Today, on my birthday, I’m chatting about ageing, experimenting, taking risks, encouraging others, and other things. Show Notes I mentioned: The Self Directed podcast with the Conrads Episode 65 of the Self Directed podcast: Sue Elvis / Stories of an Unschooling Family  The Unschooling Together community Podcast episode 3, Getting Older, Admitting One’s Age, Lines and Wrinkles The Video Version of this episode on YouTube    My Unschooling Books Curious Unschoolers: Kindle Curious Unschoolers:...

I’m back with my author daughter Imogen! In this episode, we’re chatting about… Writing and how Imogen is promoting and selling her YA novels Collaboration and how we achieve more when we work together The ups and downs of social media We also share some news and tell a couple of stories, including the one about my frightening Frida Kahlo eyebrows!   Show Notes We mentioned The Virtual Kitchen Table podcast The Self Directed podcast with the Conrads The Unschooling Together...

This week, I’m talking about: Desires and Expectations Are desires good? Are expectations about control? Can our expectations spoil our family celebrations? Challenges Should we give our kids space to set their own challenges? Do we need to challenge ourselves too? Books Do people judge us on our book choices? Can sharing the books we’re reading lead to some stimulating unschooling conversations? The Santa Myth Is it wrong to pretend Santa brings gifts to our kids? Is that lying? Should we...

This week, I’m talking about right and wrong… If we think something is right, should we do it? Do we have to push through any difficulties we might encounter? Perhaps we can’t give up unless we’re willing to do something we know is wrong. And if we do that, we won’t feel at peace. The big question is: is unschooling the right thing to do? If it is, we shouldn’t be concerned about the future. Whatever happens, regardless of the outcome, we’ll know we did what we should have done.  Also, how do...

Do good parents stay firmly in control of their children, demanding obedience, good behaviour and respect? Do they practise tough love? Or are there problems with this method of parenting? Is there some other way of raising kids to be good people who want to do what is right? Is it okay to parent with unconditional love?   This week, I’m sharing a few stories on this topic. I also have a request or plea for help.   Show Notes Please visit my blog, Stories of an Unschooling Family, to read my...

Is unschooling about drifting aimlessly through each day? Do unschoolers waste time? Or do they live intentionally responding to their needs and making sure they achieve the things that are relevant and important to them? Do unschoolers direct their lives instead of letting life direct them? Is that the meaning of true freedom? Does the word ‘planning’ have a place in unschooling? This week, I’m discussing these questions and more while telling a few stories.   Show Notes Please visit my...

It is what it is. An interesting episode or not. I don’t suppose it matters. All that’s important is love. Show Notes Please visit my blog, Stories of an Unschooling Family, to read my post, Preventing Childhood Trauma with Unconditional Love. It contains today’s show notes.   My Unschooling Books The Unschool Challenge: Kindle The Unschool Challenge: paperback Curious Unschoolers: Kindle Curious Unschoolers: paperback Radical Unschool Love: Kindle Radical Unschool Love: paperback My Amazon...

Is it irresponsible to trust and unschool teenagers? When unschoolers reach the teenage years, is it time for something else? Or could unschooling be exactly what our older kids need? Could it keep them safe? This week, I’m discussing these questions and more, sharing lots of thoughts, stories and resources. Show Notes Please visit my blog, Stories of an Unschooling Family, to read my post,  Could Unschooling Be Exactly What Teenagers Need to Do? It contains today’s show notes.   My...

Should children be responsible for their own educations? Or is that an irresponsible idea? This week, I’m exploring lots of questions including: Is learning an active activity that needs the learner’s cooperation? Is it impossible to force knowledge into a child without resorting to teaching methods that ultimately destroy their natural love of learning? Is forced learning real learning? Is it better to unschool and let children learn what’s important to them? But if we choose unschooling,...

Is unschooling about staying in bed late, spending lazy days in the forest, and baking cookies?  Or is there more to unschooling than that? What does a typical unschooling day look like? Will it be different in different families? Will it change over time? Whatever it looks like, will it always be packed with deep learning, the kind that matters and makes a difference? I discuss these questions and more in episode 197. Show Notes Please visit my blog, Stories of an Unschooling Family, to read...

Are kids more likely to suffer mental health problems if they experience excessive control? Could video games provide safe spaces for kids to retreat to when life becomes too difficult? If we insist kids leave their games and they get upset, could it be the real world that we’re forcing them to return to that’s the problem and not the video games? And if kids do have genuine trouble handling games and protest loudly when we take them away, how will they learn to deal with their feelings if...

This week, I’m going back to basics: I’m discussing the question, What is Unschooling? I’m also sharing several stories to illustrate my definition: What Is Unschooling? Why Unschooling Isn’t a Method of Homeschooling What Is Unschooling? A Transcript I also share some links to other unschoolers’ definitions of unschooling.   Show Notes Please visit my blog, Stories of an Unschooling Family, to read my post, Unschool Basics: What Is Unschooling? It contains today’s show notes.   My...

