Pam Laricchia's Blog, page 17
November 4, 2020
EU250: Embracing Unschooling with Donna Anderson
Donna Anderson joins me this week to talk about her family’s unschooling journey. We dive deep into her family’s interests, some of which are individual and many of which they share as a family. We also explore the idea of an unschooling nest, talk about some of the challenges of deschooling, and how maintaining strong family relationships really makes such a difference when times are hard.
Questions for Donna:
Can you share with us a bit about you and your family? What is everybody interested in right now?
How did you discover unschooling and what did your family’s move to unschooling look like?
What did you find to be one of the more challenging aspects of deschooling? And how did you work through it?
An idea that comes up pretty regularly in unschooling circles is building an unschooling nest. It seems simple on the surface, but there are so many aspects to it, aren’t there?
You’ve been unschooling for a few years now and life has its ups and downs. What has been your experience with unschooling through big changes and challenges?
At this point on your journey, what is your favourite thing about your unschooling lives?
Things Mentioned in the Episode
Pam’s article, Are You Playing the Role of Mother?
You can find Donna on Facebook
Transcript
Consider becoming a patron
I deeply appreciate all my patrons! Your generous support helps pay for the hosting and transcription, as well as my time spent creating new episodes each week. It’s instrumental in keeping the podcast archive growing and freely available to anyone who’s curious and wants to explore the fascinating world of unschooling. If you’d like to join my community of patrons and scoop up some great rewards along the way, check out the Exploring Unschooling page on Patreon.
October 28, 2020
EU249: Unschooling in Context with Anna Brown
Anna Brown joins me for another Unschooling in Context episode! This time, we explore unschooling in the context of consent. I think consent lies at the heart of unschooling and I’m excited to share my conversation with Anna about what that means and how it informs the ways our families move through the world. It has also been our theme in the Living Joyfully Network this month, so we have been steeping in these ideas!
Discussion Points
First, let’s get everyone situated. Let’s talk about what we mean by consent and why is it so important.
There’s a valuable paradigm shift that takes us a step deeper into unschooling and that’s the shift away from talking about something and toward living it. We don’t need to talk about the theory of “consent” or “unschooling” with our kids, instead, we live it.
Let’s talk about what it means to push through another person’s consent.
Another aspect of consent that I find fascinating and so valuable is the idea of consensual conversations. Let’s start by explaining what we mean by that.
Coming to conversations with our kids with even an unspoken agenda can get in the way of consent. I think it’s so valuable to take a moment to check in with ourselves before a starting a conversation with our kids to see if we’re feeling resistant to a “no” answer and peel that back a bit.
Everyday unschooling, by which I mean connecting with our kids through engaging with and supporting them in their chosen activities, is a brilliant way to help our kids better understand consent! Let’s dive into that.
Things Mentioned in the episode
Transcript
Consider becoming a patron
I deeply appreciate all my patrons! Your generous support helps pay for the hosting and transcription, as well as my time spent creating new episodes each week. It’s instrumental in keeping the podcast archive growing and freely available to anyone who’s curious and wants to explore the fascinating world of unschooling. If you’d like to join my community of patrons and scoop up some great rewards along the way, check out the Exploring Unschooling page on Patreon.
October 21, 2020
EU248: Favorite Things about Unschooling
This week, I’ve put together a compilation episode! This time, it’s a collection of responses to the question, “What is your favourite thing about the flow of your unschooling days?”
If you’re newer to unschooling, these can be a great reminder of where you’re heading. And if you’re more experienced, they can be a great reminder of why you chose unschooling for your family. Either way, I suspect you’ll find them super inspiring, helping you take a deep breath and release whatever is preoccupying you so you can get back into the moment and connect with your kids. Truly, life is a collection of these small, everyday moments of connection. And that’s where our trust and respect for each other grows.
Audio clips taken from these episodes …
EU220: Pursuing Our Curiosity with Susan Bhadury
EU239: Unschooling Dads with Roop Bhadury
EU224: Deschooling with Fiona Munday
EU221: Unschooling and Neurodiversity with Tara McGovern Dutcher
EU216: Deschooling with Nikki Zavitz
EU215: Unschooling Stories with Dola Dasgupta
EU206: Deschooling with Kinsey Norris
EU202: Unschooling and Connected Relationships with Liza Swale
EU193: Unschooling Younger Kids with Martha Delmore
EU186: Sparkle and Zest and Unschooling with Teresa Hess
EU185: Deschooling with Talia Bartoe
Episode transcript …
October 14, 2020
EU247: From Teaching to Unschooling with Kelsi Stembel
Kelsi Stembel joins me this week! Kelsi has two teen daughters and is a former teacher turned farmer and entrepreneur. It was a joy to hear about how both her girls have developed and learned at their own pace, honoring their unique styles, and how unschooling has been such an amazing gift for their family. Kelsi’s journey from teaching middle school to becoming a full time farmer and unschooling parent is a beautiful story!
