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Writing Poetry

by Beverley Paine, Dec 1999

Just been doing some poetry writing with the boys (16, 12). I noticed Roger has very little trouble and is enthusiastic, or as much as he can be with a fever, shakes and a headache and sore chest... but Thomas just struggled. I can see he wants to get those words down, and I can see that his writing has improved enormously over the last few months - even with very little practice as per the norm in this house.

The poetry was just an exercise I put in his way so that he can enter a poetry competition. His short story is already to go, and is 99% his own effort, in his own time, for his own reasons. Another lesson for me, perhaps?

It is interesting to watch Thom struggle with communicating his ideas. In this he is so much like his father, who even know can't find the words. Unlike him though, Thomas has the words there, just not fully formed, so I think he will be like his brother. Roger used to have problems too, but now at 16 it just comes so easily. I wonder if their dad's natural development in this area was stifled by a regular high school education where there was no choice in activity?

Once again I am reminded of being patient - of not pushing Thom into uncomfortable areas too quickly, too deeply, too often. We went for a walk collecting kindling and talking about friends and animals to recoup some battered self esteem.

This is homeschooling.

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