unschooling? was Re: Digest Number 2164
zenmomma *
>>My question is this...how much 'guidance' are parents allowed before we'reI'm not totally sure what you mean by guidance here. I offer my children
>>not really considered 'unschoolers?'>>
guidance each and every day. That's what I consider good parenting. I answer
their questions, strew interesting and new things and ideas in their paths,
talk to them, offer suggestions when appropriate, and try to be a sought
after guiding force in their lives. I'm sure you do the same with your kids.
:o)
As far as the label of unschooler goes, however, I guess I take that as the
freedom to let go of society's idea of what an education should look like. I
don't want to be my children's teacher, I want to be their mom. I don't
require, suggest or guide them into activities that are considered
educational. We join activities that are fun, interesting, exciting or
useful. In that process, the educational just happens.
>>does this sound like some sort of unschooling? Or am I way off???>>It sounds to me like an eclectic, relaxed form of homeschooling. No problem
there if that's what you're after. :o) If you'd like a glimpse at a totally
radical unschooling lifestyle, be prepared to get an earful from some of the
folks here. It's just a few steps different than what you've described.
Life is good.
~Mary
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In a message dated 7/21/2002 1:10:15 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
zenmomma@... writes:
the letter. I've used the term 'unschooly' since I know we don't quite
classicaly fit the true definition. We're obviously a lot closer to
unschooling than 'schooling at home.' (at least in my opinion.)
I don't know if we'll ever be true unschoolers, and I'm comfortable with
that. Just like everything else in my life, I don't find it necessary to fit
everything into 'a box' or do it just as prescribed by others to be happy or
comfortable with our approach and outcome. I've always gone with my heart
(definitely a true "Attachment Parent") and followed our own path. I find
circles of acquantainces where we embrace each other for our unique
perspectives and paths and are supportive of such.
So, is an 'almost there' unschooly and open-minded homeschooler still welcome
to lurk and also contribute and question??? LOL
~Dani
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
zenmomma@... writes:
> It sounds to me like an eclectic, relaxed form of homeschooling. No problemYou know, that's really how I've defined our homeschooling style, almost to
> there if that's what you're after. :o) If you'd like a glimpse at a totally
> radical unschooling lifestyle, be prepared to get an earful from some of
> the
> folks here. It's just a few steps different than what you've described.
>
>
the letter. I've used the term 'unschooly' since I know we don't quite
classicaly fit the true definition. We're obviously a lot closer to
unschooling than 'schooling at home.' (at least in my opinion.)
I don't know if we'll ever be true unschoolers, and I'm comfortable with
that. Just like everything else in my life, I don't find it necessary to fit
everything into 'a box' or do it just as prescribed by others to be happy or
comfortable with our approach and outcome. I've always gone with my heart
(definitely a true "Attachment Parent") and followed our own path. I find
circles of acquantainces where we embrace each other for our unique
perspectives and paths and are supportive of such.
So, is an 'almost there' unschooly and open-minded homeschooler still welcome
to lurk and also contribute and question??? LOL
~Dani
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
On Sun, 21 Jul 2002 15:03:14 EDT danidawn@... writes:
However, I do think the difference between unschooling and "almost-there
unschooly" is qualitative. I think a line is crossed and there's a whole
paradigm shift, so a problem that exists for an "almost-there unschooly"
family might disappear when the family is truly unschooling, and a
solution that works for an "almost-there unschooly" family might be
inappropriate to suggest to someone who is truly unschooling.
Dar
> So, is an 'almost there' unschooly and open-minded homeschooler stillwelcome
> to lurk and also contribute and question??? LOLOh, yes, I definitely think so.
However, I do think the difference between unschooling and "almost-there
unschooly" is qualitative. I think a line is crossed and there's a whole
paradigm shift, so a problem that exists for an "almost-there unschooly"
family might disappear when the family is truly unschooling, and a
solution that works for an "almost-there unschooly" family might be
inappropriate to suggest to someone who is truly unschooling.
