jobs and unschooling
Tim and Maureen
I have 4 kids 15,13, 11, and 7. We have trouble making ends meet without me working as the kids have allergies and health issues that require a fair amount of funds.
My dilemma is that I worry about not being there enough for my kids. So far I am working 20-30 hours per week and looking after my 3 year old nephew during the days. I have been working in the evenings every night and 6 hours on Sundays, occasionally Sat.
I hate the feeling I have when I am away from my kids. My 11 yr old still dislikes it as well as the 7 yr old.Fortunately they are at home with my dh in the evenings but still they are sad when I have to go to work. It really looks like working has to be part of our reality at this point and I hate that so I struggle with the idea that maybe I am doing them a disservice by them having a mom that isn't home enough.Sometimes I wonder if they would be better off at school although as I write this I realise how silly this is because their questions, needs, etc.. wouldn't be met anymore there.
My kids are big homebodies. They are all highly sensitive and do not socialise with the neighbours at all. They have a small group of friends and I think this bothers me more than them. I am having trouble shaking this feeling of maybe I am not doing enough. Anybody have any experience with situations similar to this.
Maureen Thomas
PS I am an extrovert and am living with all introverted, highly sensitive individuals.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
My dilemma is that I worry about not being there enough for my kids. So far I am working 20-30 hours per week and looking after my 3 year old nephew during the days. I have been working in the evenings every night and 6 hours on Sundays, occasionally Sat.
I hate the feeling I have when I am away from my kids. My 11 yr old still dislikes it as well as the 7 yr old.Fortunately they are at home with my dh in the evenings but still they are sad when I have to go to work. It really looks like working has to be part of our reality at this point and I hate that so I struggle with the idea that maybe I am doing them a disservice by them having a mom that isn't home enough.Sometimes I wonder if they would be better off at school although as I write this I realise how silly this is because their questions, needs, etc.. wouldn't be met anymore there.
My kids are big homebodies. They are all highly sensitive and do not socialise with the neighbours at all. They have a small group of friends and I think this bothers me more than them. I am having trouble shaking this feeling of maybe I am not doing enough. Anybody have any experience with situations similar to this.
Maureen Thomas
PS I am an extrovert and am living with all introverted, highly sensitive individuals.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Tia Leschke
> I hate the feeling I have when I am away from my kids. My 11 yr old stilldislikes it as well as the 7 yr old.Fortunately they are at home with my dh
in the evenings but still they are sad when I have to go to work. It really
looks like working has to be part of our reality at this point and I hate
that so I struggle with the idea that maybe I am doing them a disservice by
them having a mom that isn't home enough.Sometimes I wonder if they would be
better off at school although as I write this I realise how silly this is
because their questions, needs, etc.. wouldn't be met anymore there.
Of course they wouldn't be better off in school. What kind of work do you
do? Is it possible to translate it into something you could do at home?
Tia
"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety
deserve neither liberty nor safety." Ben Franklin
leschke@...
Nicholina ODonnell
Hi Maureen,
I'd have to say that I don't think the kids would be better off in school than being with their parents, though. Unless, perhaps, it was a free school (as in freedom, not as in you don't have to pay for it), they wanted to be there and you were able to get all your working in while they were there.
I'm sure you've been all over this situation, but have you brainstormed about other ways of working out the finances? Anything from major scaling back to opening your home to a foster child (which you get paid for). I'm not coming up with anything else off the top of my head, but perhaps, if this is help that you'd be interested in, others on the list can come up with some ideas.
I hope you come to a resolution that works for you and yours.
Nicholina
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>I have 4 kids 15,13, 11, and 7. We have trouble making ends meet without me working as the kids >have allergies and health issues that require a fair amount of funds.This is a very tough situation you are in! It sucks to have the stress of having to work outside the home when that is really not what anyone in your family wants.
>My dilemma is that I worry about not being there enough for my kids. So far I am working 20-30 >hours per week and looking after my 3 year old nephew during the days. I have been working in the >evenings every night and 6 hours on Sundays, occasionally Sat.
I'd have to say that I don't think the kids would be better off in school than being with their parents, though. Unless, perhaps, it was a free school (as in freedom, not as in you don't have to pay for it), they wanted to be there and you were able to get all your working in while they were there.
I'm sure you've been all over this situation, but have you brainstormed about other ways of working out the finances? Anything from major scaling back to opening your home to a foster child (which you get paid for). I'm not coming up with anything else off the top of my head, but perhaps, if this is help that you'd be interested in, others on the list can come up with some ideas.
I hope you come to a resolution that works for you and yours.
Nicholina
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Tim and Maureen
Tia,
I work at a health food store and clean houses and an office part time. Have not been able to find a way to bring it home as I order vitamins and groceries and help customers plus help purchase and receive and cover for the bookkeeper when she is away
Maureen
I work at a health food store and clean houses and an office part time. Have not been able to find a way to bring it home as I order vitamins and groceries and help customers plus help purchase and receive and cover for the bookkeeper when she is away
Maureen
----- Original Message -----
From: Tia Leschke
To: [email protected]
Sent: Tuesday, June 17, 2003 4:14 PM
Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] jobs and unschooling
<<<Of course they wouldn't be better off in school. What kind of work do you
do? Is it possible to translate it into something you could do at home?>>>
Tia
"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety
deserve neither liberty nor safety." Ben Franklin
leschke@...
