Getting better all the time

Friday was the annual NYCHEA Field Day – sort of an end of year gathering in a park with kids playing soccer, kickball…whatever.   This year the kids had a good time as usual, but it was what happened afterward that is the subject of this post.

You guys, teenagers are awesome.

I’m not being sarcastic here; not in the least.

I’d arrived at Field Day with Maya & Ben; I left with Maya, Ben and four friends, three of whom are teenagers (and at 12 years old, the other might as well be).    Upon our arrival at our apartment, we got a message from Maya’s friend Greta, also a teenager and in school to boot, that she was heading over to our place.   Seven kids at my place:  four boys, three girls with an age range of 9 to 15.

At one point they all wound up in Ben’s room, and I would periodically hear hoots of laughter and constant chatter.  For part of the time the girls disappeared into Maya’s room while the boys played on the Wii and played Minecraft.  After dinner  the girls decided to go out to Starbucks, and the boys stayed in and played “Just Dance” on the Wii.  (How I wish I had photos of that!)

Everyone got along.  Everyone piled to the living room for tacos (snacks) and later, Chinese (dinner).  The last guest departed at around 10:30pm.

Rather than dreading the teen years, I find that I’m enjoying the kids more and more the older they get.   The teens we know – most but not all of whom are homeschooled/unschooled – are funny, creative and amazing people.  I love having them around.

 

 

 

4 comments on “Getting better all the time

  1. KM says:

    Just came across your blog this week and have been both reassured and inspired. Thanks for writing about the unschooling journey.

    So timely that you posted this yesterday- my oldest child’s 13th birthday!

  2. Diane says:

    I also enjoy spending time around my daughter’s teenage friends. I purposely plan events, etc. at our home so we all get to spend time together.
    Blessings
    Diane

    • Yusuf says:

      I was actually lonokig for yoga preferably for homeschoolers and I came across your site. Thank you so much for sharing your story and experience. Although I am not new to the whole idea of this approach to education as they schools’ call it, I am new to homeschooling my daughter who is 7. We had a terrible experience and I made the decision to pull my daughter out believe it or not at my daughters request. She begged all of her 1st grade year and then into her 2nd grade year. I have been on this wonderful journey now since February 15, 2011 and overall loving the freedom of choice of her learning what interests her. Thank you so much. If you could please send some energy this way to never give up.With gratitude,Dolores

Leave a Reply to Amy Cancel reply

*