Monday, December 7, 2015

Being valuable


"If we live our values, it's likely our children will value them too. If we impose our values, it's likely our children will reject them."
—Joyce Fetteroll


SandraDodd.com/tvchoice
photo by Nicole Kenyon
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Sunday, December 6, 2015

Light and peace

Many traditional observances involve fire—from candles to fireworks to bonfires.


With apologies to readers in New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and the tropics, here is a link to Deb Lewis's List of Things to do in the Winter

photo by Bea Mantovani

Saturday, December 5, 2015

Intangible gifts

For many families, this can be a time of stress and love and joy and exhaustion and fear of failure,
concerning procurement and presentation of food or presents.

Remember intangible gifts. Remember to be kind and quiet and sweet, around and through the sound and swirl. Be grateful and express your gratitude to others, for help, for health, for being, for smiles, and for love. Touch and speak gently.

Gifts
photo by Meghan Pawlowski

Friday, December 4, 2015

Safety net

"The goal isn't to set them free. It's to ease back on where they don't need a safety net anymore."
—Joyce Fetteroll



SandraDodd.com/freedom
photo by Chrissy Florence
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Thursday, December 3, 2015

Keep the peace

How NOT to watch movies:

Don't be cynical and critical and dismissive. Find the good acting, the good sets, the good props. Don't say "OH BROTHER." If there's a movie you really don't like, don't watch it with your kids.


This link has a new list. While I was in there editing,
I saw the note above, by me, from 2010.
Movies for Unschoolers
photo by Janine
(not of a movie; sorry)

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Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Doors to creativity

"Unschooling has inspired us all in so many ways, and opened doors to creativity that among other worries and insecurities we just didn't have time for before in the rush and busy of that old life! But mostly I needed to be inspired and have something meaningful and of value to write about, and now I have found it in this wonderful world of unschooling, and making so many new friends, and just so much positivity it's fantastic!"
—Janine

photo by Sandra Dodd

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Open your mind and heart


"Every time I opened my mind and heart to something my kids loved or were passionate about, or just enjoyed, I learned more about my kids and my life, and theirs, became richer."
—Alex Polikowsky

SandraDodd.com/alex
photo by Jennie Gomes