How important is it?
[email protected]
I'm posting something here which I just found at www.unschooling.com. For
those who found this list through yahoogroups or from a friend, it's worth an
occasional reminder that the list is sponsored by www.unschooling.com, which
is run by Home Education Magazine.
Donna, if you're on this list to, sorry to quote you behind your back right
in front of you <g>
but I thought this was wonderful. Thanks for writing it.
By ladybugmom on Saturday, May 17, 2003 - 08:35 am:
Hi! I just wanted to share something happy, but heartbreaking.
We literally LEAPED into radical unschooling this past October. Before that
we did school-at-home, but in a very relaxed way. My now 10yos went to school
for Kindergarten and it was a NIGHTMARE!! My now 13yos went up through 3rd
grade. Then we pulled them out of school.
Yesterday my 10yos and I were cuddling on my bed, just talking about
everything and he got very quiet. Suddenly he took my hand and said, "Mom,
there is something I want to tell you." I said, "Ok, what is it?" He said
that when we began homeschooling that he HATED it as much as school, but he
never wanted to tell me because he didn't want to hurt me. He said he used to
sit and listen to me teach and hope that I would be finished, but then I'd
tell him it was time to do something else...It just broke my heart!!! We did
this for 3 years before I just QUIT!! It hurts me that I made them suffer for
three years like that!!!
I told him that the truth was, I hated it, too. And I was glad that he told
me! I told him that I was sorry that I did that to him. He told me that he
loves his life now and he loves that he can do what he wants - then went on
to list all the wonderful, real-life things he is doing.
I felt honored and privileged to listen to him speak. I am SOOOOO thankful
for this message board and for all of your honesty and truth. I wish I could
take back those three years and all the years before and do it all
differently. I wish I could have given this kind of life to my two adult
children (18ds and 21dd). Fortunately, they still live at home and are
experiencing this unschooling life with us. What my 10ds said to me just
reinforces how RIGHT this is and we will look forward from here.
We LOVE our lives right now! Each day is truly and adventure and a place of
peace and security for my children now.
I hope that those who are new to this board will read everything here with an
open heart and mind; do not pass judgement without thinking about WHY you
feel the way you do about something said here. I am so very, very thankful
that I listened and thought and read and read and read and thought and
listened. My whole family has been set free!! Thank you!
God Bless,
Donna
those who found this list through yahoogroups or from a friend, it's worth an
occasional reminder that the list is sponsored by www.unschooling.com, which
is run by Home Education Magazine.
Donna, if you're on this list to, sorry to quote you behind your back right
in front of you <g>
but I thought this was wonderful. Thanks for writing it.
By ladybugmom on Saturday, May 17, 2003 - 08:35 am:
Hi! I just wanted to share something happy, but heartbreaking.
We literally LEAPED into radical unschooling this past October. Before that
we did school-at-home, but in a very relaxed way. My now 10yos went to school
for Kindergarten and it was a NIGHTMARE!! My now 13yos went up through 3rd
grade. Then we pulled them out of school.
Yesterday my 10yos and I were cuddling on my bed, just talking about
everything and he got very quiet. Suddenly he took my hand and said, "Mom,
there is something I want to tell you." I said, "Ok, what is it?" He said
that when we began homeschooling that he HATED it as much as school, but he
never wanted to tell me because he didn't want to hurt me. He said he used to
sit and listen to me teach and hope that I would be finished, but then I'd
tell him it was time to do something else...It just broke my heart!!! We did
this for 3 years before I just QUIT!! It hurts me that I made them suffer for
three years like that!!!
I told him that the truth was, I hated it, too. And I was glad that he told
me! I told him that I was sorry that I did that to him. He told me that he
loves his life now and he loves that he can do what he wants - then went on
to list all the wonderful, real-life things he is doing.
