the original writing (longer)
photo by Elise Lauterbach
Unschooling can prove itself if it's not thwarted.
"Unschooling can prove itself if it's not thwarted" wasn't suggesting her husband was thwarting it, but that passivity and a lack of sharing it with a spouse thwarts it.
I like the sound of the word "thwart."
Don't thwart unschooling by using it to divide the family. Move toward it methodically and thoughtfully. Read a little, try a little, wait a while, watch. Note and share the results with your spouse. It can take a while to come to shared confidence, but don't fail to see it as a family-improving project.
I was at homeschool park day and someone's son asked to drink from his mom's water bottle - she said, "Sure have a sip." She said he'd do that often but it wasn't because he was thirsty, it was because it was his way of creating a quick and momentary reconnection with her. I saw that. There was a little moment there, for them. It was sweet. It had nothing to do with her drink or his thirst. She could have easily said, "Go get your own, you left it in the car," or something like that. We often don't know, really, what it means to another person, especially our own child, for us to do some little thing for them and we never know what we've missed if by not doing something. —Pam Sorooshian |
Pay more attention to your own child than to what you've always heard. That might be enough. 🙂 | ![]() |
I've learned to find peace, practically and philosophically. I started to see my kids as humans learning important things in unique ways, and as people I wanted to be close to—instead of seeing them as little to-do lists for myself. —Sarah Peshek | ![]() |
When there will be one winner and one loser, between a parent and child, between a husband and wife, between best friends, then both lose.
Demonizing food creates a demon. Being calm creates more calm. | ![]() |
Some kids are afraid of the dark, but it's probably more likely that they're afraid to be alone in the dark. Try not to leave them alone—emotionally, or physically. | ![]() |
![]() | Conversations with a parent are natural learning fodder. Natural learning doesn’t happen in a vacuum or in isolation. Those things aren’t so natural. 😊 In my experience, unschooling parents are more likely to say too much than not enough. |
When it's easy to be calm and patient, anyone can do it. The special service to a child, and the evidence of growth in a parent, is learning to be more calm, for the child's sake. The real patience is finding a way to quiet one's hurry, to slow down to a child's pace, for a while. | ![]() |
![]() | Look closely. There are wonders at hand. |
![]() | It's hard to explain unschooling, partly because the best answers are "it depends," followed by questions for the parents to consider while they're making their decisions. It depends on time available, time of day, safety, resources, the effect on other people, need for food or rest, and other factors I can't think of right now. |
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