My House is a Mess

Guest Blogger

Why?

Because it is so much more than a house.

It is an art studio prepared for messy adventures. And displaying both process and product.

It is a science lab fit for experimenting with anything from explosion to dissection.

It is a jungle gym full of spots for flipping, hanging and softly landing.

It is a movie theatre , where you can bring in as much of your own food as is required to enjoy the show.

It is a dig site , where excavating treasures happens on a near daily basis.

It is a library of the noisy sort where pouring over, piling up and dog earring pages is encouraged.

It is a video arcade , with out the necessity of coins and the welcoming of drinks and food near the machines.

It is a gathering space , where all are welcomed just as they come and hooting, hollering, mentoring and celebrating is invited.

It is an infirmary where people, pets, stuffies and plants are found in various stages of healing.

It is a coffee shop where beans are roasted, shots are pulled and friends are toasted.

It is a workshop where things are taken apart and not put back together. Where projects are started and not finished but always waiting to be revisited.

It is a hockey rink/soccer field/wrestling ring/golf course/tennis court where skills are tested and tried.

It is a dressing room with costumes and props fit for the making of imaginations' finest films.

It is a super heroes backyard with gadgets poised for use and repurposing.

It is a chef’s kitchen where testing, inviting and preparing elaborate meals happens over and over and over again.

 

And it is many more things then I can remember to mention.

So if you stop by please look passed what appears to be mess and join in the magic.

Shannon Loucks first wrote this blogpost about Messy Houses in 2011 at her blog, Breaking Daylight.


Shannon shares some fabulous ideas for how to connect more with your kids in her book,

Love More:
50 Ways to Build Joy into Childhood


and her newest book:


Buried Treasures: A Mother's Love Letters to her Children

Shannon's Shop

Shannon revisits this post, over a decade later, sharing the changes she sees in her house now.

Read it at her blog                   Listen to her on Instagram

Join Sue's Creating Confidence Membership Group!

We can talk about overcoming your own feelings about needing to clean up so much!


Also! Shannon Loucks was a Guest Speaker in the Membership group and members can access the recording!


Come get the unschooling support and encouragement you need! Why wait?

Join Us Today!
By Sue Patterson October 17, 2025
Creative whiteboard ideas for everyday unschooling! Build word-wall confidence, track family ideas, and spark curiosity with simple daily learning.
Sue's Unschooling Tip f the Week - it's Friday
By Sue Patterson October 10, 2025
A simple parenting tip from my unschooling membership group - grab a spiral!
By september September 30, 2025
Feeling shaky with homeschooling? Discover why ‘school at home’ often fails, and how unschooling helps kids thrive through curiosity, connection, and real learning.
Unschooling Parents Toolkit
By Sue Patterson September 25, 2025
Your Unschooling Parent Toolkit: 25 Guides on sale through Sept 30th! Let me show you how to unschool!
12 years School - stil not ready for real life. Teacher, child, chalkboard
By Sue Patterson September 21, 2025
Discover 10 life skills schools didn’t teach—like money, relationships, and media literacy—that adults wish they had learned for real life.
What about The Basics
By Sue Patterson September 16, 2025
Worried about the basics? See how kids learn reading, math & science through everyday life—no curriculum required. Are they learning enough?
Spark curiosity and learning - without lesson plans!
By Sue Patterson September 4, 2025
Spark curiosity and learning - without lesson plans! Try this unschooling secret!
By Sue Patterson August 19, 2025
School Messed with Your Head
Dont Do It Shopping cart
By Sue Patterson August 6, 2025
As moms are shopping the Back-to-School sales, Sue Patterson is trying hard to resist whispering to them, "Don't Do It!"
Today is Our 11th Anniversary!
By Sue Patterson July 29, 2025
Unschooling Mom2Mom - 11 Year Anniversary
More Posts