a brag on Marty (was experience and diet (was Praising Our Kids)
[email protected]
-=-I pretty much got sick to my stomach reading that post. If only she
could see the wonderful things that have come from this unschooling life change.
<sigh>-=-
Well, the same day I read that we were lazy hedonists, this happened:
The final day, graduation from the Junior Police Academy, they march in like
soldiers, doing face drills and filing in and pledging allegience (we briefed
Marty on that this week; he said he knew it from a humorous version in the
bathroom, just leave out the joke parts)...
Ceremonial this'n'that, certificates, pins, Marty was awarded a certificate
as "Top Gun" (electronic target practice guns, F.A.T.S. and paintball guns)
which also came with $15 gift certificate to a sporting goods store. Seven or
eight other kids (of 32) got awards like most pushups, most improved, most
physically fit male.
Of Marty, I thought "All that Nintendo Duck Hunt paid off."
Then we ate good local barbecue, served up by their instructors, and as
people were taking pictures and saying goodbye, I went up to one of his instructors
and sat to thank him. He said Marty was just a joy to work with. Chit chat
you'd expect.
Then he said the big thing. (Brace yourselves. And I really like the guy.)
He said "You can always tell a kid who comes from a family with discipline,
with rules."
He said Marty was really well behaved and enthusiastic and cooperative. (I
wish I had the exact quotes there; I wish I had VIDEOTAPE.)
I said "We hardly have any rules at our house. We just tell them to always
make the best choice, to be helpful and not hurt people." (That's maybe 85%
close to exact words; I need my audio back!)
He said they had talked about a lot of things like that over the week.
I wanted to make light again, because it was maybe kinda tacky to counter
"you can always tell" with "GOTCHA! Wrong! CAN'T always tell." So I said,
"Y'know, Monday was really his first day at school of any sort. It was his first
day taking notes or anything like that."
"Oh, right, he's homeschooled, right?"
"Yes."
"Most of the homeschooled kids I've met were not so good at social
interactions. Marty's really confident and outgoing."
I told him he had gone home and re-written his notes from Monday, and had
been really focussed on his assignments and getting ready for the next day. He
said "Initiative! Good!"
Probably there was nobody there who was as eager and excited to be there as
Marty was. So we made some more sweet chitchat and that was it.
I could hardly wait to get into the van and close the doors so I could tell
Keith, Marty and Holly what he had said about discipline and rules. We talked
about that most of the way home. Holly can hardly believe that some people
think that rules upon rules will make people "good" away from home. It just
makes no sense to her.
Marty said one of the kids got in bad trouble this afternoon, threatened with
being sent home, for throwing pieces of rubber at other kids, and for
throwing paintballs. One broke on the exercise track. NOT at the targets, where the
mess was supposed to be.
Marty couldn't fathom why someone would be at such a cool place and act that
way.
But Marty had also told me there were two people there who hadn't even wanted
to be there. I didn't ask (yet) whether this kid was one of those. Marty
was exhausted when he got home and went to bed at 10:00.
This evidence is really important, that someone who works with kids a lot
(Police Athletic League volunteer), someone who's in law enforcement, sees an
enthusiastic, well-behaved, cooperative kid, and is confident that he came from a
house with discipline and rules.
Discipline and rules? All-fired flaming hedonists? (Whatever the
accusation was.)
Neither of the above.
Sandra
could see the wonderful things that have come from this unschooling life change.
<sigh>-=-
Well, the same day I read that we were lazy hedonists, this happened:
The final day, graduation from the Junior Police Academy, they march in like
soldiers, doing face drills and filing in and pledging allegience (we briefed
Marty on that this week; he said he knew it from a humorous version in the
bathroom, just leave out the joke parts)...
Ceremonial this'n'that, certificates, pins, Marty was awarded a certificate
as "Top Gun" (electronic target practice guns, F.A.T.S. and paintball guns)
which also came with $15 gift certificate to a sporting goods store. Seven or
eight other kids (of 32) got awards like most pushups, most improved, most
physically fit male.
