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Hello, all:

I am new to this list. I am a sahm/wahm from Michigan (Detroit area)
and I just took my girls out of public school in January. My daughters
are almost 12 years old (12 in April) and almost 9 years old (9
in May). I also have an almost 7 week old son.

I noticed, after reading some of the postings, that some of you have
daughters who are my kid's ages. Would any of your girls want to
become e-mail pals with my girls? They have been asking me every day
about finding some pen pals who also home school.

I fell into this unschooling thing --- I was pregnant, miserable and
tired, so they pretty much guided themselves to what they wanted to
learn when I first took them out of public school in January. Then,
when my son was born, well ... you all know what it's like having a
newborn --- so they kept pursuing their own interests because of the
demands of the baby.

This unschooling thing seems very natural --- just like it felt when
they were very small and I taught them throughout the day --- or they
investigated the world around them on their own. However, on the other
hand, I feel like I should be giving them more structure and so do
they --- they want worksheets and assignments. I bought some worksheet
books and they use them occasionally. But mostly they love to play
Barbie's, make doll clothes, draw, write, read, do computer games or
play with Lego's. Hmmm. I'm just new to this and trying to adjust ...

Any advice? I'm thinking I'm doing okay and should just keep doing
what I'm doing, but then the guilt sets in.

Thanks,
Nancy from Michigan

Kerry Kibort

Hello and welcome~! The only advice I can really offer
is to relax and never stop questioning. The more you
doubt, the more you'll prove to yourself that your
doing whats right. If you're doing whats right. Relax
and let the girls be kids and have a fun time. Making
doll cloths is an excellent skill builder. And its
fun, isnt that enough when your a kid?
Babbling a bit today,
KErry