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
In a message dated 6/18/2003 12:35:25 AM Eastern Standard Time,
tmthomas@... writes:
ways, (and that book will show you an unbelievable amount of ways to cut back,
even if you think you can't) maybe you could eliminate the house cleaning job.
I think you also mentioned needing money for medical coverage on the kids.
In many states, they have health coverage for children besides medicaid. In
our state, they have something called "CHIPS" (children's health insurance
prescription "something or other") and many different levels of it depending on a
person's income. Some which are basically free, others with a small co-pay.
The amount of income a person can earn and still be eligible is very generous,
and they take into consideration how many children you have. Check with your
state's department of health and human resources. It's worth a try...
Nancy
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
tmthomas@... writes:
> I work at a health food store and clean houses and an office part time.Do you have a copy of "The Complete Tightwad Gazette?" By saving in many
> Have not been able to find a way to bring it home as I order vitamins and
> groceries and help customers plus help purchase and receive and cover for the
> bookkeeper when she is away
>
> Maureen
>
ways, (and that book will show you an unbelievable amount of ways to cut back,
even if you think you can't) maybe you could eliminate the house cleaning job.
I think you also mentioned needing money for medical coverage on the kids.
In many states, they have health coverage for children besides medicaid. In
our state, they have something called "CHIPS" (children's health insurance
prescription "something or other") and many different levels of it depending on a
person's income. Some which are basically free, others with a small co-pay.
The amount of income a person can earn and still be eligible is very generous,
and they take into consideration how many children you have. Check with your
state's department of health and human resources. It's worth a try...
Nancy
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Linda Siemsen
I am working part-time as well as taking care of my two-year-old at home. I don't have to work for financial reasons but for my own mental health. I need the feeling of independence. I have three small businesses right now. I sell used books on Amazon, I am just starting to teach music to young children, and I trade stocks. My daughter comes with every trip I make to the post office to mail books, she listens to me prepare for music class, she hangs out while I work on the computer and read my financial publications. I have arranged to swap partial tuition for a music class in exchange for the mom to watch Katrina during it. I have tentative plans to do at least one more swap of tuition for child care and teach on the weekends so my husband can take care of her. Longer term, I will be looking for late-afternoon care for her so I can teach more classes.
I would suggest looking at the following books for work-at-home suggestions. Look at them in the bookstore, check them out from the library. They are books to browse
The Stay-At-Home Mom's Guide to Making Money from Home by Liz Folger
The Entrepreneurial Parent by Paul and Sarah Edwards and Lisa Roberts
101 Best Home-Based Businesses for Women by Priscilla Y. Huff
I teach music and sell books and trade stocks because that's where my expertise is and I enjoy it. I'm working about 10 hours a week on the stock picking. The income from that can be very good but it's rather erratic. I spend about three hours a week selling books but could easily be more. Teaching music is depends on how many classes. It's about two hours/week of preparation time for teaching one class. There is also about one hour/week of general business stuff. I have a lot bigger time commitment now because I'm just starting so there is lots of initial stuff.
Personally, I think it's good for my daugher to see me working. I come from a long line of entrepreneurs and so does my husband so it seems natural to me to be working and taking care of my daughter. As she gets older, I will have her work in the business. She's already likes to help with packaging the books for shipment. (Well she can't really help yet but she likes to pretend.)
Linda Siemsen
I would suggest looking at the following books for work-at-home suggestions. Look at them in the bookstore, check them out from the library. They are books to browse
The Stay-At-Home Mom's Guide to Making Money from Home by Liz Folger
The Entrepreneurial Parent by Paul and Sarah Edwards and Lisa Roberts
101 Best Home-Based Businesses for Women by Priscilla Y. Huff
I teach music and sell books and trade stocks because that's where my expertise is and I enjoy it. I'm working about 10 hours a week on the stock picking. The income from that can be very good but it's rather erratic. I spend about three hours a week selling books but could easily be more. Teaching music is depends on how many classes. It's about two hours/week of preparation time for teaching one class. There is also about one hour/week of general business stuff. I have a lot bigger time commitment now because I'm just starting so there is lots of initial stuff.
Personally, I think it's good for my daugher to see me working. I come from a long line of entrepreneurs and so does my husband so it seems natural to me to be working and taking care of my daughter. As she gets older, I will have her work in the business. She's already likes to help with packaging the books for shipment. (Well she can't really help yet but she likes to pretend.)
Linda Siemsen
----- Original Message -----
From: Tim and Maureen
To: [email protected]
Sent: Tuesday, June 17, 2003 6:42 PM
Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] jobs and unschooling
I have 4 kids 15,13, 11, and 7. We have trouble making ends meet without me working as the kids have allergies and health issues that require a fair amount of funds.
My dilemma is that I worry about not being there enough for my kids. So far I am working 20-30 hours per week and looking after my 3 year old nephew during the days. I have been working in the evenings every night and 6 hours on Sundays, occasionally Sat.
