A different approach to life yields a very different set of results.
You don't have to turn 180 degrees from the way you would have lived before you decided to parent differently. At first it might seem pretty close. But as you move further from the starting point, you will see what a difference a tiny change of course made.
Saturday, July 27, 2024
A tiny change of course
Friday, July 26, 2024
Philosophy and priority
It has to do with philosophy and priority. I think the way I discuss whether one of my teens can go to a movie or not under the circumstances of the moment is as true and deep a life-building experience as when he asks me what squares and square roots are about.
2024 note: Truer and deeper than facts that can be discovered anywhere, anytime. Looking back, I see its importance more clearly. |
One day we had from seven to seventeen kids here, in various combinations and not all at once. It was a madhouse. Seven was my low count because there are still seven here at the moment. At one point two were gone and were coming back, one was half-expected (and did show up) and Marty wanted to go to the dollar movies to see "School of Rock" with a subset of the day's count. Holly didn't want to go; her guest from England did. Kirby half wanted to go; the girls coming back wanted to see him particularly. So the discussion with Marty involved me helping him review the schedule, the logistics of which and how many cars, did he have cash, could he ask Kirby to stay, could we offer another trip to that theater the next day for those who'd missed it today, etc. I could have said "yes" or "no" without detail, but it was important to me for it to be important to Marty to learn how to make those decisions. Lots of factors.
That's part of my personal style of radical unschooling.
Today: The day this is scheduled to go out, Keith and I will have three grandkids from 8:00 to 1:00, and then the other two at night. There are logistics involved. The oldest grandchild is being paid to come back and help at night. Drivers, food, activities, re-staging between... Same goals as in the 2003 story above—fun, peace, contentment. |
SandraDodd.com/unschool/radical
photo by Kim Jew Studios
in those days, but not that day
Thursday, July 25, 2024
Sugar-coated words
photo by Tara Joe Farrell
Wednesday, July 24, 2024
Try joy.
Enjoyment—that word itself is hardly used. Enjoyment is seen nearly as a sin for some people. "You're not here to have fun, you're here to work." Why can't work bring joy? Any tiny moment can be enjoyed: the feel of warm running water when you wash your hands; light and shadow on the floor; pictures in the clouds; the feel of an old book. If you see an old friend, that can bring pure, tingly joy for which there are no words.
photo by Theresa Larson
Tuesday, July 23, 2024
Learning, piled up
photo by Gail Higgins
___
Monday, July 22, 2024
Choose and be and do
photo by Sarah Peshek
Sunday, July 21, 2024
Learning the OTHER things
This week Andy has figured out money, and it's happened in spurts all week...
And that's how they reach the point of 'wanting to learn' — when it matters to them, not when it matters to you or anyone else.
—Sylvia Toyama
at SandraDodd.com/math/money
photo by Cátia Maciel
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