photo by Denaire Nixon
Monday, August 4, 2025
A nest for learning
photo by Denaire Nixon
Thursday, April 24, 2025
Optimistic happy people
Surround yourself with optimistic happy people. Do not engage in conversation when people are complaining about their children or husbands. If a friend comes to complain about her kids I try to turn around and point out to them how that characteristic could be good or some other great thing about their children. Or I change the subject.
Look at what you have, not what you do not have. If all you focus is in negative things that is all you will see. If you always look for the positive slowly you will, more and more, see the positive and the beauty around you and that will become who you are.
photo by Cathy Koetsier
Saturday, February 1, 2025
Lots of little yeses
One giant "I'm changing everything" can make kids nervous, and could undermine their confidence in the mom's regard for them.
Depending how limited it was before, the mom shouldn't be surprised if there is a binge, or a frenzy. So go easy, and keep reading other things about unschooling, gradually, gently.
SandraDodd.com/betterchoice (Making the Better Choice)
Lots of little yeses are better than one big one (both for the mom and the kids).
Lots of little decisions are better than one unsustainable big one.
photo by Janine Davies
Thursday, April 11, 2024
Happy and interested
If your daughter doesn't want to leave something interesting to go to the table to eat, take food to her. Sit with her and eat together.
That's the same kind of sharing you could do at a table. Food eaten in front of the TV or computer with a happy mom who is interested in you is much better than food shared in grudging silence and anger.
Wouldn't you be grateful to a friend who brought you food if you were in the middle of something important? I'm always grateful when my husband brings home a pizza or Chinese food when I'm having a really busy day.
photo by a realtor, of Janine's former garden
(they've moved)
Tuesday, February 7, 2023
Courage? Confidence.
I think of it as confidence. They're similar. Confidence grows from the inside, though, while courage can be reckless.
When you're thinking about what unschooling can bring into your life, don't forget confidence, or courage. And do things to build that, so your children's lives and worlds expand.
photo by Janine Davies
Saturday, September 17, 2022
Pretending to think could turn to...
Once a mom was being argumentative and defensive. She deleted a long discussion out of spite or frustration, but some of us rescued it. Here's a peek (some of my response), and a link.Pretending to think about suggestions for a few days before rejecting them would be more courteous, and you *might* find that pretending to think about something could turn to actually considering it.
Read a little, try a little, wait a while, watch.
photo by Sandra Dodd, of Ester Siroky's kitchen window view, years ago
Thursday, July 14, 2022
"R" is for Reality
Live with your children in the moment, and the moment is not in the past. Live with your child in the moment, in the world where you are.
Thank you, Cass Kotrba.
Sunday, September 19, 2021
Perspective and patterns
photo by Annie Regan
Saturday, August 7, 2021
Small wins you can choose
Be careful not to be the worst.
You can choose your goals, and practice to win.
Slowly Becoming Wise
photo by Sandra Dodd
Friday, June 18, 2021
A step toward joy
Some of the things that help people be confidently in the moment, feeling satisfied and content are:
At first it might be relief and not joy, but as relief is a step away from fear, more relief will be progress toward joy.
- Breathing
- Gratitude
- Happy thoughts
- Fondness
- Acceptance
photo by Ester Siroky
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Tuesday, April 20, 2021
Investing your time

Karen James wrote:
It might not seem like it now, but those early years pass fast. . . . I don't regret a single moment. If anything, I wish I'd given more. I still have time, thankfully.
It did take a lot of my time, attention and energy, and there were times when I was really, really tired at the end of the day, and mornings when I was slow to want to embrace the day. But I see all that time and energy and attention as an investment—in my son, and in my own future. If I get to grow old, I hope these are some of the moments that bring colour to my winters.
SandraDodd.com/mindfulness
photo by Sandra Dodd
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Wednesday, October 21, 2020
Learning to listen
food control (problems with that)
photo by Gail Higgins
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Saturday, September 5, 2020
An outpouring of growth

Schuyler Waynforth wrote:
I am often struck by how much of an effective method unschooling is. Maybe effective isn't the right word, but it feels right, or apt. I don't know of any other approach to people that helps them to feel more themselves, more powerful, more generous, more capable, more loved. And what an outpouring you get in response. And I feel so much better as this parent than I did as the parent I used to be.
photo by Cass Kotrba
Saturday, August 1, 2020
Closer to peace
Avoiding regret, contributing joy...
time will flow as it will,
but we can move closer to peace.

photo by Cass Kotrba
Wednesday, July 1, 2020
Sharing time and space
Gaze without speaking / Explore Connections
photo by Janine Davies
Wednesday, April 8, 2020
Change a little

and linked to the original of
SandraDodd.com/morning
photo by Lori Taylor
Thursday, January 30, 2020
Integrity
photo by Karen James
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Tuesday, December 31, 2019
It's this:
Being a good parent is not martyrdom. It's this: Being (in essence, in life, in thought, in action) a good (not bad, not average, but quality/careful/positive) parent.
Becoming the Parent You Want to Be is a fair match.
photo by Belinda Dutch
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Sunday, December 8, 2019
Gates
photo by Belinda Dutch
Sunday, November 3, 2019
Growing newness
Unschooling can make it easier for a parent to feel, and to show, enthusiasm.
When a parent enthusiastically does new and interesting things, there is value even if the child's attention and interests are elsewhere.

Newness and excitement
photo by Karen James
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