Pam Hartley

----------
>From: [email protected]
>To: [email protected]
>Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] Digest Number 1597
>Date: Sun, Nov 18, 2001, 6:55 PM
>

> Thanksgiving is coming. And while I love most of my relatives, there is
> always potential for the big "we-think-you-shouldn't-homeschool" fight at
> any family gathering. (Or long car trip with my brother.)
>
> I don't take criticism really well -- especially the heavy-handed kind that
> starts with "your are ruining this child!!!!"
>
> Anybody got any happy thoughts for rising above this or just slogging
> through? I'm going to three and a half family gatherings over the long
> weekend, and it's really more than I can sail through serenely.

Humor always works for me, and village-idiot-smiling-agreement.

Relative: You're ruining this child! What were you thinking to start
HOMESCHOOLING?!

Me (grinning like a loon): You're right, I'm such a moron. I'm not fit to
raise a chicken. I should put the kids up for adoption immediately. I should
be deported back to the planet I came from. Is there a school someplace near
here? Pull over so I can enroll them.

Etc.

They can only argue if you do. I try not to waste energy on people looking
to scuffle -- sincere interest, no problem, I'll talk about homeschooling
all day even if they disagree with me in the end. But looking for trouble,
they can look somewhere else because I turn into Pam, Grinning Chimp. Let
'em try to fight with that. :)

Pam, GC

Diane

> Relative: You're ruining this child! What were you thinking to start
> HOMESCHOOLING?!

My response (developed early) is, "Thank you."

"You can't raise them that way!"
"Thank you."

"What are you thinking of, doing such a dumb thing?!"
"Oh, really? Thank you."

:-) Diane in AZ

[email protected]

In a message dated 11/18/01 11:01:42 PM Eastern Standard Time,
pamhartley@... writes:

<<
Relative: You're ruining this child! What were you thinking to start
HOMESCHOOLING?!

Me (grinning like a loon): You're right, I'm such a moron. I'm not fit to
raise a chicken. I should put the kids up for adoption immediately. I should
be deported back to the planet I came from. Is there a school someplace near
here? Pull over so I can enroll them.
>>
This is just hysterical...I love it! LOL

Amy Kagey in NW Ohio
<A HREF="http://www.ubah.com/ecommerce/default.asp?sid=Z0939&gid=85215">
Usborne Books</A>
make great Christmas gifts!
(www.ubah.com/z0939)

[email protected]

In a message dated 11/19/2001 4:31:00 AM !!!First Boot!!!,
cen46624@... writes:


> > Relative: You're ruining this child! What were you thinking to start
> > HOMESCHOOLING?!
>
> My response (developed early) is, "Thank you."
>


Excellent -- if these nitwits (and I have relatives too who I wouldn't
discuss the time of day with) don't get you any better than this, they aren't
going to get a lengthy, heartfelt explanation -- so I like the "Thank you"
method.

Just my 2 cents.

Nance (going to a restaurant for Turkey day because we all finally said "Ack
-- I'm not doing this anymore." I'm very proud of all of us!)



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Diane

We're going to a restaurant, too for Turkey Day, but I'd much rather eat at home.
Still, MIL is coming, and when we're with her, we eat out.

:-) Diane

> Nance (going to a restaurant for Turkey day because we all finally said "Ack
> -- I'm not doing this anymore." I'm very proud of all of us!)