Replies to '11/24 Great School Debate'

Our daughter isn't "below average", she's on there somewhere, but she's just a naturally petite child, and we love her to bits.

Yeah, my own definition is not entirely "hands off".  Parenting is not a "hands off" operation, I mean we have to feed them, clothe them, guide them, seek help when they're sick, etc.  I feel for those who believe that "unschooling" is "hands off", especially for those who feel the need to apply it with their own children.

I often say that it's "hands off" in my case, but when I really dig down and think about it, it isn't.  Parenting is about sharing and guiding, and offering a piece of yourself to their lives.  At times that might mean saying, "I don't care if you don't feel like it, put your coat and shoes on and come with me!  We're going!", or "Yes, I really want you to do NaNoWriMo this year." 

People can't live in the same house comfortably without sharing opinions and offering feedback, etc... it's not even really a part of parenting, it's just the basics of coexistence with another person!  I'd not feel too comfy around my husband if we never exchanged ideas or shared anything with each other.

I hope your friend's daughter will eventually have a desire to write more.  Perhaps something will strike her fancy and she'll pick it up.  I have a friend who graduated highschool, and she gave it an honest go, but writing and reading are her weaker subjects.  She's going on to get an early childhood degree (a career she will excel in, she used to mind my own children on occasion), but even though her writing is not college level, she can communicate effectively and that works for her.  (She even took some courses outside of school to improve her writing - it did help her quite a bit, but it's still not her best subject).