Maggy

Hi everyone,
I joined this list over a month ago and have enjoyed reading and
learning from all of you. I can't seem to stay caught up on all the
posts but figured I would just jump in.
I have a ds who just turned 6, a dd almost 4 and a ds of 18 months.
I guess we have been unschooling since our first was born. I have
only recently discovered how unsupportive everyone can be. Most
people thought it was great until my oldest got old enough to go
to "real school" It seems many people think self learning is only a
supplement to a "regular education". I am not discouraged although
I would love to find other unschoolers in my area. I recently
started attending monthly playgroups with a local homeschooling
group but find that the adult conversations usually revolve around
curriculums so I have nothing to offer. At the first meeting I
mentioned that we were unschoolers and got a few polite nods and
more than a few raised eyebrows. Later a woman whispered to me that
she was interested in learning more about unschooling. It was
obvious that she didn't want anyone to hear us! My kids are just so
excited to find friends that they don't have to wait until after
school to play with so we will continue to go.
I'm sure I've seen Florida mentioned on this list so just wondering
if anyone is near me. I'm in Palm Beach county.
Maggy

joanna514

> I'm sure I've seen Florida mentioned on this list so just wondering
> if anyone is near me. I'm in Palm Beach county.
> Maggy

Hi Maggy
I grew up in West Palm Bch.
My parents still live there, and I was just there last week. We come
down about 3 times a year. We live in MD now.
I've always been interested in finding unschoolers down there, for
when we visit. We usually go to the Playmobile store, the fountains
on Clematis, the downtown library (which is awsome compared to ours
here) and other places around town. Usually the free stuff.
Anyway, I hope you find a group of like minded folks. Maybe we can
hook up next time we're down, which won't be til Thankgiving.
Good luck
Joanna

Maggy

Thanks, sorry we missed you, wish I had written in sooner....definitely let me know when you're back and we'll meet!
I'm sure there are other unschooling families down here, it's just a matter of finding them. Hmmm, closet unschoolers?
Maggy
----- Original Message -----
From: joanna514
To: [email protected]
Sent: Saturday, April 19, 2003 9:16 AM
Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] Re: FLORIDA Intro



> I'm sure I've seen Florida mentioned on this list so just wondering
> if anyone is near me. I'm in Palm Beach county.
> Maggy

Hi Maggy
I grew up in West Palm Bch.
My parents still live there, and I was just there last week. We come
down about 3 times a year. We live in MD now.
I've always been interested in finding unschoolers down there, for
when we visit. We usually go to the Playmobile store, the fountains
on Clematis, the downtown library (which is awsome compared to ours
here) and other places around town. Usually the free stuff.
Anyway, I hope you find a group of like minded folks. Maybe we can
hook up next time we're down, which won't be til Thankgiving.
Good luck
Joanna


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[email protected]

In a message dated 4/19/03 12:38:36 AM, isaacray@... writes:

<< I guess we have been unschooling since our first was born. I have

only recently discovered how unsupportive everyone can be. Most

people thought it was great until my oldest got old enough to go

to "real school" >>

Until he was school age, though, you were just raising babies and toddlers in
a good way. ALL mothers should. I wish ALL mothers felt they were being
supportive and helping their children learn in the best ways for that child,
by playing, and exploring.

The radical thing is when the child is old enough for compulsory education
laws to apply to him and THEN the mom wants to help him learn in his own ways
by playing and exploring at home.

To my mind, that is when unschooling starts. When a mom keeps him home
instead of sending him to school.

It was, for us, an extension of the warm and fun things we had been doing
before Kirby was schoolage. But I never say "Yeah, I've been unschooling
since he was born." I know some people do.

People in some of the Atlantic seaboard states say that fancy pre-schools are
so expected there in certain social strata that if they don't send a two or
three year old to private school, relatives and neighbors get all up in arms,
and so they will say "we're homeschooling." I think they should take some
courage and say "We're not sending him to pre-school."

