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Feeling lazy...
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Just a quick reply - you aren't lazy! Your kids are following what interest them and are enjoying life - all good IMO
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but when I ask dd#2 if she'd rather learn in a school, her answer is, "what? and miss all THIS?" And she is SO not lazy.
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Originally Posted by kayla14  i'm convinced we only unschool because i'm lazy |
but when I ask dd#2 if she'd rather learn in a school, her answer is, "what? and miss all THIS?" And she is SO not lazy.
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Thanks!
I had a good conversation with my husband last night, and he helped me realize that we are not doing this so I can feel like the most impressive mom, the goal is to raise life-long learners, kids who know what they can do, IYKWIM.
So I'm going to keep my eye on our larger goal, and just enjoy my kids and the wonderful weather.
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ZM
I had a good conversation with my husband last night, and he helped me realize that we are not doing this so I can feel like the most impressive mom, the goal is to raise life-long learners, kids who know what they can do, IYKWIM.
So I'm going to keep my eye on our larger goal, and just enjoy my kids and the wonderful weather.
ZM
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I know just what you mean!
I was getting really irritated the other day b/c I was going through my homeschool magazines. I ran across some articles about unschooling and they featured kids doing impromptu chemistry experiments and practicing musical instruments on their own. Normally, I get inspired with that, but today, I was just irritated b/c that's not what is happening right now for us!
We have had some "lazy days" b/c of my morning sickness and exhaustion, the kids are kind of fending for themselves. I felt like taking some pictures of what our unschooling was looking like, pictures of sibling squabbles b/c Mom was too tired to help them talk through the problems, the hours spent zoned into the video games and Netflix and sending those in to the magazine and saying, "THIS is also what unschooling looks like sometimes!" so other parents like me could relax a little when their kids aren't doing algebra for fun at the kitchen table.
BUT, after making myself engage the kids, we had a great connection moment (it involved breakdancing and my four year old after watching some YouTube together), the kids ran off and started getting quietly creative building Legos and Bionicles. It reminded me that sometimes taking a break and getting out of the house can recharge us all, but sometimes it's just connecting together that gets the needs met and the creative juices flowing. AND if that doesn't happen, and more "laziness" follows, not to sweat it, it will end eventually, and no one will be scarred for life.
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I was getting really irritated the other day b/c I was going through my homeschool magazines. I ran across some articles about unschooling and they featured kids doing impromptu chemistry experiments and practicing musical instruments on their own. Normally, I get inspired with that, but today, I was just irritated b/c that's not what is happening right now for us!
We have had some "lazy days" b/c of my morning sickness and exhaustion, the kids are kind of fending for themselves. I felt like taking some pictures of what our unschooling was looking like, pictures of sibling squabbles b/c Mom was too tired to help them talk through the problems, the hours spent zoned into the video games and Netflix and sending those in to the magazine and saying, "THIS is also what unschooling looks like sometimes!" so other parents like me could relax a little when their kids aren't doing algebra for fun at the kitchen table.
BUT, after making myself engage the kids, we had a great connection moment (it involved breakdancing and my four year old after watching some YouTube together), the kids ran off and started getting quietly creative building Legos and Bionicles. It reminded me that sometimes taking a break and getting out of the house can recharge us all, but sometimes it's just connecting together that gets the needs met and the creative juices flowing. AND if that doesn't happen, and more "laziness" follows, not to sweat it, it will end eventually, and no one will be scarred for life.
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This was the thread I needed right now. I have often felt lazy over the years but then I see my kids and how they are as they get older and they are just amazing. I agree about kids being able to pick up interests that aren't so common. My 11yo has suddenly become a military history buff. He knows way more than I ever have about that topic and is reading and memorizing facts. He also loves math. He was my really late reader. He started really reading and ten and read all the Harry Potter books in 3 1/2 months.
Somedays it would seem from the outside that we are doing nothing at all but all that nothing has sure added up to him growing into a very fine young man. My 17yo dd astounds me everyday. I have two little ones 4yo and 20 months and am excited for their educational journey. I wish I could shake the feeling of being lazy but for me it extends beyond this issue and was something that was told to me a lot as a child. I won't repeat that sort of upbringing for my kids. I honor them and what works for them. Sometimes lazy seems to work well.
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Wendi
Somedays it would seem from the outside that we are doing nothing at all but all that nothing has sure added up to him growing into a very fine young man. My 17yo dd astounds me everyday. I have two little ones 4yo and 20 months and am excited for their educational journey. I wish I could shake the feeling of being lazy but for me it extends beyond this issue and was something that was told to me a lot as a child. I won't repeat that sort of upbringing for my kids. I honor them and what works for them. Sometimes lazy seems to work well.
