A note before you listen to this week’s episode:
Episode 107 is only a conversation starter. I’m sure my thoughts are incomplete.
Sometimes we have to work at jobs that we’d rather not do because we have families to support. My husband Andy was in this situation for many years so I understand how it might not seem possible to resign from such a job to follow a dream. However, perhaps there’s still room in our lives for a little unschooling. We might find a way to use our talents in whatever kind of job we have. Maybe we can watch out for an opportunity to turn down a different pathway. Whatever we do, we need to keep learning and keep striving to be the people we are meant to be… just like our kids.
Yes, this week I’m asking:
Is unschooling for everyone? Can anyone unschool? Should we all, whatever our situations, live an unschooling way of life?
Also:
Why do most of us have a need for ‘likes’? Why is our self-worth dependent on the opinions of other people? And is it different for our unschooling kids?
Should parents be friends with their kids? Is it okay for parents to demand obedience? Or does obedience, no questions allowed, destroy the connection between parent and child?
Show Notes
Nancy Shuman
Blogs:
Book:
Imogen Elvis
The Rains of Castamere music video
Podcast
Episode 91: How Unschooling is About Being Connected with Our Kids
Podcast music
Twombly by Podington Bear, (CC BY-NC 3.0)
Thank you for listening to this episode. If you enjoy my podcast, please consider writing an iTunes review and sharing the link so we can spread the word about unschooling!
Image: A few days ago, Imogen and I had lunch together at the cafe where Sophie works. We took along our computers and worked while we ate. I put together the notes for this podcast which were the result of a conversation that Imogen and I had had on the way to the cafe. Car journeys are a wonderful opportunity for chatting and mulling over ideas with our children, aren’t they?
So what are your talents and dreams? Do you think it’s important that our kids see us learning and growing and doing some kind of good work of our own? Let me know what you think!
Hi Sue!
I’ve been absolutely swamped, so I haven’t been able to drop by your site as often as I’d like.
A few thoughts on your show notes:
Our family has been lucky enough to pull off unschooling with our work schedules so far, and so far, we’re very happy with how it’s worked out!
I do think unschooling is more of a mindset than an activity per se. My homeschooled wife introduced me to homeschooling by informing me that I was an accidental unschooler. My entire public school career was spent racing through my assignments, and then heading off to the library or lab to study what I was really interested in. Fortunately I went to an incredible public school with spectacular teachers who let me follow this path.
Thanks for everything you do here!
Hamilton,
It’s lovely to see you on my blog again! Yes, life gets busy. I hope you’ve been swamped with things you enjoy doing.
I like your thought about unschooling being a mindset. I agree! Yes, it doesn’t really matter whether we go to school or work or are able to be at home full-time. We can all be unschoolers!
It sounds like you had a very good experience at school. A good teacher can make all the difference. I encourage my school teacher husband by reminding him of that.
Thank you so much for stopping by. I’ve enjoyed chatting with you!