Pam Hartley

>The child is a t.v. addict and I have completely laid off when it comes to
>these things feeling that soon or later she will get bored and find something
>to do. NOT. I swear sometimes I can see the brain cells floating off towards
>the set. (that was supposed to be a joke)
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Maybe the brain cells are floating off toward the set. If so, it's what she
needs right now.

Choices. If she has choices, she can pick and choose what is best for her.
If she really has the OPTIONS of watching television, reading or being read
to, swimming or taking a walk, doing a craft or meeting a homeschooled
friend later, making a cake or building Legos, she'll make the RIGHT CHOICES
for her and for that moment.

If she has nothing on offer but TV, then that's what to worry about.

And if she has only been watching TV 23 hours a day since February, my dear,
you haven't even really STARTED a TV Marathon yet! :) And, she can sense
your disapproval even if you don't voice it. Please, strive to truly accept
her choices, not just clam up and bolt from the room. Anything less and
you're pushing her away.
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>Every one I know is giving me a hard time about , Im not tough enough on her
>she has no structure.
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You need to politely tell everyone else to hush up.

Everyone else: WHAT?! She doesn't have a BEDTIME?!
You: Nope. How about this weather we're having?
Everyone else: WHAT?! She watches 14 hours of TV before BREAKFAST?!
You: Yep. So you think the Yankees will go all the way this year?
Everyone else: WHAT?! The BANK was your MAJOR LEARNING EXPERIENCE of the
WEEK?!!!!!
You: Yep. Gosh, look at the time. Gotta go!

Etc.

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>Im afraid that if I dont bring things up she will miss it. Im afraid if I
>let my guard down and just live then she wont learn anything.
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The bold is mine. Fear is a terrible thing. I would definitely get your
daughter a subscription to TV Guide and Gameboy Digest and work on your
fears. They will cripple you, and perhaps your daughter as well. You have
some homework to do. <g>



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>It must work
>so many of you do it and your kids are learning. Some of them are
>overlearning or over achievers . I keeep waiting for that. It has not come
>yet.
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What does overlearning or overachieving look like? Doing math workbooks?
Building a rocket? Reading War and Peace? Seriously, think about what you
are "waiting for". Name it. Write it down. Consider whether its importance
is relevant to your daughter, or is it phantoms cast by relatives, or
friends with straight A students (poor things, I was one of them, they are
in for a serious shock when thrust into real life), or your own schooled
experiences.

Choices. If your daughter has choices with what to do with her time, she
will choose the best and wisest course for HER. None of us know what that
course is. She will know it when she sees it, so your job is to put
everything you can think of in her line of sight, and then step aside.
Basically, think of yourself as an 18th century intellectual and spiritual
and nutritional valet.

Hang in there.

Pam

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