Unschoolers Can Fly

[Robin Stevenson]

 

We started unschooling almost two years ago now, after my son attended a few weeks of first grade in a local public school. Unschooling-- which my son describes to people as "not following a curriculum and just doing whatever we feel like--" been pretty awesome. Awesome for him, which I expected, but also for the whole family, often in ways I didn't expect.

So here's a random list of perks of being an unschooling parent:

1. Living with a happy confident child who loves life, loves learning, and makes no distinction between work and play.

2. Not having to pack 1330 school lunches over the next seven years. Also not having to pack a similar number of peanut free snacks. (If you think this is shallow and petty, okay, fine. Maybe it is. Or maybe you don’t have kids. Regardless, I was more or less ecstatic when I realized I didn’t have pack any more lunches. Ever. Again.)

3.Visiting parks, museums, art galleries and science centres during the school day when they are empty and quiet.A also people look at you and your child and say, "oh, you have the day off school! How nice!" Which makes me feel sort feel gleeful, like I am getting away with something.

4. Travelling outside of peak travel times. Everything is cheaper. And quieter.

5. Not having your life thrown into chaos by spring break. Of course, some might argue that our life sometimes seems to be pretty chaotic every day.

6. Finding out about totally cool things that it would never have occurred to you to be interested in. (I’d never even heard of plasma cutters until this year. Or magnetrons. Or gluons.)

7. Staying in your pyjamas all day if you want to.

8. Going to unschooling gatherings and meeting interesting, unconventional people who are passionate about learning.

9. Getting to learn and play and explore alongside your child... and having six extra hours to spend with your child every day. (Okay, I admit that this does not necessarily feel like a perk every single day. There was one morning last week, for instance... But those moments aside, I am so very grateful not to be missing out on all those hours. )

10. And finally—and this is huge-- rediscovering your own curiosity and love of learning. Turns out I am just as excited about exploring and discovering the world as my son is... And this unschooling journey has made me conscious of that in ways that I will always be grateful for.

How about you?  If any unschooling parents are reading this, I'd love to hear what would make it on to your list...

[Robin Stevenson]

Love these comments... thanks for adding to the list!

[Stephanie Comfort]

12. Not having to see your child sick to their stomach in the morning because of anxiety over being harassed at school. Instead, having the opportunity to explore the nearby creek or make armor and swords from cardboard boxes.(without being graded on the curve for their creative abilities)

[blisssoup]

Watching my daughter listen to the whispers of her own heart.

[Anita Feist]

add to the list:

11. No longer joining in the conversation of other moms (homeschoolers) who are desperate to find ways to coerce their childern to study a particular subject and finish the ciriculum.