A Rant About Homeschoolers
[email protected]
Yikes! Everyone is gone to the conference or is quiet. I can't stand it so
will laboriously type my rant with the hand on my unbroken arm.
My ds has never gone to school and we pretty much unschooled right from the
start, with the odd try at making him do some stuff to quell my fears. Stopped
that when I joined this list early this year, now we are much happier. I don't
get to hang with unschoolers much, Tim&Maureen the only family we see that
Unschool. We have become friendly with a number of Christian homeschoolers,
and enjoy their company. I smile politely when they discuss curriculum and math
and reading. the other day one of them called and was moaning about Sept
coming and having to gear up for school stff and decide what things to do with her
son. I said"Gee, if you were unschooling you wouldn't have to think about that
at all". She was not amused.
I often feel with regular school-at-home type HSers that I must not mention
the joys of unschooling my children, that they feel very threatened by it.One
woman was asking me about unschooling and kept coming back to her concern about
retaining Authority over her children. What is with this????
I want to be an advocate for unschooling, yet am not comfortable really
talking about it to these other homeschoolers because it seems to freak them out.
Any one else go thru this?What do you do?
Also, how do I get over this weird desire to buy school supplies every time
school rolls around?<G>
Nancy in BC
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
will laboriously type my rant with the hand on my unbroken arm.
My ds has never gone to school and we pretty much unschooled right from the
start, with the odd try at making him do some stuff to quell my fears. Stopped
that when I joined this list early this year, now we are much happier. I don't
get to hang with unschoolers much, Tim&Maureen the only family we see that
Unschool. We have become friendly with a number of Christian homeschoolers,
and enjoy their company. I smile politely when they discuss curriculum and math
and reading. the other day one of them called and was moaning about Sept
coming and having to gear up for school stff and decide what things to do with her
son. I said"Gee, if you were unschooling you wouldn't have to think about that
at all". She was not amused.
I often feel with regular school-at-home type HSers that I must not mention
the joys of unschooling my children, that they feel very threatened by it.One
woman was asking me about unschooling and kept coming back to her concern about
retaining Authority over her children. What is with this????
I want to be an advocate for unschooling, yet am not comfortable really
talking about it to these other homeschoolers because it seems to freak them out.
Any one else go thru this?What do you do?
Also, how do I get over this weird desire to buy school supplies every time
school rolls around?<G>
Nancy in BC
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
susan marie
Hi,
lol.. we do go "school supply shopping". The girls look at it as a time
to restock on whatever they need. They make their lists and off we go --
it might not look like a typical list, it often includes a lot of stuff
from the craft store. But it's fun getting some new notebooks, colored
markers or gel pens, re-stocking their craft supplies, that sort of
thing. One daughter has decided that she likes writing, and after trying
lots of options, she likes the ancient portable typewriter best, so we
need to get a new ribbon for it. The kids have made friends with another
unschooling family that just moved to the area (now there are three
families that unschool - wow, a crowd!). their new friends are really
into games, so the kids want some new board games. The oldest is
involved in acting, so there's always something different on her list -
I think she needs deely boppers from Claire's (those weird headband
thingies with springs that stick up like bunny ears and have feathers or
such at the end of them).
go "unschool shopping". Do what unschoolers always do - do it your own
way.
As for being an advocate for unschooling, I think it's sort of like
religion - best done by how you live your life and not by preaching at
people. --- imho.
and as for quiet - not only is the list quiet - but one of the other two
local unschooling families is at the conference.
take care,
susan
lol.. we do go "school supply shopping". The girls look at it as a time
to restock on whatever they need. They make their lists and off we go --
it might not look like a typical list, it often includes a lot of stuff
from the craft store. But it's fun getting some new notebooks, colored
markers or gel pens, re-stocking their craft supplies, that sort of
thing. One daughter has decided that she likes writing, and after trying
lots of options, she likes the ancient portable typewriter best, so we
need to get a new ribbon for it. The kids have made friends with another
unschooling family that just moved to the area (now there are three
families that unschool - wow, a crowd!). their new friends are really
into games, so the kids want some new board games. The oldest is
involved in acting, so there's always something different on her list -
I think she needs deely boppers from Claire's (those weird headband
thingies with springs that stick up like bunny ears and have feathers or
such at the end of them).
go "unschool shopping". Do what unschoolers always do - do it your own
way.
As for being an advocate for unschooling, I think it's sort of like
religion - best done by how you live your life and not by preaching at
people. --- imho.
and as for quiet - not only is the list quiet - but one of the other two
local unschooling families is at the conference.
take care,
susan
On Saturday, August 23, 2003, at 02:46 AM, LOWRIEK@... wrote:
> Yikes! Everyone is gone to the conference or is quiet. I can't stand it
> so
> will laboriously type my rant with the hand on my unbroken arm.
