How will you know if unschooling works?
Will you know it works if your children get into good universities, earn degrees, and then get high status jobs, ones that are well paying, safe and secure? Will you grin with delight and say to those who criticised your way of life, “Look, unschooling works!” Will your friends and family be impressed? Will your children’s achievements change their opinion about unschooling? Will you feel relieved that it all worked out?
Or will you know unschooling works when you’re no longer tempted to control your kids by demanding they listen to your ideas, fulfil your expectations, do what you say and be the people you think they should be?
How about when you’re not afraid to listen with interest to your kids and accept their opinions instead of imposing yours on them?
Will you know unschooling works when you stop criticising and start accepting your unique and wonderfully made kids just as they are, loving them unconditionally?
Maybe you’ll know when you no longer worry about what other people might say or think and are prepared to put your children first and stand up for them?
Will you know when you listen to the words falling from your lips and realise they are kind and full of respect?
Will you know unschooling works when you don’t consider withdrawing your love to influence your children’s behaviour?
When you’re quick to forgive?
When you begin to trust yourself as well as your kids?
How about when you realise you like who you are and know you’re okay?
Will you know unschooling works when you regain your curiosity and want to learn more?
Perhaps you’ll know when your heart flips over with love while looking at your children with wonder and awe?
Will you know when the doubts and fears disappear and a feeling of profound peace washes over you, preventing you from doing anything else?
Will you know unschooling works when you look at yourself and recognise that you have changed and are no longer the person you used to be?
How will you know if unschooling works?
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A changed woman who continues to change.
I just love your posts!! They challenge me so much and make me a better mum. Thanks for all the effort you put in.
Hi Roslyn,
Thank you so much for your kind feedback! I hope you’re having a very blessed Advent!
Hi Sue, thank you for this incredible post!
My wife and I have 2 kids ages 13 and 7. They both have been unschooled since birth.
In our country (Papua New Guinea), unschooling in unheard of, but since discovering it earlier in our marriage life we decided our kids will be “for-life unschoolers”. Its a lonesome path when everyone chooses the more common way and so content like these inspires us to grow stronger in our unschool journey.
Thank you and keep them coming!
Robert & Malen
Robert,
I’m so glad you stopped by to say hello and tell me about your family. Thank you!
Oh yes, unschooling can be a lonely path. When my kids were growing up, we knew lots of homeschoolers, but we were the only unschooling family in our area. I’m glad we can connect with other families online, people who share our unschooling outlook.
I really appreciate your kind feedback about my post. It inspires me to keep writing!