TThe other day, I found a 5-star review of my book, The Unschool Challenge, on Amazon. It was written by Patrice Fagnant Macarthur from Today’s Catholic Homeschooling website.
In The Unschool Challenge, Elvis provides short essays on various topics related to unschooling and then she provides challenges for readers to do. This is a pick and choose sort of book. You don’t need to read it in order. You can select which topics interest you and learn more about them, pursue some of the challenges, and incorporate what you feel is valuable into your homeschooling life.
In some of the chapters, Elvis does a wonderful job of showing how to make life learning meet academic standards, an important resource for those who live in areas with more strict homeschooling regulations.
The Unschool Challenge may cause you to rethink some of your parenting and homeschooling attitudes. It may encourage you to make some changes in how you approach your own learning and personal development. It may also give you the strength to stand up to naysayers who question your educational choices. Regardless of whether you are thinking of embracing unschooling totally or simply want to broaden your homeschool horizons, I highly recommend this book!
Thank you, Patrice!
This review made me smile. I smiled all day because I was so pleased someone had enjoyed my book and then wanted to help me by writing her thoughts about it in an Amazon review.
The day after receiving this magnificent review, I decided to post it on Instagram, so I headed to Amazon to copy it. But horror of horrors, overnight, someone had visited and left me a 3-star rating for The Unschool Challenge. My perfect overall 5-star rating had disappeared.
I don’t know why my book didn’t meet the expectations of the reader who rated it. They didn’t leave a review explaining their reasons for not giving it more stars. I guess it’s simple: the book wasn’t for them. And that’s okay. No book is going to satisfy everyone, is it? We’re all looking for different things when we buy books. I’ve bought plenty of books that have disappointed me. Although many others enjoyed and rated them highly, each time, I said, “It’s not for me!” So I’m not upset in any way by the low rating. It hasn’t dented my confidence. I’m not hiding under the table, totally crushed and too embarrassed to come out. No, I can shrug my shoulders and move on because I’m not affected personally by the rating. But I am aware that the rating might affect other potential buyers. 4.4 stars, although okay, doesn’t look as good as a perfect 5, does it?
The problem is I have very few reviews, so every review counts. The other day, I thought about this and wondered how I could change that situation. Can I promote my book in a bigger way? Can I ask yet again for more reviews?
While mentally creating more reels, resolving to research ‘how to use IG Stories to promote your book’, and making a list of people I could ask to help me, I suddenly realised something: I don’t want to spend more time persuading people to review my books.
Also, I don’t want to think up new ways to earn money to pay my blog hosting fees. I’m tired of trying to beat Instagram’s algorithm. I don’t want to keep track of how many followers I have.
And although I still care deeply about unschooling, I no longer want to spend my life trying to convince families to explore this way of life. Maybe I don’t have to. Plenty of younger, more enthusiastic, unschooling parents are doing a fantastic job of spreading the word about unschooling. There’s no need for me to compete with them for attention.
So, I want to stop writing about unschooling, but that doesn’t mean I will disappear completely, leaving no trace of my thoughts and ideas. This blog is overflowing with stories of my family’s experiences. As well as blogging, I’ve made 191 podcasts, created many videos for my YouTube channel, accepted invitations for video and podcast interviews, shared photos and captions on Instagram and written three unschooling books. (I still hope parents will discover my unschooling trilogy. Even if I don’t promote them, someone may write a review or tell friends about them.) Yes, I’ve done a lot. I don’t think there’s anything else I can offer.
So what’s next? Well, I’m moving to an old blog with a new look and name. It’s called Wholy Souly. This will be my new writing place. I will tell stories about my life rather than my kids’. It’s time to give my children privacy now that they’re all adults. (They’ve been exceedingly generous, allowing me to share their stories and photos for many years, haven’t they?) I want to explore topics associated with womanhood, faith, life, creativity and marriage. I’d like to post photos of the beautiful area where I live and other places I visit. And I’d like to share things I find – videos, podcasts, books, music – that might be useful and enhance our lives.
