Monday, November 16, 2015

An outpouring of love

How can one get from resentment and rigidity to an outpouring of love? Too mushy? It happens.
a red rose, in a soda bottle from India

Making the shift
photo by Sandra Dodd
I first credited Holly. She says she put the rose in the bottle,
but I'm the one who took the photo. It's been a while.

Sunday, November 15, 2015

Pay close attention

"Pay close attention to your children. Really see what they are doing, what they are interested in, what they are enjoying, what frustrates them, what they like and what they don't like."
—Karen James
SandraDodd.com/karenjames/deschooling
photo by Rippy Dusseldorp
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Saturday, November 14, 2015

The important things

Children can only hear "no" so many times before they start to ignore it, so we helped them make good decisions when they were young, and saved "no" for really important things.



SandraDodd.com/teenager
photo by Janine
and it's a link

Friday, November 13, 2015

What matters

I am willing to watch it with her because I know she loves it. I affirm something about her by taking her interest, her pleasure seriously. I let her know she matters by making it clear that she matters to me.
SandraDodd.com/respect
photo by Karen James

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Easy flow

Jenny Cyphers, on overcoming fears:

If a parent has too many hangups, too many fears, too many issues, that they don't take out and examine, it will destroy what unschooling could be. People can get really wrapped up in fears and "what if's". Sometimes it consumes a person, a parent, a family. Happy, peaceful, unschooling can't flourish in those conditions. Fear creates blocks. Learning needs easy flow. Easy flow can happen naturally unless a person blocks it.
SandraDodd.com/fears
photo by Chrissy Florence, the day they saw a mom and baby whale
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Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Happy and comfortable

"What makes your child happy and comfortable?"
—Joyce Fetteroll

SandraDodd.com/phrases
photo by Janine Davies

Monday, November 9, 2015

The kids will follow


If you're just starting to homeschool I have a few words of advice: Breathe. Smile. Your kids will be sharing your stress and fear, so move quickly to get over them. Meet experienced homeschoolers and model your practice on families you like and respect. Deschool yourselves, and the kids will follow easily.

SandraDodd.com/pinkcrayons
photo by Sandra Dodd