This week, I'm discussing chores. How do we encourage our kids to be generous and willing workers? I’m sharing two stories: How to Get Kids to Do the Chores The Radical Chore Roster Please visit my blog, Stories of an Unschooling Family, to read my post, Can Radical Unschoolers Use Chore Rosters? It contains today’s show notes.   My Unschooling Books The Unschool Challenge: Kindle The Unschool Challenge: paperback Curious Unschoolers: Kindle Curious Unschoolers: paperback Radical Unschool...

This week, I’m sharing a blog post, Should We Push Kids to Use Their Talents, Aim High and Impress? This post includes stories about people who have followed the pathway desired by their parents and ended up unhappy. And there’s one story about a man who, despite achieving the necessary grades to study medicine or law, chose to become a high school teacher. I’ve included lots of links to books, videos and other resources. Please visit my blog, Stories of an Unschooling Family, to read my...

In episode 192 of my Stories of an Unschooling Family podcast, I talked about: Homework for Life Generating writing ideas Creating second brains Homeschool records, including strewing and planning notebooks and family journals Social media and other online distractions Also: I shared Matthew Dicks’ book, Storyworthy and Tiago Forte’s book,  Building a Second Brain. I told two stories of my life, one about a kangaroo and the other about trees topped with a bright green fuzz of new leaves. I...

This week, I'm sharing some big news: I've published a new unschooling book! In this episode, I tell you about The Unschool Challenge, share some family news and a couple of resources, and ponder lots of unschooling thoughts and ideas along the way.   Show Notes   My Unschooling Books The Unschool Challenge: Kindle The Unschool Challenge: paperback Curious Unschoolers: Kindle Curious Unschoolers: paperback Radical Unschool Love: Kindle Radical Unschool Love: paperback My Amazon Author...

After a long break, I’m back!   In this episode, I read one of my stories called Clock Watching and comment on it. I share some news, including some about the future of my blog and podcast.  I mention a couple of resources that I hope you’ll find interesting. And, along the way, I share loads of unschooling thoughts!   Show Notes   Things mentioned in this episode: Blog post: Clock Watching Podcast episode 178: Strewing Unschooling and Charlotte Mason  Blog post: Unschooling...

I'm back! Are you surprised? I am! This week, I'm talking about: How lack of control makes us feel helpless. Do controlled kids feel helpless? Does control lead to mental health issues? If we want a society of responsible adults, do we need to listen to kids, give them freedom, and let them learn how to be responsible for themselves? Difficult times, friends, and our unschooling community How change can stretch us, and how we learn when we have an interest or a need Video gaming and...

This week, Imogen and I are discussing: The value of casual work and lower profile jobs How our kids can surprise us Jobs and passions Why we need to promote our work How to answer critics and critique other people’s work The importance of helping each other Jane Austen, Sanditon and Brigerton Ageing And other things!   Show Notes   Things we mention in this episode This is Marketing: book by Seth Godin The Illustrated Man: book by Ray Bradbury Sanditon: miniseries adapted from Jane Austen's...

This week, Imogen and I are talking about: High expectations and control. Do they result in unhappy children? Do controlled kids look for distractions? Does limiting screen time result in an increased attraction for devices? A novel that Imogen reviewed: Dear Hero Inspiration and different ways of telling a story How we can work together, share our skills, and help each other The Catholic Homeschool Conference (I'm a speaker!) News of two soon-to-be-produced unschooling podcasts   Show...

This week, Imogen and I have a lively conversation about: The highs and lows that affect our parenting, homeschooling and creative lives Criticism: why do we let other people's opinions affect what we do? Whose opinions should we listen to? Why we shouldn't let criticism stop us from using our talents Reviews: why we don't ask for many reviews Writing about things we have never experienced Paying it Forward: is free online stuff really free?  We're also discussing some books and movies. And...

This week, Imogen and I are discussing: Social media and video games: can we break the hooks that pull us in? Books: is it okay to use someone else’s ideas and create something of our own? In particular, we’re talking about the documentary, The Social Dilemma, and the books, Dust by Kara Swanson and The Drover’s Wife by Leah Purcell. We’re also telling a few family stories.   Show Notes Things we mention in this episode: Indistractible and Hooked by Nir Eyal The Social Dilemma on Netflix Dust...

This week, as the rain continues to fall, I'm telling a few stories:   Wondering Weather I Should Iron The Elvis Connection Me? I'm Elvis' Wife Why I'm Wearing Stiff Undies   Show Notes   My Unschooling Books Curious Unschoolers: Kindle Curious Unschoolers: paperback Radical Unschool Love: Kindle Radical Unschool Love: paperback My Amazon Author Page   Where You Can Find Me Unschooling Community My Stories of an Unschooling Family community Youtube Sue Elvis Blogs Stories of an Unschooling...

This week, my daughter Imogen is back, and we're talking about: Writing: the definition of a story, what to write about, how we use our own experiences in stories. Superhero movies: the big ideas contained in seemingly trivial stories Behind-the scenes documentaries. Rock climbing and glass blowing: creativity, and the lengths (or heights!) some people will go to follow their passions. We’re also telling lots of stories.   Show Notes Things we mention in this episode: Camp NaNoWriMo The A-Z...