4Real Forums: Homeschooling, Loneliness and Community

Oh, Dearest Mother, Sweetest Virgin of Altagracia, our Patroness. You are our Advocate and to you we recommend our needs. You are our Teacher and like disciples we come to learn from the example of your holy life. You are our Mother, and like children, we come to offer you all of the love of our hearts. Receive, dearest Mother, our offerings and listen attentively to our supplications. Amen.

Active Topics || Favorites || Member List || Search || About Us || Help || Register || Login

Tea and Conversation
4Real Forums : Tea and Conversation

Topic: Homeschooling, Loneliness and Community

Author

Message

<< Prev Topic | Next Topic >>

Willa
Forum All-Star

Joined: Jan 28 2005
Location: California
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3881

Posted: July 21 2009 at 5:30pm \| IP Logged

I think you're right, Roxie... I remember once confiding in some hsing friends that I was afraid my kids were lonely and my friends consoled me that facing up to loneliness can sometimes be a blessing in disguise. Almost everyone needs to go through loneliness sometime in their lives, especially in religious vocations, probably.

I did think about it often in years afterwards since sometimes it seemed like God was actively trying to keep us from socialization -- immunesuppressed baby always going to dr's visits, gas getting so expensive, budget tighter, etc.

Not to excuse neglecting our kids' social lives -- I mean, it would be wrong to starve our kids of food but it can be wholesome to require them to eat very simply sometimes or temporarily deny the family even legitimate things like meat and sweets. It seems to me that it's similar with social things, a bit. There may be seasons where learning to handle solitude can have its bright side.

I think some quieter family seasons can also teach the children to get along with people who are actually more disparate than their friends -- their own siblings

.

__________________
AMDG
Willa
hsing boys ages 11, 14, almost 18 (+ 4 homeschool grads ages 20 to 27)
Take Up and Read

monica
Forum Pro

Joined: Feb 09 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 208

Posted: July 28 2009 at 7:41pm \| IP Logged

this posting is an answer to prayer. i actually found it through searching for posts on on loneliness. we moved here in march, and though i grew up in this town and know a lot of people i have struggled with loneliness and genuine friendships.

my son too expresses loneliness and when we have arranged playdates, sometimes he just gets his feelings hurt by mean friends. i have struggled with how to help him deal with this. part of me just wants to not get together with those kids anymore, but part of me knows he needs to deal with kids being mean.

where i am right now is to explore possibilities (both for him and me) of friendship and if they are healthy and kind exchanges, put those people on the "get together frequently" list. if i find that being with someone drags me down or my son down emotionally, then that person will be a "less frequently played with" friend.

im not sure if thats a good way to deal with things, but for a while i was just feeling like i had no one to talk with that didnt end up giving me a stomach ache.

my son and i are both extroverts and i think we outgoing people do need to be discipled by loneliness. let it be the flint that knocks off our needing to be around people edges. we need friends, we need peers, but we also need silence, solitude and prayer. one of the main reasons i havent joined facebook is i feel it would be a temptation for me to feel i have many "friends" and not really deal with loneliness.

thanks for all the wonderful sharing. it was really what i needed today
monica

If you wish to post a reply to this topic you must first login
If you are not already registered you must first register

<< Prev Page of 3
[Add this topic to My Favorites]

Printable version

Forum Jump

You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot create polls in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

Hosting and Support provided by theNetSmith.com