gentle parenting

202: Tough or Unconditional Love?

Do good parents stay firmly in control of their children, demanding obedience, good behaviour and respect? Do they practise tough love? Or are there problems with this method of parenting? Is there some other way of raising kids to be good people who want to do what is right? Is it okay to parent with unconditional love?
 
This week, I’m sharing a few stories on this topic. I also have a request or plea for help.
 
Show Notes
Please visit my blog, Stories of an Unschooling Family, to read my post,  Tough or Unconditional Love?Parent or Friend?  It contains today’s show notes.
 
My Unschooling Books
The Unschool Challenge: Kindle
The Unschool Challenge: paperback
Curious Unschoolers: Kindle
Curious Unschoolers: paperback
Radical Unschool Love: Kindle
Radical Unschool Love: paperback
My Amazon Author Page
 

194: Unschoolers, Chores and Rosters

This week, I'm discussing chores. How do we encourage our kids to be generous and willing workers?
I’m sharing two stories:
How to Get Kids to Do the Chores
The Radical Chore Roster
Please visit my blog, Stories of an Unschooling Family, to read my post, Can Radical Unschoolers Use Chore Rosters? It contains today’s show notes.
 
My Unschooling Books
The Unschool Challenge: Kindle
The Unschool Challenge: paperback
Curious Unschoolers: Kindle
Curious Unschoolers: paperback
Radical Unschool Love: Kindle
Radical Unschool Love: paperback
My Amazon Author Page

187: The Problem With High Expectations and Control

This week, Imogen and I are talking about:
High expectations and control. Do they result in unhappy children? Do controlled kids look for distractions? Does limiting screen time result in an increased attraction for devices?
A novel that Imogen reviewed: Dear Hero
Inspiration and different ways of telling a story
How we can work together, share our skills, and help each other
The Catholic Homeschool Conference (I'm a speaker!)
News of two soon-to-be-produced unschooling podcasts
 
Show Notes
Things we mentioned in this episode:
 
Indistractible by Nir Eyal
Masterchef Australia 2021
Show Your Work by Austin Kleon
Dear Hero by Hope Bolinger and Alyssa Roat
Illuminae Files Book Series by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
The Catholic Homeschool Conference
 
My Unschooling Books
Curious Unschoolers: Kindle
Curious Unschoolers: paperback
Radical Unschool Love: Kindle
Radical Unschool Love: paperback
My Amazon Author Page
 
Where You Can Find Me
Unschooling Community
My Stories of an Unschooling Family community
Youtube
Sue Elvis
Blogs
Stories of an Unschooling Family
Where the Carol Birds Sing
Instagram
sue_elvis
 
Where You Can Find Imogen
Blog
Write.Rewrite.Read
Instagram
write.rewrite.read
Youtube
Imogen Elvis
Books
The Crystal Tree
The Shattering Song
Frost Hands
 
Thank you for listening to this episode!
 
 

174: When in Doubt, Just Love

This week, I'm talking about love again!
00:00 Intro
00:48 Is Anyone Listening?
02:07 My Homeschooling Global Summit Interview
09:46 Unschooling Zoom Meetups 
13:32 Video Plans
14:56 Radical Unschool Love Discussion 
15:54 Two Love Stories
16:15 Following Our Mothering Instincts 
24:30 Reject What Doesn’t Feel Right and Just Love
33:25 End Stuff
 
Show Notes
Blog Post
Reject What Doesn't Feel Right and Just Love
 
The Homeschooling Global Summit
The Homeschooling Global Summit
Our 2019 Homeschooling Global Summit Interviews
 
My Unschooling Books
Curious Unschoolers: Kindle
Curious Unschoolers: paperback
Radical Unschool Love: Kindle
Radical Unschool Love: paperback
My Amazon Author Page
 
Where You Can Find Me
My Stories of an Unschooling Family community
Email Me
Youtube
Sue Elvis
Blogs
Stories of an Unschooling Family
Where the Carol Birds Sing
 
Thank you for listening to this episode. If you enjoy my podcast, please consider sharing the link so that we can spread the word about unschooling. A quick review or rating would help too!
Please feel welcome to visit my blog Stories of an Unschooling Family to leave a comment.  I hope to see you inside my unschooling community. Perhaps you'd like to join our book club!
 

