Has blogging changed? Are people no longer very interested in reading my posts? Maybe they prefer listening to my podcasts? Is it time to close up my blog and move onto other things? I pondered these questions in my last blog post.
I came to the conclusion that blogging may indeed have changed since I created this blog 5 years ago. But despite this, I’m not going to stop blogging. No, I still have some followers who like reading my posts, and I think I would miss writing if I concentrated only on podcasting.
I haven’t done much writing recently. Yes, I’ve written blog posts to go with my podcasts, but I haven’t done any writing for its own sake. I haven’t begun with a thought, and then explored that thought by writing about it. I’ve missed the thrill of not knowing where words will lead me. No, I don’t really want to give up writing. In fact, I want to do more of it.
The other morning, with these thoughts fresh in my mind, I had an idea. Perhaps I can create a new blog where I can explore thoughts and ideas without worrying about whether they’ll make good blog posts or not. I could just write and see what happens. And who knows? Maybe what I end up writing could turn into a post or a video or a podcast.
I got very excited about this idea. I shared it with my girls. Soon we were brainstorming possible blog names. A few hours later, I had a new blog and had even written two posts. My blog is called Stories of an Unschooling Family: The Raw Files. I imagine it as a behind-the-scenes blog. A companion to this blog. A workroom blog. It’s a place where I can write down my raw thoughts and see where they lead.
I love thinking about new ideas. My kids love pondering ideas too. We’re always discussing possibilities wondering if they’ll lead anywhere. It’s exciting chasing ideas into reality.
In this week’s podcast, episode 69, I talk about ideas.
I also talk about
- passions
- Gemma-Rose’s latest passion for writing
- how passions lead to ideas
- how an idea may lead to an income
- how we decide if an idea is worth pursuing
- unschoolers and entrepreneurship
- what kind of jobs my kids would like to have
- my son Callum’s recent visit home
- parenting adult children
- Australian history resources
- my new blog
- my newsletter
Show Notes
Entrepreneurship
blog post: Is Your Child a Budding Entrepreneur?
Praxis Teen Entrepreneurship Course
Podcasts
Smart Passive Income
Problogger
Australian Resources
Captain Cook
Captain Cook: Obsession and Discovery DVD
Captain Cook: Obsession and Discovery available on Youtube at time of posting
Captain Cook: The Man Behind the Legend available on Youtube at time of posting
Captain Cook, a book by Vanessa Collingridge
Australian History Timeline Website
Office of Environment and Heritage website
Podcast Music
60’s Quiz Show by Podington Bear, (CC BY-NC 3.0)
Images: These photos were taken when my son Callum came home to visit and we went on a family outing to a train museum.
If you’d like to comment, please feel welcome to stop by. I’d love to hear about your own passions and ideas. Have they led to an income? Are your children interested in entrepreneurship? And what about adult children? Do you have any tips for parenting them?
You can find more episodes of my Stories of an Unschooling Family podcast on
iTunes
Podbean
and here on my blog.
Thank you for listening to this week’s podcast episode!
Sadly enough I don't have enough time to listen to your podcast right now, but I'm so thrilled about the topic. And I will listen to it later – as soon as my children let me.
I've been thinking so much about ideas and if and how they can lead to an income. And I haven't really figured it out yet, but I am optimistic. And I try to pursue my dreams no matter how hard it is sometimes.
Actually it really is a challenge to try to create in income with blogging AND mothering little ones, doing the household, maintaining friendships and marriage and caring for yourself all at once.
But I also think it's worth it! I can't help it, I am so idealistic…
living a Catholic fairytale,
Oh yes, keep pursuing your dreams! I don't think we've got it all worked out yet either. We haven't earned much money from our passions so far. But like you, we're optimistic. I think it can be done. There are some helpful resources online such as the podcasts I listed. We need to be confident and go out there and try. Put some of those fabulous ideas into action and see where they lead!
