“Does it make you sad that your kids won’t be able to go to college?” my mother-in-law asked as we nibbled on the delicacies provided for my nephew’s high school graduation party. I nearly choked on my cookie. “Um…what do you mean?” I spluttered, sure I must have misheard. “Well, you know, since they’re homeschooled. […]
Unschooling Blog
The Puppy Midwife: Unschooling Science in Action
When it comes to due dates, apparently dogs and humans have something in common: they are rarely correct. We already had an inkling about that, since our dog, Honeybee, had delivered neither of her previous two litters when she was “supposed” to. But that had hardly mattered to us, since we’d already delivered her to […]
…And We’re Back!
Hello friends! It’s been four years since I’ve posted here, and even longer since my posts contained any stories about my kiddos. While that’s partly due to the general whirlwind that is my life, mostly it’s because my children asked me to take a break from broadcasting their lives to the general public . Recently, […]
The John Holt Captioning Project: You Can Help!
If you’ve been part of the unschooling world for a while, the name John Holt is one you will recognize. Holt’s research and published works are a cornerstone of the unschooling movement. Today, Pat Farenga continues Holt’s important work at johnholtgws.com. Recently, Pat has teamed up with Mike Ridgway to implement an exciting new project […]
Parenting: A Sky-Diving Kind of Adventure
Several years back, when my youngest was still an infant, we had a mother’s helper with a thrill-seeking streak. Her dearest wish was to experience sky diving. One morning, she practically floated in the door. “I’m doing it! I’m going skydiving this weekend!” she announced. My pint-sized compatriots couldn’t wait to hear how it went. […]
Hello Again!
Friends, it’s been a while, I know. Life has been keeping me busy these days, and what little time there has been for writing has been devoted to two new children’s books that are in the works. But tonight, my husband graciously ushered all of the small people out of our home for some good […]
Silencing the Expert Within
I’m a trained educator. I hold degrees in general education and special education. I constantly hone my skills through coursework and self-study. But none of this matters. No, it doesn’t matter one whit – not to my children. To them, the number of degrees I’ve earned is irrelevant. The plethora of parenting books I’ve read […]
Pumpkin Pie Slime
Never underestimate the power of a good sensory activity to attract children of all ages. This one, from Growing a Jeweled Rose, was a hit with kids ranging in age from four years to nearly eleven! Here’s what we used: A little tip: clean up is so much easier if you cover your table with […]
Help! I’m an Unschooling Introvert!
The unschooling life is a wonderful fit for our family, and I can’t imagine taking a different path. BUT, just because it’s the right thing doesn’t mean it’s always the EASY thing. Having my children home with me presents some unique challenges, and I’m not going to pussyfoot around that. In the past, I’ve reflected […]
A New Twist on Reporting
I don’t know about you, but every year I find myself getting increasingly stressed as end-of-year reporting draws near. Although I keep a journal of our activities throughout the year, it’s cumbersome to compile it all into a report. Worse, I’m never happy with the end product. Being a former teacher, I have no trouble […]