> My ds has never gone to school and we pretty much unschooled right from
> the
> start, with the odd try at making him do some stuff to quell my fears.
> Stopped
> that when I joined this list early this year, now we are much happier.
> I don't
> get to hang with unschoolers much, Tim&Maureen the only family we see
> that
> Unschool. We have become friendly with a number of Christian
> homeschoolers,
> and enjoy their company. I smile politely when they discuss curriculum
> and math
> and reading. the other day one of them called and was moaning about Sept
> coming and having to gear up for school stff and decide what things to
> do with her
> son. I said"Gee, if you were unschooling you wouldn't have to think
> about that
> at all". She was not amused.
> I often feel with regular school-at-home type HSers that I must not
> mention
> the joys of unschooling my children, that they feel very threatened by
> it.One
> woman was asking me about unschooling and kept coming back to her
> concern about
> retaining Authority over her children. What is with this????
> I want to be an advocate for unschooling, yet am not comfortable really
> talking about it to these other homeschoolers because it seems to freak
> them out.
> Any one else go thru this?What do you do?
> Also, how do I get over this weird desire to buy school supplies every
> time
> school rolls around?<G>
> Nancy in BC
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
LOWRIEK@... writes:
stand hanging out with people who say things like "maintain authority over my
kids", etc.
What is the value of that to her? What are her fears if she doesn't?
Can you show how her fears are unfounded by example in your life, without being
confrontational or adversarial?
I have no idea if you should freak them out, hehehe, or what that
entails exactly, but if they get a bit shocked by you doing things a different
way and that your kids are doing just fine, that's not that bad, is it? Or is
that what their shocked about? lol
Maybe don't make it about unschooling vs homeschooling but just your
personal preference or approach, what works for your family.
And, I love school supply time....How can 15 cent glue be a bad thing? lol
Resistance is futile!
~Aimee
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> .OneThis is the reason why I am so antisocial, IRL, Nancy, I really can't
> woman was asking me about unschooling and kept coming back to her concern
> about
> retaining Authority over her children. What is with this????
> I want to be an advocate for unschooling, yet am not comfortable really
> talking about it to these other homeschoolers because it seems to freak them
> out.
> Any one else go thru this?What do you do?
> Also, how do I get over this weird desire to buy school supplies every time
> school rolls around?<G>
> Nancy in BC
stand hanging out with people who say things like "maintain authority over my
kids", etc.
What is the value of that to her? What are her fears if she doesn't?
Can you show how her fears are unfounded by example in your life, without being
confrontational or adversarial?
I have no idea if you should freak them out, hehehe, or what that
entails exactly, but if they get a bit shocked by you doing things a different
way and that your kids are doing just fine, that's not that bad, is it? Or is
that what their shocked about? lol
Maybe don't make it about unschooling vs homeschooling but just your
personal preference or approach, what works for your family.
And, I love school supply time....How can 15 cent glue be a bad thing? lol
Resistance is futile!
~Aimee
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Tia Leschke
> Also, how do I get over this weird desire to buy school supplies everytime
> school rolls around?<G>Buy a bunch of whatever you might need anyway. They won't be cheaper all
year. I always stock up on paper, pens, etc. Remember to say it's for
school so you don't have to pay provincial sales tax.
Tia
"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety
deserve neither liberty nor safety." Ben Franklin
leschke@...
The Bucknums
<<< This is the reason why I am so antisocial, IRL, Nancy, I really can't
stand hanging out with people who say things like "maintain authority over my
kids", etc. >>>
This is why I have no good mommy 'friends'. Long story starting with being the only person in my/our circle of friends to have kids, eight years later we have the only four kids in our 'group'. Our friends love our kids and have included them in their wedding parties (5-6 of them) but they are not always doing things that the kids can participate in. Dance clubs, keg parties and the like. We have many families with which we try to do things with occasionally but my problem is that our philosophies are so different. It always turns out that the Mom will threaten and/or spank when we are out at some point. I don't want to hang out with people that don't increase my enjoyment of life. Watching their littleones deal with mommy smacking them is too depressing.
I don't know what it is, with me so continually finding people like this. My personality I would guess. :-D I like dancing, hard music, and have sex on the brain a lot(4kids)8-0 that tends to make it hard for me to become good friends with the women that are kind considerate parents. People assume my seeming crassness doesn't allow for a gentle parenting ideal and being mindful of what I want my children's lives to be (for them by them)
I have to go but I just wanted to say I know how you feel. I too am under a self imposed mental health quarantine. I don't have time for people who poison my beliefs and who can't benefit from my influence. Sounds cold put that way and I'm really not meaning it that way but....? Honestly I only have so much time here.
