family

98: Unschool Maths and Uncomfortable Ideas

This week, I'm talking about:
uncomfortable ideas, the ones we think we'll never consider
how we sometimes deceive ourselves because we can't face the truth
our unschool maths story
 
I discuss the questions:
If our kids don't have formal maths notes to show, what can we put in our homeschool records books?
Is it okay to strew maths like we would science or history?
Is there a problem with some maths games?
Is there a problem with real life maths resources?
Can we call ourselves unschoolers if we don't unschool maths?
 
I also talk more about:
those times when life becomes overwhelming
how we can help each other when someone isn't coping
empathy and misbehaviour
our weight loss and fitness adventure
 
Please visit my blog Stories of an Unschooling Family.
Also, I invite you to join me on my Stories of an Unschooling Family Facebook page.
Thank you for listening. And if you enjoy my podcast, please consider writing an iTunes review and sharing the link so we can spread the word about unschooling! 
 
Podcast music: Twombly by Podington Bear, (CC BY-NC 3.0) 

97: Unschooling Imposters and Difficult Times

This week, I answer the following questions:
Why did I feel like an unschooling imposter?
Why is unschooling the perfect way of life even though life isn't perfect?
Why should we stop and reassess what we're doing every now and then?
What does Gemma-Rose's (13) day look like?
What is Sophie (16) doing at the moment?
I also talk about
our weight loss adventure
and my recent activity with my blog and Youtube channel
 
 
Please visit my blog Stories of an Unschooling Family.
Also, I invite you to join me on my Stories of an Unschooling Family Facebook page.
Thank you for listening. And if you enjoy my podcast, please consider writing an iTunes review and sharing the link so we can spread the word about unschooling! 
 
Podcast music: Twombly by Podington Bear, (CC BY-NC 3.0) 
 

95: Unschooling Siblings and Other Stories

These are a few of the things I'm talking about this week:
Siblings
Acceptance
Encouragement
Labels
Boys
The joy of giving
Essay writing
 
I tell lots of stories and share my new free ebook Unschool Reading. 
 
Please visit my blog Stories of an Unschooling Family for the show notes. 
Also, I invite you to join me on my Stories of an Unschooling Family Facebook page.
Thank you for listening. And if you enjoy my podcast, please consider writing an iTunes review and sharing the link so we can spread the word about unschooling! 
 
Podcast music: Twombly by Podington Bear, (CC BY-NC 3.0) 
 
 

94: What Do Unschoolers Do All Day?

This week, I share a few stories from a time when we used to ponder such things as:
was Helen of Troy still beautiful after ten years of war? Was she still worth fighting over?
are Elvis feet different from everyone else's? Why can't we walk in thongs (flip-flops, not underwear!)
I also talk about:
how we never used to unschool maths
how we sometimes deceive ourselves because we're not ready to face the truth
how unschooling is a continual learning experience for parents as well as kids
how I forgot something very important when we began unschooling
 
Please visit my blog Stories of an Unschooling Family for the show notes. 
Also, I invite you to join me on my Stories of an Unschooling Family Facebook page.
Thank you for listening. And if you enjoy my podcast, please consider writing an iTunes review and sharing the link so we can spread the word about unschooling! 
 
Podcast music: Twombly by Podington Bear, (CC BY-NC 3.0) 

93: Our Unschooling Story

This week, I'm sharing our unschooling story. Years ago, we started as unschoolers. We then tried different methods of homeschooling before returning to unschooling:
Behind That Cream Front Door
Undercover Homeschoolers
Doing Our Own Thing
Time to Unschool
Please visit my blog Stories of an Unschooling Family for the show notes. 
Also, I invite you to join me on my Stories of an Unschooling Family Facebook page.
Thank you for listening. And if you enjoy my podcast, please consider writing an iTunes review and sharing the link so we can spread the word about unschooling! 
 
Podcast music: Twombly by Podington Bear, (CC BY-NC 3.0) 

92: Does My Trust in Unschooling Ever Waver?

