tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9902677.post5865568174416154574..comments2024-03-19T01:35:10.559-04:00Comments on *: 10 Crazy, Life Changing Things that Homeschooling Has Taught Me So FarJonathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03547640380443175482noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9902677.post-88564571455193003972017-06-02T12:36:34.157-04:002017-06-02T12:36:34.157-04:00Hi Lauren! So, first you were one of my inspiratio...Hi Lauren! So, first you were one of my inspirations to go grey (now completely done and loving it) and now I'm back on your page prepping for homeschooling my 9 year old daughter starting September. The more I learn the more I know this is the right choice at this time for us for all the reasons you've said. We haven't started yet of course and I know we will learn so much as we get in to it. But thanks again for being such an inspirational and reassuring voice for me. Love Blaire Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06453981796867342132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9902677.post-82886862812810675302016-10-21T18:23:33.172-04:002016-10-21T18:23:33.172-04:00I was just thinking about you because my son is cu...I was just thinking about you because my son is currently playing a game with one of his online friends and it reminded me of you mentioning in your post that online friends count, too. He's been in hermit mode for the last year (adolescence is tough on sensitive souls) and prefers to make new friends online. (He still sees a few treasured "real life" friends in person but hasn't want to take any classes or go to any teen events lately.) The friend he's talking to right now is in Israel! How cool is it that kids today can find their tribe no matter where in the world they live. It's the same with us moms---we need to support each other and inspire each other. I'm happy if I can offer the tiniest bit of help to you, and know that your blog also helps me feel less alone. Your pal in Seattle,<br />Lilypad<br />Lilypadnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9902677.post-59234846038311414762016-10-21T16:56:52.351-04:002016-10-21T16:56:52.351-04:00Dear Lilypad,
Thank you so so much for your comm...Dear Lilypad, <br /><br />Thank you so so much for your comment. I remember your comments from last year!!! Thank you. Honestly, without the support of other homeschooling and unschooling mothers like you, it would be such a more difficult and lonely path. Thank you for your vote of confidence and sharing with us. It sounds like your son is thriving and that Seattle is an incredible place for tech-minded homeschoolers and unschoolers. I have to imagine it's a pretty great place for any homeschooling family no matter what their children are interested in! It's so nice to hear about "alternatives" to straight four-year college. It's nice to have options and choose the right fit. Also, I could not have said it better than you did about homeschooling/unschooling giving anxious kids (and their parents) the time to rest and breath. Thank you from my heart Lilypad! I'm glad that you're here. xoxoxoLaurenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05093968853372697053noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9902677.post-73253295991367689402016-10-21T12:28:57.351-04:002016-10-21T12:28:57.351-04:00Howdy, I haven't commented since November 2015...Howdy, I haven't commented since November 2015 and on your first homeschooling post in October 2015 but I wanted to thank you for this post. I had a lot of similar doubts when I first took my son out of school, particularly about college. But as time went on and we both relaxed and I learned more about it, I stopped worrying so much. Now that he's almost 15-1/2, I sometimes get stressed about where we go from here, but I try to trust that things will work out for him. He LOVES computers, everything about them from coding/programming to making and playing online games. We moved to this particular school district because they have a deal with a local technology institute for highschoolers to take classes at a greatly reduced rate. As of now, the plan is for him to start that next year at 16. There are also lots of "boot camps" locally (here in Seattle, it's tech heaven) where people study for a few months and then graduate with a certificate in a certain computer language or whatever and companies recruit graduates immediately, so he could do that, too. It's not cheap but it's way less than a full college degree, which he's never been too interested in. He's self-taught in all this (I couldn't code to save my life!) and I've enjoyed watching him learn amazing things. That he has the time to focus on this overwhelming interest is such a gift. There's no way he would have learned all of this if he also had to do hours of busywork homework each week. We've been unschoolers most of the time since he left school at age 8. We also read news articles and talk about politics, social issues, etc. as you mentioned. We want him to think critically and question authority and we respect his right to have his own opinions in life. That is so different than how I was raised, I hope he grows up feeling comfortable in his own skin, something I have never been. As an anxious child (with an anxious mother), that time to rest and to breathe and to take on the world at his own pace is priceless, as you know. (Plus sleeping in and not rushing around to get to school on time, and not arguing about homework saved our relationship!!) Best wishes to you on your journey and please keep posting about this. More people need to know about this lifestyle and its benefits.Lilypadnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9902677.post-23848370536612182602016-10-19T21:07:28.816-04:002016-10-19T21:07:28.816-04:00Thank you for sharing your story!Thank you for sharing your story!KristenMaryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06951163650993226852noreply@blogger.com