Dar
[email protected]
In a message dated 7/21/2002 3:53:56 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
freeform@... writes:
current setup! But I'm always open to new ideas and I love to hear what's
working for others....
~Dani
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
freeform@... writes:
> . I think a line is crossed and there's a wholeVery true...fortunately my little sponges are more than thriving in our
> paradigm shift, so a problem that exists for an "almost-there unschooly"
> family might disappear when the family is truly unschooling, and a
> solution that works for an "almost-there unschooly" family might be
> inappropriate to suggest to someone who is truly unschooling.
>
current setup! But I'm always open to new ideas and I love to hear what's
working for others....
~Dani
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
In a message dated 7/21/02 1:03:57 PM, danidawn@... writes:
<< So, is an 'almost there' unschooly and open-minded homeschooler still
welcome
to lurk and also contribute and question??? LOL >>
At your own risk!
<<Just like everything else in my life, I don't find it necessary to fit
everything into 'a box' or do it just as prescribed by others to be happy or
comfortable with our approach and outcome. >>
It's not just the idea of being comfortable with a label that benefits people
who look harder and longer at unschooling. It's not a club, it's a
philosophy. The die-hards are excited about it because of the effect of
really trusting kids and really trusting how learning works. And it's sad to
see people who are interested but won't take that one more step to where it
WILL work.
I'm figuring it's sad like being a midwife and knowing a woman is fully
capable of having a natural birth, but she insists she WILL try a natural
birth as long as she just has an epidural and you do an episiotomy, and she'd
like for it to be in a hospital, and she'd like to have a monitor.
You can't have everything. and you can't have unschooling work if you
reserve a half hour a day for seatwork.
Sandra
<< So, is an 'almost there' unschooly and open-minded homeschooler still
welcome
to lurk and also contribute and question??? LOL >>
At your own risk!
<<Just like everything else in my life, I don't find it necessary to fit
everything into 'a box' or do it just as prescribed by others to be happy or
comfortable with our approach and outcome. >>
It's not just the idea of being comfortable with a label that benefits people
who look harder and longer at unschooling. It's not a club, it's a
philosophy. The die-hards are excited about it because of the effect of
really trusting kids and really trusting how learning works. And it's sad to
see people who are interested but won't take that one more step to where it
WILL work.
I'm figuring it's sad like being a midwife and knowing a woman is fully
capable of having a natural birth, but she insists she WILL try a natural
birth as long as she just has an epidural and you do an episiotomy, and she'd
like for it to be in a hospital, and she'd like to have a monitor.
You can't have everything. and you can't have unschooling work if you
reserve a half hour a day for seatwork.
Sandra
Leslie Avery
Dani,
Unschooling is a philosophy and like all philosophies
sometimes it takes a us a while to embrace it.
Somtimes we have to experience trial and error to see
what is best for us and our kids. If you think seat
work is right, maybe that is where you are suppose to
be at this time. I think unschooling is also about
being open to change, being open when something isn't
working for your family, being open to hearing about
what works for another.
Leslie
--- SandraDodd@... wrote:
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Yahoo! Health - Feel better, live better
http://health.yahoo.com
Unschooling is a philosophy and like all philosophies
sometimes it takes a us a while to embrace it.
Somtimes we have to experience trial and error to see
what is best for us and our kids. If you think seat
work is right, maybe that is where you are suppose to
be at this time. I think unschooling is also about
being open to change, being open when something isn't
working for your family, being open to hearing about
what works for another.
Leslie
--- SandraDodd@... wrote:
>__________________________________________________
> In a message dated 7/21/02 1:03:57 PM,
> danidawn@... writes:
>
> << So, is an 'almost there' unschooly and
> open-minded homeschooler still
> welcome
> to lurk and also contribute and question??? LOL >>
>
> At your own risk!
