Hello homeschooling parents! Just a little update, and a question My son is in school this year, and I have to say it is a good year so far, with ups and downs, but generally it is a good experience. There is something my DS needs to learn, something I was not successful teaching him, it is to be more responsible, and that is what he is learning at school, and I am so pleased. We have our ups and downs along the ride. However I have to give a huge credit to our ps administration for being cooperative in making my son to adjust, they organize lunch pprograms for new kids, organize play groups, older grades are helping younger kids; there is one 8th grader is being assigned to each 5th grader to help with whatever they need. A question I am having to you guy, to see if you can help me to come up with some ideas. My son is going to be 11yo in a couple of months, I am amazed by how rapidly he grew out of his old hobbies into a new more mature one. For years he had model trains hobby, built the layout, spent lots of time going to shows, etc. I thought it wouls last forever, but no. This summer he got into engines and motors, he repared our old broken weed wacker, he took the motor apart, found a cracked plastic part, replaced it with the new one and voila - we had a working weewacker again. He got so satisfied and proud of himself, that he asked me to buy an old motor for him and dug into it onto details. He can easily explain how things are connected in a motor, and operates such language that I even don;t know where he got it from (well, probably from his Father, although they don't spend too much time together , quality time I mean, how sad). This weekend he tried to build a rocket; with no success; I am very little help, neither his father. I am just thinking if there is any interest clubs, or any other way how I can support his interest in motors. We are in rural wisconsin, as many know, I am a foreinger here in this country who does not know too much ways to connect with people. I Google our area in this regard, with no result. We have 4H, and they had engine group last year, but this year they cancelled it due to the the master quit this position. I got phone # from a person who brought bunch of motors to our local fair this summer, and he lives close by; but I don;t feel comfortable with the strangers in a private setting. Any ideas, guys? Thanks.
I was just going to add, that I treasure his quality drive to build and create, to learn something new instead of playing video games or watch tv. It is so important for me, and most of all- for him, to feed this hunger of doing healthy things. I have a fear that if he won;t find who he can work with enjoyng the process, and see the progress, he will drop it eventually and will plug himself into media etc. Husband does not seem being concerned, he is a huge tv fan himself; he has phylosophy that kids just grow up doing their own things and bother not parents, he considers watching tv as a quality time, I am so upset about it. Since he reatred tv is on all the time, morning into late night.
That sounds like a great skill! Unfortunately, I can't help you. But I hope you are able to find someone soon!
if he likes taking motors apart have you gone to like a small car shop and talk someone there and ask if they need help or place that fixes lawn mowers. Even if he just watch and works for nothing for awhile...
THank you , wonderful idea about car place, we have one in town and we know the owner, so it will be easy to ask him. Thumbs up!
Just checked with our local auto repair place, they can't help because of my son in underage; they can let him around when he turns 17
First, let me just welcome you back. I am so glad you popped in to say hi and give us an update on how things are going for you and your son. I am so, so happy he is doing so well. Is there another person you know who does mechanical work as a hobby? My son has learned a great deal by hanging out with my dad and lending a hand on all sorts of projects from building things with wood to changing oil and everything in between. Also, you might check with his science teacher or the high school shop teacher in case they have resources for you.
I'd keep trying with 4-H. I organize a community 4-H club. I think they are having a hard time everywhere with budget cuts and lack of organizers, but if you joined and volunteered to help you could go on a search for leaders for projects that specifically interest your son. 4-H does background checks on all of its leaders and provides support materials. Anyone can who passes an interview and background checks can be a leader. I think a mechanic might say yes to leading a four or five week 4-H project when he might say "no" to taking boy he doesn't know under his wing indefinitely.
