Just Add Light and Stir

It can be a happy spiral upward, when feeling better about being a good mom makes one a better parent, and the child smiles and laughs, and ...

Teresa Y. wrote: People have a lot of resources these days, and they are mostly very accessible; of course it makes sense that some ...

Call around to the museums in your area and find out what programs they offer. Get on their mailing lists and go to the events. Call...

Even the nicest of words can be ruined if they're spoken in a condescending, treacly way. It's not bad for infants, and it...

a mom named Lisa wrote: There is plenty of value in TV/movies. It's as much of a dream world for kids as books (if not more). I ...

Sometimes people say, "Anyone can unschool." And I always cringe when they do that, because the same kind of people who writ...

One problem that comes up is efficiency. The idea of the glory of efficiency can be a problem. Because people get competitive, we’re a...

Sara P. wrote: This is still an ongoing process for me. I had to re-train myself in a lot of ways. I had to learn a new language. I h...

I don't like the term "authentic," of human behavior. It suggests that all those doing anything differently are false, i...

Things change. Even in the best of peaceful circumstances, things change. Keep your balance, find gratitude and abundance, and accept ...

Many of the things we routinely recommend to help unschooling families are also helpful to anyone's mental health and wellbeing. G...

Cynicism feels like intelligence. Pessimism can feel like energy conservation. Eeyore never jumps up and runs. Eeyore never bothers t...

More people talk about peace than think about it. Many people are full of peaceful platitudes, and fury that others aren't...

Common sense among unschoolers is (and should be, needs to be) more particular and rarified than everyday "common sense." ...

Alex Polikowsky wrote: Surround yourself with optimistic happy people. Do not engage in conversation when people are complainin...

"Yesterday" in 2004: I still see "subject areas" everywhere, but I haven't taught those categories and prej...

Light can come from you, today, in small ways. If you are gentle and patient when you help a child, that creates peace and comfort. If yo...

Focus on fun and togetherness, and see the learning start to show itself. SandraDodd.com/simple photo by Sandra Dodd

A reader named Eleanor wrote: I was very grateful to discover your writings on ‘struggle’ and the compilation on your website relating to ‘s...

Trying a little and waiting and watching will give you a chance to see the effects of these ideas. Don't just read until you'r...