>
> <<Just like everything else in my life, I don't find
> it necessary to fit
> everything into 'a box' or do it just as prescribed
> by others to be happy or
> comfortable with our approach and outcome. >>
>
> It's not just the idea of being comfortable with a
> label that benefits people
> who look harder and longer at unschooling. It's
> not a club, it's a
> philosophy. The die-hards are excited about it
> because of the effect of
> really trusting kids and really trusting how
> learning works. And it's sad to
> see people who are interested but won't take that
> one more step to where it
> WILL work.
>
> I'm figuring it's sad like being a midwife and
> knowing a woman is fully
> capable of having a natural birth, but she insists
> she WILL try a natural
> birth as long as she just has an epidural and you do
> an episiotomy, and she'd
> like for it to be in a hospital, and she'd like to
> have a monitor.
>
> You can't have everything. and you can't have
> unschooling work if you
> reserve a half hour a day for seatwork.
>
> Sandra
>
Do You Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Health - Feel better, live better
http://health.yahoo.com
Lewis
Dani,
We have tried public school (1 year and 6 months), then we went to
homeschooling, on a schedule, using Oak Meadow curriculum, where I actually
timed how long we worked, kept all their work, etc.
Last year, we tried a public school allotment program, and this year, we are
going to attempt complete unschooling.
It is very much a process that I have gone through, each step being as
important as the one before. Watching my children grow, and their unique
interests unfold is why we are constantly evolving in the growth proceess.
Noone is right, and noone is wrong. There are public school children that
thrive, there are rigid homeschoolers that thrive, there are complete
unschoolers that thrive.
The same evolution has happened with our diet, with our personal hobbies,
with everything in life that we are all about. You try things, and see what
works the best, and go with it until it is time for a change. Everyone has
their own paths, and very unique family energy to work with on oh, a minute
by minute basis.
My great grandma always said, "Take what you want and leave the rest" That
is how I try to live.
Debbie
We have tried public school (1 year and 6 months), then we went to
homeschooling, on a schedule, using Oak Meadow curriculum, where I actually
timed how long we worked, kept all their work, etc.
Last year, we tried a public school allotment program, and this year, we are
going to attempt complete unschooling.
It is very much a process that I have gone through, each step being as
important as the one before. Watching my children grow, and their unique
interests unfold is why we are constantly evolving in the growth proceess.
Noone is right, and noone is wrong. There are public school children that
thrive, there are rigid homeschoolers that thrive, there are complete
unschoolers that thrive.
The same evolution has happened with our diet, with our personal hobbies,
with everything in life that we are all about. You try things, and see what
works the best, and go with it until it is time for a change. Everyone has
their own paths, and very unique family energy to work with on oh, a minute
by minute basis.
My great grandma always said, "Take what you want and leave the rest" That
is how I try to live.
Debbie
Tia Leschke
>Absolutely! Just be prepared for arguments, though, if you try to tell the
>So, is an 'almost there' unschooly and open-minded homeschooler still welcome
>to lurk and also contribute and question??? LOL
group that "almost there" is the same as "being there". If you really want
to stay "almost there", then that's the place for you. To actually "be
there", you'll have to "go there". <g>
Tia
No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.
Eleanor Roosevelt
*********************************************
Tia Leschke
leschke@...
On Vancouver Island
[email protected]
In a message dated 7/22/02 10:44:22 AM, leschke@... writes:
<< Absolutely! Just be prepared for arguments, though, if you try to tell
the
group that "almost there" is the same as "being there". If you really want
to stay "almost there", then that's the place for you. To actually "be
there", you'll have to "go there". <g> >>
This should be carved on a plaque over the entrance to this place. Bummer we
don't have a door with a wall for posting "always read this" plaques. <g>
Sandra
<< Absolutely! Just be prepared for arguments, though, if you try to tell
the
group that "almost there" is the same as "being there". If you really want
to stay "almost there", then that's the place for you. To actually "be
there", you'll have to "go there". <g> >>
This should be carved on a plaque over the entrance to this place. Bummer we
don't have a door with a wall for posting "always read this" plaques. <g>
Sandra
zenmomma *
>>Absolutely! Just be prepared for arguments, though, if you try to tellCome to think of it, the phrase "almost there" does sort of suggest that
>>the group that "almost there" is the same as "being there". If you really
>>want to stay "almost there", then that's the place for you. To actually
>>"be there", you'll have to "go there". <g>>>
"there" is the destination. Unless I was on the path headed somewhere, I
would not talk about being "almost there".
