stepping out from behind the lurkers' curtain
Lari
Hello,
My name is Lari and I have an 11 year old son, John. I remember when I was pregnant I started reading about homeschooling and TCS. I knew at the time that I was going to be a single parent - John's father has had no contact with us since about a year after John was born. Being whelmed with the idea of handling this alone, I put the idea of homeschooling to the back of my mind and just carried on.
All through the time he was in public school I mentally fought with myself and often raged at what was going on. And, just as I would be about to pull him out, something would change and it would seem that leaving him in would be best.
Just before Christmas 2002 I'd simply had it. His major Christmas present that year was my promise that he'd never see a public school again unless he *really* chose it for himself. I had joined this list before that and had already decided that unschooling would be the way to go for us.
It's been an... interesting... year... For the first few months we had the nanny he had always had with him during the day (I work full-time)... but, she had some VERY strong objections to the changes and quit last May. I have tried to find someone to be with him - but, for a variety of reasons, it just hasn't worked out. He's been on his own at home during the day for the last couple months. (keep in mind, we talk over a dozen times a day).
The deschooling has been difficult for me mostly. I was brought up believing that a good life was out of the question unless one did well in college. I keep having nagging fears in the back of my mind that I'm ruining his life. Still, I truly believe that I'm basically doing the right things. I know how little of the forced education I received has stuck with me. I know that he's learning and growing by leaps and bounds every day. He's an excellent reader - although he'll only read video game guides at the moment. But, then, how many of us read something we're not interested in to begin with?
Still - I come to this group day in and day out and want to thank you all for the incredible support you've given me - without even knowing it.
Blessings,
Lari
My name is Lari and I have an 11 year old son, John. I remember when I was pregnant I started reading about homeschooling and TCS. I knew at the time that I was going to be a single parent - John's father has had no contact with us since about a year after John was born. Being whelmed with the idea of handling this alone, I put the idea of homeschooling to the back of my mind and just carried on.
All through the time he was in public school I mentally fought with myself and often raged at what was going on. And, just as I would be about to pull him out, something would change and it would seem that leaving him in would be best.
Just before Christmas 2002 I'd simply had it. His major Christmas present that year was my promise that he'd never see a public school again unless he *really* chose it for himself. I had joined this list before that and had already decided that unschooling would be the way to go for us.
It's been an... interesting... year... For the first few months we had the nanny he had always had with him during the day (I work full-time)... but, she had some VERY strong objections to the changes and quit last May. I have tried to find someone to be with him - but, for a variety of reasons, it just hasn't worked out. He's been on his own at home during the day for the last couple months. (keep in mind, we talk over a dozen times a day).
The deschooling has been difficult for me mostly. I was brought up believing that a good life was out of the question unless one did well in college. I keep having nagging fears in the back of my mind that I'm ruining his life. Still, I truly believe that I'm basically doing the right things. I know how little of the forced education I received has stuck with me. I know that he's learning and growing by leaps and bounds every day. He's an excellent reader - although he'll only read video game guides at the moment. But, then, how many of us read something we're not interested in to begin with?
Still - I come to this group day in and day out and want to thank you all for the incredible support you've given me - without even knowing it.
Blessings,
Lari