspector was due back, then painted it all PURPLE!! :-D :-D (They can tell you to paint, but they can't tell you what COLOR to paint.)>>>
Debbie, I love your style!!!!!!!! you are a crack up!!!!
Tanya Ohio more power to ya!!!
Debbie, I love your style!!!!!!!! you are a crack up!!!!
Tanya Ohio more power to ya!!!
Brown
I'm stunned! Totally blown away! Here in New Zealand we are always hearing about America, Land of the Free!
Debbie & Rhett Mitchell wrote:
Carol
in New Zealand
Debbie & Rhett Mitchell wrote:
> <cut> So the inspector came out, looked at the notice and said he'd have to put it back through - it was supposed to be that I needed paint or varnish on the doors and fasccia. Well, the fascia WASYou have this very active gun lobby I gather, demanding that citizens retain the right to own guns and shoot burglars? So when are you going to start a right-to-peeling-paint lobby? This is absurd! Tell me you're joking pleeeeease.
> painted and the door WAS varnished, BUT little cracks do count for the city. :-P
> <cut>We waited until the day before the inspector was due back, then painted it all PURPLE!! :-D :-D (They can tell you to paint, but they can't tell you what COLOR to paint.)Way to go. I like your style. But please tell me you're making it all up?
Carol
in New Zealand
[email protected]
In a message dated 7/1/99 7:35:49 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
dragnz@... writes:
<< We waited until the day before the inspector was due back, then
painted it all PURPLE!! :-D :-D (They can tell you to paint, but
they can't tell you what COLOR to paint.)
us that we needed to get HER dog fixed. Excuse me? I DON'T THINK SO!
Mary Ellen.
dragnz@... writes:
<< We waited until the day before the inspector was due back, then
painted it all PURPLE!! :-D :-D (They can tell you to paint, but
they can't tell you what COLOR to paint.)
>>TOO FUNNY!! You go girl! I too, have a neighbor that I can't stand. She told
us that we needed to get HER dog fixed. Excuse me? I DON'T THINK SO!
Mary Ellen.
[email protected]
In a message dated 7/1/99 4:42:26 PM, mjcmbrwn@... writes:
<< You have this very active gun lobby I gather, demanding that citizens
retain the right to own guns and shoot burglars? So when are you going to
start a right-to-peeling-paint lobby? This is absurd! Tell me you're joking
pleeeeease. >>
As far as I know such things aren't very wide spread. On a message board we
were discussing not taking care of lawns and one person did mention her town
(or community) had an ordinance about lawn care :-P Not my cup of tea.
America's mighty big and incredibly diverse. You can find just about
anything somewhere within its borders!
Joyce
<< You have this very active gun lobby I gather, demanding that citizens
retain the right to own guns and shoot burglars? So when are you going to
start a right-to-peeling-paint lobby? This is absurd! Tell me you're joking
pleeeeease. >>
As far as I know such things aren't very wide spread. On a message board we
were discussing not taking care of lawns and one person did mention her town
(or community) had an ordinance about lawn care :-P Not my cup of tea.
America's mighty big and incredibly diverse. You can find just about
anything somewhere within its borders!
Joyce