Questions for Kelsi
Can you share with us a bit about you and your family? What is everybody interested in right now?
You were a teacher in the public school system. I’d love to hear the story of how you got from there to unschooling!
I think a valuable part of the deschooling process is the realization that unschooling isn’t just for the kids. That it’s important for us as parents to be living and breathing examples of lifelong learning. Has that been your experience?
Another valuable paradigm shift happens when we come to recognize that school’s focus on “fixing” kids is often more damaging than helpful. Instead of focusing on their challenges, we can embrace their strengths. That shift makes a world of difference, doesn’t it?
It can be challenging for an unschooling parent to not get pulled back into the conventional learning mindset of tick boxes and grades when a child chooses an activity or a learning process that looks more “schooly.” But an unschooling child approaches it so differently, don’t they?
What has surprised you most about your unschooling journey so far?
Things mentioned in the episode
Kelsi’s business website Koofie’s Natural Living and Facebook page
Find Kelsi on Facebook and Instagram
Transcript
Consider becoming a patron
I deeply appreciate all my patrons! Your generous support helps pay for the hosting and transcription, as well as my time spent creating new episodes each week. It’s instrumental in keeping the podcast archive growing and freely available to anyone who’s curious and wants to explore the fascinating world of unschooling. If you’d like to join my community of patrons and scoop up some great rewards along the way, check out the Exploring Unschooling page on Patreon.
October 7, 2020
EU246: Unschooling and Neurodiversity with Michelle Morcate
Michelle Morcate joins me this week to talk about their unschooling journey and how unschooling is such a natural fit when considering neurodiversity because it’s all about facilitating our children as individuals, how they learn, and how they want to move through the world. Michelle’s excitement as an ally and advocate is contagious and we have a wonderful, flowing conversation about it all.
Questions for Michelle
Can you share with us a bit about you and your family? What is everybody interested in right now?
How did you discover unschooling and what did your family’s move to unschooling look like?
One of the core concepts of unschooling is that it asks us to respect each child for who they are and to meet them where they are. Full stop. Which I think explains why this lifestyle works so beautifully for every child—including neurodivergent children. It’s all about them, not us.
That’s such a powerful paradigm shift, isn’t it?
Helping our kids explore the world and figure out how they like to learn things is just one aspect of unschooling. It’s also about helping them understand themselves and how they tick so they gain confidence and trust in themselves. In the bigger picture of life, I think that’s even more valuable. How are you seeing that play out?
Are there other ways in which you’re seeing unschooling support neurodiversity?
What is it about unschooling that makes it a great fit for your family?
Things mentioned in the episode
Transcript
Consider becoming a patron
I deeply appreciate all my patrons! Your generous support helps pay for the hosting and transcription, as well as my time spent creating new episodes each week. It’s instrumental in keeping the podcast archive growing and freely available to anyone who’s curious and wants to explore the fascinating world of unschooling. If you’d like to join my community of patrons and scoop up some great rewards along the way, check out the Exploring Unschooling page on Patreon.
September 30, 2020
EU245: Unschooling Stories with Cate & Jenna Phillips
Cate and Jenna Phillips join me to share some of their wonderful unschooling stories! With six children, it was inspiring to hear about how their journey has unfolded as they prioritize relationships, follow their passions, and work together to support each other.
Questions for Cate and Jenna
Can you share a bit about you and your family?
How did you discover unschooling and what your move to unschooling look like?
Connecting more deeply with their kids and supporting their interests can feel a bit foreign for parents as they transition to unschooling. It’s a new kind of way to be in relationship with our children! I’d love to hear what your kids are into right now and some of the ways you’re helping them explore.
Can you share some tips on navigating your unschooling days with six children? What does that look like for your family?
What is your favourite thing about the flow of your unschooling days right now?
