new 2 mothering hve lots of ?s

[Iona]

i'm new to the website so i'll gie some info on me and then ask all the questions i have never been able to find answres to about living and raising kids in MN.
I live in mpls, have 4 kids (ages 20 mnths - 10 years), have been in a loving and commited relationship with the same man for 5+ years.I work DT parttime while DD stays home with kids.
4 kids 4 very different birth stories.Have only been introduced to natural parenting in the past year, but been unknowiningly practice for baby 1. May or may not have a 5th baby sometime?

SO some of my ?s...:blah

Is home birth legal in Mn?

Are there any "Free" schools in mpls?

Are there any play groups in mpls who will openly accept a mom of 4 who is a young mom (27) and is open to a 20 mnth old and?or a 4year? Iam afraid to approach other moms at local parks because of the dirty looks:af I get.:crying

WEll thats it hope to hear from mommas in the area, are like minded,and of similar age.:p :angel

[DoulaSarah]

I can't answer most of the questions about schools in Minneapolis, as I don't have school agers yet, but I do have two children, one of them born at home last year.

It is legal to birth at home in Minnesota, as long as you aren't attended by a Certified Nurse Midwife. They can only practice in the hospitals. You can however, have a traditional(or lay) midwife or a certified professional midwife (which are the same thing basically - lay traditional can be certified) If you are interested in finding one, let me know!

[glad2bhome]

Had trouble posting for the poll--wouldn't go through. Anyway, I have 2 beautiful girls (2 and 4 years)! Question, though. Why do the moms at the park give you dirty looks?:confused:

~Melissa

[Iona]

Other mommas at the park give me ugly looks because I look so young and when I'm out with all 4 kids they don't approve.I try not to let it bother me but it does when they don't allow their chilodren play with mine or move to another part of the play ground.
when they pass judgement on my kids... :bang when I say I look young I mean young like 20, 22.

[glad2bhome]

That makes no sense to me!:angry I look even younger than that (try 16 or so) and I'm 30! I only have two but have not experienced anything like that. Are you in a ritzy area or something? I have experienced what I call the "snob factor" with some moms, usually when I talk about our beginning Waldorf school or my oldest (4) not being in preschool right now because I pulled her out the "cool" one because I didn't like it being so academically-based.

~Melissa

[battymomma]

i have 2 children, DS age 4 1/2 yrs and DD 2 1/2 yrs.
sorry you get dirty looks and feel uncomfortable at parks...have you gotten any info from a local momma about our Sat AM gettogethers? no dirty looks there!
hope to meet ya'll soon!
~paula

and sorry i missed this post earlier. i work FT so computer time is rare these days...

[mommy2andrew]

sorry your getting dirty looks from people. I look young to like 13 when Iam 29. I have a 3month old boy and I get looks to like at stores..oh well just think no matter how old we get will always look young..

[deb215]

Originally posted by Iona

Are there any "Free" schools in mpls?

Are there any play groups in mpls who will openly accept a mom of 4 who is a young mom (27) and is open to a 20 mnth old and?or a 4year?


by 'free schools' do you mean open school - kids work at there own pace and the teacher is there to help when needed. - if so I think there is one in roseville - I have to check into that more

where are you in Mpls? I work in south mpls in the seward neighborhood- franklin/ceder area (kids come with me to work)
Ds is 5 and dd is almost 3 and I am 35(but recently got carded :) )


did a google search and found this
http://www.mpls.k12.mn.us/schools/elementary/ao.andersen/

[TrishLynne]

The only "free school" I know of is Second Foundation:

http://www.sfs.pvt.k12.mn.us/ I've heard mixed reviews, though nothing terrible.

There are also several "open" schools in Mpls (Anderson is one, Marcy is another), but IMO they're not "free schools".

I've also got 4 kids, but I do NOT look young, more like *old*! LOL! And I'm only 33. :p

[browneyedsol]

Trish...LOL...you do too look *young*! :p AND beautiful!

School: There is a new school in NE mpls. It is a charter called New City School. It is K-5 and planning to expand through grade 8. It is not a "free school", but Responsive Classroom will be alive there. You can search that on google for info if you are curious. They will do arts integration also. We have visited twice and I am very impressed. I am a teacher. I prefer Waldorf and Enki education for my family. This school is quite different but I am very happy they are here and would encourage you to check it out if you are looking at schools! Many homeschoolers are deciding to enroll.

Terrance Kwame-Ross (administrator)
New City School
229 13th Avenue NE 55413
612 822 3422

and btw, I don't think I look so young either, but I have not been taken seriously on more than a few occasions because of my appearance. I have heard, "You don't look like a teacher." ?? Compliment? Insult? ...IRRITATING for sure!

:hippie

[battymomma]

brown--tried to google New city school, but with no luck...any exact links?

[becca29]

Sorry to hear you've gotten dirty looks from people. It's beyond me why so many people can be that way. I promise there are a lot of other much cooler and non-judgemental mamas out here!

I'm a Minneapolis public school teacher who's been in the district for 5+ years now. No matter what the school says their philosophy is, much of it really comes down to the individual teachers and their personal philosophies in their own classrooms. I know a lot of teachers who, although they teach in a regular neighborhood school, are very open, constructivist teachers, or personally use responsive classroom or similar ideas. They do some really wonderful things in a classroom! I also have heard about new schools opening up who have a great plan on paper but it turns into a disaster in reality. It all depends on the leadership qualities of the administration and whether or not the teachers are truly behind the philosophy of the school. My best advice is to visit as many schools as you can and chat with the teachers. That said, I also am a big fan of Waldorf! As devoted as I am to making the public schools the best they can be, by the time DH reaches school age, I just may have to make the switch (free tuition that way!!) :D

New City School sounds interesting though, I'll have to check it out!!

I get the same thing about not looking old enough too...or more often, not sounding old enough when I call parents. Drives me nuts!