Teresa in Canada
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
stand hanging out with people who say things like "maintain authority over my
kids", etc. >>>
This is why I have no good mommy 'friends'. Long story starting with being the only person in my/our circle of friends to have kids, eight years later we have the only four kids in our 'group'. Our friends love our kids and have included them in their wedding parties (5-6 of them) but they are not always doing things that the kids can participate in. Dance clubs, keg parties and the like. We have many families with which we try to do things with occasionally but my problem is that our philosophies are so different. It always turns out that the Mom will threaten and/or spank when we are out at some point. I don't want to hang out with people that don't increase my enjoyment of life. Watching their littleones deal with mommy smacking them is too depressing.
I don't know what it is, with me so continually finding people like this. My personality I would guess. :-D I like dancing, hard music, and have sex on the brain a lot(4kids)8-0 that tends to make it hard for me to become good friends with the women that are kind considerate parents. People assume my seeming crassness doesn't allow for a gentle parenting ideal and being mindful of what I want my children's lives to be (for them by them)
I have to go but I just wanted to say I know how you feel. I too am under a self imposed mental health quarantine. I don't have time for people who poison my beliefs and who can't benefit from my influence. Sounds cold put that way and I'm really not meaning it that way but....? Honestly I only have so much time here.
Teresa in Canada
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
ctbucknum@... writes:
I don't have time for people who poison my beliefs and who can't benefit
from my
was sick of people who only bitched and moaned and never did anything to make
their lives better.
People have to be honest and brave to hang with me! lol I know that sounds
bitchy, and cold, and superior, but hey, we all have our own standards, right?
~Aimee
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> I too am under a self imposed mental health quarantine. >>LOL, I like that.
I don't have time for people who poison my beliefs and who can't benefit
from my
> influence. Sounds cold put that way and I'm really not meaning it that wayI just didn't have the patience or the energy anymore, much less the time. I
> but....? Honestly I only have so much time here.
>
> Teresa in Canada>>
>
was sick of people who only bitched and moaned and never did anything to make
their lives better.
People have to be honest and brave to hang with me! lol I know that sounds
bitchy, and cold, and superior, but hey, we all have our own standards, right?
~Aimee
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Kelly Lenhart
> Also, how do I get over this weird desire to buy school supplies everyI don't sweat that! I'm a long time confirmed office supply junky! For two
> time
> school rolls around?<G>
> Nancy in BC
of my longest term jobs that was part of my job. Yummy fun.
Think of it as a bonus sale and just shop for yourself.
Kelly
[email protected]
In a message dated 23/08/2003 11:48:34 Pacific Daylight Time, AimeeL73@...
writes:
with, just so hard to keep my mouth shut!!!!!! Maureen and I have both had
people ask us about unschooling based on what they see our children doing,and
that is cool.
As far as the Authority thing, that woman was worried that the children would
be running wild in the streets, talking back to their parents and doing drugs
and having sex.I simply talked about mutual respect with her, but I don't
think she got it.I am not so articulate.
Must go looking for some 15cent glue!!!<G>
Nancy in BC
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
writes:
>Totally the approach I have had s o far, Aimee, and will probably continue
>
> I have no idea if you should freak them out, hehehe, or what that
> entails exactly, but if they get a bit shocked by you doing things a
> different
> way and that your kids are doing just fine, that's not that bad, is it?
> Or is
> that what their shocked about? lol
>
> Maybe don't make it about unschooling vs homeschooling but just your
> personal preference or approach, what works for your family.
>
with, just so hard to keep my mouth shut!!!!!! Maureen and I have both had
people ask us about unschooling based on what they see our children doing,and
that is cool.
As far as the Authority thing, that woman was worried that the children would
be running wild in the streets, talking back to their parents and doing drugs
and having sex.I simply talked about mutual respect with her, but I don't
think she got it.I am not so articulate.
Must go looking for some 15cent glue!!!<G>
Nancy in BC
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
The Burton Bunch
Just for fun today dd and I took the school supply list she would be using if in ps and priced out what it would cost to send her to 5th grade.......over $100 later (many of these items on sale....!) we looked at each other and laughed our way out of the store as we discussed all the fun we could/will have with that same amount of money. I don't know if that helps with the "want to purchase" feelings you are having but it sure cured mine! (g)
We are headed out on a mom/daughter camping trip the week after labor day for our "back to school" experience.....dad/son are gone fishing this weekend....no better way to celebrate the season if you ask me!