<< Later a woman whispered to me that

she was interested in learning more about unschooling. It was

obvious that she didn't want anyone to hear us! .>

That is so sad. But I totally understand it. I got jumped hard on our
local announcements list by people who had been homeschooling with a
curriculum for just a year or two when I answered a new member's question
about whether people on the list used a curriculum or not and if so which
one. I described unschooling and said I'd been doing it since by 16 year old
was five. New structured homeschoolers commenced to try to shush me.

Unschooling is a threat to people who are "making their children do work" and
telling them YES you have to do this or you'll never learn to read (or
whatever). Then the unschoolers cruise by laughing about what they just
learned (by reading or not) and eventually read just fine, which pretty much
makes the structured parents look like liars and bullies.

It can't be helped, and we regularly have to bear the fallout of the angry
frustration of people who WANT us to torment our children just so they will
feel better about their own decision to do so.

Ren will find you some local contacts! There is a website.

(Ren's probably been by or will be soon.)

Sandra

zenmomma2kids

>> My parents still live there, and I was just there last week. >>

My in-laws are right near West Palm Beach in Lake Worth. We go down
there, but not that often. Maybe once a year. I'll be sure to put the
word out next time we go. I love meeting other unschoolers!

>>We usually go to the Playmobile store, the fountains on Clematis,
the downtown library (which is awsome compared to ours here) and
other places around town.>>

We have gone to the Dreher Park Zoo and Science Museum and sometimes
the Lion Country Safari. Our big find the last time we were down was
the Morikami Gardens. I'm not sure exactly where it was, but it was
within 15 minutes of their house. It was this fabulous acreage of zen
gardens right in the middle of a bustling Florida avenue. Lots of
information on the former Japanese settlers and gardens in general.
Art work too. We loved it.

Life is good.
~Mary

Sorcha

>>>To my mind, that is when unschooling starts. When a mom keeps him
home
instead of sending him to school.<<<

But more and more parents are seeking out daycare centers with the most
"advanced" curriculums for six-month-olds and being a SAHM is
controversial. I was confronted over and over by people who thought my
kids were missing out by being home with me instead of in a daycare
center with other kids, learning. Especially when my older son didn't
learn to speak until he was three, while his cousin who is three months
younger and had been in daycare since six weeks old seemed so far
"ahead". So in a day and age when there are structured curriculums for
babies and toddlers, I can see the validity in saying you're
"unschooling" at that age.

Sorcha

Mary

From: "Maggy" <isaacray@...>

<<I'm sure I've seen Florida mentioned on this list so just wondering
if anyone is near me. I'm in Palm Beach county.>>



Maggie!!!!!!! I'm screaming here!!! You are about as close as I can get
right now to finding another unschooler. I'm in Broward County. Hollywood to
be exact. Whoopdedoo!!!!

I have a 17 year old school child, an 8 year old son, a 7 year old daughter
and a 2 year old daughter. Where exactly are you? Know any good halfway
points?

Mary B

Mary

From: "zenmomma2kids" <zenmomma@...>

<<We have gone to the Dreher Park Zoo and Science Museum and sometimes
the Lion Country Safari. Our big find the last time we were down was
the Morikami Gardens. I'm not sure exactly where it was, but it was
within 15 minutes of their house. It was this fabulous acreage of zen
gardens right in the middle of a bustling Florida avenue. Lots of
information on the former Japanese settlers and gardens in general.
Art work too. We loved it.>>


Ah, Dreher Park. My kids love that zoo I think more so than the Metrozoo in
Miami. We were supposed to go a few weeka ago but the kids were sick. Now
it's so darn hot. The zoo is not a good place in the summer. We also missed
Lion Country and now it's too hot for that too. All the animals just don't
move in the heat!! The museum was small but cute. We haven't done the
Morikami, didn't think it would interest my kids much. I'll have to check it
out.