Life is good.
~Mary
_________________________________________________________________
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In a message dated 7/21/02 2:04:09 PM Central Daylight Time, danidawn@...
writes:
fits into a box, or as something prescribed, like a *how to* kit. You can
learn everything in the whole wide world by going to school, doing
school-at-home and seat work, or you can learn everything in the whole wide
world by going out into the whole wide world. School will teach you physics
and art, unschooling allows you to discover the physics in art. School and
any type of prepackaged, boxed item can teach you anything. The problem is
school doesn't have the time to teach how everything flows seamlessly
together, whereas, the absence of school, the *un*, frees you to find that
flow. School draws a circle around a predetermined body of information and
says this is it! You can look inside that circle and look out and say NO! All
of that (pointing outside) is IT! I guess most of us don't see unschooling as
a label, more like that proverbial coat of many colors.
This isn't a here of there thing, it isn't all or nothing, you can't be here
or there in the *un*, you just are. It is truth and beauty and freedom and
love. A modern day Bohemian existence, following the natural, seamless flow
of life. You can continue to sit in a box, looking outside and seeing more of
the same and unschooling as being just another box to fit into, or you can
see that there really is no box at all.
~Nancy
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
writes:
> I don't know if we'll ever be true unschoolers, and I'm comfortable withIt is funny to me, to hear someone describing unschooling as something that
> that. Just like everything else in my life, I don't find it necessary to
> fit
> everything into 'a box' or do it just as prescribed by others to be happy
> or
> comfortable with our approach and outcome.
fits into a box, or as something prescribed, like a *how to* kit. You can
learn everything in the whole wide world by going to school, doing
school-at-home and seat work, or you can learn everything in the whole wide
world by going out into the whole wide world. School will teach you physics
and art, unschooling allows you to discover the physics in art. School and
any type of prepackaged, boxed item can teach you anything. The problem is
school doesn't have the time to teach how everything flows seamlessly
together, whereas, the absence of school, the *un*, frees you to find that
flow. School draws a circle around a predetermined body of information and
says this is it! You can look inside that circle and look out and say NO! All
of that (pointing outside) is IT! I guess most of us don't see unschooling as
a label, more like that proverbial coat of many colors.
This isn't a here of there thing, it isn't all or nothing, you can't be here
or there in the *un*, you just are. It is truth and beauty and freedom and
love. A modern day Bohemian existence, following the natural, seamless flow
of life. You can continue to sit in a box, looking outside and seeing more of
the same and unschooling as being just another box to fit into, or you can
see that there really is no box at all.
~Nancy
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
zenmomma *
>>It is funny to me, to hear someone describing unschooling as somethingThis isn't a here or there thing, it isn't all or nothing, you can't be here
>>that fits into a box, or as something prescribed, like a *how to* kit. You
>>can learn everything in the whole wide world by going to school, doing
>>school-at-home and seat work, or you can learn everything in the whole
>>wide world by going out into the whole wide world. School will teach you
>>physics and art, unschooling allows you to discover the physics in art.
>>School and any type of prepackaged, boxed item can teach you anything. The
>>problem is school doesn't have the time to teach how everything flows
>>seamlessly together, whereas, the absence of school, the *un*, frees you
>>to find that flow. School draws a circle around a predetermined body of
>>information and says this is it! You can look inside that circle and look
>>out and say NO! All of that (pointing outside) is IT! I guess most of us
>>don't see unschooling as a label, more like that proverbial coat of many
>>colors.
or there in the *un*, you just are. It is truth and beauty and freedom and
love. A modern day Bohemian existence, following the natural, seamless flow
of life. You can continue to sit in a box, looking outside and seeing more
of the same and unschooling as being just another box to fit into, or you
can see that there really is no box at all.