Jin
We are headed out on a mom/daughter camping trip the week after labor day for our "back to school" experience.....dad/son are gone fishing this weekend....no better way to celebrate the season if you ask me!
Jin
----- Original Message -----
From: LOWRIEK@...
To: [email protected]
Sent: Saturday, August 23, 2003 12:46 AM
Subject: [Unschooling-Discussion] A Rant About Homeschoolers
Yikes! Everyone is gone to the conference or is quiet. I can't stand it so
will laboriously type my rant with the hand on my unbroken arm.
My ds has never gone to school and we pretty much unschooled right from the
start, with the odd try at making him do some stuff to quell my fears. Stopped
that when I joined this list early this year, now we are much happier. I don't
get to hang with unschoolers much, Tim&Maureen the only family we see that
Unschool. We have become friendly with a number of Christian homeschoolers,
and enjoy their company. I smile politely when they discuss curriculum and math
and reading. the other day one of them called and was moaning about Sept
coming and having to gear up for school stff and decide what things to do with her
son. I said"Gee, if you were unschooling you wouldn't have to think about that
at all". She was not amused.
I often feel with regular school-at-home type HSers that I must not mention
the joys of unschooling my children, that they feel very threatened by it.One
woman was asking me about unschooling and kept coming back to her concern about
retaining Authority over her children. What is with this????
I want to be an advocate for unschooling, yet am not comfortable really
talking about it to these other homeschoolers because it seems to freak them out.
Any one else go thru this?What do you do?
Also, how do I get over this weird desire to buy school supplies every time
school rolls around?<G>
Nancy in BC
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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The Burton Bunch
Forgot to mention on last post -- we have the same situation as far as no other unschooling families in the nearby area. I have found the more comfortable I've become with our decision to unschool - the less concerned I am with what others think (actually I just don't care at all what others think -- I look at the kids and dh and see joy on all the faces....genuine happiness in being together. That's all I need to know we are doing the right thing!). I used to do a newsletter and will often still get calls and questions about the local group...I have no problem being myself and sharing my enthusiasm for our lifestyle and non-schooling choice. Most folks who call get very quiet and don't call back. It has been very empowering for me though. We have been unschooling for two years...homeschooling overall for three. After joining this list I let go of restrictions on tv, food and bedtimes. This has been by far the best decision we have ever made! I never would have gotten to where I am now without the support I glean from this list --- although as a rule I am simply a lurker.....Thanks though to all those whose words continue to inspire me!
Jin
Jin
----- Original Message -----
From: LOWRIEK@...
To: [email protected]
Sent: Saturday, August 23, 2003 12:46 AM
Subject: [Unschooling-Discussion] A Rant About Homeschoolers
Yikes! Everyone is gone to the conference or is quiet. I can't stand it so
will laboriously type my rant with the hand on my unbroken arm.
My ds has never gone to school and we pretty much unschooled right from the
start, with the odd try at making him do some stuff to quell my fears. Stopped
that when I joined this list early this year, now we are much happier. I don't
get to hang with unschoolers much, Tim&Maureen the only family we see that
Unschool. We have become friendly with a number of Christian homeschoolers,
and enjoy their company. I smile politely when they discuss curriculum and math
and reading. the other day one of them called and was moaning about Sept
coming and having to gear up for school stff and decide what things to do with her
son. I said"Gee, if you were unschooling you wouldn't have to think about that
at all". She was not amused.
I often feel with regular school-at-home type HSers that I must not mention
the joys of unschooling my children, that they feel very threatened by it.One
woman was asking me about unschooling and kept coming back to her concern about
retaining Authority over her children. What is with this????
I want to be an advocate for unschooling, yet am not comfortable really
talking about it to these other homeschoolers because it seems to freak them out.
Any one else go thru this?What do you do?
Also, how do I get over this weird desire to buy school supplies every time
school rolls around?<G>
Nancy in BC
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
ADVERTISEMENT
~~~~ 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]
[email protected]
LOWRIEK@... writes:
we talk about mutual respect, they have a barrier in their minds that that is
desireable, much less something to understand. It probably has nothing to do
with how articulate you are. It's probably just a completely foreign concept,
but the more she spends time with you and your kids....the more she'll see it
as a possibility.
It can be tough when people make their own assumptions about how you raise
your kids, and then have no idea what you're talking about. :-) When I said I
don't do "school at home" to my aunt, I think her brain froze. Conversation
ended. lol
Hang in there!