Mary B

Mary

From: "Sorcha" <sorcha-aisling@...>

<<So in a day and age when there are structured curriculums for
babies and toddlers, I can see the validity in saying you're
"unschooling" at that age.>>


I say I have unschooled from birth too. At least with the last 3 children.
Only because I know how we parent them and what it entails. It's more to me
than just the "no school." I use to do things with Tara when she was 1 and 2
that I never did with the other 3. Like showing pictures and letters and
repeating words and sounds and counting. I get a headache just thinking
about it. Poor kid!!! I know a lot of parents that do such things. And
being that Tara never came and asked me to do it, well that was pretty much
like school even though she wasn't school age. So yeah, we have been
unschooling for over 8 years now.

Mary B

Maggy

I guess what I mean is that we've done everything so differently than our "schooled" friends. Our kids have really never followed any type of schedule. I nursed them when they were hungry, they slept when they were tired, etc. I was always being told that they needed consistency and I responded that they had consistency. Their needs were being met but they didn't have to eat lunch because it was noon, or nap because it was 2:00 etc.
I joined a mom's club when my first was around 6 months old. It was great at first and we made lots of friends until everyone decided it was time for the babies to potty train so they could start preschool. I always figured my son would start using the toilet when he wanted to and guess what? he did. But he didn't go to preschool with all his friends and then this year all of them started kindergarten.... We have recently connected with other kids that are not in school and it really helps.
Maggy
----- Original Message -----
From: SandraDodd@...
To: [email protected]
Sent: Saturday, April 19, 2003 11:53 AM
Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] FLORIDA Intro



In a message dated 4/19/03 12:38:36 AM, isaacray@... writes:

<< I guess we have been unschooling since our first was born. I have

only recently discovered how unsupportive everyone can be. Most

people thought it was great until my oldest got old enough to go

to "real school" >>

Until he was school age, though, you were just raising babies and toddlers in
a good way. ALL mothers should. I wish ALL mothers felt they were being
supportive and helping their children learn in the best ways for that child,
by playing, and exploring.

The radical thing is when the child is old enough for compulsory education
laws to apply to him and THEN the mom wants to help him learn in his own ways
by playing and exploring at home.

To my mind, that is when unschooling starts. When a mom keeps him home
instead of sending him to school.

It was, for us, an extension of the warm and fun things we had been doing
before Kirby was schoolage. But I never say "Yeah, I've been unschooling
since he was born." I know some people do.

People in some of the Atlantic seaboard states say that fancy pre-schools are
so expected there in certain social strata that if they don't send a two or
three year old to private school, relatives and neighbors get all up in arms,
and so they will say "we're homeschooling." I think they should take some
courage and say "We're not sending him to pre-school."

<< Later a woman whispered to me that

she was interested in learning more about unschooling. It was

obvious that she didn't want anyone to hear us! .>

That is so sad. But I totally understand it. I got jumped hard on our
local announcements list by people who had been homeschooling with a
curriculum for just a year or two when I answered a new member's question
about whether people on the list used a curriculum or not and if so which
one. I described unschooling and said I'd been doing it since by 16 year old
was five. New structured homeschoolers commenced to try to shush me.

Unschooling is a threat to people who are "making their children do work" and
telling them YES you have to do this or you'll never learn to read (or
whatever). Then the unschoolers cruise by laughing about what they just
learned (by reading or not) and eventually read just fine, which pretty much
makes the structured parents look like liars and bullies.

It can't be helped, and we regularly have to bear the fallout of the angry
frustration of people who WANT us to torment our children just so they will
feel better about their own decision to do so.

Ren will find you some local contacts! There is a website.

(Ren's probably been by or will be soon.)

Sandra


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Maggy

Yes, please do. We would love to get together. Lake Worth is very close.
Maggy
----- Original Message -----
From: zenmomma2kids
To: [email protected]
Sent: Saturday, April 19, 2003 11:53 AM
Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] Re: FLORIDA Intro



>> My parents still live there, and I was just there last week. >>

My in-laws are right near West Palm Beach in Lake Worth. We go down
there, but not that often. Maybe once a year. I'll be sure to put the
word out next time we go. I love meeting other unschoolers!



