I’ve been sitting here staring at my computer screen for the past five minutes trying to figure out what to write about the fact that I just wrote a book. Maybe what I’ve heard is actually true: maybe we really do get just a certain amount of words in our lifetimes, and A Pair of […]
Living a Fear-Free Life
Last week, my children were in grave danger. My daughter Katy narrowly escaped a conniving villain hiding in the woods, looking to snatch small children off the path and into his lair. Maggie lost her balance while standing on tree stump, and very nearly bashed her skull on a nearby boulder. Thomas could easily have […]
Unschooling In Action: Help Hannah Achieve Her Dream!
For us parents, a major part of unschooling is learning to spot our children’s passions and find ways to support them. Sometimes, this is easier said than done. Not because we can’t figure out what our children are passionate about, but because we’re conditioned to be much more limited in our thinking than they are. […]
A Sneak Peak at My New Book!
Christmas is just around the corner, and I’d like to invite you to purchase a copy of my new book, A Pair of Sparkly Sneakers, for that special someone. It’s getting rave reviews, and people of all ages and backgrounds are connecting to this little purple book which chronicles the struggle and the triumph of […]
What About Socialization? Part 2
Homeschool playground days are always a highlight for my family. They provide wonderful opportunities for deepening friendships and developing social skills. Plus, they’re just plain fun! And every once in a while, they present me with a “window” moment: an opportunity to witness the beauty of this unschooling life in action. Today was one of […]
What About Socialization? Part 1
We went to a homeschool gathering today at a local park. It was a raw, chilly, gray kind of day, but I left with a warm glow. It was such a beautiful thing to watch these children of all ages, shapes and sizes come together to socialize. “What about socialization?” is such a common question […]
How do YOU Take Care of Mom?
Recently I wrote a post about how difficult it can be for us moms to make time to care for ourselves. It’s something I’ve struggled with since the moment I became a mother. And apparently, I’m not alone. So many of you wrote back to say that you share this same challenge. A few of […]
Facilitating Our Children’s Desires
For two years now my daughter Katy has wanted a cat. No, wanted isn’t really the right word. Passionately desired with every fiber of her being is more like it. At first, I kind of figured it was a passing phase. After all, she was barely five years old. Her tastes changed as often as […]
Holt: What Prevents Learning
Teaching – “I know something you should know and I’m going to make you learn it” – is above all else what prevents learning. -John Holt, from How Children Fail
Like Yoga, but Furrier
Last week, our family finally took the plunge and entered the world of pet ownership. This was the culmination of two years of pleading on the part of our daughter, Katy, who was desperate for a cat. But that’s another story. We are now the proud owners of Lucky, our baby guinea pig. I know, […]