Finding the positive, finding abundance, finding gratitude, will take a person in an entirely new direction, and many of the other problems fall away effortlessly. | ![]() |
photo by Chrissy Florence
Finding the positive, finding abundance, finding gratitude, will take a person in an entirely new direction, and many of the other problems fall away effortlessly. | ![]() |
![]() | I had a professor, years ago, tell me that one mark of intelligence was the use of tools other than the way they were intended to be used. I thought that definition would show up in other places in my life, but it hasn't. So here I share it with all of you. Try not to say "That's not what that's for" too quickly—your child might be about to do something quite intelligent. "If you want to be creative, stay in part a child, with the creativity and invention that characterizes children before they are deformed by adult society." —Piaget, quoted by Deb Lewis in "Unguided Discovery" |
![]() | Recovering from school is only part of a parent's deschooling process. Trust is involved, but it's an evolving trust. First one might read about or even meet some older unschooled kids and see that they're doing well. But it seems they can distance their own families a bit by thinking "Well that's fine for her kids—but mine might not be as [insert one: special bright gifted open calm creative sociable] as hers are." |
When a child lives with his parents, it's good if the parents appreciate and nurture what it is "to live," and if they can see the value of the "with." | ![]() |
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Noticing and appreciating change and variation is good artistically, emotionally and scientifically. Life changes things. See that, accept it, and flow. | ![]() |
This is the 1999th post, and it reminded me of the Prince song. That song came out in 1982, before I had children. It was quite futuristic, right? For most of 18 years, he was singing of something distant. All the children born before then are adult-aged now. Most of the children of readers of this blog were born in the 21st century, and might need some explanation to appreciate that song. You're living in history! It's flowing around you and through you. | ![]() |
Unschooling isn't another version of a curriculum, that will take four hours a day. Unschooling is a different way to live and to see and to think. |
![]() | Change one thing: timing, route, store, choices, order, station, dishes... One change affects other perceptions and connections. |
"Fun is serious. Fun is important, especially for kids. Don't underrate fun. People who are not happy as children seldom find easy or lasting happiness as adults." —Deb Lewis | ![]() |
"I just started to think and learn about unschooling late last year, and when I first signed up for Just Add Light and Stir I couldn't imagine how the kinds of things
—Susan Walker photo by Elise Lauterbach __ |
![]() | "Food you want, served to you by someone who loves you and brings it to you with a smile and a hug, has magical powers to heal and replenish the soul as well as the body." —Shan Burton |
Ronnie Maier wrote: "Unschooling works because the unschooled individual has the time and support to follow the interesting byways that lead to real learning." | ![]() |
![]() | A rich world for a baby is similar to a rich world for anyone else. A baby is a person. A lucky baby has an adult partner who understands that. |
![]() | Things will get better as you weed out negativity and focus on what’s good and positive. |
![]() | People naturally look for similarities, differences, and patterns. We name and categorize. It's a natural part of learning, and it can be fun. |
![]() | Look around you for simple bits of older art, technology and history. See and appreciate these quiet antiques. |
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"The big upside of unschooling, in my opinion, was that it also created an unexpected peacefulness, fulfillment, and happiness for all of us."