Of Marty, I thought "All that Nintendo Duck Hunt paid off."
Then we ate good local barbecue, served up by their instructors, and as
people were taking pictures and saying goodbye, I went up to one of his instructors
and sat to thank him. He said Marty was just a joy to work with. Chit chat
you'd expect.
Then he said the big thing. (Brace yourselves. And I really like the guy.)
He said "You can always tell a kid who comes from a family with discipline,
with rules."
He said Marty was really well behaved and enthusiastic and cooperative. (I
wish I had the exact quotes there; I wish I had VIDEOTAPE.)
I said "We hardly have any rules at our house. We just tell them to always
make the best choice, to be helpful and not hurt people." (That's maybe 85%
close to exact words; I need my audio back!)
He said they had talked about a lot of things like that over the week.
I wanted to make light again, because it was maybe kinda tacky to counter
"you can always tell" with "GOTCHA! Wrong! CAN'T always tell." So I said,
"Y'know, Monday was really his first day at school of any sort. It was his first
day taking notes or anything like that."
"Oh, right, he's homeschooled, right?"
"Yes."
"Most of the homeschooled kids I've met were not so good at social
interactions. Marty's really confident and outgoing."
I told him he had gone home and re-written his notes from Monday, and had
been really focussed on his assignments and getting ready for the next day. He
said "Initiative! Good!"
Probably there was nobody there who was as eager and excited to be there as
Marty was. So we made some more sweet chitchat and that was it.
I could hardly wait to get into the van and close the doors so I could tell
Keith, Marty and Holly what he had said about discipline and rules. We talked
about that most of the way home. Holly can hardly believe that some people
think that rules upon rules will make people "good" away from home. It just
makes no sense to her.
Marty said one of the kids got in bad trouble this afternoon, threatened with
being sent home, for throwing pieces of rubber at other kids, and for
throwing paintballs. One broke on the exercise track. NOT at the targets, where the
mess was supposed to be.
Marty couldn't fathom why someone would be at such a cool place and act that
way.
But Marty had also told me there were two people there who hadn't even wanted
to be there. I didn't ask (yet) whether this kid was one of those. Marty
was exhausted when he got home and went to bed at 10:00.
This evidence is really important, that someone who works with kids a lot
(Police Athletic League volunteer), someone who's in law enforcement, sees an
enthusiastic, well-behaved, cooperative kid, and is confident that he came from a
house with discipline and rules.
Discipline and rules? All-fired flaming hedonists? (Whatever the
accusation was.)
Neither of the above.
Sandra
Kelli Traaseth
----- Original Message -----
From: SandraDodd@...
**He said "You can always tell a kid who comes from a family with discipline,
with rules."....I said "We hardly have any rules at our house. We just tell them to always
make the best choice, to be helpful and not hurt people." **
This is sooo great! And what a great job Marty did for not feeling well.
I'm saving this story.
Kelli~
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
In a message dated 6/7/03 6:20:13 AM, tktraas@... writes:
<< **He said "You can always tell a kid who comes from a family with
discipline,
with rules."....I said "We hardly have any rules at our house. We just
tell them to always
make the best choice, to be helpful and not hurt people." ** >>
Kelli,
If you save it, change that to "a lot of discipline, and rules." Marty has
corrected the quote for me.
<< This is sooo great! And what a great job Marty did for not feeling
well.>>
He said he felt better as the day went on. I think it's a cold, and colds
tend to do that, but I think adrenaline and distraction were good too.
Rhonda, thanks for this: "Sandra, you have such great kids!!! "
On the way home we took him by the gaming shop where Kirby was painting
miniatures, and the employees know Marty well, and four or five of the guys there
gaming are regular friends of his. He was still in his academy uniform, and he
wore his hat in, and we were showing around the photo of all the students and
teachers posing in front of the police helicopter (already framed and on the
wall now), and his certificate of completion, and his certificate as Top Gun.
It was fun. Like a ten minute reception. I took photos of him there, too.
