Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] Re: typical day for teens
[email protected]
In a message dated 3/25/2003 8:39:34 AM Eastern Standard Time,
flyerrod@... writes:
Cameron, my fifteen year old, doesn't need any more direction than my seven
year old. And in three months, he won't even need me to drive!
His typical day begins after 10:00. He'll fix himself a bagel or toast or
cereal. He usually spends an hour or so at the computer editting the movie
he's working on. He wrote the screenplay and directed his friends in it. He
has several hours of tape and so far only fifteen minutes of movie---LOTS of
"wasted" tape.
Then he'll spend an hour or two outside skateboarding. He's happy to bounce
(on the trampoline) whenever his brother asks. He's also game for any board
or imaginary game that Duncan wants to play. As soon as it warms up, they'll
spend a lot of the day in & around the pool.
After lunch, he might ask that we go driving---that's if we don't have
somewhere to go anyway; then he always drives. He had no problem with the
written test to get the permit. I can't forsee any problems with his getting
the restricted license either.
He spends two-three hours a day playing the drums. They were a Christmas
gift, and he's amazingly good---without lessons of any kind. He's going next
week to Spartanburg to spend the evening with the drummer for the Marshall
Tucker Band.
He usually does little things around the house to help me. He likes to empty
the dishwasher. I hate it---so that's a big help. He almost always picks up
the den and starts a load of laundry.
He likes his room VERY neat. He recently redesigned & redecorated his room.
He painted the walls and then painted the logos of his favorite group on the
wall---shadow images. It is SO cool! He also took photos of the band last
time they were in town, then cropped and enlarged them, and got the band
members to sign them. They're also on the wall.
He likes to draw and create, so he often has paper nearby for new ideas.
He LOVES his music, and there is hardly a minute that goes by when he's not
listening to music.
He and I went to see Arlo Guthrie Sunday night. I was totally enthralled. His
band consisted of his son, Abe, his daughter, Saralee, and his son-in-law,
Johnny. Major cool to see the family up there! Cameron wasn't
impressed---he's not into folk music (the weirdo! <g>), but he suffered
through it for me. I told him that, when he's 40, he'll get to brag that he
saw Arlo Guthrie in concert with his kids! <g> Then he had to listen to
Alice's Restaurant Massacree all the way home! <G>
Yesterday, he and I were down for the entire day---some stomach bug. Thank
goodness Duncan can completely entertain and care for himself. Cam and I
slept in my bed the whole day in between runs to the bathroom (I guess I
can't count Monday as a "school day"! <G>). I'm better today, but haven't
seem Cam yet this morning. I hope he's feeling better!
He spends evenings talking with his friends and IMing them on the 'puter.
He's usually in bed by 2ish after spending some time on the computer or
watching TV or listening to music.
The only "direction" I give is maybe, "Take a right at the next light." He's
perfectly capable of directing himself!
~Kelly
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
flyerrod@... writes:
> . But when they get a bit older andYou're wrong! <G>
> approaching teens, I think I may need to provide more direction. I
> may be wrong.
Cameron, my fifteen year old, doesn't need any more direction than my seven
year old. And in three months, he won't even need me to drive!
His typical day begins after 10:00. He'll fix himself a bagel or toast or
cereal. He usually spends an hour or so at the computer editting the movie
he's working on. He wrote the screenplay and directed his friends in it. He
has several hours of tape and so far only fifteen minutes of movie---LOTS of
"wasted" tape.
Then he'll spend an hour or two outside skateboarding. He's happy to bounce
(on the trampoline) whenever his brother asks. He's also game for any board
or imaginary game that Duncan wants to play. As soon as it warms up, they'll
spend a lot of the day in & around the pool.
After lunch, he might ask that we go driving---that's if we don't have
somewhere to go anyway; then he always drives. He had no problem with the
written test to get the permit. I can't forsee any problems with his getting
the restricted license either.
He spends two-three hours a day playing the drums. They were a Christmas
gift, and he's amazingly good---without lessons of any kind. He's going next
week to Spartanburg to spend the evening with the drummer for the Marshall
Tucker Band.
He usually does little things around the house to help me. He likes to empty
the dishwasher. I hate it---so that's a big help. He almost always picks up
the den and starts a load of laundry.
He likes his room VERY neat. He recently redesigned & redecorated his room.
He painted the walls and then painted the logos of his favorite group on the
wall---shadow images. It is SO cool! He also took photos of the band last
time they were in town, then cropped and enlarged them, and got the band
members to sign them. They're also on the wall.
He likes to draw and create, so he often has paper nearby for new ideas.
He LOVES his music, and there is hardly a minute that goes by when he's not
listening to music.
He and I went to see Arlo Guthrie Sunday night. I was totally enthralled. His
band consisted of his son, Abe, his daughter, Saralee, and his son-in-law,
Johnny. Major cool to see the family up there! Cameron wasn't
impressed---he's not into folk music (the weirdo! <g>), but he suffered
through it for me. I told him that, when he's 40, he'll get to brag that he
saw Arlo Guthrie in concert with his kids! <g> Then he had to listen to
Alice's Restaurant Massacree all the way home! <G>
Yesterday, he and I were down for the entire day---some stomach bug. Thank
goodness Duncan can completely entertain and care for himself. Cam and I
slept in my bed the whole day in between runs to the bathroom (I guess I
can't count Monday as a "school day"! <G>). I'm better today, but haven't
seem Cam yet this morning. I hope he's feeling better!
He spends evenings talking with his friends and IMing them on the 'puter.
He's usually in bed by 2ish after spending some time on the computer or
watching TV or listening to music.
The only "direction" I give is maybe, "Take a right at the next light." He's
perfectly capable of directing himself!
~Kelly
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
In a message dated 3/25/03 9:47:22 AM Central Standard Time,
[email protected] writes:
<< > . But when they get a bit older and
The little ones need me to show them the world, to see what is available. The
older they get, the more of the world they know about or know how to access
and the less I am strewing or "providing direction".
Unschooled teens are incredibly interesting and cool.
The things my son teaches me now (at age 13) are amazing.
He knows a lot more than I do about many topics...its' really neat.
Ren
"The sun is shining--the sun is shining. That is the magic. The flowers are
growing--the roots are stirring. That is the magic. Being alive is the
magic--being strong is the magic The magic is in me--the magic is in
me....It's in every one of us."
----Frances Hodgson Burnett
[email protected] writes:
<< > . But when they get a bit older and
> approaching teens, I think I may need to provide more direction. II have found the opposite to be true.
> may be wrong. >>
The little ones need me to show them the world, to see what is available. The
older they get, the more of the world they know about or know how to access
and the less I am strewing or "providing direction".
Unschooled teens are incredibly interesting and cool.
The things my son teaches me now (at age 13) are amazing.
He knows a lot more than I do about many topics...its' really neat.
Ren
"The sun is shining--the sun is shining. That is the magic. The flowers are
growing--the roots are stirring. That is the magic. Being alive is the
magic--being strong is the magic The magic is in me--the magic is in
me....It's in every one of us."
----Frances Hodgson Burnett