Barb Eaton

Wendy,
I never went to college and have my own "gifts". I really dislike that
term because we are _all_ gifted in one way or another. I am an average Mom.
Nothing special other than I just try really hard to do the best for my boys
and the unschooling lifestyle is it.


Wendy you aren't limiting your son you are giving him the world as his
classroom. I can't see anything better than that. Following his interests
and talents. Celebrating who _he_ is now. The future is there for him to
grasp. How could that possibly limit him?

We all go through times of doubt. I've been there but as they say "this
to shall pass". These women want you to be just like them. One upmanship and
all that. A follower of the herd. Brake out from that corral and be that
wild mare/stallion. Stand by your convictions and lead the way!



Barb E
"The function of the child is to live his own life - not the life that his
anxious parents think he should live, nor the life according to the purpose
of the educator who thinks he knows what is best. All of this interference
and guidance on the part of adults only produces a generation of robots."
A S Neill




one of them told me that only people with
> higher education should unschool, and that you must be a very smart person
> to unschool. Do all of you have higher education and are you "Gifted". One
> girl told me that I was limited and that I shouldnt homeschool/unschool
> cause Im holding my son back.
> Im so hurt by these women. We have all been together since we got pg, last
> dec!
> Wendy



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In a message dated 1/13/2004 12:40:58 AM Eastern Standard Time,
homemama@... writes:
>>Wendy,
I never went to college and have my own "gifts". I really dislike that
term because we are _all_ gifted in one way or another. I am an average Mom.
Nothing special other than I just try really hard to do the best for my boys
and the unschooling lifestyle is it.<<
**********************************************************************
I am just a high school graduate, and my husband dropped out (later earned a
diploma in the military). But there are so many things I CAN do that many,
MANY average mom's were never taught (sewing, altering, knitting, spinning,
carding, (learning) weaving, gardening, butchering and skinning, building, masonry
work) that I just learned from living the way we do. We are not
survivalists, but if a great depression swept across the country I have no doubt my kids
and their kids could easily survive.

The house we live in was built entirely from the first boards nailed, by my
son (10 yo when we started, 15 now) and my husband, with the girls and I doing
a good deal of work too. I have no doubt my son could build his own house.

All of my kids are artistic, creative, and talented. They all dance and fool
around with musical instruments. Other than dance lessons, we've just given
them the TOOLS to be artistic, creative and talented with, and they've done
the rest.

But I seriously consider the kind of person they turn out to be the most
important, high above academics. They're all easy to get along with, kind to
others, crazy funny, independent, and strong in their convictions. I want them to
know, above anything, that THEY can make their lives happy if they choose to
be happy in whatever they do.

Nancy B. in WV


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