This week, I talk about:
Trust: It's easy to trust when things are going well but is that real trust?
Being a support driver for young learner drivers: Do we sometimes have to be adventurous and do things we don't want to do?
Children who don't seem to fit easily into the world: Should we watch out for ways to help each other?
Praise: Is it good or bad? How do we encourage our kids to be humble about their talents?
Creativity: Do you ever yearn to create but don't have the opportunity because you have small children who need your time and attention?
Creative Art and English resources: art documentaries, Jane Austen mini-series, film scores and cinema history
Please visit my blog Stories of an Unschooling Family for the show notes. 
Also, I invite you to join me on my Stories of an Unschooling Family Facebook page.
Thank you for listening. And if you enjoy my podcast, please consider writing an iTunes review and sharing the link so we can spread the word about unschooling! 
 
Podcast music: Twombly by Podington Bear, (CC BY-NC 3.0) 

91: How Unschooling is About Being Connected With Our Kids

This week, I discuss the following questions:
How do our children learn right from wrong?
Why is it so important that we are connected with our kids?
Why am I reluctant to ask people to review my children's novels?
Do parents have to be perfect or is there something more important than perfection?
What is a family?
Is my new podcast series idea a good one? Perhaps it's ridiculous!
I tell lots of stories along the way:
Why did I regret crying while I was watching a biology film at school?
Did my husband Andy become a singing superstar with his very own backing group?
Did I used to be a good surgical assistant or did I quake in my boots every time I was asked to help?
Please visit my blog Stories of an Unschooling Family for the show notes. 
Also, I invite you to join me on my Stories of an Unschooling Family Facebook page.
Thank you for listening. And if you enjoy my podcast, please consider writing an iTunes review and sharing the link so we can spread the word about unschooling! 
 
Podcast music: Twombly by Podington Bear, (CC BY-NC 3.0)

89: Saying No and Other Things

This week, I talk about:
Adding joy to a powerless afternoon
Why sometimes it's good to leave our cameras at home when we go out
Social media again
Deciding whether our work is good or not
Allergic cats and daughters
A delicious gluten-free, sugar-free and dairy-free chocolate tart
How we sometimes need to put our families first and say no
Our unique back-to-school supplies
Buying what our kids need to further their passions
Unschoolers and planning
Listening to Jane Austen
Redwork embroidery
Shakespeare
 
Please visit my blog Stories of an Unschooling Family.
And join me on my Stories of an Unschooling Family Facebook Page.
 
My children's novel, 'The Angels of Gum Tree Road', is now on Amazon, Kindle, and Lulu. 
 
Podcast music: Twombly by Podington Bear, (CC BY-NC 3.0)
 
Thank you for listening. And if you enjoy my podcast, please consider writing an iTunes review and sharing the link so we can spread the word about unschooling! 

88: Can We Force Kids to Exercise?

This week, I'm talking about:
What mothers have to do even when the weather is very hot
The place of last resort
Children that don't seem to fit into the world
Earning coffee money
A trap door accident
Father and daughter time
Gym buddies
Video dance workouts
Encouraging kids to exercise
Forcing kids to do things
A perfect subscription for all the family
Christian running music
My Australia Day baby
An unschool science resource
 You can find the show notes on my blog Stories of an Unschooling Family.
Please join me on my Stories of an Unschooling Family Facebook Page.
 
My children's novel, 'The Angels of Gum Tree Road', is now on Amazon, Kindle, and Lulu. 
 
Podcast music: Twombly by Podington Bear, (CC BY-NC 3.0)
 
Thank you for listening. And if you enjoy my podcast, please consider writing an iTunes review and sharing the link so we can spread the word about unschooling! 

87: The Catholic Radical Unschool Cheese and other stories

This week, I answer the following questions:
What is unschooling?
Why is unschooling different from other methods of homeschooling? Could it not be a method at all?
Should we make kids do things they don't want to do? Would that be good for them?
Is there such a thing as providing a too happy life for our kids? Should we get them used to the fact that life in the bigger world won't always be happy?
Are we easily distracted? Have most of us lost the ability to concentrate and do deep work?
Do we need social media? What if we have something we want to share with the world?
Can series such as Downton Abbey lead to some wonderful learning experiences?
Are quiet times valuable and even essential?
What is The Catholic Radical Unschool Cheese?
Can unschooling kids work hard?
Is a parent's attitude important when it comes to chores and other mundane tasks?
What have my children been doing recently?
You can find the show notes on my blog Stories of an Unschooling Family.
Please visit my new blog The Catholic Radical Unschool Cheese.
 
Podcast music: Twombly by Podington Bear, (CC BY-NC 3.0)
 
Thank you for listening. And if you enjoy my podcast, please consider writing an iTunes review and sharing the link so we can spread the word about unschooling!