Tracy-Lynn

Hello!
I just joined today and thought I would g take a sec to introduce
myself to everyone. My name and general info. are below. I am 34,
will celebrate 16 years of marriage in October to my wonderful
husband (who is a mail carrier) and unschool (have homeschooled for 6
years and am new to unschooling) our 4 fabulous sons (born 8/29/86,
1/8/88, 8/17/90 and 12/12/91). We live in NE Ohio with our male cat
(Red), 3 female Guinea Pigs (Bubbles, Buttercup & Blossom) who
joined our family yesterday (we had a male bunny named Cat and he
was too agressive for us to handle.....the family we gave him to have
other bunnies), male dog (Black Lab named Buckeye) and 2 male
Mississippi Map turtles (1 we have had for almost 6 years and the
other for a little over a year--their names are LT and DM for
Lawrence Taylor and Dan Marino). I am a "Lake Girl" (I love Lake
Erie and living within walking distance --5 blocks) and a "small town
girl" (which makes living in this tiny village of 1500 people
enjoyable).

My dh is a mail carrier and I have always been an at home mom. I am
very family oriented (of course) and am a "koolaid mom" (this is the
house all the kids congregate at).

I am an Ohio native and my dh is a New York native but my mother
(who is 53) and sisters & their families live in TX (my dad lived in
OH almost all of his life and moved to KY last August and passed
away, at age 53, last Nov.---the day after Thanksgiving) and my dh's
aunts, uncles and cousins live in NY while his brother and his wife
and daughter & her family live in CA and his son lives in HI (my dh's
parents would be 80 and 85 this year but they passed on in 11/79, his
mom and 11/81, his dad.....his parents died on 11/23 and 11/25 and my
dad died on 11/24). I have 2 younger sisters (ages 34 and 26) who
have 5 children between them (Martha, 33, has 1 son and 2
daughters.....Timothy was born in 1/87, Krysten was born in 12/88
and Bailey was born TODAY around noon TX time--weighing in at 8#3oz.
and measuring 21 in. long--I am a very happy aunt today!!!!) & Lynda
has 2 sons--Forrest born 3/94 and Perrin born 12/12/00--my 9yo's
bday) & Gary has 2 older brothers (his oldest brother is 55 and other
brother would have been 45 this year) who have 3 children between
them (Bob has 1 daughter, Tina, who will be 33 this year and 1 son,
Brian, who is 27 & Alan's son, Michael, is 17) and Tina has 2
children (Antony, not Anthony, is 12 and Marley was born 12/22/00).
We don't see our families often but we speak to them often and
email/IM them often. Gary & I are the only ones in our families to
homeschool our children but thankfully everyone accepts our choice.

I enjoy reading, taking long walks, listening to music/going to
concerts (I am 80's rocker type....LOL), cooking/baking, being with
my family, travelling (on a shoestring) and more that I can't think
of.

Anyway....that's me in a nut shell....sorry for rambling.

I am looking forward to getting to know everyone and sharing
info... :-)
Tracy-Lynn

Wife to Gary for 15 1/2 years
Unschooling Mom to 4 sweet boys:
Crisstoffer ~14 1/2, Andru ~13,Wylliam~10 1/2 & Danyel ~9

[email protected]

Welcome. How have you evolved towards unschooling? Just curious. I did my
intro awhile back. My three boys are coming up on their third birthday
(triplets) and I'm preparing to unschool. Today was gorgeous in NJ and they
spent hours turning over rocks in the back yard to see ants, termites (yuck),
lots of worms, rolly pollies, etc. I started cleaning up the yard and tieing
the raspberry canes on to the latticework, giving thanks the whole while that
I could do anything independently while they are awake. It has been a long
three years of focusing exclusively on them during their waking hours. Two
helped me tie up the canes by holding the ties and handing them up when I
asked. It is wondrous to get help from someone less than 3 years old!

Tracy Oldfield

Welcome. How have you evolved towards unschooling?
Just curious. I did my 
intro awhile back. My three boys are coming up on
their third birthday 
(triplets) and I'm preparing to unschool. Today was
gorgeous in NJ and they 
spent hours turning over rocks in the back yard to see
ants, termites (yuck), 
lots of worms, rolly pollies, etc. I started cleaning
up the yard and tieing 
the raspberry canes on to the latticework, giving
thanks the whole while that 
I could do anything independently while they are
awake. It has been a long 
three years of focusing exclusively on them during
their waking hours. Two 
helped me tie up the canes by holding the ties and
handing them up when I 
asked. It is wondrous to get help from someone less
than 3 years old!

