Im sorry we couldnt come to E’s birthday party; I should have e-mailed you before. We had a v important wedding that day. Since Alexis has gone back to live w/ her mother, I have a lot more time on my hands now, so if there are any meetings or whatnot about the democratic schools, please let me know!!!

I couldn’t agree with you more and I don’t find you to be a frowner/finger wagger — you were willing to help out & did help out when you could — to me you were being proactive and not just being persnickety. I agree about the common sense stuff as well, but like I said…what are you going to do once it’s done — do your best to prevent it from happening again & do your best with the clean-up.

As one who wrote a post about “unparenting” at NEUC, I wanted to respond.

My problem is not with the kids or their behaviors. I agree that it would have been helpful to have a place to play outside, or a media room, or something else for them to do. I just saw that Flo had a bouncy house at GV a few weeks ago! I also don’t get the whole arts and crafts room deal. IMO, that’s what a used A & C room looks like. I think the fact that the conference was on the lower floor made the running/craziness not such a big deal. It was contained.

I also don’t have a problem with people leaving their children with others while they go to talks and such. Drew and I watched a lot of people’s kids for them, as they did for us. If we saw a child needing help, we helped~happily. I love the idea of a community who looks out for each other. Kids being watched by a large group of caring and safe adults who want the best for them is one of the best parts of the conferences for me.

What I did have a problem with were young children being left alone without letting anyone else know where the parents were. (Sometimes the children weren’t even told the parent was leaving.) I also had a problem with very young children (3 years old) on the elevators without their grown ups knowing, the fact that the duct tape passion basket was completely taken apart/used/ruined, the knocking on doors late at night, the filling of the elevator with ice … just common sense things, you know?

I don’t believe that Unschooling means we aren’t responsible for making sure our kids are safe as well as respectful to others. If this is seen as me being a frowner/finger wagger… I guess I am ok with that

I am hoping that next year there will be some volunteering, as well as some new programs to help people feel more welcomed. I think that would be great.
And I’m glad to know how others feel about these subjects. Thanks for sharing your point of view.

My expectations for how a bunch of ostensibly “free-range” children cooped up in a hotel *should* act are much less than several quite vocal people who attended the conference. Apparently it’s easier to bitch about it afterwards rather than do/say something about it in the moment.

I don’t think your child is your problem…I don’t mind lending a hand, taking the lead or just holding the space for you, your child or both of you. I tend to ask myself what does this child need or what does their parent(s) need for me (or others) to find their actions more acceptable and then I try my damnedest to fulfill that need or point it out so that they can help themselves.

I don’t think ANYONE who is voluntarily attending an *Unschooling* (unschooling people, come on, unschooling) conference is practicing “unparenting”…they are doing the best they can in that moment and are probably trying with everything to do better — all while probably wondering why these freaking frowners/finger-waggers around them aren’t trying to help!