REASONS to Celebrate!
Summer doesn’t have to end when you’re unschooling. Your family doesn’t have to do some big abrupt change - even though the weather isn’t that much different between last week and this week. You can stay more tuned in with what’s happening with the seasons - living in the Real World instead of the artificial world of the School System.
Shorter lines everywhere! Nows the time to go shopping in those back-to-school aisles! Weekdays can look like ghost towns in some places - but it’s nice to get right in there while everyone else is "otherwise occupied."
Less crowds
- especially when we go camping, or to the libraries or museums or beaches.
Now’s the time to go, right?
Cheaper travel
in the off-season. Prices drop in a lot of places once so many families get going with school. Accessing the lower rates is a huge advantage for families with this kind of flexibility.
Back-to-School Sales
Take advantage of all those sales at this time of year. Are your markers getting a little dry? Do you need new paints? OR how about new pillows or ways to make your house a little cozier? Maybe now’s the time to stock up on sweat pants and cozy socks.
I redid a meme that used to float around a lot. It seems there’s a theme when parents are shopping around. ANyone relate? But seriously… we spent a lot of time in super comfy clothes… whatever way that looked like. It’s your house! Your kids can wear what they want!
Healthier Eating Options. Some people have distinct negative memories of their school cafeteria experience, and unschooled kids get to skip that! I know schools have to move a lot of kids through one cafeteria, but some end up with lunch at 10:30 AM while others may not get to eat until closer to 1PM! When we’re home with them, we don’t have to follow the same set time frame that everyone else does. We can eat when we're hungry and have a lot healthier food choices too!
Strengthening Curiosity and Creativity was one of the reasons I didn't want my kids to learn in a school setting. We can allow time to explore, instead of responding to bells ringing to shift to other subjects as if we're in a factory! This stop-and-start style ends up creating a habit of staying shallow and not digging deeper into topics. Why bother if the bell is about to ring? That doesn’t happen at your house. Your kids can skip off to another topic whenever they want - not because some external system said, “It’s Time.” And if you’re worried about so much “playtime.” Remember that that’s HOW kids learn - it’s really how all of us learn! As Unschooling parents, we get to tap into that a little more. And figure out why we’re so resistant to it. [Here's a
podcast about Playtime, if this is your concern]
Kids can pursue their interests all day! That’s how they’re learning. We may not be able to see it, or check off the boxes, but their brains are working on something all the time. One thing really does lead to another - and we don't have to orchestrate it all!
Flexible schedules are another reason to celebrate! This is another example of how unschooling really celebrates INDIVIDUALITY… we don’t have to do things because other people do. We do it because it works for us. Our calendars can fit our own family - and can shift whenever we need it to!
Sometimes people think unschoolers have no schedules or structure in their days. That’s not true. Life sets up a structure. We just don’t have arbitrary expectations and restraints. The
Creating Confidence membership group
(filled with unschoolers!) meets on Mondays to look at the schedule for the week. It's a great way to be accountable, but also to be deliberate and intentional about what really matters to you.
More Time with Your Family - probably the biggest reason to celebrate! More shared experiences lead to more connection. More connection allows you to know what is interesting to them - and what they’ve outgrown. It gives you insight into why they’re making the decisions they’re making. That might make you more compassionate with them. Having more connection allows you to relax a little. You don’t have to try to control everything because you’re getting that panicky feeling that you don't know what’s going on. You do. And, you can see that controlling everything isn’t the answer.
For those of you who are having trouble with family interactions, maybe you’ve just pulled your kids from school, remember this: School got them when they were at their best, and then handed them back to you when they were worn out. That alone is going to be different now. And as unschoolers, prioritizing the relationship and the connection - it’s what leads to all the good things!