Just a quick comment, you aren't preparing to unschool, dear,
you're already doing it! And a darned good job, too, by the sounds
of it...

Keep on keeping on
Tracy

[email protected]

Thank you for your support.  There are many reasons we decided to homeschool
our 12 year old daughter.  I've had a vague interest  in homeschooling since
she started.  the 1st incident that cause me to give more serious attention
to homeschooling was when her 1st grade teacher had her stand in the hall,
all day, because she hadn't finished a homework assignment (that night we
were at the hospital with my dad till after midnight and the school was aware
of this) from then till now the system has shown little interest or
compassion in her educational growth.  she always complained about being
bored but wasn't interested in homeschooling
this year there have been 3 police investigations due to Internet threats
posted on the school website all resulted in arrests, the girls had to go to
the restroom on the 1st floor across from the office because of the continued
pot-smoking in the others, there was a gun taken out of the backpack of a
child in my daughters class, my daughter has endure sexual harassment (boys
grabbing her chest, slapping her rear, being called whore and MUCH worse)
being called  crack head, pothead, dope addict. (bear in mind we live in a
middle-class rural community of 23,000. the essence of Hometown America)  
every Sunday since November she'd fall into a depression that i could not  
help her out of, crying and worrying, the pain she was in was unbearable to
watch.  
then one day she told me she was fully committed to learning at home and the
next day i withdrew her from school.  and that is my too lengthy introduction
 but i must say, she's a much happier child today smiling, energetic, joking  
(that is the big thing, her sense of humor is back) she is sleeping according
to her own schedule and hasn't had a headache since we withdrew her
again, thank you for you support and advice. we will continue to learn and
grow with all of you
jeannie

Demetria

Message
Yeah for you!!! You took your precious child out of an aweful situation. I admire that act.
My best goes out to you. Good luck, we are here for you.
Demetria
 
 

~New expanded website and product lines~
Goddess Garden
http://www.demetria.com
Heart of Herbs Holistic Herbal Education
http://www.heartofherbs.com
Where Herbs are our Heartsong
 

-----Original Message-----
From: Jclamdown@... [mailto:Jclamdown@...]
Sent: Monday, April 16, 2001 9:07 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] New here.......

Thank you for your support.  There are many reasons we decided to homeschool
our 12 year old daughter.  I've had a vague interest  in homeschooling since
she started.  the 1st incident that cause me to give more serious attention
to homeschooling was when her 1st grade teacher had her stand in the hall,
all day, because she hadn't finished a homework assignment (that night we
were at the hospital with my dad till after midnight and the school was aware
of this) from then till now the system has shown little interest or
compassion in her educational growth.  she always complained about being
bored but wasn't interested in homeschooling
this year there have been 3 police investigations due to Internet threats
posted on the school website all resulted in arrests, the girls had to go to
the restroom on the 1st floor across from the office because of the continued
pot-smoking in the others, there was a gun taken out of the backpack of a
child in my daughters class, my daughter has endure sexual harassment (boys
grabbing her chest, slapping her rear, being called whore and MUCH worse)
being called  crack head, pothead, dope addict. (bear in mind we live in a
middle-class rural community of 23,000. the essence of Hometown America)  
every Sunday since November she'd fall into a depression that i could not  
help her out of, crying and worrying, the pain she was in was unbearable to
watch.  
then one day she told me she was fully committed to learning at home and the
next day i withdrew her from school.  and that is my too lengthy introduction
 but i must say, she's a much happier child today smiling, energetic, joking  
(that is the big thing, her sense of humor is back) she is sleeping according
to her own schedule and hasn't had a headache since we withdrew her
again, thank you for you support and advice. we will continue to learn and
grow with all of you
jeannie


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Nanci and Thomas Kuykendall

I was stunned and horrified to read what your daughter has gone through. But then, maybe that is because it is an all to common story. Or, more likely, it is because it is exactly what I went through in public school in the inner city.

