swtmntn

Hi All: Just wanted to introduce myself. My name is Sheila and I
have homeschooled my dd 11 1/2 and ds 9 1/2 since birth. I asked my
dd and ds recently if they were excited to start school in
September. He was and she said she wasn't. That was it. I knew
after much experience with trying every curriculum out there that I
better start to deschool myself and allow both of them to unschool.
I've been afraid because of the "what should be done" in my head
routine. I'm not anymore. I read the Unschooling Handbook and found
it my favorite homeschooling book ever. I've just finished reading
Real-Life Homeschooling which consists of 21 different families.
This book allowed me to find what my thoughts and philosophies always
were deep deep down. Any story I read about the child unschooling I
loved. When I would read about the families that used a boxed
curriculum I myself would break out in a cold sweat knowing how it
has not worked here. (Could only imagine what my daughter thinks.) I
said to my husband a couple of weeks ago, "If I allowed her to
unschool - she would soar!" My husband and I discussed it further
and knew this is what we need to do. I did not commit to this for my
children (1) to hate learning and (2) butting heads with my dd on a
day to day basis. It seems to be that way lately and I feel down and
out about it. SO, HERE WE ARE! I look forward to hearing how you
Let Go and let them learn in freedom. I intend to read, read read
and keep my mouth shut in order to learn myself and let my kids learn
in freedom. Thanks for listening. I plan on putting this on another
loop I joined, so if you read it twice, I apologize - just looking to
get good advice wherever I can! Toodles. Sheila

Betsy

**I said to my husband a couple of weeks ago, "If I allowed her to
unschool - she would soar!" **

I do believe that your daughter will eventually find her wings. I just
wanted to warn you to be patient, she might "wallow" for up to a year
before she gets off the couch and starts flying.

Betsy