Yesterday we did lots of complaining because it felt like a very hot day. We were glad when evening arrived, and the sun went down. Hoping for a cool breeze, we ate ice cream and swapped hot stories. Here’s mine:
I reminded my family of the scorching hot and bone-dry summer we experienced three years ago when a roaring and seemingly unstoppable bushfire surrounded our village for many weeks. One weekend, at the height of the crisis, we decided to take turns going to Mass, so there was always someone home to watch the fire situation. I went to the Vigil Mass on Saturday evening and sat shoulder to shoulder with my fellow parishioners in our tiny church. It was so hot sweat dripped from us. Wet patches appeared on our clothes. Every time we stood, we could hear squeaky, slippery sounds as we peeled our bodies from the wooden pews. It could have been embarrassing, except we were all in the same boat floating in a sea of sweat, unable to do anything about it. We grinned each time one of us squeaked off a pew.
Suffering connects us, doesn’t it? Challenging situations, such as a bushfire or the desert-like conditions inside a church, draw us closer. We try to smile and make light of the situation. We hope we’ll survive, and there’ll be a good outcome, but if the worst happens, we know we’ll still be okay because we have each other.
Our village survived that horrendous bushfire summer. On the worst day, when there was no more water to fight the fire, the wind changed direction, and the flames turned away from our homes. The fire flew to the next village where our neighbours suffered instead of us.
Yesterday wasn’t really that hot. It wasn’t bushfire hot. It was just hotter than average. So we have nothing to complain about, especially as there aren’t any fires in our area. Yes, all is good.
But our uncomfortable sticky day gave us the opportunity to swap hot stories and remember how fortunate we are. Our family has endured many difficult situations, and we’ll endure more. But there is no need for fear because we have each other.
Unfortunately, unschooling can’t protect us from difficult times. They’ll arrive regardless of our lifestyle, parenting and educational choices. Things happen. That’s just the way life is. But unschooling makes us strong. Connected by love, as a family, we can face anything.
How about you? Has unschooling also given you the strength to deal with the inevitable challenges of life?
Are you unschooling strong?
Video
One of the three water-bombing helicopters that fought our local fires of 2019/2020. I filmed it from our back garden. Can you see the dry brown grass? We didn’t do much lawn mowing that summer!
New Unschooling Book
Have you seen my third unschooling book, The Unschool Challenge? If you’ve bought a copy and like it, would you consider writing an Amazon review? Or maybe tell a friend? Or both? I’d appreciate your help in spreading the word about the book!
