A Different Kind of Discipline

I used to believe that my kids were doomed because I was hopeless at disciplining myself - especially to finish stuff I'd started, but then when others look at what we've acheived in life - Robin and me - it usually amazes them. We're always getting told we do so much... We don't finish anything - well, not straight away. We have a dozen or more things on the go at once. It looks and is chaotic. We can't discipline ourselves to be centred on one job at a time until that jobs done... If we're lucky we'll get 90% of the way there and then we'll start on another project, or pick up one of the unfinished ones. It frustrates us sometimes, but only when we're trying to fit into what we think we *should* be doing...

At home we tackle projects and most chores with enthusiam - largely because we do them when we feel like it, or want to. If you visited on some days you'd think we were total slobs! :-) They're probably the days after several days of intense effort on some huge project, like laying pavers, making new guinea pig enclosures, bathroom renovations... (which still aren't finished one year later!) Because we do things when we are highly motivated we seemed more focussed, and definitely enjoy life more. :-)

I'm not convinced Robin and I are undisciplined, but it would sure look like it to someone who didn't know us. When we are ready to tackle something we approach it in a disciplined way. Plus, although we gave up punishing our kids in a traditional way when they were tots, we felt that our approach of discussion, negotiation and leadership instilled a better kind of discipline. Not that either of us were very good at that approach - we fumbled our way through and took ages to learn to let go of the need to bully the kids and ourselves.


© Beverley Paine

You may reprint the above article provided you include this information:
Have a homeschooling question? Become a member of the friendly Homeschool Australia Frequently Asked Questions email group. Visit Homeschool Australia for more original content. No time to visit the site? Subscribe to the FREE bi-monthly Homeschooling Australia Newsletter, or sign up for Daily Homeschooling Tips
Visit www.alwayslearningbooks.com.au for a great range of homeschooling, unschooling and books on natural learning!