I often get to the point where I feel I haven’t got anything more to say about unschooling. I wonder: is it time to move on?
At the beginning of last year, I reached such a point. However, instead of thinking about moving away from unschooling, I proposed the idea of exploring unschooling from a different angle. Should we discuss Christian unschooling?
I got excited about this idea, and other people did too. But somehow nothing much happened. I just kept on doing what I always do: I continued writing about unschooling, mentioning God here and there but mostly, keeping Him ‘between the lines’:
Recently, I’ve been wondering: could my blog (and podcast) be mistaken for a secular one? Perhaps anyone landing here wouldn’t even know we are a Christian unschooling family. And this might be a problem because I wouldn’t want to give the impression that our unschooling life has nothing to do with God.
Of course, if you browse my blog, you will find my Christian unschooling posts. And there are references to God and our faith in my unschooling books. There’s even a Christian unschooling section in Radical Unschool Love. But is that enough?
In this week’s podcast, I’m asking the question, Shall We Talk About Christian Unschooling? Should we go deeper into unschooling? Bring God into the picture?
In episode 160, I fly through some ideas about Christian unschooling. I share some quick (and maybe muddled!) thoughts on such things as trust, freedom, unconditional love, passions and interests, respect, families, our missions in life, and forgiveness from a Christian unschooling perspective.
I didn’t aim for a perfect podcast covering all aspects of Christian unschooling. Instead, I just wanted to share a few thoughts that might open up some conversations.
Also in this episode, I share a children’s story from my novel, The Angels of Abbey Creek. It’s an adventurous mother story. You might remember that we were talking about being adventurous parents in last week’s podcast, Turning Waiting Times into Unschooling Adventures.
Show Notes
My Unschooling Books
Curious Unschoolers: paperback
Radical Unschool Love: paperback
My Children’s Novels
Blog Post
Bringing God into the Unschooling Picture
Where You Can Find Me
Youtube
Blog
Stories of an Unschooling Family
Photos
PhotosTop photo: this is our parish church. Second photo: the church is only a few hundred metres from the lake.
Thank you for listening to this episode
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So I’m wondering
Are you interested in talking more about Christian unschooling? Please stop by and share your thoughts!
Sue, I really enjoyed this podcast episode. The idea that God is “between the lines” of your blog is exactly the way I experience your writing. I think it’s wonderful that you have some posts with Christian titles so that people can find them if they’re looking specifically and beyond that, the Source of your wonder-filled life and family seems so clear in all of your stories that I love the more general posts as well. I think there’s something here for everyone:).
Erin,
Thank you for your reassuring comment. Maybe ‘between the lines’ is okay! I’m so glad you enjoyed this week”s podcast!
I love this so much. As we delve into what Christian Unschooling looks like for us it can be a bit of a strange quiet nook to be in. In some ways things look different than secular unschoolers but in other ways things are different than traditional homeschoolers that are Christian. Though we are not radical unschoolers as fellow Christian unschoolers I find comfort, learning opportunities and a beautifully painted picture of what it can look like to pursue this natural way of learning while keeping Jesus at the center of our lives through your posts and podcasts. I feel very welcomed and encouraged in Christian unschooling in a way I haven’t been able to in many other places through following you. Keep the Christian unschooling posts and podcasts coming. I can’t get enough of them.
Kelley,
Oh yes, we are in a strange quiet nook of our own!
I’m glad you find my posts encouraging. And now you have encouraged me with your kind words. I shall keep writing! Thank you so much for listening and stopping by to comment!
I don’t think your blog can be mistaken for a secular blog. You mention your faith freely and it is obvious in your writing. And I mean that in a positive way. I am not Christian myself and I usually do prefer secular blogs, because I often do not feel welcome in specifically Christian groups and had some not positive and unkind experiences. Personally, I love your blog. I love hearing about the experiences of others with different backgrounds, no matter if these differences are simply one of family and circumstances or if the differences are cultural and religious. If we just surround ourselves with others who have very similar backgrounds, then I think we are preventing ourselves from experiencing life fully. This world is so diverse. Diversity is beautiful. And if we are respectful and open and kind, we can learn and grow so much. So I love how your faith is intervowen with your unschooling and family stories. Honestly though, if you would change to focus strictly on Christian unschooling, with that being the focus rather than a natural part of it, I probably wouldno longer feel comfortable or welcome. For me, it is lovely how your faith is at the root and your stories naturally unfold from there. It is beautiful to witness and it is wide. A more focused blog would be narrowing down instead of widening and I am interested in the widening circles so to speak. But you might get more readers with similar backgrounds who you can interact with and serve with particular answers and examples. At the same time it might close off communication with those who are living differently. Both can have its rewards I guess and I can see the appeal to connect with people who share your faith. No matter what you decide, I hope you know how much I appreciate your welcoming and open attitude and your honest posts. I had mentioned it in one of my first replies ever I think. I feel safe here and that has not always been the case. I am grateful for it.
Calla,
I love your thoughts about diversity. Yes, we can share and learn from each other as long as we’re willing to be respectful, open and kind.
I’m glad you find my blog welcoming and I’m pleased you visit so that we can chat and share thoughts with each other.
I might write some more Christian unschooling posts because I’d like to encourage other Christian families to unschool. However, I won’t be making my blog exclusively Christian. I love writing more general unschooling posts too that I can share with everyone.
Calla, thank you so much for your feedback. It was good to hear your thoughts. I appreciate your very kind words. I hope you will continue to read my blog.
I will definitely continue to read your blog. It’s one of my favorites.