I felt honored and privileged to listen to him speak. I am SOOOOO thankful
for this message board and for all of your honesty and truth. I wish I could
take back those three years and all the years before and do it all
differently. I wish I could have given this kind of life to my two adult
children (18ds and 21dd). Fortunately, they still live at home and are
experiencing this unschooling life with us. What my 10ds said to me just
reinforces how RIGHT this is and we will look forward from here.
We LOVE our lives right now! Each day is truly and adventure and a place of
peace and security for my children now.
I hope that those who are new to this board will read everything here with an
open heart and mind; do not pass judgement without thinking about WHY you
feel the way you do about something said here. I am so very, very thankful
that I listened and thought and read and read and read and thought and
listened. My whole family has been set free!! Thank you!
God Bless,
Donna
Have A Nice Day!
This is very encouraging. Thank you for posting it.
I may have posted this already, but recently I had the ole "itch" to do something formal again. (I guess I just miss "teaching" the kids sometimes LOL).
Anyway, my daughter who has been begging to go back to school has had a complete change of heart. She says she LIKES the freedom to do what she wants. (And no she does NOT want to do math LOL.)
This is significant for her because prior to this she was very influenced by her peers. She felt our way of life was inferior. But now I see her being PROactive. Instead of second guessing who she is and what she wants, or second guessing our lifestyle, she makes her own decisions and even tries to influence her friends to do the same.
She is coming up with new ideas for things SHE wants to do (like design house plans, something I never would have dreamed she'd be interested in!). She if finally "thinking outside the box" and realizing she wouldn't be able to do that if she were in school.
Did I mention that she is now writing a letter to the President and the Governor to discuss freedom for school aged kids?
Its such a *huge* step of independence for her. This change in her is more valuable than any "math" could EVER be.
Kristen
I may have posted this already, but recently I had the ole "itch" to do something formal again. (I guess I just miss "teaching" the kids sometimes LOL).
Anyway, my daughter who has been begging to go back to school has had a complete change of heart. She says she LIKES the freedom to do what she wants. (And no she does NOT want to do math LOL.)
This is significant for her because prior to this she was very influenced by her peers. She felt our way of life was inferior. But now I see her being PROactive. Instead of second guessing who she is and what she wants, or second guessing our lifestyle, she makes her own decisions and even tries to influence her friends to do the same.
She is coming up with new ideas for things SHE wants to do (like design house plans, something I never would have dreamed she'd be interested in!). She if finally "thinking outside the box" and realizing she wouldn't be able to do that if she were in school.
Did I mention that she is now writing a letter to the President and the Governor to discuss freedom for school aged kids?
Its such a *huge* step of independence for her. This change in her is more valuable than any "math" could EVER be.
Kristen
----- Original Message -----
From: SandraDodd@...
To: [email protected]
Sent: Saturday, May 17, 2003 12:08 PM
Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] How important is it?
I'm posting something here which I just found at www.unschooling.com. For
those who found this list through yahoogroups or from a friend, it's worth an
occasional reminder that the list is sponsored by www.unschooling.com, which
is run by Home Education Magazine.
Donna, if you're on this list to, sorry to quote you behind your back right
in front of you <g>
but I thought this was wonderful. Thanks for writing it.
By ladybugmom on Saturday, May 17, 2003 - 08:35 am:
Hi! I just wanted to share something happy, but heartbreaking.
We literally LEAPED into radical unschooling this past October. Before that
we did school-at-home, but in a very relaxed way. My now 10yos went to school
for Kindergarten and it was a NIGHTMARE!! My now 13yos went up through 3rd
grade. Then we pulled them out of school.
Yesterday my 10yos and I were cuddling on my bed, just talking about
everything and he got very quiet. Suddenly he took my hand and said, "Mom,
there is something I want to tell you." I said, "Ok, what is it?" He said
that when we began homeschooling that he HATED it as much as school, but he
never wanted to tell me because he didn't want to hurt me. He said he used to
sit and listen to me teach and hope that I would be finished, but then I'd
tell him it was time to do something else...It just broke my heart!!! We did
this for 3 years before I just QUIT!! It hurts me that I made them suffer for
three years like that!!!