The drugs, violence, sexual harassment, getting beat up, self esteem destroying belittlement and punishments, being forgotten and ignored, being bored, struggling to survive, and wallowing in deep depression with no hope in sight, these were my childhood realities too. When I was younger (6-9) I used to hide under my bed, and in the attic of our garage (which used to be a carriage house) to avoid going to school. I began cutting school when I was your daughter's age.

When I was 14 I took MYSELF out of school and entered an independent study HS, which made a world of difference, and my studies excelled. But I had to go all the way to the county seat of the school board and threaten to drop out. I fought with my parents, the school, everyone, but I got out. My mother told all her friends at her social club that THEY (my parents) had put me in a "special" school for kids with "problems".

How fortunate your daughter is to have a mother who cares, and who is willing to think outside the box to find a sane, happy learning environment for her.

Nanci K.

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Nancy from MI

Welcome, Jeannie!

I have a 12-year-old daughter that I took out of middle school in
January. She is so much happier -- smiling more and just generally in
a great mood. She was bored in school as well as sick and tired of
hearing every swear word in the book as she passed between classes.
I've also noticed a postive change in her maturity level. And even
though she is acting more mature, she has taken a renewed interest in
her Barbie stuff. It's okay for her to play here. It's okay for her to
still be a kid in our home. She did not feel comfortable at middle
school, where all the kids are trying to "fit in" and grow up too
fast. She loves being a kid and is trying to hang onto that as long as
possible. (If she's lucky, and I've done my job right, perhaps, in her
heart, she will ALWAYS be a kid).

If your daughter is interested in being a e-pen pal with my daughter,
send me an e-mail off list.

~Nancy





--- In Unschooling-dotcom@y..., Jclamdown@a... wrote:
> Thank you for your support. There are many reasons we decided to
homeschool
> our 12 year old daughter. I've had a vague interest in
homeschooling since
> she started. the 1st incident that cause me to give more serious
attention
> to homeschooling was when her 1st grade teacher had her stand in the
hall,
> all day, because she hadn't finished a homework assignment (that
night we
> were at the hospital with my dad till after midnight and the school
was aware
> of this) from then till now the system has shown little interest or
> compassion in her educational growth. she always complained about
being
> bored but wasn't interested in homeschooling
> this year there have been 3 police investigations due to Internet
threats
> posted on the school website all resulted in arrests, the girls had
to go to
> the restroom on the 1st floor across from the office because of the
continued
> pot-smoking in the others, there was a gun taken out of the backpack
of a
> child in my daughters class, my daughter has endure sexual
harassment (boys
> grabbing her chest, slapping her rear, being called whore and MUCH
worse)
> being called crack head, pothead, dope addict. (bear in mind we
live in a
> middle-class rural community of 23,000. the essence of Hometown
America)
> every Sunday since November she'd fall into a depression that i
could not
> help her out of, crying and worrying, the pain she was in was
unbearable to
> watch.
> then one day she told me she was fully committed to learning at home
and the
> next day i withdrew her from school. and that is my too lengthy
introduction
> but i must say, she's a much happier child today smiling,
energetic, joking
> (that is the big thing, her sense of humor is back) she is sleeping
according
> to her own schedule and hasn't had a headache since we withdrew her
> again, thank you for you support and advice. we will continue to
learn and
> grow with all of you
> jeannie

Valerie Stewart

then one day she told me she was fully committed to learning at home and the
next day i withdrew her from school.  and that is my too lengthy introduction
 but i must say, she's a much happier child today smiling, energetic, joking  
(that is the big thing, her sense of humor is back) she is sleeping according
to her own schedule and hasn't had a headache since we withdrew her
again, thank you for you support and advice. we will continue to learn and
grow with all of you
jeannie
 
 
***Jeannie, welcome. You did the best possible thing for your daughter by taking her out of that hellish environment. My eldest daughter is 11-1/2 (never been to school) and I cringe at what she would go through if she were in ps. 
 