Calla,
What a lovely comment!! I am a Christian and, even so, often have similar feelings with other blogs. Not with Sue’s! This truly is a welcoming blog that enriches my family’s unschooling experience greatly.
Your bit about Sue’s faith being rooted and her life growing out from there gripped me. I often wonder if I appear “Christian enough.” How silly! Thank you for this perspective, Calla.
And thank you, Sue, for such a wonderful, encouraging resource for fellow unschooling families!! Welcoming indeed.
Whitney,
Thank you for your kind feedback about my blog. I appreciate your kind words very much!
Hi Sue,
Thank you for making this podcast. It’s just what I needed right now. It really encouraged me to see beyond some difficulties and look at the long term goals of where I want to see our family. Childhood is such a precious, fleeting time, thank you for all of your wonderful reminders of this fact. Nothing lasts forever except unconditional love. Letting go of fears and “have to’s” and the parenting “duty” mindset is like letting go of a terribly heavy burden. The idea of enjoying &loving our children, like God loves and enjoys each of us sometimes gets lost in the “panic to do all the things we feel pressured to accomplish. Some of the pressure is self induced, some is brought on by worrying about what everyone else says and thinks. Either way, the children suffer from the consequences of it. I love the way you remind us how God has a plan for each of our lives, we need to trust He has a place for each of our children too. You are right when you say “it’s easy to trust God when everything is going well, but we have to trust completely, even when things are not how we imagined.” I like when you discuss the topic of God & Christian unschooling because it seems to me to go hand in hand. We have chosen as Christians to entrust our lives to God. Unschooling seems to me, to place our trust in God that He will help us to guide our children in the right direction. Then, their talents can be revealed. Thank you Sue. You have such great insight. PS, so glad to hear you have more coming up from the Angel family! My kids loved those stories.
Deb,
I think there are times when we all need reassurance. Maybe this is because we’re travelling a less trod path. Even though God and Christian unschooling seem to go hand in hand, as you said, maybe we’re affected by other people’s opinions and traditional ways of thinking. It’s hard to go against the crowd even when what we’re doing makes sense.
Yes, trust is easy when things are going well. But we all have difficult times when we have to keep putting one foot in front of the other, trusting we’re going in the right direction. I always return to the thought that it can’t be wrong to love unconditionally. I think about what’s at the heart of an unschooling life and it seems to me that this is the right way to live. Perhaps we just need to encourage each other and trust God.
I’m so glad your kids enjoyed my Angel stories. I shall finish my third book!
It’s good to chat with you, Deb. I hope you have a good week!
Hi Sue, thank you for another hugely encouraging podcast. Us Christian (radical) unschoolers seem to be a rarer breed than secular unschoolers so I think it would be wonderful for you to talk more about Christian unschooling. I agree with Erin that God is always “between the lines” in your blog posts and that’s because He is a foundational part of your lives. I love that people who aren’t Christians feel welcome and appreciate your openness and honesty. It would be great to hear you expand on the thoughts you shared in this podcast. 🙂
Hi Alison,
Oh yes, we do seem to be a rare breed!
I’m glad you found this podcast encouraging. I almost didn’t publish it because I thought my thoughts were a bit muddled. But it doesn’t matter, does it? I can expand on those thoughts, and maybe you will add yours. I must write another Christian unschooling post soon!
Sue, I just bought Curious Unschoolers, I am so excited! I would have loved the physical copy but the shipping to NZ is ?, so I will have to go square-eyed as I devour it in my Kindle!!! ?
The beauty of your blog is that all are welcomed – and how Christ-like is that? As a Christian, finding other Christian unschooling blogs is like finding a needle in a haystack, so more Christian -focused posts will be great. But, keep in as you have been – all families need your gentle, encouraging words.
Now, off to read late into the night with my boy breathing calmly beside me ?
Sarah,
Thank you for buying a copy of my book. It was good to hear you are enjoying it!
And thank you for your kind words about my blog. A few more obviously Christian unschooling posts scattered amongst my usual posts. Maybe that will work.
I used to love reading while my babies and toddlers slept beside me or on my lap. A special quiet time.
Thank you so much for stopping by with your encouraging words!
We are a Christian family that moved to rural South Dakota 20 years ago to homeschool (unschool) our children. Now that they have grown it would be nice if they could corespond with others their ages (son 25 and daughter 22) who were like-minded. We have a web sitre that focuses more on the Christian aspect particularly foer those who have had bad church expereinces or may not even be familiar with Christiaity. http://christianpioneer.com/
Tim,
Thank you for your comment! Rural South Dakota sounds very different from the area where we live. Our home is in an Australian village surrounded by bush and farming land, south of Sydney. Despite our differences in location, I’m sure our lives are based on similar principles because we’re unschoolers as well as Christians.
Finding like-minded friends can be difficult when we are unschoolers living in more isolated areas, can’t it? My kids grew up not knowing any other unschoolers, although we knew many homeschoolers. I sometimes wonder if unschooling made my children different, or maybe it just gave them the space to be themselves.
Thank you for the link to your website. I visited it briefly but will return to read more. I did notice these words on your home page: ‘Today the Biblical idea that churches should help their members grow into the full image of Christ is such an alien a concept that it is seldom even heard.’ Although our Catholic Church could be described as ‘a managed system of religion’, its purpose is to guide us in truth and provide grace through the sacraments to help us ‘put on Christ’ as St Paul said. The Church is our way to holiness. I’m interested to hear more about your home church and beliefs. As I said, I will explore more of your website!