an introduction
pookaberry
Well I thought I'd introduce myself. I subscribed to this group a few
days ago and have been following the conversations with interest. A
little about my self...
My name is Arlene but I usually go by Mara (or Mara Arlene). I'm about
to turn 23 (tomorrow) and have two children, Cleopatra who is almost
three and Thony (Anthony) who is three months old. I've always felt
that education was a personal endeavor. Personally I went to about 12
different schools while I was young (public, and various private schools
ranging from Montessori to fancier versions of public schools to non
denominational christian schools) I went to about a year and a half of
college and got my GED when I was 19/20. I consider myself to be an
unschooling college student. (I actually would like to become a
certified teacher so in a few months I'm thinking of taking
correspondence classes to get started)
I hope everyone will forgive me for merging topics but I've been sick
this week and while I've got a few thoughts on some of the current
conversations I haven't had the energy to reply to them individually.
on co-sleeping and bedtimes
My parents didn't really co sleep with me, I knew I had the option to
climb into bed with them if I wanted to but I usually didn't. After my
father died when I was twelve I found it was more comforting to sleep
with my mom (for her as well). While I always had my own room and bed I
usually spent half the week sleeping with my mom (until I was 17 when I
decided I wanted to spend most of my nights awake)
I have never given Cleo a bedtime, I found the few times she went to
bed around 7 she would wake up at four and then try to get me to wake up
too. At the moment she usually goes to bed around 10 and even then she
wakes up around 6 or 7 in the morning (which isn't too bad).
husbands that aren't very supportive of unschooling
My situation is a little different and because Cleo isn't "school age"
yet I haven't had to worry too much. The times I've tried to talk to my
husband about "homeschooling" we have just ended up arguing. He was
homeschooled for a couple years and didn't like it, he thinks I don't
have the right educational background, that she wouldn't get enough
socialization, that it would "harm" her in some way. (most of the usual
arguments against homeschooling. Then last night I asked him what he
thought of unschooling. He asked me what it was because he hadn't heard
of it. I don't remember my exact words but I basically told him that it
was the belief that everyone is learning at all times and to allow a
child to study the subjects that they are interested in at the time.
His response? "Oh, you mean the way I educated myself!" He then told
me to "go for it" and see how it works. (I should have just told him
about unschooling to start with and dispensed with the arguments) Cleo
on the other hand is all for going to school (she wants to ride the
yellow school bus that goes by our house every day) She is also the
type of child that needs lots of interaction every day so I've been
thinking of finding a small loosely structured Montessori preschool so
she could go and play for a while every day. I have a little while to
decide though because she isn't potty trained yet (and shows no interest
in becoming so)
-sorry for any rambling
Mara Arlene
http://members.nettrash.com/blackthorn
days ago and have been following the conversations with interest. A
little about my self...
My name is Arlene but I usually go by Mara (or Mara Arlene). I'm about
to turn 23 (tomorrow) and have two children, Cleopatra who is almost
three and Thony (Anthony) who is three months old. I've always felt
that education was a personal endeavor. Personally I went to about 12
different schools while I was young (public, and various private schools
ranging from Montessori to fancier versions of public schools to non
denominational christian schools) I went to about a year and a half of
college and got my GED when I was 19/20. I consider myself to be an
unschooling college student. (I actually would like to become a
certified teacher so in a few months I'm thinking of taking
correspondence classes to get started)
I hope everyone will forgive me for merging topics but I've been sick
this week and while I've got a few thoughts on some of the current
conversations I haven't had the energy to reply to them individually.
on co-sleeping and bedtimes
My parents didn't really co sleep with me, I knew I had the option to
climb into bed with them if I wanted to but I usually didn't. After my
father died when I was twelve I found it was more comforting to sleep
with my mom (for her as well). While I always had my own room and bed I
usually spent half the week sleeping with my mom (until I was 17 when I
decided I wanted to spend most of my nights awake)
I have never given Cleo a bedtime, I found the few times she went to
bed around 7 she would wake up at four and then try to get me to wake up
too. At the moment she usually goes to bed around 10 and even then she
wakes up around 6 or 7 in the morning (which isn't too bad).
husbands that aren't very supportive of unschooling
My situation is a little different and because Cleo isn't "school age"
yet I haven't had to worry too much. The times I've tried to talk to my
husband about "homeschooling" we have just ended up arguing. He was
homeschooled for a couple years and didn't like it, he thinks I don't
have the right educational background, that she wouldn't get enough
socialization, that it would "harm" her in some way. (most of the usual
arguments against homeschooling. Then last night I asked him what he
thought of unschooling. He asked me what it was because he hadn't heard
of it. I don't remember my exact words but I basically told him that it
was the belief that everyone is learning at all times and to allow a
child to study the subjects that they are interested in at the time.
His response? "Oh, you mean the way I educated myself!" He then told
me to "go for it" and see how it works. (I should have just told him
about unschooling to start with and dispensed with the arguments) Cleo
on the other hand is all for going to school (she wants to ride the
yellow school bus that goes by our house every day) She is also the
type of child that needs lots of interaction every day so I've been
thinking of finding a small loosely structured Montessori preschool so
she could go and play for a while every day. I have a little while to
decide though because she isn't potty trained yet (and shows no interest
in becoming so)
-sorry for any rambling
Mara Arlene
http://members.nettrash.com/blackthorn
Cory and Amy Nelson
Welcome, Mara, and happy birthday! What a great conversation with your
husband about unschooling. I'm sure he'll be extremely supportive.
I'm Amy, SAHM to 19-month-old Accalia.
Amy
Mama to Accalia (6/14/99)
"The hardest to learn was the least complicated" -Indigo Girls
husband about unschooling. I'm sure he'll be extremely supportive.
I'm Amy, SAHM to 19-month-old Accalia.
Amy
Mama to Accalia (6/14/99)
"The hardest to learn was the least complicated" -Indigo Girls