~Nancy>>
Oh Nancy this is just wonderful!!! Every word of it is a keeper. How did you
reach inside my soul and pull out the philosophy of my life? Your words fall
like droplets of rain in a parched world. Thank you.
Life is good.
~Mary
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MSN Photos is the easiest way to share and print your photos:
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Betsy
**
This should be carved on a plaque over the entrance to this place.
Bummer we don't have a door with a wall for posting "always read this"
plaques. <g>**
Instead of a plaque reading "Abandon all workbooks all ye who enter
here"? (because we have a loophole for voluntarily chosen workbooks.)
We've been reading Harry Potter lately, so my mind is brimming with
pictures of unschooling being a tremendous, elaborate *virtual* castle,
kind of like Hogwarts with many modes of transportation for getting
here, and many doorways to enter, decorated with appropriate sayings and gargoyles.
betsy
This should be carved on a plaque over the entrance to this place.
Bummer we don't have a door with a wall for posting "always read this"
plaques. <g>**
Instead of a plaque reading "Abandon all workbooks all ye who enter
here"? (because we have a loophole for voluntarily chosen workbooks.)
We've been reading Harry Potter lately, so my mind is brimming with
pictures of unschooling being a tremendous, elaborate *virtual* castle,
kind of like Hogwarts with many modes of transportation for getting
here, and many doorways to enter, decorated with appropriate sayings and gargoyles.
betsy
[email protected]
In a message dated 7/22/02 3:27:33 PM Central Daylight Time,
zenmomma@... writes:
~Nancy
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
zenmomma@... writes:
> This isn't a here or there thing, it isn't all or nothing, you can't be hereThank you Mary, I am glad you liked my post.
> or there in the *un*, you just are. It is truth and beauty and freedom and
> love. A modern day Bohemian existence, following the natural, seamless flow
> of life. You can continue to sit in a box, looking outside and seeing more
> of the same and unschooling as being just another box to fit into, or you
> can see that there really is no box at all.
> ~Nancy>>
>
> Oh Nancy this is just wonderful!!! Every word of it is a keeper. How did
> you
> reach inside my soul and pull out the philosophy of my life? Your words
> fall
> like droplets of rain in a parched world. Thank you.
>
> Life is good.
> ~Mary
~Nancy
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
astroprojectingmom
And it's sad to see people who are interested but won't take that
one more step to where it WILL work.
What wrong with doing what they are doing if that is working for
their family? If everyone is happy then let it be.
one more step to where it WILL work.
What wrong with doing what they are doing if that is working for
their family? If everyone is happy then let it be.
Rachel Mullin
Hi all,
I am new to the list but have been lurking for a few days. I hope you
don't mind I am going to jump right in with a question.
Can anyone remember back to when their oldest was almost four (or are
you there now)? I LOVE the idea of unschooling, but my ds isn't much of
a social butterfly, which is ok, but it can be hard to just *be* when he
wants me to be his playmate. Often he seems board and then asks to put
the tv on, or when he is playing he will get defensive, loud and rough
with is younger brother. While it is irritating, I do feel bad for him
because I know given the choice he would rather be playing with close
friends and running around the house with them and burning off energy.
It is unfortunate that their mothers feel it is necessary for their
children to be carted around all day and "being productive". I guess I
am looking for suggestions on how to meet both of our needs. He is
pretty particular about what setting he likes and mostly asks to go home
whenever I am doing something I enjoy (like meeting with other
homeschoolers he wont even try to get to know). Just going to the park
doesn't really work because he just sits next to me wanting me to play
(I guess I am doing the same to him, LOL). But I really don't want to
hear him yelling anymore (mostly because I don't want his little brother
to feel it is ok to be yelled at all day and pushed around) and I want
us all to be happy without me dictating our day to avoid conflict! Any
suggestions.
