Monday, April 8, 2013

My heart leaps

Susan May wrote:

Even though my mind believes in my childrens' abilities, my heart sometimes need some validation. And every time one of my children does something for the first time, completely of their own volition, my heart leaps and then pumps joy to every cell in my body. Each time this happens the truth: that children will learn all they need to, in their own time—becomes etched a little deeper in my bones. And this is where the magic lies—not so much in the "firstness" of each new skill or idea, but in the fact that they completely own these moments."
—Susan May


togetherwalking.com/tw-blog/life-is-lumpy
photo by Holly Dodd
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Sunday, April 7, 2013

A message to your grandchildren


Your children are developing a holographic internal image of you, complete with voice and emotion. The things you do and say are being recorded for posterity; make them sweet and good. What you choose to say and do now will affect what your children say to their children, and what your great grandchildren will hear after you're long gone.

Live like you're their last hope.


SandraDodd.com/phrases
photo by Julie D

Saturday, April 6, 2013

Learning and fun

The separation of learning and fun is the only thing that keeps learning from BEING fun.
photo of a hand held up to the sun, at the beach

SandraDodd.com/random
photo by Kathryn Dubay

Friday, April 5, 2013

Unschooling breathes life into learning


"Unschooling is not an easy educational and lifestyle choice. It takes energy and dedication to do it well. But it is absolutely a viable alternative to the conventional system—even more so with each passing year. It focuses on each person as an individual and breathes life into the concept of lifelong learning. It also calls for developing strong relationships with your children—relationships that will last far beyond their compulsory schooling years. It's life."
—Pam Laricchia

http://sandradodd.com/hsc/interviews/paml
photo by Holly Dodd

Thursday, April 4, 2013

For now

fruit tarts and little cakes, in French bakery

I learned early on to say, "This is what we're doing for now," or "It's working now. If it stops working, we'll do something else."

Unschooling and Yoga Philosophy – An Interview with Sandra Dodd
in that podcast, at 9:36 on the counter
photo by Sandra Dodd
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Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Growing slowly, incrementally

Schuyler Waynforth wrote:

The other day Linnaea commented that she thought she and Simon would have struggled at school. I replied that I thought everyone struggled a bit with school, but they would have figured out their way in time. What I didn't say was how I don't know if I would have grown into the parent I am today, the generous and joyful parent that I am, if I hadn't chosen unschooling. I think it is possible to be a generous and joyful parent with schooled children, but it is harder to rebuild yourself in the ways that I feel I have done, slowly, incrementally, with unschooling.
—Schuyler Waynforth
in a passing discussion

SandraDodd.com/schuylerwaynforth
photo by Sandra Dodd
of old stairs in France,
on a day I was with Schuyler

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Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Light and happy

One of my intentions from way back, before unschooling came around in our lives, was to keep the tone of the house light and happy.

antique storefront, bicycle, cobblestone street

The quote was from a chat, but this is a good match: SandraDodd.com/happy
photo by Sandra Dodd of a place in Leiden, in The Netherlands
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