photo by Karen James
Wednesday, February 28, 2024
Moments pass
photo by Karen James
Saturday, September 30, 2023
In a drop of water
Can one intense interest come to represent or lead to all others? A mom once complained that her son was interested in nothing but World War II. There are college professors and historians who are interested in nothing but World War II. It can become a life’s work. But even a passing interest can touch just about everything—geography, politics, the history and current events of Europe and parts of the Pacific, social history of the 20th century in the United States, military technology, tactics, recruitment and propaganda, poster art/production/distribution, advances in communications, transport of troops and food and supplies, espionage, prejudices, interment camps, segregation, patriotism, music, uniforms, insignia, religion....
photo by Roya Dedeaux
Thursday, August 3, 2023
Examine ideas yourself
If a parent has found something that works for their family without understanding why it worked and how much personality played in it, then for others it's little better than rolling dice and picking some technique at random.
On the other hand, those who are living examined lives. thinking about and discussing why something works in the context of growing relationships, that's way better than dice! And no one should swallow what's said uncritically. They should take it in, turn it over, ask questions and examine it for themselves.
Critical examination is better for reaching clear goals than pretty sentiments of "following the heart" and "mom knows best."
photo by Vlad Gurdiga
Wednesday, May 24, 2023
Breathe to Ten
Angrily holding one's breath and counting to ten in a hostile fashion isn't the "count to ten" that's recommended. Breathing to ten is way better.
Breathing can be done in an overt, hostile "I'm breathing so I won't hurt you" passive-aggressive way, too. That cancels it right out.
photo by Vlad Gurdiga
Sunday, December 18, 2022
Quick personal status check
is to be physically self aware.
selfie(s) by Holly Dodd
(there were others)
Wednesday, September 14, 2022
Rearview Mirrors
It's not good to always look back, but there is safety and comfort in reviewing what's already been seen and done. Very often, connections among the past, present and future create and enrich moments, special days, laughter and learning.
photo by Renee Biggerstaff
Sunday, June 26, 2022
Clean and clear
photo by Nicole Kenyon
Wednesday, June 1, 2022
Small, simple steps
SandraDodd.com/change/ (Thoughts on Changing)Those three pages are an impressive collection of the powerful difference a deep understanding of unschooling, and its practice in a home, can make to parents as individuals.
SandraDodd.com/change.html (How Unschooling Changes People)
SandraDodd.com/gettingit (Unschooling: Getting It)
photo by Cátia Maciel
Wednesday, April 27, 2022
Healing for parents
It can be healing for parents to think back to their own sorrows and then to their own children's freedom from those experiences. Look at what a change you have made in the world by not passing those things on! And how comforting for my own soul that my children could be helpful and funny without being pointed at and laughed at and becoming the butt of a joke.
SandraDodd.com/freedom/from
photo by Vlad Gurdiga
Tuesday, November 9, 2021
Other aspects
Today I'm inviting people to play with light and images though, and—just for fun—to look very indirectly. Trick your eyes; trick other people's eyes, but sweetly, like little magic tricks.
There can be learning there, too. As long as those involved are having fun, good memories and connections will be made. When someone's not having fun anymore, go back to being directly there.
photo by Holly Dodd
Sunday, October 3, 2021
Seeing clearly
We don't always see things clearly and directly. Two people, in the same place, will have different perceptions and reactions. You probably know that, but a reminder might be helpful. When you can, be patient and accepting. |
photo by Sandra Dodd
Sunday, September 26, 2021
Experience and knowing
As we had been talking about natural learning, naturally I responded:
"The power to decide what to learn" makes a pretzel of the straight line between experience and knowing.
My children don't "decide what to learn, how to learn, and when to
learn it."
They learn all the time. They learn from dreams, from
eating, from walking, from singing, from conversations, from watching plants grow and storms roll.
They eat when they're hungry (when possible or convenient; I'm making a lunch for Holly to take to work today as she's working in the flower shop for eight or nine hours, as Mother's Day is Sunday here).
They sleep when they're tired, unless there's something they'd rather do that's worth staying awake for. They don't always "decide" when to wake up. They wake up when they're through sleeping, or when the alarm goes off if they've chosen to get up early, or when I come and wake them up if they've left me a note.
photo by Gail Higgins
Saturday, September 18, 2021
Moment of realization
Learning is learning whether or not it's planned or recorded or officially on the menu. Calories are calories whether or not the eating is planned or recorded or officially on the menu.
photo by Cass Kotrba
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Friday, September 17, 2021
Warmth and peace
"I'm amazed at not only the change in me but also how the little changes in our family form random, occasional pockets of warmth and peace. Hopefully, those little pockets will get larger and more frequent until we are fairly awash in it!" |
photo by Sandra Dodd
(sunlight flashing through a faceted amber-glass leaf)
Friday, September 3, 2021
What if a child says no?
Sometimes one will say "I'm really not feeling good," as Holly did yesterday, and her need for juice, a blanket and some mom-comfort were real. She has a cold. So that was suddenly more important than her helping me get firewood, or whatever it was. I really don't remember anymore.
Nobody's ever said, "NO, I'm playing a video game, do it yourself." But they have said "When I get to a saving point."
The more we said yes to our children, the more willing they were to say yes to us. It worked like please and thank you did!
photo by Holly Dodd
Wednesday, March 3, 2021
Perspective, attitude, emotion
I love my children and think they're really important, and that it is part of my privilege to be their mom and to introduce them to the fun and interesting parts of the world, and I hold them in esteem. They are of higher value to me than other things and other people. That isn't respect they had to earn. But it's emotional and it's attitudinal, and it's relative to me. —Sandra Dodd, in 2010 |
photo by Sandra Dodd (sprouts growing in my kitchen recently)
Sunday, January 24, 2021
Be light
Whether it's warm outside or cold, the sun through the window is the same. Be light. |
words originally at Sunshine, November 2016
photo by Amber Ivey
Friday, January 1, 2021
Wait; think; choose
Every time you make a decision, wait until you've thought of two choices and choose the better one. It seems simple, but I was surprised, when I thought of that way to ratchet the quality of life up, to find how many times I was acting without really thinking. |
photo by Holly Dodd
The text of this post has been used three times before, starting in 2011. It might be the best advice ever, though, and could be read every day. This, or one of those other three, might be worth printing out and sticking on a fridge or mirror. (The link will show all four, or someday maybe five.)
Thursday, August 13, 2020
Morning every moment
At your house it will be morning again within 24 hours, but it could be morning in your heart any second.
Somewhere in the world it is morning every moment. Somewhere, light is dawning.
When people begin homeschooling, that's a big bright morning, but you can have as many mornings as you need. If you want to change the way you're being or thinking, just do it. Don't wait for another year, another month, another day.
Good morning!
photo by Pippi Howard, of a flower in Santa Fe
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Wednesday, August 5, 2020
The joys that come
photo by Sandra Dodd