I’m feeling excited about the future, although I’m also a bit sad as I say goodbye to this blog. Stories of an Unschooling Family has been a big part of my life for many years. I’ve captured loads of family stories and memories here. I’ve learnt a lot while writing my posts, and I’ve met some fabulous people along the way, many of whom have become good friends. Part of me wants to say, “Sue, you could stay. It took you a long time to build up this blog. Don’t throw it all away.” But all stages of our lives have to end, don’t they? And even though it’s hard to let go, we know when it’s the right time to do this. And if we don’t move on, we’ll never discover the delights of the next stage, will we?
If you’d like to stay connected, please visit me at Wholy Souly. I’m also on Instagram at wholy_souly. Let’s continue chatting. We could remain friends.
I want to thank everyone who has supported me over the years. Thank you for your friendship, encouragement, and help to spread the word about unschooling. I appreciate you sharing my posts and buying my books. And a big thank you to all the fabulous people who have reviewed my three unschooling books. Your words make a difference. They encourage other people to explore unschooling. They change lives.
Before I finish, I’d like to share another review for The Unschool Challenge to thank Gina for writing it.
Highly Recommended
Very original book and wonderful to read just like Sue’s other two unschooling books!
So I’m waving goodbye to Stories of an Unschooling Family. (I had fun creating you!) I’m now shouting, “Hello, Wholy Souly! “
Photos
There’s something else that I’ll soon be waving goodbye to: autumn. It’s only two weeks until our Australian winter begins!
Update
Although I’m no longer writing completely new blog posts, I’ve decided to republish some of my old ones, adding a few additional thoughts and an extra resource or two to them. Maybe something worth reading will appear out of my archive, which might be useful if you haven’t already explored the whole of my blog. And if you have read everything I’ve ever written, perhaps you’ll enjoy reacquainting yourself with some old friends presented in new ways.
Thank you for all you have brought to the world dear Sue. I have enjoyed your blog & it has been an inspiring source of ideas, galvanising of faith & generous dedication to the un-school realm. Best wishes from Central Victoria.
Meggs,
Thank you so much for your kind words! I’m so glad you enjoyed reading my blog. I’m also glad you stopped by to say hello!
Hi Sue,
Will you get to read this? I’m not sure – but just in case you do. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading you blog your thoughts on here. In fact I was just sharing this site the other day with 2 other new to homeschooling/natural learning type families. One was a Catholic family too. As a home educating, Catholic, struggling unschooler (can you be a struggling unschooler? I think it describes where I’ve been and am in unschooling quite well) Mummy to 6 earthly children and 1 watching from heaven, also living ‘down under’ – just a little further down here in NZ, I want you you know I have really resonated with and found enjoyment, inspiration and been gently challenged by your thoughts, books and writings. Thank you! I feel sad to see you go from here….but I will stalk you at your new writing place 😉
Does this mean all your lovely work here will disappear? Am I still able to point people here to read your thoughts? And can I still read your thoughts here?
Thank you for sharing your life, your children’s and families lives with us. I have yet to get my hands on your latest book – but it’s on my list of things to do – and something I look forward to doing!
Thank you for being a light shining brightly for us to see. God bless
Sandie,
It’s so good to connect with you! As you can see, I did read your comment. I’ll probably keep stopping in here from time to time to check on my blog. Strange things sometimes happen to unattended blogs. Plug-ins go out of date and everything decides to move or even disappear!
Thank you so much for recommending my blog to other homeschooling families. Yes, they’ll still be able to read my thoughts and stories. I’ll keep my work online for as long as I can. My blog hosting fees are paid for another couple of years, but my podcast hosting subscription will need renewing in August. I don’t yet know what I’ll do about that.
I’m so pleased you’re following me to Wholy Souly. We can stay connected!
I appreciate your kind words and thanks very much. They mean a lot to me. God bless!
I’m glad my review made you smile! Thank you for sharing so much on this blog – I will miss it.
Hi Patrice,
Your book review made me smile, and now I’m smiling because you stopped by with a kind comment. Thank you! Maybe we’ll chat again in the future. I hope so!