I told him that the truth was, I hated it, too. And I was glad that he told
me! I told him that I was sorry that I did that to him. He told me that he
loves his life now and he loves that he can do what he wants - then went on
to list all the wonderful, real-life things he is doing.
I felt honored and privileged to listen to him speak. I am SOOOOO thankful
for this message board and for all of your honesty and truth. I wish I could
take back those three years and all the years before and do it all
differently. I wish I could have given this kind of life to my two adult
children (18ds and 21dd). Fortunately, they still live at home and are
experiencing this unschooling life with us. What my 10ds said to me just
reinforces how RIGHT this is and we will look forward from here.
We LOVE our lives right now! Each day is truly and adventure and a place of
peace and security for my children now.
I hope that those who are new to this board will read everything here with an
open heart and mind; do not pass judgement without thinking about WHY you
feel the way you do about something said here. I am so very, very thankful
that I listened and thought and read and read and read and thought and
listened. My whole family has been set free!! Thank you!
God Bless,
Donna
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
zenmomma2kids
>>I wish I could take back those three years and all the years beforeand do it all differently.>>
But you've given him the gift of perspective at the tender age of 10.
Lots of people don't ever realize a good thing when they've got it.
Your son does!
Now I would never recommend hurting or frustrating a child just to
give them perspective. But I also don't believe in beating yourself
up after the fact. Don't regret any part of your life, learn from it.
Wonderful story, Donna.
Life is good.
~Mary
[email protected]
In a message dated 5/17/2003 12:20:38 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
litlrooh@... writes:
Congratulations!
~Kelly
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
litlrooh@... writes:
>The DEschooling has ended. The UNschooing has just begun!
> This is very encouraging. Thank you for posting it.
>
> I may have posted this already, but recently I had the ole "itch" to do
> something formal again. (I guess I just miss "teaching" the kids sometimes
> LOL).
>
> Anyway, my daughter who has been begging to go back to school has had a
> complete change of heart. She says she LIKES the freedom to do what she
> wants. (And no she does NOT want to do math LOL.)
>
> This is significant for her because prior to this she was very influenced
> by her peers. She felt our way of life was inferior. But now I see her
> being PROactive. Instead of second guessing who she is and what she wants,
> or second guessing our lifestyle, she makes her own decisions and even
> tries to influence her friends to do the same.
>
> She is coming up with new ideas for things SHE wants to do (like design
> house plans, something I never would have dreamed she'd be interested in!).
> She if finally "thinking outside the box" and realizing she wouldn't be
> able to do that if she were in school.
>
> Did I mention that she is now writing a letter to the President and the
> Governor to discuss freedom for school aged kids?
>
> Its such a *huge* step of independence for her. This change in her is
> more valuable than any "math" could EVER be.
>
> Kristen
Congratulations!
~Kelly
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Have A Nice Day!
The DEschooling has ended. The UNschooing has just begun!
Congratulations!<<<<<<
Thanks!
Its amazing the difference when it finally happens!
Kristen
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
~~~~ Don't forget! If you change topics, change the subject line! ~~~~
If you have questions, concerns or problems with this list, please email the moderator, Joyce Fetteroll (fetteroll@...), or the list owner, Helen Hegener (HEM-Editor@...).
To unsubscribe from this group, click on the following link or address an email to:
[email protected]
Visit the Unschooling website: http://www.unschooling.com
Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Congratulations!<<<<<<
Thanks!
Its amazing the difference when it finally happens!
Kristen
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
~~~~ Don't forget! If you change topics, change the subject line! ~~~~
If you have questions, concerns or problems with this list, please email the moderator, Joyce Fetteroll (fetteroll@...), or the list owner, Helen Hegener (HEM-Editor@...).
To unsubscribe from this group, click on the following link or address an email to:
[email protected]
Visit the Unschooling website: http://www.unschooling.com
Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]