Thanks so much, I am really enjoying reading so far!
Rachel
-----Original Message-----
From: astroprojectingmom [mailto:astroprojectingmom@...]
Sent: Monday, July 22, 2002 9:09 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] unschooling? was Re: Digest Number 2164
And it's sad to see people who are interested but won't take that
one more step to where it WILL work.
What wrong with doing what they are doing if that is working for
their family? If everyone is happy then let it be.
Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
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<http://rd.yahoo.com/M=228862.2128520.3581629.1829184/D=egroupweb/S=1705
081972:HM/A=1155069/R=0/*http:/adfarm.mediaplex.com/ad/ck/990-1736-1039-
302>
If you have questions, concerns or problems with this list, please email
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To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
I am new to the list but have been lurking for a few days. I hope you
don't mind I am going to jump right in with a question.
Can anyone remember back to when their oldest was almost four (or are
you there now)? I LOVE the idea of unschooling, but my ds isn't much of
a social butterfly, which is ok, but it can be hard to just *be* when he
wants me to be his playmate. Often he seems board and then asks to put
the tv on, or when he is playing he will get defensive, loud and rough
with is younger brother. While it is irritating, I do feel bad for him
because I know given the choice he would rather be playing with close
friends and running around the house with them and burning off energy.
It is unfortunate that their mothers feel it is necessary for their
children to be carted around all day and "being productive". I guess I
am looking for suggestions on how to meet both of our needs. He is
pretty particular about what setting he likes and mostly asks to go home
whenever I am doing something I enjoy (like meeting with other
homeschoolers he wont even try to get to know). Just going to the park
doesn't really work because he just sits next to me wanting me to play
(I guess I am doing the same to him, LOL). But I really don't want to
hear him yelling anymore (mostly because I don't want his little brother
to feel it is ok to be yelled at all day and pushed around) and I want
us all to be happy without me dictating our day to avoid conflict! Any
suggestions.
Thanks so much, I am really enjoying reading so far!
Rachel
-----Original Message-----
From: astroprojectingmom [mailto:astroprojectingmom@...]
Sent: Monday, July 22, 2002 9:09 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] unschooling? was Re: Digest Number 2164
And it's sad to see people who are interested but won't take that
one more step to where it WILL work.
What wrong with doing what they are doing if that is working for
their family? If everyone is happy then let it be.
Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
ADVERTISEMENT
<http://rd.yahoo.com/M=228862.2128520.3581629.1829184/D=egroupweb/S=1705
081972:HM/A=1155069/R=0/*http:/adfarm.mediaplex.com/ad/ck/990-1736-1039-
302>
If you have questions, concerns or problems with this list, please email
the Moderator, Joyce Fetteroll, at fetteroll@...
To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
[email protected]
Visit the Unschooling website: http://www.unschooling.com
Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service
<http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/> .
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Leslie Avery
Maybe he just wants your attention. When my kids were
that age they wanted to be like my husband and I. My
son constantly wanted to go to the office with his dad
or they wanted to hang out with me at home. So I
involved them in my day to day stuff. Also, I got
puzzles and board games they would be interested in or
even just sat with them and watch a TV show. Because
I have four children, I had a date night with each one
once a month or so.
I think it is a common belief that children want other
children to play with when they are bored, but I think
what they really want is us and our attention
especially at a young age. So my suggestion is sit
down and play with him whatever he wants to play.
Leslie
--- Rachel Mullin <rachel@...> wrote:
Do You Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Health - Feel better, live better
http://health.yahoo.com
that age they wanted to be like my husband and I. My
son constantly wanted to go to the office with his dad
or they wanted to hang out with me at home. So I
involved them in my day to day stuff. Also, I got
puzzles and board games they would be interested in or
even just sat with them and watch a TV show. Because
I have four children, I had a date night with each one
once a month or so.
I think it is a common belief that children want other
children to play with when they are bored, but I think
what they really want is us and our attention
especially at a young age. So my suggestion is sit
down and play with him whatever he wants to play.