First of all, I love your autumn pictures! It’s my favorite season and I can almost smell and feel what you captured. We are a long way from that as our leaves are just finally fully opening this week in springy Michigan.
More importantly, I understand at least in part where you are coming from. I’ve had similar thoughts about my website, especially about being tired of doing all the things. I’ve given up on most of them because they aren’t worth the time (social media especially). I’m not playing the blatantly rigged social media game any longer. I’ve invested a lot of time and energy into what I’ve done and the return on the investment at this point feels minimal both in terms of personal satisfaction and financials. It’s that sunk cost thing as well that makes it hard to think about saying I’m done. I haven’t gotten to the point you are and I’m still homeschooling so that’s different too. But a lot of what you said resonated with me.
I hope you truly enjoy your new endeavor. You’ve been a blessing to so many families with this website and I’m sure you will bless many with your new endeavor and focus.
Sallie
Sallie,
Autumn is my favourite season as well! I love the milder temperatures after hot summers, and the colours are gorgeous, aren’t they?
Oh yes, often we receive little reward for our work. We put so much in and see few results or feedback for our efforts. That can be frustrating and depressing. What do we do? Do things a different way or give up? I’ve been in this position quite a few times, but this time is different. I guess I’m not willing to push through the difficulties because I feel I haven’t got anything else to offer. I’ve given all I can.
I’m a bit sad that I never found a way to support my blog financially and earn more than a little money from my work. Sunk cost… Yes, I’ve thought about the time, effort and money I’ve invested in this blog and other unschooling-related things and have wondered if I’m throwing everything away. Bigger success might be just around the corner! But I’m tired. And no longer homeschooling does make a difference. I yearn to do something different.
Despite the frustrations of working hard and not always seeing any results, I’ve enjoyed creating this blog. I’ve had a lot of fun learning new skills and that has been very satisfying. The other day, I was thinking about all the skills I now have. Hopefully, I’ll be able to use them in new ways as I move forward.
Sallie, it’s been such a pleasure connecting with you here on my blog. You have been a good friend and supporter of my work. I’ve appreciated sharing the behind-the-scenes aspects of blogging with you – the difficulties and our feelings, our frustrations and our hopes – the things that aren’t always apparent to blog readers. You understand. Thank you! I hope we’ll stay in touch and continue chatting.
Tahnk you for all of your precious work and for inspiring and encouraging families! I am looking forward to our new blog, so good that you plan to keep on writing, that`s wonderful! Lots of greetings from Luana
Luana!
It’s been a while since we last chatted. I’ve missed you! I’m so glad you stopped by to say hello. Thank you for your kind words. I’m glad you’ll be visiting my other blog. I enjoyed connecting with you there during covid. I hope all is well with you and your family. May God bless you!
I think you should do what makes you happy. Good luck with the other blog x
Willcress,
Thank you so much! I will miss chatting with you here. I hope everything continues well for you and your family.
Thank you for all your stories you have shared. I have enjoyed your blog and books and they have helped me be one a kinder, more gentle and loving mom!
Courtney,
I’ve had a lot of fun writing my stories and looking for new ways to retell them. It’s been good! I’m so glad you’ve enjoyed my blog. Thank you for stopping by to leave me your kind words!
Thank you for your blog( and podcast)! I’ve read many of the articles on it and I’ve found it super helpful for navigating parenting with two young boys. Best of luck on the new endeavor! I think it is great that you are not letting your past success stop you from following the next calling.
David,
Thank you so much for your thanks! I’m pleased you’ve found my blog helpful. It’s good to share our experiences and encourage each other, isn’t it?
It’s hard to let go of my blog because I’ve invested a lot of time, effort and love into it. I know that if I stop creating new content interest in my blog and books will probably fizzle away. I’ve thought a lot about that. In some ways, it would be easier to stay here and maintain what I’ve already created rather than move onto new things. But I want to learn more and have new adventures. New projects are exciting! I appreciate your best wishes. I’m so glad you stopped by. Thank you!