gruvystarchild

I was sitting here pondering just how to qualify a person that
is "important" in light of this board.
I meandered over to google to see if I could get a definitive answer.
A person not considered important by someone here turned up six
hundred some odd hits when the name was typed in with the term
unschooling.
Not that I need google to tell me how important so many voices here
have been to me. I know the profound changes some of these incredible
ladies have made in my life......I meant to add Mary (Zenmomma) to my
previous list, (didn't mean to forget ya Mary, your posts are
priceless to me).
Anyway, it was sheer curiosity and pondering that made me do it.
So I typed in my name, Ren and unschooling and guess what? It turned
up 514 hits!! I was scratching my head, knowing it couldn't be
accurate, and started to scroll down.
The first two were posts I had written at the F.U.N. site some
previous months.....from there on all the hits were bringing up
anything with CHILD(REN). LOL!!
I was hoping google thought I was important, damn!

So here's one of the posts I answered to a distressed Mom that wasn't
sure her children would learn anything if she unschooled:

Re: concerns about unschooling
From: Ren
Date: 4/7/02
Time: 10:24:39 PM
Remote Name: 64.12.101.158


Comments
First of all, why do you feel it is your responsibility to keep up
with a system that you disagree with? Losing that mindset will be
very beneficial if you are going to truly unschool. I think it is
also detrimental to the joy of today to be worrying about possible
future disasters. I'm not saying don't think about and plan for the
future....I am suggesting that we do what is right and best for today
though. Don't let possiblities that may never happen rob you of your
joyful, wonderful moments today. How could you guarantee those things
if your child was in public school? You wouldn't be able to ensure
they would always be at grade level, or that they'd be alright in the
event of some disaster. I would much rather my child have
their "self" intact, the strength of knowing who they are, what they
love and learn what they choose outside the realm of some false
environment in which they will likely encounter bullying, pressure to
conform and numerous messages I'd rather they never hear. There are
no guarantees for the future in this life. That should not dictate
our choice to unschool or not. Do you believe that children are born
with a natural curiosity about their world? That they are driven to
learn and do so joyfully? Believe me when I say that it can continue
past the preschool years if you trust your child.

I must disagree with the previous answer to you o this point that
there is no best way.... Joy is better than strife, a happy home
better than a frustrated one, a content child better than a
distressed one, a close, loving bond between parent and child better
than contention. If what you are doing lends itself to these "better"
ways, then you are headed in the right direction. If not, then please
consider unschooling as the answer. Trusting my children to make
their own choices has brought amazing results, and much joy to this
family. It's us, the parents that must change, that must delve deep
withing to find the strength and discipline to shut up and let go!!
Children are wired to learn, to delve, to BE exactly what they are
meant to. We must learn how to offer without coercing, strew without
pressure and learn alongside our child without chafing. Not the
easiest task for our minds dulled by the institution of ps. There is
this wide world filled with colors, sights, sounds, tastes....just
waiting to be explored. Approach it as a child would, with joy,
interest and eyes wide open.

Today, do what brings joy in your life and the future will be very
bright indeed.

Paint with your bodies, walk in the mud, search for albino squirrels,
observe a flower opening, fly a kite, visit the beach, watch
interesting movies while eating chocolate and popcorn, build a fort,
try to pick up ice cubes with your feet, buy some interesting art
supplies and play around with them, dance to some reggae, lay outside
at night and look at the stars... In short, LIVE!! Live life with
abandon, with love, joy and zeal. All the learning anyone ever needs
will come out of these honest explorations, really. It's hard to
believe until you do it.

I highly encourage you visit unschooling.com for dialogue with many,
many unschooling families that are at various stages in this journey.
They will offer much needed support.

Ren, Unschooler with children ages 12, 8, 4 3/4 and babsy boy at
1.....learning all they need to.


I thought maybe, in light of the unfair accusations against this
list, this would show Ned what the discussions here are typically
about. Even though this is from another list, it hugely shows the
spirit and attitude of the unschooling.com discussion group.
In my ever so humble opinion.

Ren

zenmomma *

>>I know the profound changes some of these incredible
ladies have made in my life......I meant to add Mary (Zenmomma) to my
previous list, (didn't mean to forget ya Mary, your posts are
priceless to me).>>

How sweet. Thanks, Ren

>>Anyway, it was sheer curiosity and pondering that made me do it.
So I typed in my name, Ren and unschooling and guess what? It turned
up 514 hits!!>>

LOL! I thought I was the only one who did this kind of stuff. <g> If you put
in just zenmomma at Google, you get 3 hits. And, I kid you not, the first
one actually says "...By Neri N on Saturday, October 13, 2001 - 11:47 pm:
Just read your post Zenmomma. And I just have to say, I think you are
brilliant ..." ROFLMAO!! That's one to send to the parents! ;-) Or an
ex-husband, if I had one.

I loved the post you quoted here, Ren.

Life is good.
~Mary, who needs to read kind posts today because her bunny died this
morning. :-(


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