He got his first "schoolday" and his first graduation ceremony all in one
week.
And we were both up and dressed by 7:00 on a Saturday. NOT ideal, but
getting up all week determined for him to be there early to avoid pushups might
stick for another day or two.
Sandra
<< **He said "You can always tell a kid who comes from a family with
discipline,
with rules."....I said "We hardly have any rules at our house. We just
tell them to always
make the best choice, to be helpful and not hurt people." ** >>
Kelli,
If you save it, change that to "a lot of discipline, and rules." Marty has
corrected the quote for me.
<< This is sooo great! And what a great job Marty did for not feeling
well.>>
He said he felt better as the day went on. I think it's a cold, and colds
tend to do that, but I think adrenaline and distraction were good too.
Rhonda, thanks for this: "Sandra, you have such great kids!!! "
On the way home we took him by the gaming shop where Kirby was painting
miniatures, and the employees know Marty well, and four or five of the guys there
gaming are regular friends of his. He was still in his academy uniform, and he
wore his hat in, and we were showing around the photo of all the students and
teachers posing in front of the police helicopter (already framed and on the
wall now), and his certificate of completion, and his certificate as Top Gun.
It was fun. Like a ten minute reception. I took photos of him there, too.
He got his first "schoolday" and his first graduation ceremony all in one
week.
And we were both up and dressed by 7:00 on a Saturday. NOT ideal, but
getting up all week determined for him to be there early to avoid pushups might
stick for another day or two.
Sandra
Mary
From: <SandraDodd@...
<<Of Marty, I thought "All that Nintendo Duck Hunt paid off.">>
That's the first thing I thought, video games, when you mentioned it!!! Good
for him.
<<I could hardly wait to get into the van and close the doors so I could
tell
Keith, Marty and Holly what he had said about discipline and rules. We
talked
about that most of the way home. Holly can hardly believe that some people
think that rules upon rules will make people "good" away from home. It just
makes no sense to her. >>
I can just imagine who much you wanted to share that one!! Great story.
Thanks for sharing and what a great day for Marty.
Mary B
<<Of Marty, I thought "All that Nintendo Duck Hunt paid off.">>
That's the first thing I thought, video games, when you mentioned it!!! Good
for him.
<<I could hardly wait to get into the van and close the doors so I could
tell
Keith, Marty and Holly what he had said about discipline and rules. We
talked
about that most of the way home. Holly can hardly believe that some people
think that rules upon rules will make people "good" away from home. It just
makes no sense to her. >>
I can just imagine who much you wanted to share that one!! Great story.
Thanks for sharing and what a great day for Marty.
Mary B
Betsy
**I could hardly wait to get into the van and close the doors so I could
tell Keith, Marty and Holly what he had said about discipline and rules.
We talked about that most of the way home. Holly can hardly believe
that some people think that rules upon rules will make people "good"
away from home. It just makes no sense to her. **
IF kids were robots, all this "programming" by rule MIGHT work.
Betsy
PS For Holly to believe a stupid rule, someone would have to program it
into her *before* she had the life experience to contradict it.
tell Keith, Marty and Holly what he had said about discipline and rules.
We talked about that most of the way home. Holly can hardly believe
that some people think that rules upon rules will make people "good"
away from home. It just makes no sense to her. **
IF kids were robots, all this "programming" by rule MIGHT work.
Betsy
PS For Holly to believe a stupid rule, someone would have to program it
into her *before* she had the life experience to contradict it.
Deborah Lewis
This was wonderful!
I really loved reading about Marty's adventures, and I hope there's a
place for your account of it on your website, as inspiration for parents
to help their kids do the things they want to do.
Has he talked to you about whether he still thinks police work would be
interesting after his week at the academy?
Deb L
I really loved reading about Marty's adventures, and I hope there's a
place for your account of it on your website, as inspiration for parents
to help their kids do the things they want to do.
Has he talked to you about whether he still thinks police work would be
interesting after his week at the academy?
Deb L