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Maggy

I hear you and would love to get together! We are in West Palm Beach, close to I-95 and Forest Hill Blvd. We will have to find a place to meet, maybe Boca?
Maggy
----- Original Message -----
From: Mary
To: [email protected]
Sent: Saturday, April 19, 2003 12:42 PM
Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] FLORIDA Intro


From: "Maggy" <isaacray@...>

<<I'm sure I've seen Florida mentioned on this list so just wondering
if anyone is near me. I'm in Palm Beach county.>>



Maggie!!!!!!! I'm screaming here!!! You are about as close as I can get
right now to finding another unschooler. I'm in Broward County. Hollywood to
be exact. Whoopdedoo!!!!

I have a 17 year old school child, an 8 year old son, a 7 year old daughter
and a 2 year old daughter. Where exactly are you? Know any good halfway
points?

Mary B



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Maggy

They just completed a great fountain at the zoo so now it's bearable to go in this heat. We live very close (5 min.) and last week we were there 3 times! The kids wear their bathing suits and have a blast. When was the last time you were there? The zoo has undergone some amazing changes in the last year. It would really be worth the drive. I promise!
Maggy
Ah, Dreher Park. My kids love that zoo I think more so than the Metrozoo in
Miami. We were supposed to go a few weeka ago but the kids were sick. Now
it's so darn hot. The zoo is not a good place in the summer. We also missed
Lion Country and now it's too hot for that too. All the animals just don't
move in the heat!! The museum was small but cute. We haven't done the
Morikami, didn't think it would interest my kids much. I'll have to check it
out.

Mary B



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

britcontoo

--- In [email protected], "Maggy" <isaacray@b...>
wrote:
> > I'm sure I've seen Florida mentioned on this list so just
wondering
> if anyone is near me. I'm in Palm Beach county.
> Maggy

Hi Maggy,

I was excited to read your email as we live right outside palm beach
(not sure how far that is from you)by Boca. We are just beginning
our journey as our oldest is turning 5. I am just getting out there
and trying to meet others with similar interests. I also have a 2
years old so it sounds like our kids could get along. I would love
to hear more about how you do things since we are truely new to this
but really excited. Email me if you would like to chat some about
unschooling and the like.

Olga :)

britcontoo

--- In [email protected], "Mary" <mummy124@b...>
wrote:
> From: "Maggy" <isaacray@b...>
>
> <<I'm sure I've seen Florida mentioned on this list so just
wondering
> if anyone is near me. I'm in Palm Beach county.>>
>
>
>
> Maggie!!!!!!! I'm screaming here!!! You are about as close as I can
get
> right now to finding another unschooler. I'm in Broward County.
Hollywood to
> be exact. Whoopdedoo!!!!
>
> I have a 17 year old school child, an 8 year old son, a 7 year old
daughter
> and a 2 year old daughter. Where exactly are you? Know any good
halfway
> points?
>
> Mary B


Hi Mary,

Okay so I guess none of us are making enough noise! I have a 5 and
two year old and live in Deerfield. Maybe we can all get togther
some time soon?

Olga

britcontoo

--- In [email protected], "Mary" <mummy124@b...>
wrote:
> From: "zenmomma2kids" <zenmomma@h...>
>
> <<We have gone to the Dreher Park Zoo and Science Museum and
sometimes
> the Lion Country Safari. Our big find the last time we were down was
> the Morikami Gardens. I'm not sure exactly where it was, but it was
> within 15 minutes of their house. It was this fabulous acreage of
zen
> gardens right in the middle of a bustling Florida avenue. Lots of
> information on the former Japanese settlers and gardens in general.
> Art work too. We loved it.>>
>
>
> Ah, Dreher Park. My kids love that zoo I think more so than the
Metrozoo in
> Miami. We were supposed to go a few weeka ago but the kids were
sick. Now
> it's so darn hot. The zoo is not a good place in the summer. We
also missed
> Lion Country and now it's too hot for that too. All the animals
just don't
> move in the heat!! The museum was small but cute. We haven't done
the
> Morikami, didn't think it would interest my kids much. I'll have to
check it
> out.
>
> Mary B

Mary,

You must go to Dreher park!! They have done a major expansion and a
brand new fountain--what do call those things where the sprinklers
come out of the ground. It is amazing what they have done. We just
went the other day. If you get there by 9-10 then you can get out
around 12-1 before the worst of the heat comes in.

