tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28663723.post4566008234926505448..comments2023-11-05T05:27:55.905-06:00Comments on A Homesteading Neophyte: Saturday Morning Ramblings.Phelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08250080326099834661noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28663723.post-84734397509329427032011-10-30T12:33:04.495-05:002011-10-30T12:33:04.495-05:00I was homeschooled and while it was the right deci...I was homeschooled and while it was the right decision in the early grades, it was NOT a good idea in high school and I ended up dropping out of Math. However, I'm homeschooling my own sons . . . but am flexible to letting them go to school when the time comes that I'm not able to teach them what they need to know. While I am a homeschooler, I do not think everyone should homeschool, since it's just not the right decision for all! Your method of staying involved with your kids and their lives sounds ideal, good job!Expat Momhttp://expatmom.infonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28663723.post-13865727905628837672011-05-10T09:44:29.343-05:002011-05-10T09:44:29.343-05:00I just came over from Skippy's and had a littl...I just came over from Skippy's and had a little back read. This is interesting. I think my parenting was much like yours in many ways. The attitude similar. I did not rebel so much when I was young outwardly. As an adult, I have received a lot of flack for my far from extreme but "colour of the month" hair. I encouraged my kids to express themselves with their hair because - it's only hair! Mistakes can be cut, died or grown out. Even though my kids weren't terribly extreme, many parents were shocked anyway. Frankly, I'd laugh at them. I was never of the mind that my kids could do no wrong and I believe that realism kept them from going too far in anything. I knew they would drink underage and gave them safety guidelines. The same with drugs. I told them that I could forbid them from trying many things but I wasn't with them 24 hours a day so really, they could do whatever they wanted. It was up to them to make wise decisions and to realize that some bad choices could not be unmade - they'd live with the consequences. I think openness and honesty and making home a safe place kept them grounded. Many of their friends - whose parents were very strict - were far wilder. And their parents were totally unaware what their little angels were up to. My kids have all become quite respectable and productive members of society. I'm sure that many of theirs have too. There is more than one parenting style that works.Jeanniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15320507412459242451noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28663723.post-22913128639622919352011-05-09T14:58:38.328-05:002011-05-09T14:58:38.328-05:00The normal kids picked on me for being too differe...The normal kids picked on me for being too different and the different kids picked on me for being too normal. WTH. I made it work :)Alexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01354677900640670616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28663723.post-2436691485531644122011-05-09T08:33:28.511-05:002011-05-09T08:33:28.511-05:00Flat top Alex, really? You were a dork weren't...Flat top Alex, really? You were a dork weren't you? ;) Mine was dreaded and plum purple at 14. hahaha!Phelanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08250080326099834661noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28663723.post-56335993410862040832011-05-09T08:09:26.158-05:002011-05-09T08:09:26.158-05:00I think it can absolutely be done. I'm a prod...I think it can absolutely be done. I'm a product of public schools as are my sister and brother. We're all grown and all productive members of society....as least I think we are, LOL. My oldest son is 5 and starting his journey through school. I can see that we might have some rocky patches in the road, but my folks had some rocky patches with me too. There just isn't any substitute for parental involvement IMO. Seems to me that you're right on the money.<br /><br />PS - I never had blue hair, but I did have a flat-top at 14 years old. That caused me some anguish from the cool kids ;)Alexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01354677900640670616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28663723.post-17755592221276689012011-05-08T07:55:27.934-05:002011-05-08T07:55:27.934-05:00I agree with SkippyMom. If your kid is a good kid,...I agree with SkippyMom. If your kid is a good kid, they'll do well wherever they are. If they're not, they'll find trouble or it will find them. Parental involvement makes all the difference in any kind of educational setup you have. We weren't overly strict with our kids. They were taught early on what is right & wrong, and they were disciplined only when necessary. We saw a lot of kids from families that were too strict and controlling, and the kids were scared to make decisions on their own and later rebelled and made really bad decisions, or the parents were too liberal and the kids were roaming the streets at all hours of the night. There's a happy medium.<br />My kids went to both public & Catholic schools at various times during their childhoods and they're doing fine. Don't sweat it. If they're happy, well adjusted kids, then you're doing something right.<br />As for the blue hair, go for it! Tell your neighbors that your choosing your battles and this one isn't a big deal when you look at the big picture. If this is the worst thing they can say about him, you're very lucky. Some people need a life, don't they?<br />I also think that in this day and age, kids NEED to have computer skills to compete in the world, so getting one was a good thing for your kids. It definitely gives them an edge when they look for jobs and colleges and whatever they end up doing with their lives.<br />You're a good Mom. Your kids will be just fine. Don't let the haters get to you!kathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08602883597772387316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28663723.post-85102408997370121672011-05-07T15:14:42.672-05:002011-05-07T15:14:42.672-05:00Amen to parental involvemen! Just like a garden, ...Amen to parental involvemen! Just like a garden, you cannot just plant the seeds and come back three months or so later and harvest a great crop. Neither can you turn the kids loose and check in years later and hope to find a courteous well mannered adult. I think one of the biggest problems today is that some parents are afraid of making their kids mad and losing them to the point that the kids rule the place. Again just like in the garden you can't start a tree off and forget about it and expect to find a straight well balanced tree, and neither can you try to straighten it up once every year or so. On the other hand it only takes a few gentle nudges here and there to keep it on the straight and narrow, if you start when they are young.Bob from Athenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14124078025732286371noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28663723.post-40176976443697396642011-05-07T12:49:24.207-05:002011-05-07T12:49:24.207-05:00With 5 kids that went through the public school sy...With 5 kids that went through the public school system [one is still there at 13] we have one in college on scholarship, one in the military serving his country, one who is in management and earns enough to support himself at 21 and Pooldad's eldest owned her own home at 21 [she is now 22]. So, in my opinion public schools can work but the trick, imo, is parental involvement. Know the teachers, know the homework, know the rules of the school and most of all know your kids' friends.<br /><br />Kids don't come with manuals and I don't claim to be a perfect parent [so far from it], but basic common sense goes a long way to navigating the public school system. The resources are there, it is what you and your children do with them that is important.<br /><br />All that said, I think homeschooling is just fine and works for 1,000s of families. Heck, two of the last five Scripps Spelling Bee Winners were homeschooled children - I say to each his own. Do what is best for you and what is within your comfort zone. <br /><br />I would never deign to tell someone their choice was wrong in regards to their kids - the same as I don't expect anyone to tell me how to raise mine.<br /><br />[wow, that was really long.]SkippyMomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09479661523059481730noreply@blogger.com