When a child leaves a traditional school environment to begin unschooling, the adjustment period is generally referred to as 'deschooling'. It's a time when, free from external expectations and pressure, they can rediscover their natural rhythms and who they are when no one expects them to be anything in particular. I keep coming across a... Continue Reading →
Letting go of expectations
For no particular reason, today felt like a perfect day. E headed out early for a drama workshop, D got up later and was busy with the things that are occupying his mind right now—coding, watching a Catalan satire programme, learning Korean, some business ideas—passing the time until his activities start up again next week.... Continue Reading →
Learning to trust myself
I've recently begun to feel a deep sense of freedom. My life is much the same as it has been for the last year, with nothing shifting much beyond the changing seasons. I don't suddenly have extra time on my hands, I haven't cracked the key to passive income, and I am as weary of... Continue Reading →
But it’s good for you…
Not so long ago, in that little space between lockdowns, I was talking with two friends about the tension we sometimes feel when our children don't want to do things we think they'd enjoy. The context that day was simple. We'd planned to go for a hot chocolate and a walk with some of our... Continue Reading →
New to unschooling? Download ’20 ways to deschool’ to help you on your way
The term 'deschooling' is often used to refer to the time a child needs after leaving a school environment to reconnect with themselves and their inner curiosity and motivation. But, parents need to deschool too! And it's much harder after decades of believing in—or at least being surrounded by—certain paradigms about childhood, parenting and education.... Continue Reading →
A different kind of strength
I'm writing this post from the perspective of a parent of an autistic child with PDA. That isn't to say that my child's autism/PDA defines them. It doesn't at all. But it has certainly helped to define my journey as a parent. So far, that journey has led me to a few conclusions, and I'm... Continue Reading →