4 ms·

Profound and to the point! I don't want my kids to go to the factory but I don't have the time/skills to school them myself. What should I do?

Animats 10y ago
Montessori school?
- bikamonki 10y ago
  Where I live the government legally forces all schools to comply with curricula, processes, schedules, etc. All alternative schools are either closed or have somehow broken their methodology in order to adapt and stay open. Hence, I will have no choice but to pick one of them (hopefully one that keeps most of it original philosophy in practice). Is it realistic to think that I can 'fix' my children in the off-school hours?
  - hooch 10y ago
    Mostly I think the "fixing" process is a matter of bringing an antidote to whatever energies it is that you're uncomfortable with, so for me it's making sure they have long stretches of time being gentle and playful and happy, and not interrupting them abruptly when they are blissful. So being present and patient, and not loud and pushy and "you have to" kind of thing. Be quiet and listen to them, help them to keep pets, read them books (when they are older, things like maybe Tom Sawyer) - and leave your work at work. And when they come to find you, look them in the eye and answer their questions, no matter how exhausting it might be. A big part of that for me was putting work aside and just learning to accept that my customers are going to come second for quite a while here (I've done many stretches of solo parenting). And all those times they aren't at school, weekends and holidays - invest the days. Wander into nature, go fossicking on a beach, take them camping, find creeks and waterfalls, build cubby houses, and.. keep quiet :) they will introduce more than enough excitement by themselves. Just my 2c
jonah 10y ago
Remember, they're your most important project.
- norswap 10y ago
  Except that the project has a life of its own :)
  - tonyedgecombe 10y ago
    and a mind of its own.
barry-cotter 10y ago
You may not have the time but believe me when I say you have the skills. If you can watch them to make sure they don't injure themselves and answer their questions you can do it. Try reading "A Natural History of Childhood" or "The World Until Yesterday"
- Hinrik 10y ago
  Google gives exactly 1 result for "A Natural History of Childhood", and it's not for a published work. Is the title correct?
  - bikamonki 10y ago
    This is the closest I found: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_childhood https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_childhood
  - barry-cotter 10y ago
    Sorry, I meant "Anthropology of Childhood" by David F. Lancy
TYPE_FASTER 10y ago
During the summer, when the days are longer, we walk up the street and into the woods. Maybe they'll see something and ask a question that will lead to a discussion. Maybe we'll look at the sidecut at the gravel pit we walk past and talk about glaciers. Maybe they'll be tired, get dirt in their shoes, and want to go home. Doesn't matter, just go outside. Relevant: https://haveabit.com/feynman/knowing-the-name-of-something/ https://haveabit.com/feynman/knowing-the-name-of-something/

Animats 10y ago

Montessori school?

bikamonki 10y ago
Where I live the government legally forces all schools to comply with curricula, processes, schedules, etc. All alternative schools are either closed or have somehow broken their methodology in order to adapt and stay open. Hence, I will have no choice but to pick one of them (hopefully one that keeps most of it original philosophy in practice). Is it realistic to think that I can 'fix' my children in the off-school hours?
- hooch 10y ago
  Mostly I think the "fixing" process is a matter of bringing an antidote to whatever energies it is that you're uncomfortable with, so for me it's making sure they have long stretches of time being gentle and playful and happy, and not interrupting them abruptly when they are blissful. So being present and patient, and not loud and pushy and "you have to" kind of thing. Be quiet and listen to them, help them to keep pets, read them books (when they are older, things like maybe Tom Sawyer) - and leave your work at work. And when they come to find you, look them in the eye and answer their questions, no matter how exhausting it might be. A big part of that for me was putting work aside and just learning to accept that my customers are going to come second for quite a while here (I've done many stretches of solo parenting). And all those times they aren't at school, weekends and holidays - invest the days. Wander into nature, go fossicking on a beach, take them camping, find creeks and waterfalls, build cubby houses, and.. keep quiet :) they will introduce more than enough excitement by themselves. Just my 2c

jonah 10y ago

Remember, they're your most important project.

norswap 10y ago
Except that the project has a life of its own :)
- tonyedgecombe 10y ago
  and a mind of its own.

barry-cotter 10y ago

You may not have the time but believe me when I say you have the skills. If you can watch them to make sure they don't injure themselves and answer their questions you can do it. Try reading "A Natural History of Childhood" or "The World Until Yesterday"

Hinrik 10y ago
Google gives exactly 1 result for "A Natural History of Childhood", and it's not for a published work. Is the title correct?
- bikamonki 10y ago
  This is the closest I found: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_childhood https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_childhood
- barry-cotter 10y ago
  Sorry, I meant "Anthropology of Childhood" by David F. Lancy

TYPE_FASTER 10y ago

During the summer, when the days are longer, we walk up the street and into the woods. Maybe they'll see something and ask a question that will lead to a discussion. Maybe we'll look at the sidecut at the gravel pit we walk past and talk about glaciers. Maybe they'll be tired, get dirt in their shoes, and want to go home. Doesn't matter, just go outside. Relevant: https://haveabit.com/feynman/knowing-the-name-of-something/ https://haveabit.com/feynman/knowing-the-name-of-something/