mrstar

<<<Now, there's a thought -- I wonder, have any of you unschooled or are any
of
you unschooling any children who are not your own? How did it come about?
Would you do it again?

Candice in OK>>>

I am starting out that way Candice. I am (an plan to continue to)
unschooling my 3 children, my stepdaughter and her sister. My stepdaughter
is 5 and her sister is 2. I have them full time and their mother tells
everyone that I am unschooling them. She is very happy with the situation as
it takes the burden of responsibility of off her shoulders. She is a young
single mom with 2 kids from two different fathers, the other father is
totally not involved and has no plans of getting involved ever. She works
full time and is going to school part time. She has said time and time again
"I could never stay home all day with the kids, I don't know how you do it
but I am glad you do." She even has plans to sign papers that would grant us
guardianship over the little girl in the even that something happens to her
(mom). It all started before the younger child was conceived. I managed to
make friends with my husbands ex when their daughter had just turned 2 and
our youngest had just been born. Up to that point they had not gotten along
very well and we had seen very little of their daughter. At the point where
the ex and I made friends we made fast friends. She is exactly 6 years
younger than me (my dh is 5 yrs younger than me and they were highschool
sweethearts.) and she tends to look to me for advice on just about
everything imaginable. It is really neat, her and I have allot in common in
our beliefs and perspectives, the difference between us is our attitudes.
She has followed me into unschooling, eating a healthy, chemical free diet.
She is learning from me and I am learning because of her. It is a good
relationship. So, I unschool and co-parent her children, we don't have to
pay child support, dh gets to see his daughter as much as he wants, we get
an extra daughter most of the time with out most of the added expense but
all the love and the ex gladly comes over a few times a month and stays with
the kids so that we can go out. We don't believe in sitters but she is like
family (is family) so she doesn't count. We plan on continuing the
arrangement indefinitely. She feels the same as we do about schools so there
is no worry that she will decide either of them should be sent to ps. Of
course, no situation is ideal. She is very immature and self-centered and
talks way too loudly but I have known far worse situations with exs so I am
not complaining. Anyway, you asked, yes I unschool other peoples children.
They aren't school age but they will still be here when they are. Any
questions?

Mary in Idaho (who doesn't have a sane bone in her body)