Just Add Light and Stir

Part of a 2004 description of our unschooling home, when three kids and their friends were here: They come here and we’re workin...

I know the word "struggle" is as popular as "groovy" was in 1967, but it's not nearly as groovy. If every time...

"Focussing on being my child's partner is helping me to place my real life children front and centre of my attention and to t...

The first time I went to Hollycombe Steam Fair was in 2011. I have been twice since, always with other unschoolers. Part of what I lo...

If parents don't heal from those kinds of issues in their own childhoods, they will likely be perpetuated onto the next generation. Pa...

Sandra Dodd, of Holly Dodd (Holly was 12 and told an older story, in 2003): My husband's oldest brother came to visit and she an...

This was written in 2005, so note the update below. My husband and I always said please and thank you to each other, and friends would c...

Meredith Novak, years ago, on communicating with relatives who ask about unschooling: It's helpful to keep in mind that one of the bi...

[The word "Service"] stirred negative feelings for many years, until I had my first child. Being with my children, giving th...

When I was a kid, if my mom had done one nicer thing a day, that would have been thousands of nicer things in my childhood. What if a mom...

Sometimes I think I know what someone is thinking, or what my cat wants. Sometimes I'm right. When someone, or my cat, thinks about ...

We live in an everyday-thing world. People always have. The only way to avoid the everyday world is to limit and control our children...

I know that I can change the whole mood in my household simply by smiling and "be"ing happy. It creates a happy energy that infe...

Some days, some moments I am overwhelmed by just how fantastic my life is and how supportive my husband is. David is absolutely wonderfu...

Sandra Dodd: If something causes biochemical euphoria or elation, and if the goal is learning, and peace, seek that out. Pay extra for tha...

Change one thing. Smile one sweet smile. Say one kind thing. Change one thing. photo by Nicole Kenyon

There are people whose lives have been transformed because they wanted good relationships with their children and they took small, simpl...

If you want a peaceful life, smooth off the rough parts. Take away the dangerous and irritating things. Spend a moment appreciating pea...

When you are kind, it changes the kind of person you are. When you are patient, it makes you a better person. SandraDodd.com/mentalhealth...

No volume of parental talk will help as much as it will help for the parent to be closer, sooner, sweeter. Practice being quiet photo by...