Have any parents experienced personal radical transformation since starting to unschool.

[Louise Gibson]

I would like to know if there are any other parents out there, who have themselves gone through transformations in their OWN lives because of the difference in the freedom your family can have from this unschooling journey, even with both parents working full time.

It must be what it feels like to get out of prison. I feel that by me doing this, I am changing into a different person and that, in itself will give my children a chance to be with different mother than they had in the past.

The changes and transformations that I have been experiencing have really effected every other area of my life, even in my working environment (the schools).

Letting go and trusting in the good of things, even in the face of sometimes huge anxieties and fears related to this unschooling journey, appears to have been the key to unlocking the many self imposed prison doors that I had surrounded myself with.

The people who started me on this journey through reading their books were, John Gatto and Holt.  More Gatto than anyone else.  He helped me believe that anything is truly possible, not just for my kids, but for me too.

Maybe, I thought, it's not too late for me either!!!!!

[Kathy T.]

I have noticed that I am calmer with the kids. And that I have learned to let go. Well, most things. I am a work in progress and the kids see that and we all help each other. I have noticed that when any of the boys get upset I am a lot less yellie and demanding. I have a sense of peace most of the time (I have panic attacks~that's when I go and hunt out other free learning mamas). I know that my boys are bright, imaginative, focused, fun to be around, enjoyable. 

The people that have helped me throughout this journey to get where I am today and tomorrow is Sandra and Rue Kream and the site Joyfully Rejoycing. :)

[michelle N]

I just joined this group so I could answer this great question.  I have noticed that as I accept my childrens' right to say No to things I am also finding myself saying No more often.  I used to agree to do things that really didn't interest me or that I felt I had to do in order to 'be a good friend', good mom, good daughter, etc.  I'm even saying No to some of the imagined chores I used to feel I HAD to do every day.  As I give my kids more and more freedom of choice I am discovering my own freedoms too.  Unschooling is THE life.

[Jill Larson]

I have, actually. I decided my main focus was going to be towards health and  learning how to make safe cleaning products, soaps, shampoos, etc. In the past 5 weeks I've become a raw foodist. My lymph nodes that had been swelled for the past 4 years, are now gone, my vision is getting better, I have tons of energy, my hair is getting really long and healthy, I've lost a bunch of weight. I just feel really good and a lot less stressed. So it's amazing how I have been able to work on myself with all this free time I have now.. lol. My children on the other hand have been a little more stubborn, and I have a tendency to become panicky about whether I am doing this right. I just get nervous cause they are still eating the processed foods, because that is what my husband eats, and I don't want to force anyone to be like me.. I mean that would defeat the whole purpose, and I think it would make them rebellious, so I am trying to introduce foods, if they like it, they can have it, if not I try again a few weeks later. There is not a lot of junk food in my home, but there is a lot of processed foods :-/

 

My older son spends a lot of time playing video games, but they are cute kid games.. I just don't know if I should be worried about that? It's just been a very big change for the entire family.. lol. We do things like go to the beach, go to the park, go to the movies.. stuff that before, we were very restricted because schoolwork took up most of our time. So it's been less stressful in that sense.. we haven't been fighting and I like.. no, I LOVE that!

[Candice Sisemore]

It. Has. Been. Amazing.

[Melodye Van Volkinburg]

More patience. It's exactly like getting out of jail. As soon as I decided to do it, a weight lifted from my chest.

[Ester Siroky]

Inevitable change and transformation - without that, I think, it would be impossible for unschooling to happen!

[Lis Wolf]

oh definitely. definitely calmer. i feel liberated as a mama in being free to be w/ my kids and they with me in this freedom. this is something i've always wanted to do and am finally committed to it wholeheartedly. i've dipped my toes in at varying depths and now i've jumped in body mind and spirit! :) we are finally LIVING THIS LIFE.

[Krystal Macy]

Hello everyone! I just joined this network and also just started unschooling. I worked as a Corrections Officer in a jail before I started some radical changes so I really do feel like i just got out of jail lol. Im happy to see that im not the only one to feel like that. Im connecting with my kids alot more instead of giving orders. It has changed me so much. Its like a huge dark cloud has lifted.