I hate the feeling I have when I am away from my kids. My 11 yr old still dislikes it as well as the 7 yr old.Fortunately they are at home with my dh in the evenings but still they are sad when I have to go to work. It really looks like working has to be part of our reality at this point and I hate that so I struggle with the idea that maybe I am doing them a disservice by them having a mom that isn't home enough.Sometimes I wonder if they would be better off at school although as I write this I realise how silly this is because their questions, needs, etc.. wouldn't be met anymore there.
My kids are big homebodies. They are all highly sensitive and do not socialise with the neighbours at all. They have a small group of friends and I think this bothers me more than them. I am having trouble shaking this feeling of maybe I am not doing enough. Anybody have any experience with situations similar to this.
Maureen Thomas
PS I am an extrovert and am living with all introverted, highly sensitive individuals.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
kayb85
Could the kids sometimes come with you to these places?
Sheila
vitamins and groceries and help customers plus help purchase and
receive and cover for the bookkeeper when she is away
Sheila
> I work at a health food store and clean houses and an office parttime. Have not been able to find a way to bring it home as I order
vitamins and groceries and help customers plus help purchase and
receive and cover for the bookkeeper when she is away
>
> Maureen
Tia Leschke
>Have not been able to find a way to bring it home as I order vitamins and
> I work at a health food store and clean houses and an office part time.
groceries and help customers plus help purchase and receive and cover for
the bookkeeper when she is away
>I guess you couldn't do the housecleaning at home. <g> Would your boss
accept your bringing even some of the health food store work home to do
there?
Tia
"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety
deserve neither liberty nor safety." Ben Franklin
leschke@...
Tia Leschke
> I think you also mentioned needing money for medical coverage on the kids.In
> In many states, they have health coverage for children besides medicaid.
> our state, they have something called "CHIPS" (children's health insurancedepending on a
> prescription "something or other") and many different levels of it
> person's income. Some which are basically free, others with a smallco-pay.
> The amount of income a person can earn and still be eligible is verygenerous,
> and they take into consideration how many children you have. Check withyour
> state's department of health and human resources. It's worth a try...I doubt regular medical care would be a problem for her here in BC. It may
be that she's using services that aren't covered, like a naturopath.
Tia
"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety
deserve neither liberty nor safety." Ben Franklin
leschke@...
Tim and Maureen
Yeh sometimes the kids do come but mostly they would rather be at home with me there also. My real concern is whether I am somehow doing them a diservice in the name of unschooling.
maureen
Could the kids sometimes come with you to these places?
Sheila
vitamins and groceries and help customers plus help purchase and
receive and cover for the bookkeeper when she is away
~~~~ Don't forget! If you change topics, change the subject line! ~~~~
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
maureen
Could the kids sometimes come with you to these places?
Sheila
> I work at a health food store and clean houses and an office parttime. Have not been able to find a way to bring it home as I order
vitamins and groceries and help customers plus help purchase and
receive and cover for the bookkeeper when she is away
>Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
> Maureen
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Tim and Maureen
----- Original Message -----
From: Tia Leschke
To: [email protected]
Sent: Wednesday, June 18, 2003 12:50 PM
Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] jobs and unschooling
>
> I work at a health food store and clean houses and an office part time.
This is something we tried and only so much is interchangeable so it was not successful. I wonder if maybe I don't really understand what my true worry/concern is because in this job the solutions are limited and I can see this so I think I need to sit with this longer and try to understand the emotional impact it has on me. Maybe guilt, maybe not meeting an ideal? Anyway thanks for your thoughts tia.
<<<I guess you couldn't do the housecleaning at home. <g> Would your boss
accept your bringing even some of the health food store work home to do
there?
Tia>>>
"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety
deserve neither liberty nor safety." Ben Franklin
leschke@...
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Tim and Maureen
----- Original Message -----
From: Tia Leschke
To: [email protected]
Sent: Wednesday, June 18, 2003 12:52 PM
Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] jobs and unschooling...
You are quick Tia,
I am using alternative services and have limited coverage. Ouch on the
pocketbook.I have tried the medical system and all they offer are
antidepressants which have not been helpful. Even my son with low thyroid they
wanted to do antidepressants because his tests were low but not low enough so it
couldn't be thyroid. With the naturopath helping explore we have indeed found
that the thyroid meds have eliminated the extreme depression for him.
maureen
<<<I doubt regular medical care would be a problem for her here in BC. It may
be that she's using services that aren't covered, like a naturopath.>>>
Tia
"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety
deserve neither liberty nor safety." Ben Franklin
leschke@...
Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
~~~~ Don't forget! If you change topics, change the subject line! ~~~~
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
In a message dated 6/18/2003 4:40:17 PM Eastern Standard Time,
leschke@... writes:
Nancy
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
leschke@... writes:
> I doubt regular medical care would be a problem for her here in BC. It mayOops! Sorry, I didn't realize she was Canadian. My mistake...
> be that she's using services that aren't covered, like a naturopath.
> Tia
>
Nancy
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]