Valerie in Tacoma 

Juli

You sound like a wonderfully supportive mother, and I
think your daughter is lucky to have you! :) And she's
going to be so relieved to be out of that environment.
We have a middle school on our street, and at lunch
time and after school, my kids see so much going on
that makes them say they NEVER want to go to
school.Juli

--- Jclamdown@... wrote:
> Thank you for your support. There are many reasons
> we decided to homeschool
> our 12 year old daughter. I've had a vague interest
> in homeschooling since
> she started. the 1st incident that cause me to give
> more serious attention
> to homeschooling was when her 1st grade teacher had
> her stand in the hall,
> all day, because she hadn't finished a homework
> assignment (that night we
> were at the hospital with my dad till after midnight
> and the school was aware
> of this) from then till now the system has shown
> little interest or
> compassion in her educational growth. she always
> complained about being
> bored but wasn't interested in homeschooling
> this year there have been 3 police investigations
> due to Internet threats
> posted on the school website all resulted in
> arrests, the girls had to go to
> the restroom on the 1st floor across from the office
> because of the continued
> pot-smoking in the others, there was a gun taken out
> of the backpack of a
> child in my daughters class, my daughter has endure
> sexual harassment (boys
> grabbing her chest, slapping her rear, being called
> whore and MUCH worse)
> being called crack head, pothead, dope addict.
> (bear in mind we live in a
> middle-class rural community of 23,000. the essence
> of Hometown America)
> every Sunday since November she'd fall into a
> depression that i could not
> help her out of, crying and worrying, the pain she
> was in was unbearable to
> watch.
> then one day she told me she was fully committed to
> learning at home and the
> next day i withdrew her from school. and that is my
> too lengthy introduction
> but i must say, she's a much happier child today
> smiling, energetic, joking
> (that is the big thing, her sense of humor is back)
> she is sleeping according
> to her own schedule and hasn't had a headache since
> we withdrew her
> again, thank you for you support and advice. we will
> continue to learn and
> grow with all of you
> jeannie
>


=====
How is it that little children are so intelligent and men so stupid? It must be education that does it.--Alexandre Dumas

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scrunchy

Hi Jeannie,

You did the right thing by pulling her out of school. I am glad that she
is smiling again. I am also glad you found this group. It is a great
place to learn ,grow and recieve lots of support. .
Norma

Johanna

jeannie,
Sounds like your sweet daughter could use some down time to recover from all that chaos and confusion. It must tear your heart to see her get so depressed. I bet she will blossom at home, where she is loved and cherished and not a "product of the state".
 
Johanna
 
"Our hunger to be bigger than we are could be just delusions of grandeur or it could be the very voice of God inside calling us to a larger inheritance, to a bigger stake in reality, to a truer sense of our identity as the sons and daughters of God." Bruce Larson
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Monday, April 16, 2001 8:06 AM
Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] New here.......

Thank you for your support.  There are many reasons we decided to homeschool
our 12 year old daughter.  I've had a vague interest  in homeschooling since
she started.  the 1st incident that cause me to give more serious attention
to homeschooling was when her 1st grade teacher had her stand in the hall,
all day, because she hadn't finished a homework assignment (that night we
were at the hospital with my dad till after midnight and the school was aware
of this) from then till now the system has shown little interest or
compassion in her educational growth.  she always complained about being
bored but wasn't interested in homeschooling
this year there have been 3 police investigations due to Internet threats
posted on the school website all resulted in arrests, the girls had to go to
the restroom on the 1st floor across from the office because of the continued
pot-smoking in the others, there was a gun taken out of the backpack of a
child in my daughters class, my daughter has endure sexual harassment (boys
grabbing her chest, slapping her rear, being called whore and MUCH worse)
being called  crack head, pothead, dope addict. (bear in mind we live in a
middle-class rural community of 23,000. the essence of Hometown America)  
every Sunday since November she'd fall into a depression that i could not  
help her out of, crying and worrying, the pain she was in was unbearable to
watch.  
then one day she told me she was fully committed to learning at home and the
next day i withdrew her from school.  and that is my too lengthy introduction
 but i must say, she's a much happier child today smiling, energetic, joking  
(that is the big thing, her sense of humor is back) she is sleeping according
to her own schedule and hasn't had a headache since we withdrew her
again, thank you for you support and advice. we will continue to learn and
grow with all of you
jeannie


Message boards, timely articles, a free newsletter and more!
Check it all out at: http://www.unschooling.com

To unsubscribe, set preferences, or read archives:
http://www.egroups.com/group/Unschooling-dotcom

Another great list sponsored by Home Education Magazine!
http://www.home-ed-magazine.com



Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.