tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7065800792644424536.post272152081000048941..comments2009-04-07T17:03:04.862-07:00DMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06820905940304729280noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7065800792644424536.post-63111184228644383812009-04-07T17:03:00.000-07:002009-04-07T17:03:00.000-07:00The biggest "con" for me about unschooling is that I just don't want to feel like I'm "on duty" 24 hours a day. I want to have "school hours" and then hours where I can write, or do artwork (hmm...where ARE those hours, exactly?) where I can tell my kids to go the heck away without feeling like I'm not supporting their learning. Maybe if they were more self-directed, and not prone to just whacking each other with foam swords if I don't tell them to sit down and focus...SUE LANDSMAN--http://www.blogger.com/profile/17197663632372716344noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7065800792644424536.post-51407770101233478512009-04-02T15:53:00.000-07:002009-04-02T15:53:00.000-07:00I found your blog through a Google search for 'unschooling' and I felt I had to comment... I'm a lifelong unschooler, and I certainly don't live in a big house! Not all that much nature around, either. But that's never been a problem. I also know unschoolers who live right in large cities (I'm in the suburbs of a large city myself) and a city has as much enrichment around as the country does! Also, I wouldn't say my parents put a huge amount of time and effort into making our house an especially "enriching environment"... Lots and lots of books, mostly secondhand, and being supported in whatever interests I had were what made my childhood, and learning, so wonderful. I'm not trying to push anything on you, and I really don't want to come across as if I am, I just hate seeing families that are being stressed by learning, since learning isn't supposed to be stressful! <BR/><BR/>Peace,<BR/>IdzieIdziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12782266545123946006noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7065800792644424536.post-74045122749411368632009-04-02T15:29:00.000-07:002009-04-02T15:29:00.000-07:00Sure, I'll take him if you take the 15 year who has given me about a million more gray hair this year trying to learn to drive.<BR/>I once actually had to grab the wheel before she drove us off the side of a large concrete bridge. She actually had the nerve to get indignant with me. She now will only drive with her father.<BR/>She told me today that "once I have mastered the skill, then I will come to you and allow a critique".<BR/>Of course this is on top of all the normal (ha!!!) girl hormones and monthly poo that goes on where I am the devil incarnate and "no one understands me". <BR/>Yours is starting to look better and better, how's next week for the trade look to you ?Chrystalnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7065800792644424536.post-56066773584292469542009-04-02T12:32:00.000-07:002009-04-02T12:32:00.000-07:00Our Aspie son is driving me nuts most days! I think much of it is my own fault. I think part of it is the Asperger's and me forgetting that I have to establish my own boundaries. Early every morning my son throws open our bedroom door, switches on the lights, and starts talking, about God knows what, in a booming voice. He is awake and ready to start the day- we usually are not. I actually used to feel guilty for sending him out of the room without discussing whatever his issue of the moment was... then I started considering that I couldn't live with him if this kept up over the next 11 years (before I can legally boot him out). One of us was going to die if I didn't have more privacy and alone time. Slowly, very slowly, I'm reclaiming my privacy and right to quiet time (very difficult in a house where one or more children will just not SHUT UP at any given moment). Keep going. You're being a great mom and teacher when you teach them to respect your time away from them. Also, the gypsy thing has merit- I just can't ever find the gypsy encampment. If anyone knows of one- send me directions, please.Janethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17615575846268382329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7065800792644424536.post-52366758544958521082009-04-02T12:19:00.000-07:002009-04-02T12:19:00.000-07:00No fair! You stole my post! I could have written every word you wrote, times 3! :) <BR/><BR/>My sons are thought to be gifted, but the one gifted characteristic they didn't seem to get was a consistent, ceaseless drive to learn. It's hit or miss at best.<BR/><BR/>About the time I get where you are today and am surfing to see if ebay has lifted the ban on auctioning them, they pop up with some clever thing. Suddenly, I realize (a) SOMETHING sunk in!! and (b) they would never have been exposed to it in a traditional learning setting. At that point, the welts on my forehead from bashing my head against the wall begin to seem worth it. <BR/><BR/>Just wait. Your clever moment is coming. Really.Anniehttp://www.learnateveryturn.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7065800792644424536.post-64911927462185879662009-04-02T09:51:00.000-07:002009-04-02T09:51:00.000-07:00"After that page, can we have a snack?"<BR/><BR/>"When we finish that, can we go outside?"<BR/><BR/>"How much more until we can watch t.v.?"<BR/><BR/>"Can't we do math first?"<BR/>"Can't we do reading first?"<BR/>"You said we were going to do history first! We can't do science first if you said we were going to do history first!"<BR/><BR/>"I tried to read it, but it was boring."<BR/>"I tried to read it, but I lost my bookmark."<BR/>"I tried to read it, but then I forgot."<BR/><BR/>And that's with a 10yo, 6yo, 5yo, and a toddler underfoot. Do I want yours? Not particularly, but I have a feeling I'd barely notice if he just showed up one day!<BR/><BR/>The crazy thing is, my kids prefer "real school work" to unschooling. They're just not happy unless they're whining about being unhappy.PearlsOfSomethinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00556762942820471504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7065800792644424536.post-47900869782009814162009-04-02T09:28:00.000-07:002009-04-02T09:28:00.000-07:00Want him? No, no. One is enough for me.<BR/><BR/>But, lately, I've also been discovering precisely why kindergarten begins at 5 or 6, and why parents are so relieved when that day comes...<BR/><BR/>Ok. Off to deal with my son's demands. His? "Help me with this video game that I'm playing."<BR/><BR/>"How do you want me to help?"<BR/><BR/>"Kill all the monsters so I can go to the next town."<BR/><BR/>"Umm... if I kill all the monsters, then I'm PLAYING the game FOR you, not 'helping' you. I'll 'help' you, but I need to check my email, eat breakfast, and take a shower first."<BR/><BR/>"OK."<BR/><BR/>Two minutes later:<BR/><BR/>"Mommy, are you helping me?"<BR/><BR/>Me, pouring cereal into bowl. "Uhhh... No."<BR/><BR/>"When will you help me?"<BR/><BR/>"When the planets are in perfect alignment, hell freezes over, pigs fly, and your father votes Democrat."Wendy Hawksleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593137825372581921noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7065800792644424536.post-67772934620394534812009-04-02T09:22:00.000-07:002009-04-02T09:22:00.000-07:00There are two main reasons that my child has not been sold to gypsies at some point during the past 14 years 1 month and 25 days.<BR/><BR/>1. I am a big procrastinator.<BR/><BR/>2. Gypsies move around a lot and are not always conveniently located on the days I actually get up enough motivation.<BR/><BR/>There is always tomorrow.Torihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17954437758084028622noreply@blogger.com