Things mentioned in the episode
EU221: Unschooling and Neurodiversity with Tara McGovern Dutcher
Unschooling NOW conference
Connect with Jenna and Cate on Instagram and Facebook
Transcript
Consider becoming a patron
I deeply appreciate all my patrons! Your generous support helps pay for the hosting and transcription, as well as my time spent creating new episodes each week. It’s instrumental in keeping the podcast archive growing and freely available to anyone who’s curious and wants to explore the fascinating world of unschooling. If you’d like to join my community of patrons and scoop up some great rewards along the way, check out the Exploring Unschooling page on Patreon.
September 23, 2020
EU244: Not Back to School with Anna Brown
Anna Brown joins me again this week! This month in the Living Joyfully Network our theme is Not Back to School. It has been a rich month of checking in with ourselves, quieting the outside noise, and focusing on our kids and the joy around us. Anna and I talk about the “back to school” messages that pepper this time of the year. How they can sometimes knock us off-kilter and have us questioning our choice to not send our kids to school, and how we can use that discomfort as a jumping off point to remember WHY we chose unschooling in the first place, to re-engage with our kids and see it in action, and to re-commit wholeheartedly to that choice. Because unschooling is a choice.
Discussion areas
remembering our whythe value of turning our gaze to our children and our daysnot judging our inside by someone else’s outsidethe value of finding communitythe choice to activity engage with our childrenstretching our comfort zones to facilitate and partner
Transcript
Consider becoming a patron
I deeply appreciate all my patrons! Your generous support helps pay for the hosting and transcription, as well as my time spent creating new episodes each week. It’s instrumental in keeping the podcast archive growing and freely available to anyone who’s curious and wants to explore the fascinating world of unschooling. If you’d like to join my community of patrons and scoop up some great rewards along the way, check out the Exploring Unschooling page on Patreon.
September 16, 2020
EU243: Parenting Shifts with Sarah Peshek
Sarah Peshek joins me this week! Sarah is an unschooling mom of three and she shares the details of her journey and her parenting shifts from control to connection. Her insights and experiences are so helpful in really pulling out why this lifestyle is so amazing! How unschooling encourages us to recenter around the person and parent we want to be, with deep, meaningful connections with our children and a deeper understanding of ourselves.
Questions for Sarah
Can you share with us a bit about you and your family? What is everybody interested in right now?
How did you discover unschooling and decide to follow that path?
Your daughters were 7 and 4 when you began to shift away from more conventional, controlling parenting to the supportive, partnership style of unschooling. What did that transition look like? How did you start?
Parents who’ve discovered unschooling and supportive parenting when their kids are a bit older can sometimes feel frustrated with themselves and regret not having discovered this sooner. Did you experience those feelings? How did you work through them?
Your youngest child was born after your shift in parenting style, so you’ve cultivated a connected, partnering relationship with him from the beginning. I’d love to hear how that experience has been! What differences have you seen?
What has surprised you most about your unschooling journey so far?
Things mentioned in the episode
Sarah’s Facebook Page: Unschooling Looks Like
Sarah’s TikTok Page: Unschooling Looks Like
Transcript
Consider becoming a patron
I deeply appreciate all my patrons! Your generous support helps pay for the hosting and transcription, as well as my time spent creating new episodes each week. It’s instrumental in keeping the podcast archive growing and freely available to anyone who’s curious and wants to explore the fascinating world of unschooling. If you’d like to join my community of patrons and scoop up some great rewards along the way, check out the Exploring Unschooling page on Patreon.
September 9, 2020
EU242: Deschooling with Nadia Joshua
Nadia Joshua joins me this week to talk about her family’s move to unschooling and her personal deschooling journey. It was delightful to learn more about her family and how they navigated moving to one income, explored the need to go and do, learned to honour both her daughters and their individual personalities, and lots more!
Questions for Nadia
Can you share with us a bit about you and your family? What is everyone into right now?
When we connected, you mentioned that when school wasn’t working well for your eldest, you left your job and you and your husband changed your lifestyle so you could afford to live off one income. Can you share a bit more of that story?
From there, how did you discover unschooling and what did your family’s move to unschooling look like?
I love seeing different learning styles and personalities play out in online unschooling groups. Some people come in asking lots of questions, others prefer to quietly read, read, read—and, of course, there are all points in between. You’re a question-asker, right? I’d love to hear about your experience!
What has been one of the more challenging aspects of deschooling so far? And can you share a bit about your journey through it?
What is your favourite thing about the flow of your unschooling days right now?
