Alan & Brenda Leonard

1/7/03 15:36:

> So, where do I begin?

Brandi,

You have to start somewhere. Anywhere will do, really, because you won't
stay there forever. Everyone changes, and I can tell you from personal
experience that I've changed a lot from what I've read here and elsewhere.
But take a deep breath and start, somewhere.

It sounded to me like you are struggling a bit with the idea of taking the
unhappy one out of school while leaving the happy one in school for the time
being. Why would that be a problem? Just because you're committed to an
idea doesn't mean it has to happen immediately. In other words, I think
it's possible to really believe that unschooling is the way you want to go
with your children, but that right now it's your daughter that needs what
you can give, and your son will need to wait for a bit. How is that so
terribly different than when he's having fun playing and wants you to see
his tower right away, but you have to put him on hold while you attend to
her tears over a bumped head? You'll get there, in time.

Check the state folders on unschooling.com for Ohio info; we've lived
several places with the military, but Ohio's not one of them, so I've got no
idea.

But good luck getting going, whatever you decide to do. You CAN do it!

brenda
mother of 1, Tim, 6 years,
U.S. Army family currently in Friedberg, Germany

Betsy

**It sounded to me like you are struggling a bit with the idea of taking the
unhappy one out of school while leaving the happy one in school for the time
being. Why would that be a problem? Just because you're committed to an
idea doesn't mean it has to happen immediately. In other words, I think
it's possible to really believe that unschooling is the way you want to go
with your children, but that right now it's your daughter that needs what
you can give, and your son will need to wait for a bit. How is that so
terribly different than when he's having fun playing and wants you to see
his tower right away, but you have to put him on hold while you attend to
her tears over a bumped head? **

Oh, yeah. I know that Brandi's pair aren't twins, but many of the
challenges are the same. Joining a mother's of twins group either in
real life or online might generate some practical suggestions.

I was thinking that if your son and daughter had joined your family at a
much younger age you'd probably be a pro by now at ignoring one for the
length of time that it took to deal with the other. I'm sure it's a
juggling act!

betsy