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Hi, everyone,

I wrote a discussion awhile back about my intention to start writing "Mom University" letters to my son--my reasons for doing so were numerous. I'll explain them, but first I'll explain what a "Mom University" letter is: It's a letter about academic subjects written mostly conversationally, although sometimes I do cut and paste stuff into them, especially when I am running low on time. I intersperse jokes and brain teasers sometimes, and I include pictures, diagrams, and charts, as appropriate. I write about psychology, neurobiology, geography, Spanish, literature, and sometimes other random subjects, though the listed ones are the core of my Sam's current curriculum. I don't cover every subject in every letter, because sometimes I have too much to say about one in particular. I include a little review and keep threatening to make a test, but haven't really done that yet.

My reasons for writing these letters include:

--Difficulty in getting books approved that I can order for him (five have been approved in going on five months)

--Concern over my son developing an identity related to his surroundings (maybe not totally avoidable, but I want to keep him as closely connected to me and to our family as possible)

--His problems with depression and anxiety that require him to have a focus

--My need to feel like I am doing what I can for him

--My desire to have my son learning "healthy" stuff instead of just getting a "jail" education

--My wish for him to remember the world outside of his currently constricted world

--A need to adapt mailings because some stuff--puzzles, pattern pages, examples of fonts for him to practice--gets pulled out of his mail apparently on the whim of whoever checks the mail (I'm a social worker, a pacifist, a vegetarian, and I pray and read scriptures. I'm apparently probably likely to send all kinds of trouble-making material.)

So, I wanted to follow up and suggest this to other moms and dads who might feel so inclined--my son loves them! After one such letter, he wrote to my and said, "I feel smart. I am smart. Jail is a game and I win!" 

He is not always positive, but this does help. 

If you would like a sample Mom University letter, send me a PM and I will be happy to send one to you. I am totally fine with if you want to send it to your child as it is or with modifications.

My best to each of us on this incredibly difficult and painful road, and to our children.