Things mentioned in the episode
Nadia’s website, justdoingus.co.uk
Nadia also blogs regularly on Instagram
Transcript
Consider becoming a patron
I deeply appreciate all my patrons! Your generous support helps pay for the hosting and transcription, as well as my time spent creating new episodes each week. It’s instrumental in keeping the podcast archive growing and freely available to anyone who’s curious and wants to explore the fascinating world of unschooling. If you’d like to join my community of patrons and scoop up some great rewards along the way, check out the Exploring Unschooling page on Patreon.
September 2, 2020
EU241: Exploring Race, Racism, and Diversity in Unschooling with Erika Davis-Pitre
Erika Davis-Pitre joins me again this week! I rebroadcast her episode, Unschooling and Diversity, earlier this year and she graciously offered to return and answer listener questions that arose from that episode. The result is this amazing episode with so many actionable steps and layers to peel back for all of us on this unschooling journey as we explore the roles we can play to address systemic racism and biases.
Questions for Erika
QUESTION 1. Hi Erika! Thank you so much for what you shared in this podcast episode and thank you so much for agreeing to come back and share more! I appreciate how you said that the default of our culture is racist. If you don’t do anything, it’s not neutral. You default to the racist biased structure… So how do we “teach” antiracism to our kids without teaching? Since we don’t teach our kids as unschoolers. My thoughts are to start with educating myself about White Supremacy, systemic racism and antiracism work by reading books, listening to podcasts and watching movies and then invite our kids to join us if they want to? Protest and
march and invite our kids? Have discussions about antiracism with my husband and invite our kids to ask questions? What else can I do?
QUESTION 2. I think of how I have read in some Unschooling circles about not wanting to bring in scary news stories because that will stress us or our kids. That we should build a safe Unschooling nest. I get upset and then it makes it hard to stay positive and joyful and connect with my kids. But the truth about our racist society isn’t peaceful or joyful. It doesn’t feel right
to hide behind white privilege and stay safe and comfortable. How do I balance prioritizing staying connected and joyful and following my kids’ passions with actively working to dismantle white supremacy? Things feel particularly urgent right now. There’s important momentum happening with the Black Liberation movement and I want to actively support it,
but I don’t want to check out and leave my kids behind.
QUESTION 3. I feel like we could or maybe even should question the belief that our children are too young or innocent to talk about racism and the death of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and others. What are your thoughts on this?
QUESTION 4. I do see a risk that I’m talking about injustice towards Black people so much lately that my kids are starting to feel sorry for Black people. What’s a good way to counteract that? One of my closest friends is Black and my kids have played frequently with her two sons since they were babies. I remind my kids of our friends when we’re talking about Black people. But overall, our community is very white.
QUESTION 5. I think the question that comes up most often for me is, I’m white and I grew up with the idea that you should treat everyone the same, that treating someone better because of how they look is almost as bad as treating someone worse because of how they look. So, I guess my question is, is it “okay” to purposely seek out diverse playmates for our kids and friends for ourselves? Is it “okay” to be extra nice to the Black family at homeschool group, both because we want them to feel welcome, and because we want to nurture a diverse group where our kids can play together? I think I’m afraid of “using” diverse families to raise anti-racist kids, if that makes sense, I know it’s a twisted-up idea.
QUESTION 6. I’m about nine months into unschooling and am observing, processing, digging/reading, and WORRYING about how this new way of life works. There’s one issue that’s especially concerning right now. I have three beautifully brown-skinned children with “othered” names to match, living in a 75% white community. I worry about my children not having a diploma, especially with these “disadvantages.” In Nevada, from what I understand, I can issue a diploma, but am not sure how it will be received when they begin to apply for work. My husband has expressed his strong concern about them not graduating from school, as he did not, because he feels it was difficult getting a “good” job without a diploma. What can you share that will help me feel better about them not getting a school-issued diploma with the above considerations in mind? I feel strongly that unschooling is the way to live, but I struggle pulling it all together.
Things mentioned in the episode
Erika moderates the Facebook group, Unschooling
Transcript
Consider becoming a patron
I deeply appreciate all my patrons! Your generous support helps pay for the hosting and transcription, as well as my time spent creating new episodes each week. It’s instrumental in keeping the podcast archive growing and freely available to anyone who’s curious and wants to explore the fascinating world of unschooling. If you’d like to join my community of patrons and scoop up some great rewards along the way, check out the Exploring Unschooling page on Patreon.
