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My name is Lhiza...I currently live in Washington state...but I am a
traveling nurse...so I travel around the US working in different
hospitals...My family is in Az and I want to go back there when my oldest is
16...I decided to travel when I realised that me and the boys could see the
united states and I can still get paid for it...so far it is turning out to
be an awesome educational experience...

For question 1.
I don't know how I am tied into every other homeschooler...except that I feel
very strongly about my beleifs that me to choose homeschooling and
subsequently unschooling. It seems that from all the strong voices I see in
these posts...everyone here on this list also feel strongly about what brings
them to thier choices. Being a single parent and having to have a full time
job...they spend enough time away from me as it is...I don't want to send
them to PS for another 8 hours. I also feel that the ps system is breaking
down...to many parents trust that system to take care of their kids and
teachers are not paid enough to go thru what they have to with on a daily
basis in ps classrooms...So I am jealous of thier time away from me, I don't
trust the environment provided in ps's, I don't trust a culture where their
role models are not adults but other kids...I don't like the whole-gotta be
popular or fit into a group mentality that ps breeds in the kids...I really
believe that their education is my responsibility...and I feel I know more
about who they are now than I did before I took them out of ps...I can go on
and on...for us we are living a wonderful adventure filled life that I don't
allow the ills of society to intrude. They will have plenty of time to deal
with those ills when they grow up...now is my time with them...

For Question 2...
90% of my discipline is what I call...on the wall...when they get out of
line...(and this is anywhere we happen to be when they get out of
line)...they have to stand on the wall...sort of like in a corner...but they
have to keep their hands raised above thier heads...sort of like time-out in
that they are only 'on the wall' for the minutes that equal their number of
years...once they have spent a minute or so on the wall...I start talking to
them about what put them on the wall...and they usually end up off the wall
as soon as they have verbalized why they ended up there and how they can stay
'off the wall'...my sister always trys to say...You have to be on the wall
for 30 minutes and she doesn't talk to them...so they end up uncomfortable
for that long and it is more like punishment...I don't put a time on it...I
depend on more if they can learn how to keep off the wall...if they need
quiet time...I give them an activity to do...if they are really grumpy and
have a hard time getting along...then we all take a break...maybe take a
nap...read a book...usually something relaxing...maybe watch some tv...if
they are rowdy...then we leave the house...they probably have cabin fever...I
have rules and expectations...they get fired if they blow off their chores
and have to earn thier allowance back...etc etc...it works for us...there is
alot of respect between the three of us...I have no problems telling them
what I need from them and they have no problems helping me out...

Question 4
We sought out 4H...and one of my best friends...Carrie...also homeschools her
three kids and was homeschooled...so she is a great support...I am hoping
that as we travel the US...we will get to meet many different hs'ers and
uns'ers...and I am working on getting involved with church...that is the
hardest cuz I am very eclectic in my spirituality...Christians only want to
know about my experience with Jesus and pagans only want to know what
magickal tradition I follow...I feel that all paths have something important
to teach and I don't want to be closed to any particular one...

I can't speak for anyone else...but my goals is to teach my kids that as a
family...we are a team...and we are connected...I hope that they will move
into adulthood with a sense that they have a responsibility to help our world
change and grow...and mostly I want us to have fun and a zest for life...it
seems that too many kids are unhappy with their lot...I hope that our family
structure keeps unhappiness at bay...

Lhiza, Scotti (10) and Kevyn (8)