Wendi
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I think we all feel this way at times... as evidenced by the PPers! I think you are wise to step back and remind yourself of your larger goal. I recently realized that what I really needed to be doing was parenting the children in front of me, not the adults they may become. If the present is loving, engaging, stimulating, fun, and happy then the future will flow from that.
I also remind myself of all the things they "learned" in ps that they have completely forgotten now! I could be forcing a curriculum or something down their throats but they would be miserable now and still have nothing of lasting value for the future.
When I feel "lazy" I remind myself of how stressed we used to be and I KNOW this is better.
I also remind myself of all the things they "learned" in ps that they have completely forgotten now! I could be forcing a curriculum or something down their throats but they would be miserable now and still have nothing of lasting value for the future.
When I feel "lazy" I remind myself of how stressed we used to be and I KNOW this is better.
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Well, we're not unschoolers. We use a lot of curriculum and although we consistently drift more into the US camp, dd still requests online courses and curriculum. And, when we are paying for it and it has time limits, I am much more likely to remind her to work on it instead of projects she had envisioned for her day. Or at least I ask her to work on those classes before she is off onto her own thing!
Anyway, just so you know, even hs'ers doing lots of 'schooly' stuff have tons of days like you mention above. I think it is not only common for unschooling to look like that, I think it is a great thing for unschoolers and school at homers alike. Kids need those periods of fending for themselves. Life gets in the way of all sorts of things but that is learning too.
Originally Posted by greenthumb3 We have had some "lazy days" b/c of my morning sickness and exhaustion, the kids are kind of fending for themselves. I felt like taking some pictures of what our unschooling was looking like, pictures of sibling squabbles b/c Mom was too tired to help them talk through the problems, the hours spent zoned into the video games and Netflix and sending those in to the magazine and saying, "THIS is also what unschooling looks like sometimes!" so other parents like me could relax a little when their kids aren't doing algebra for fun at the kitchen table. |
Anyway, just so you know, even hs'ers doing lots of 'schooly' stuff have tons of days like you mention above. I think it is not only common for unschooling to look like that, I think it is a great thing for unschoolers and school at homers alike. Kids need those periods of fending for themselves. Life gets in the way of all sorts of things but that is learning too.
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Sure, everyone has days or moments like that that cause a feeling or worry or panic, as in "Am I doing enough?" or something to that tune. I was speaking to the unschooling side of things as it seemed to me the OP was asking about unschooling in general.
Originally Posted by mom2ponygirl Well, we're not unschoolers. We use a lot of curriculum and although we consistently drift more into the US camp, dd still requests online courses and curriculum. And, when we are paying for it and it has time limits, I am much more likely to remind her to work on it instead of projects she had envisioned for her day. Or at least I ask her to work on those classes before she is off onto her own thing! Anyway, just so you know, even hs'ers doing lots of 'schooly' stuff have tons of days like you mention above. I think it is not only common for unschooling to look like that, I think it is a great thing for unschoolers and school at homers alike. Kids need those periods of fending for themselves. Life gets in the way of all sorts of things but that is learning too. |
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I agree. I homeschool my children but there is a lot of time left in their day to pursue whatever interests them. I love it when I walk in on my DD in her room and she is putting sentences together with her sentence building game, doing puzzles or just drawing or writing all by her own choice.
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She never did that while in school last year.
Originally Posted by orangefoot Just a quick reply - you aren't lazy! Your kids are following what interest them and are enjoying life - all good IMO |
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LOL, me too.
OP, I totally get you. I worry that I'm doing my children a disservice by not making them practice writing more, or do more math, or whatever. They take music lessons and do some fun classes, but nothing truly academic that is going to help them with their written communication skills.
I have an extremely lazy 9yo son and I'm starting to worry about his future.
Originally Posted by kayla14 I get this! Some days i'm convinced we only unschool because i'm lazy and not because I truly believe in it. 
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OP, I totally get you. I worry that I'm doing my children a disservice by not making them practice writing more, or do more math, or whatever. They take music lessons and do some fun classes, but nothing truly academic that is going to help them with their written communication skills.
I have an extremely lazy 9yo son and I'm starting to worry about his future.
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This thread reminded me of a book that was recommended to me a while back that I've never gotten around to reading. They Myth of Laziness talks about personality traits that are misconstrued as lazy because they don't fit societal norms. It goes on to highlight how these personality types can flourish and be considered strengths in the right environment. I think I'm going to order this.
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Oh....I want to read that book!
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Originally Posted by joy_seeker This thread reminded me of a book that was recommended to me a while back that I've never gotten around to reading. They Myth of Laziness talks about personality traits that are misconstrued as lazy because they don't fit societal norms. It goes on to highlight how these personality types can flourish and be considered strengths in the right environment. I think I'm going to order this.
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