<<Must go looking for some 15cent glue!!!<G> >>
And ten cent protractors! And pencils and pens and notebooks! oh my! hee hee
~Aimee
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> .I simply talked about mutual respect with her, but I don'tMost people are coming from a totally different way of looking at kids, when
> think she got it.I am not so articulate.
we talk about mutual respect, they have a barrier in their minds that that is
desireable, much less something to understand. It probably has nothing to do
with how articulate you are. It's probably just a completely foreign concept,
but the more she spends time with you and your kids....the more she'll see it
as a possibility.
It can be tough when people make their own assumptions about how you raise
your kids, and then have no idea what you're talking about. :-) When I said I
don't do "school at home" to my aunt, I think her brain froze. Conversation
ended. lol
Hang in there!
<<Must go looking for some 15cent glue!!!<G> >>
And ten cent protractors! And pencils and pens and notebooks! oh my! hee hee
~Aimee
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
In a message dated 24/08/2003 12:05:12 Pacific Daylight Time, AimeeL73@...
writes:
glue was 67 cents!!
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
writes:
> And ten cent protractors! And pencils and pens and notebooks! oh my! heeDon't shop in Canada, the darn
> hee
>
glue was 67 cents!!
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Tia Leschke
> Don't shop in Canada, the darnBut that's .67 of a Canadian dollar, which is about .70 of a US dollar. And
> glue was 67 cents!!
you can bet that the minimum wage where that glue costs $.20 is nowhere near
the $8 it is here. It's all relative.
Tia
"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety
deserve neither liberty nor safety." Ben Franklin
leschke@...
[email protected]
In a message dated 24/08/2003 16:19:07 Pacific Daylight Time, leschke@...
writes:
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
writes:
>Good Point!!!
> But that's .67 of a Canadian dollar, which is about .70 of a US dollar. And
> you can bet that the minimum wage where that glue costs $.20 is nowhere near
> the $8 it is here. It's all relative.
>
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
In a message dated 8/23/2003 4:41:35 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
ctbucknum@... writes:
15).
They call a code Adam, the missing child alert, giving description and
clothing and such. This went on for probably half hour. Everyone was looking, the
doors were shut. We were lingering near the front waiting to check out and we
see a Walmart employee bring a tiny 2-3 year old frightened boy to his mother
who IMMEDIATELY takes him from the arms of the employee and starts WAILING
him then and there. My 23 year old dd walked up to her and said why are you
beating this child YOU are the one who lost HIM! I was stunned that the woman
was beating the child, stunned that my daughter approached the woman, stunned
that the employee yanked the child back from the mother, I just couldn't believe
what I had just witnessed. After it all was said and done (and the employee
made the mother promise not to hit the child and calmed the child down and
promised the little boy that Mom wouldn't hit him again) I was pretty proud of my
daughter to take such action and actually intervene in a situation like this.
There was one lady who tried to confront my daughter and tell her that it was
none of her business that the mother was just scared. Sarah again told her
why then HIT your child who is even more scared, and it was after all the
mother who LOST her child, should we all go beat the mother? The woman looked at
Sarah like she was an alien and walked away murmuring and shaking her head.
It was an odd day, sometimes in my town mothers get arrested for spanking
their children at the Walmart.
glena
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
ctbucknum@... writes:
> It always turns out that the Mom will threaten and/or spank when we are outWe were in Walmart over the weekend, both my daughters were with me (dd 23 dd
> at some point. I don't want to hang out with people that don't increase my
> enjoyment of life. Watching their littleones deal with mommy smacking them
> is too depressing.
>
15).
They call a code Adam, the missing child alert, giving description and
clothing and such. This went on for probably half hour. Everyone was looking, the
doors were shut. We were lingering near the front waiting to check out and we
see a Walmart employee bring a tiny 2-3 year old frightened boy to his mother
who IMMEDIATELY takes him from the arms of the employee and starts WAILING
him then and there. My 23 year old dd walked up to her and said why are you
beating this child YOU are the one who lost HIM! I was stunned that the woman
was beating the child, stunned that my daughter approached the woman, stunned
that the employee yanked the child back from the mother, I just couldn't believe
what I had just witnessed. After it all was said and done (and the employee
made the mother promise not to hit the child and calmed the child down and
promised the little boy that Mom wouldn't hit him again) I was pretty proud of my
daughter to take such action and actually intervene in a situation like this.
There was one lady who tried to confront my daughter and tell her that it was
none of her business that the mother was just scared. Sarah again told her
why then HIT your child who is even more scared, and it was after all the
mother who LOST her child, should we all go beat the mother? The woman looked at
Sarah like she was an alien and walked away murmuring and shaking her head.
It was an odd day, sometimes in my town mothers get arrested for spanking
their children at the Walmart.
glena
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]