Olga

[email protected]

I have a friend in Orlando, are you guys anywhere near her. She has been
trying to hook up with an unschool group


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Mary

From: "Maggy" <isaacray@...>

<<They just completed a great fountain at the zoo so now it's bearable to go
in this heat. We live very close (5 min.) and last week we were there 3
times! The kids wear their bathing suits and have a blast. When was the
last time you were there? The zoo has undergone some amazing changes in the
last year. It would really be worth the drive. I promise!>>


We were there last year. We loved the new rain forest thing to the tiger,
you know with the mist. Cooled us down some. So the kids can wear their
bathing suits and play in the fountain? Sounds like a winner to me. Lion
Country will have to wait now until Nov. or so!!! The lions get way lazy in
this heat!

Mary B

Mary

From: "britcontoo" <britcontoo@...>

<<Okay so I guess none of us are making enough noise! I have a 5 and
two year old and live in Deerfield. Maybe we can all get togther
some time soon?>>


Hi Olga, sounds great. I just am not real familiar with anything north of me
past Fort Lauderdale as far as meeting. So if you can come up with a nice
park or something that would be great. Just make it easy to get to. <BG>
Don't want to be driving around aimlessly with 3 children! I can pick up I95
in 2 minutes.

Mary B

Mary

From: "britcontoo" <britcontoo@...>

<<You must go to Dreher park!! They have done a major expansion and a
brand new fountain--what do call those things where the sprinklers
come out of the ground. It is amazing what they have done. We just
went the other day. If you get there by 9-10 then you can get out
around 12-1 before the worst of the heat comes in.>>


Surely you jest! LOL!!! Us??? Get anywhere by 9-10!!!! In my dreams only.
I'm lucky I can get us out of the house by 12:00. And even at that I have to
have the kids set their alarms!!

Mary B

Mary

From: <TheFadels@...>

<<I have a friend in Orlando, are you guys anywhere near her. She has been
trying to hook up with an unschool group>>


Unfortunately only if we want to drive 3 a half hours. I'ts awful that we in
south FL are so darned spaced out. Please don't take that literally!!!! You
know what I mean.

Mary B

joanna514

> My in-laws are right near West Palm Beach in Lake Worth. We go down
> there, but not that often. Maybe once a year. I'll be sure to put
the
> word out next time we go. I love meeting other unschoolers!>>>


Cool! My parents live about 5 minutes from Lake Worth.
Also about 5 minutes from Dreher Park zoo. Dh and my dad took my
younger 2 to the zoo this past visit. I like to go there just to
climb the trees there in the park. I grew up climing trees like that.

>
> We have gone to the Dreher Park Zoo and Science Museum and
sometimes
> the Lion Country Safari. Our big find the last time we were down
was
> the Morikami Gardens. I'm not sure exactly where it was, but it was
> within 15 minutes of their house. It was this fabulous acreage of
zen
> gardens right in the middle of a bustling Florida avenue. Lots of
> information on the former Japanese settlers and gardens in general.
> Art work too. We loved it.


My Dad takes the grand kids to Lion Country Safari every Thankgiving.
The women go shopping that day. (We love Ross, TJ Max and Marshalls)
My mom has mentioned a garden that sounds like what you've
described. We'll have to check it out.

Let me know next time your heading down.
Joanna




>
> Life is good.
> ~Mary

joanna514

--- In [email protected], "Maggy" <isaacray@b...>
wrote:
> I hear you and would love to get together! We are in West Palm
Beach, close to I-95 and Forest Hill Blvd. We will have to find a
place to meet, maybe Boca?
> Maggy


Hey!! My parents live right off of Forest Hill Blvd!
One block off the intercoastal, near S. Olive.
I grew up farther west, off Belvedere Rd., but they moved there about
5 years ago.
Hope to meet up with you in Nov.!
Joanna