[email protected]

I just am in a predicament. My DD12 just has virtually no interests.
EVERYTHING is boring. She only wants to watch talk shows and sitcoms on TV.
ALL day. This has been going on for about a year.
She use LOVE to write and wanted to get published. She has written some
poetry and short stories but I can't find a magazine to publish unsolicited
things especially from kids.

I am having so much trouble understanding the "everything is boring" idea. I
have always been the type of person that can find something interesting in
just about every subject. She, like her father, is the complete opposite. I
have some things available to her but resources are limited so I do not
have an abundance of projects. I usually have to wait until they show
interest and try and do things that are free or inexpensive.

She has told me that she wants to start collage at 15 or16. She wants to be
a freelance writer and get a degree in journalism. I explained that if she
has goals than there are things she need to do to reach those goals and that
sometimes it is hard work. For example, the idea of taking remedial algebra
in collage (something I had to do) is not something she wants to do.. I told
her than she would have to learn it before hand and score high enough on her
entrance exam so she didn't have to (like her daddy did) I scored VERY low
and took 2 years of remedial stuff. She doesn't know why she has to take
those things and personally I do not understand either but it is the
requirements of a 4 year collage.

The problem is she has these goals that she wants but does not want to put
for the effort to achieve them. How do i encourage her to meet these goals,
without pushing? Is it possible, someone who does not possess the.....ah...
desire for knowledge become passionate about things? To be fair both her and
her father are like that about everything. They show little or no excitement
about things (very difficult to buy gifts for ;) ).

I don't know maybe I am just way off base. I want to do the right thing by
her.

Mihcelle

Ps she has never been to school. We were for a few years VERY VERY
relaxed homeschoolers. We did worksheets because she wanted to and did not worry about where she was. I figured she would learn things at her own pace.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Jon and Rue Kream

>>I can't find a magazine to publish unsolicited
things especially from kids.

**Stone Soup publishes kids' writing:
http://www.stonesoup.com/main2/sendwork.html. ~Rue


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

pam sorooshian

My daughter had a poem accepted to be published in Cicada Magazine. We
don't get it - I'm not sure if it ever appeared - it has been just
about one year and I think they said that they had a 1 year lead time.

But, my daughter, the poet, says, get a copy of "The Poet's Market" to
find out where to send them. Also, she should create her own 'zine.
Also - there are wonderful poetry email lists where people share their
poems and talk about them with each other.

Also - take her to poetry slams and open mike nights at places where
people read their poetry. This is popular these days, you should be
able to find some.

There is usually poetry-writing workshops at the HSC conference in
Sacramento in August - and other very very inspiring teen stuff - a
whole teen conference. Susan Woodridge has been very popular - you
might look into her and see if she has books or tapes or workshops in
your area.

However - I have to say - your daughter is only 12 and this lack of
interest in things seems like it might be a sign of depression. Maybe
your husband is depressed too - it tends to run in families, I think.
Have you considered that possibility?

-pam
On May 17, 2004, at 3:03 PM, Jon and Rue Kream wrote:

>>> I can't find a magazine to publish unsolicited
> things especially from kids.
National Home Education Network
<www.NHEN.org>
Serving the entire homeschooling community since 1999
through information, networking and public relations.

pmteet

Thanks! I will check into all those things. She is more interested
in her stories and possible book reveiws than her poetry.

As far as depression, if the lack of interest came on all of a
sudden, I would be concerned. However, she was born this way, so was
hubby. Just lately she seems like it is intensified. Also she shows
no other signs of depression. I am trying to see if it is related to
her cycle. I get VERY moody during mine.
It just seems a little much to watch THAT much tv with nothing else
in her life. I try and encourage her or ask if she wants to do
something I just get a shrug. She comes right out and says nothing
really interests her THAT much.

I know it is how they are but it is hard for me to relate since I am
the complete opposite. I guess i need the more definative
answers...YES... NO.... Go to hell ;) ANYTHING but i guess, I
suppose, ok all said in monotone. Is this just my hang up?

Michelle

[email protected]

In a message dated 5/17/04 3:56:34 PM, pmteet@... writes:

<< She has written some
poetry and short stories but I can't find a magazine to publish unsolicited
things especially from kids. >>

Maybe she could work on building a website and put her stuff there.

