As you quite likely already know, there’s no “one size fits all” to unschooling. Different families practice it in different ways. For those of you living in the UK, there is a wonderful opportunity coming up to share your unique voice about unschooling. Kate Graham, a journalist, will be reporting on the rise of radical […]
Radical Unschooling Philosophy
The Santa Question
Is Santa real? It’s a question we’ve all asked at some point, and as parents, it’s one we’re very likely to face again. Our culture is full of stories that aim to strengthen our belief. From Miracle on 34th Street to The Polar Express and The Santa Clause, the theme is the same: one-time doubter […]
Taking Off the Training Wheels
“Mommy, take off my training wheels. I want to ride like a big kid!” my four-year old commanded. It was all of two weeks since she’d received her first two-wheeler, and she was tired of those “baby training wheels” holding her back. She wanted some speed, wanted to feel the wind whipping through her hair, […]
Trick or Treat: A Post About Authenticity
Halloween is my children’s favorite time of year. Seriously. They love it more than their birthdays. More than Christmas, even. We literally start counting down the days until Halloween in August. Finding the perfect costume is always high on the priority list. While the girls take their time, weighing their different options, Thomas has always […]
Unschooling: Coping with Critics
My husband, my son, and my mom are truly unschooling enthusiasts, and they love to talk about it with pretty much anybody. Thomas has even been known to start singing its praises to the cashier at the local grocery store! Being an introvert, I find I’m a little more reticent when it comes to sharing […]
Mother-Daughter Relationships
So I planned to write this as a lovely Mother’s Day sentiment, dedicated to my mom. But then I remembered that I have 4 kids and a house virtually buried under mountains of laundry. Luckily, my mom’s birthday is conveniently located about 10 weeks after Mother’s Day. Since I’m generally about 2 months behind in […]
Radical Unschooling: A Visit to the Dentist
Recently I took my youngest daughter, Maggie, to her first dental appointment. She’s my fourth, so I didn’t give it a whole lot of thought. I figured it would go like the initial visits of my three older kids. Our pediatric dentist works hard to make children’s dental experiences positive, and all of my other […]
The Mother Duck Phenomenon
Okay, tell me if this rings a bell… My kids are all playing happily as I head to the shower. In under five minutes, I’ve got one in the shower with me, another keeping me company perched on the potty, and the other two hovering just outside the bathroom door. I can’t remember the last […]
Unschooling: Saying Goodbye to “MY”
“Mine!” It’s a staple in my two-year old’s vocabulary these days. My dolly. My car. My puzzle. All true. In true two-year old fashion, however, she has expanded this word’s meaning to include not only what is, in fact, hers, but also what she is using at the moment, would like to possess at the […]
Unschooling: Embracing What Is
So tonight I found myself in need of the, um, facilities, so I crept off to the master bath, leaving my incredibly competent husband with our kids. My thought – that I might actually have a few uninterrupted moments – quickly proved unrealistic. Within seconds, I found myself engaged in what can perhaps best be […]