You are at a very busy time of your life. Yes, sometimes it's hard to do everything we'd like, especially when we have little ones to look after. Maybe, even just thinking about an idea, is good. I usually forget how tired I am when I'm involved with something I enjoy. If we do just a little towards our dreams whenever we can, perhaps we'll make progress over time. I've read stories about mothers who've written books in ten minute installments!
I hope you enjoy the podcast when you get a chance to listen. Thank you for your comment!
Thanks for keeping me company today!! Loads of great information and as always food for thought :-). Benedict has been teaching himself coding and is currently working on a World War One game. He even came up with his online identity, "Scope Games." I think I have an entrepreneur in the making!! I will check out the online course info it might be something to have in the back pocket for the future.
Love to you San x
San,
I enjoyed keeping you company. Thank you for listening! I am so interested in what Benedict is doing. An entrepreneur in the making? Oh yes, that is so exciting! I hope you'll share any developments. I'll be watching out for more news about Scope Games!
Love to you too. xx
Glad you are staying around and have decided to give your blog a blog. I am new to blogging so don't leave yet! I learn a lot from reading good homeschooling/unschooling blogs.
-Joe from YouJustGotHomeschooled.com
Joe,
I gave my blog a blog? I do like the way you expressed that! I've created lots of individual blogs over the years, but this is the first time I've given a blog a blog!
Writing on a new but associated blog has rekindled my spark for blogging. No, I'm not leaving just yet. I always enjoy sharing ideas and experiences and friendships with fellow unschoolers so I'm glad to know you. I hope you're enjoying your own blog.
Thanks for stopping by!
We are always looking for little things the boys can do, especially during Christmas bazaar season. Now that they've decided that they want more dogs for dog sledding, we told them they'll need to contribute more since dogs are expensive. Trying to come up with ideas that they'll enjoy is fun. I find it so interesting that when you let gets just explore their passions, they generate all kinds of ideas. One the boys are contemplating now…..a robot that scoops poop!! ?
Sara,
Oh yes, passions lead to many exciting ideas! I find all your passions and ideas especially intersting because they are different to ours. I guess that's because we live in very different places. Dog sledding is something we don't have the opportunity to try! But I do love watching sledding videos. It all seems very exotic to me. But one thing we'd also like is the robotic pooper scooper. Perhaps your son will invent one!
I've just subscribed to your blog. I am desperately hoping my son's father will agree that I can unschooled my 6 year old, yours is one of the links I sent him to help him learn about it! I am a single mum with a 6 year old son. Unschooling seems like the only sensible option to me, I hope I can persuade him
As a single mum, it is really important that I figure out a way to earn money that will work for me. I am a trained yoga teacher, and have many other skills from previous roles, as well as being able to write, enjoy speaking an being happy in front of a video camera, so blogging and podcasting, creating online courses, ads, affiliates etc seems to be a good way to go – I had an amazing rush of ideas yesterday about a blog I can create that will enable me to talk about ALL the things that matter to me in my life, including unschooling!
I am listening to your podcast about worrying about what other people think, something it took me a long time to come to terms with, and am then going to listen to this. I have a feeling I am going to really enjoy your podcast, and look forward to getting to know you and your family more
Esther,
Thank you for subscribing to my blog! I hope your son's father finds some of my articles helpful. Unschooling is one of those things that many people don't understand and that makes it difficult to accept. But it really is an amazing way of life and education and a sensible option, as you said! I hope knowledge will reassure and you'll be able unschool your son.
A rush of ideas? That sounds very unschooly! I'm smiling as I read your words. I can relate! The internet provides us with so many opportunities. A lot of people make a good income from blogs, online courses etc. I don't see why you can't too.
So far, I've made very little money, but that's because I'm not organised and focused. I get distracted by such things as podcasting and blogging which are done for love not money. I really should take time out to write an unschooling book. Maybe one day!
I'm so glad you stopped by to say hello. Thank you for your comment and for liking our Facebook pages. If you'd like to join our Not So Proper Unschoolers Facebook group, please do. I'd love to get to know you better.