-=- I usually have to wait until they show
interest and try and do things that are free or inexpensive. -=-

The "have to" seems wrong. You don't "have to" wait and you don't have to
suggest things that cost money.

Here are some pre-formed ideas (or pre-written anyway) you might swipe from
liberally:

http://sandradodd.com/museum
http://sandradodd.com/checklists
http://sandradodd.com/truck
http://addy.com/mhegener/HEM/HEM156.98/156.98_clmn_nschl.html


Sandra

J. Stauffer

<<<<< The problem is she has these goals that she wants but does not want to
put
> for the effort to achieve them. How do i encourage her to meet these
goals,
> without pushing? >>>>>

I would suggest letting them be HER goals and to simply stay out of it
unless she solicits your advice.

<<<< I usually have to wait until they show
> interest and try and do things that are free or inexpensive. >>>>>

Quit waiting on her. Get out there and live your own life. Do fun and
exciting things. Ask her to join you. If she doesn't, then she doesn't.
But sitting around waiting on her to get excited is just going to make both
of you resentful.

Julie S.




----- Original Message -----
From: <pmteet@...>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, May 17, 2004 1:23 PM
Subject: [UnschoolingDiscussion] I need hellp


>
>
> I just am in a predicament. My DD12 just has virtually no interests.
> EVERYTHING is boring. She only wants to watch talk shows and sitcoms on
TV.
> ALL day. This has been going on for about a year.
> She use LOVE to write and wanted to get published. She has written some
> poetry and short stories but I can't find a magazine to publish
unsolicited
> things especially from kids.
>
> I am having so much trouble understanding the "everything is boring" idea.
I
> have always been the type of person that can find something interesting
in
> just about every subject. She, like her father, is the complete opposite.
I
> have some things available to her but resources are limited so I do not
> have an abundance of projects. I usually have to wait until they show
> interest and try and do things that are free or inexpensive.
>
> She has told me that she wants to start collage at 15 or16. She wants to
be
> a freelance writer and get a degree in journalism. I explained that if she
> has goals than there are things she need to do to reach those goals and
that
> sometimes it is hard work. For example, the idea of taking remedial
algebra
> in collage (something I had to do) is not something she wants to do.. I
told
> her than she would have to learn it before hand and score high enough on
her
> entrance exam so she didn't have to (like her daddy did) I scored VERY low
> and took 2 years of remedial stuff. She doesn't know why she has to take
> those things and personally I do not understand either but it is the
> requirements of a 4 year collage.
>
> The problem is she has these goals that she wants but does not want to put
> for the effort to achieve them. How do i encourage her to meet these
goals,
> without pushing? Is it possible, someone who does not possess
the.....ah...
> desire for knowledge become passionate about things? To be fair both her
and
> her father are like that about everything. They show little or no
excitement
> about things (very difficult to buy gifts for ;) ).
>
> I don't know maybe I am just way off base. I want to do the right thing by
> her.
>
> Mihcelle
>
> Ps she has never been to school. We were for a few years VERY VERY
> relaxed homeschoolers. We did worksheets because she wanted to and did not
worry about where she was. I figured she would learn things at her own pace.
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
>
> "List Posting Policies" are provided in the files area of this group.
>
> Visit the Unschooling website and message boards:
http://www.unschooling.com
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

nellebelle

I took algebra in middle school, liked it, and did very well in it. I still
had to take it over in college because I'd forgotten most of it by then. I
did actually need some algebra for use in science classes, but if she is
planning for a degree in Arts (writing, journalism), rather than Sciences,
she will probably not *need* much algebra.

Mary Ellen

----- Original Message ----- I explained that if she
> has goals than there are things she need to do to reach those goals and
that
> sometimes it is hard work. For example, the idea of taking remedial
algebra
> in collage (something I had to do) is not something she wants to do.. I
told
> her than she would have to learn it before hand and score high enough on
her
> entrance exam so she didn't have to (like her daddy did) I scored VERY low
> and took 2 years of remedial stuff. She doesn't know why she has to take
> those things and personally I do not understand either but it is the
> requirements of a 4 year collage.