Leslie
--- Rachel Mullin <rachel@...> wrote:
> Hi all,<http://rd.yahoo.com/M=228862.2128520.3581629.1829184/D=egroupweb/S=1705
>
> I am new to the list but have been lurking for a few
> days. I hope you
> don't mind I am going to jump right in with a
> question.
>
> Can anyone remember back to when their oldest was
> almost four (or are
> you there now)? I LOVE the idea of unschooling, but
> my ds isn't much of
> a social butterfly, which is ok, but it can be hard
> to just *be* when he
> wants me to be his playmate. Often he seems board
> and then asks to put
> the tv on, or when he is playing he will get
> defensive, loud and rough
> with is younger brother. While it is irritating, I
> do feel bad for him
> because I know given the choice he would rather be
> playing with close
> friends and running around the house with them and
> burning off energy.
> It is unfortunate that their mothers feel it is
> necessary for their
> children to be carted around all day and "being
> productive". I guess I
> am looking for suggestions on how to meet both of
> our needs. He is
> pretty particular about what setting he likes and
> mostly asks to go home
> whenever I am doing something I enjoy (like meeting
> with other
> homeschoolers he wont even try to get to know). Just
> going to the park
> doesn't really work because he just sits next to me
> wanting me to play
> (I guess I am doing the same to him, LOL). But I
> really don't want to
> hear him yelling anymore (mostly because I don't
> want his little brother
> to feel it is ok to be yelled at all day and pushed
> around) and I want
> us all to be happy without me dictating our day to
> avoid conflict! Any
> suggestions.
>
> Thanks so much, I am really enjoying reading so far!
>
> Rachel
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: astroprojectingmom
> [mailto:astroprojectingmom@...]
> Sent: Monday, July 22, 2002 9:09 PM
> To: [email protected]
> Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] unschooling? was Re:
> Digest Number 2164
>
> And it's sad to see people who are interested but
> won't take that
> one more step to where it WILL work.
>
> What wrong with doing what they are doing if that is
> working for
> their family? If everyone is happy then let it be.
>
>
>
>
>
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debi watson
>>We've been reading Harry Potter lately, so my mind is brimming withpictures of unschooling being a tremendous, elaborate *virtual* castle,
kind of like Hogwarts with many modes of transportation for getting
here, and many doorways to enter, decorated with appropriate sayings and gargoyles.
And appropriately, staircases that change their destination while one is on them, so that you're never quite sure where you're going to end up! Great analogy, Betsy! Debi
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
zenmomma *
>>Can anyone remember back to when their oldest was almost four (or are youWhen Conor was 4 he definitely liked me best of all as his playmate. He did
>>there now)? I LOVE the idea of unschooling, but my ds isn't much of a
>>social butterfly, which is ok, but it can be hard to just *be* when he
>>wants me to be his playmate.>>
go to a play-based nursery school, though, and had a lot of fun with that.
It was only a couple of hours a week and it was all play and he loved it.
The rest of the time though, I was his first choice.
I do remember thinking I would go mad if I had to play Ninja Turtles, Power
Rangers or dump truck one more time! LOL But I also remember feeling
incredibly honored that he was choosing my company.
>>Often he seems board and then asks to put the tv on,>>SO let him watch TV. There are so many cool shows on , why not mellow out
with it while Mom recharges her batteries. Or you can watch too and you'll
both find something neat.
>>I want us all to be happy without me dictating our day to avoid conflict!With kids that young, I really needed to be right in there with them to
>>Any suggestions.>>
help them with their conflicts. I was helping them with their day, bringing
out interesting stuff to do, taking them to places I thought they'd like. At
this age I believe that's what they need, a life very close to home, with
mom as the hub. If park days and homeschooling groups aren't working then
I'd skip them for awhile and go for what is working.
Hang in there. They grow up so fast, this stage will pass quickly enough and
you won't regret having spent too much time with them.
Life is good.
~Mary
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