Mindy Parkhurst

Hello everyone,

I just wanted to thank everyone for their great advice and words of
encouragement. All of the things that everyone said I agree with. My heart
is an unschooler, but my brain is catching on slowly!

I think one of the reasons that I have had such a difficult time with the
concept of unschooling is because a family that we spend a LOT of time with
is very traditional in their schooling. When I see what they are doing I
feel like we are doing nothing! I truly need to connect with other
unschoolers as well. I have to tell myself the reason I chose to homeschool
was because I wanted dd to have fun and live a very relaxed childhood.
Isn't that what unschooling is?

Any other advice is greatly appreciated. I am very grateful to have found
this group. It has helped me tremendously!

Live life,

mindy

zenmomma *

>>My heart is an unschooler, but my brain is catching on slowly!>>

Keep on deschooling yourself, Mindy! :o) Your kids are young, your oldest is
reading (the big anxiety lots of parents give themselves ulcers over),
you've got the time to kick back and relax! Let the unschooling ideas flow
over and around you. Pretty soon you'll just float away with them.

>>I think one of the reasons that I have had such a difficult time with the
>>concept of unschooling is because a family that we spend a LOT of time
>>with is very traditional in their schooling. When I see what they are
>>doing I feel like we are doing nothing!>>

Stop looking at their schoolwork! Start looking at what those kids are doing
in their free time. How are they using all those traditional academics? Are
they incorporating what they "learn" into real, meaningful activities? If
not, then what's up with that? Could there be a beter way?

And keep on looking at what your kids like to do and then DO IT! Invite that
other family along to do something really amazingly cool on a Tuesday
morning, and then feel sad that they have no time because of schoolwork.
This happens to us all the time. I'll never understand missing a trip to
explore caves because the kids have to practice handwriting. :-P~~~~~~~~

>>I truly need to connect with other unschoolers as well.>>

Keep connecting here and at www.unschooling.com. It really helps!

>>I have to tell myself the reason I chose to homeschool was because I
>>wanted dd to have fun and live a very relaxed childhood.
Isn't that what unschooling is?>>

For me it's that and even more. It's about learning because there's
something you want to know. It's about keeping that spark alive that all
children are born with. It's about keeping a child whole.

>>Live life,>>

YES! Unschooling is also about allowing children to live life right now. Not
making them prepare for 12 years to start living.

Life is good.
~Mary


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Karin

>
> >>Live life,>>
>
> YES! Unschooling is also about allowing children to live life right now.
Not
> making them prepare for 12 years to start living.
>
> Life is good.
> ~Mary


What a wonderful quote, Mary, and so true! I've got to go write that down
and save it ... and live it and remember it.
Thank-you!

Karin