173: Unschool Love Stories

This week, I'm talking about:
00:00 Intro
01:05 Casual Work and Gemma-Rose 
06:22 Unschooling Community 
07:11 Unschooling Challenges 
09:28 Resources, Links, Questions, Photos
10:57 Book Club Discussion Group
12:14 Nothing Is More Important than Love
17:38 Children’s Book Club 
20:02 Homeschooling Global Summit 
25:09 A-Z Unschooling Stories 
28:21 Clock Watching
35:33 Impressing Other People 
43:10 End Stuff
 
Show Notes
 
Blog posts
Clock Watching
Impressing Other People
 
The Homeschooling Global Summit
Our 2019 Homeschooling Global Summit Interviews
 
My Unschooling Books
Curious Unschoolers: Kindle
Curious Unschoolers: paperback
Radical Unschool Love: Kindle
Radical Unschool Love: paperback
My Amazon Author Page
 
Where You Can Find Me
My Stories of an Unschooling Family community
Email Me
Youtube
Sue Elvis
Blogs
Stories of an Unschooling Family
Where the Carol Birds Sing
 
Thank you for listening to this episode. If you enjoy my podcast, please consider sharing the link so that we can spread the word about unschooling. A quick review or rating would help too!
Please feel welcome to visit my blog Stories of an Unschooling Family to leave a comment.  I hope to see you inside my unschooling community. Perhaps you'd like to join our book club!
 
 

165: Stories About Connection from Radical Unschool Love

This week, I'm sharing a few stories from my book, Radical Unschool Love:
A Teenager’s Thoughts
Learning Right from Wrong
Developing a Sense of Right and Wrong
Can We Be Both Parent and Friend?
One-on-One Times
I'm also sharing a blog post called Radical Unschooling: Something Beautiful
 
Show Notes
 
My Unschooling Books
Curious Unschoolers: Kindle
Curious Unschoolers: paperback
Radical Unschool Love: Kindle
Radical Unschool Love: paperback
My Amazon Author Page
 
Blog post
Radical Unschooling: Something Beautiful
 
Unschoolgram
 
Thank you for listening to this episode. If you enjoy my podcast, please consider sharing the link so that we can spread the word about unschooling. A quick review or rating would help too!
Please feel welcome to visit my blog Stories of an Unschooling Family to leave a comment about this episode.  Or you could just stop by and say hello!
 
 

163: Time and Trust and Letting Go

This week, I'm talking about:
how time moves so fast.
making the most of our time with our kids.
not being anxious but trusting our kids will get to where they are meant to go.
how we have to let go of each stage of our lives.
our son Thomas and grief and birthday traditions.
I'm sharing two stories
Time and Trust (from my book Radical Unschool Love)
Letting Go of Another of Thomas' Places
I tried a new podcasting recording setup for this episode. Please ignore any imperfections. Yes, there are a few skipped words and a bit of breathy breathing and other strange noises, but I hope this recording is good enough to listen to. (How did Darth Vader get into my podcast?!) When I learn how to use Adobe Audition better, my podcasts will sound better!
 
Show Notes
 
My Unschooling Books
Curious Unschoolers: Kindle
Curious Unschoolers: paperback
Radical Unschool Love: Kindle
Radical Unschool Love: paperback
My Amazon Author Page
 
Blog posts
How Did a Man Get into My Podcast?
Letting Go of Another of Thomas' Places
 
Podcast
Beginning and Endings and a Simple Christmas
  
Thank you for listening to this episode. If you enjoy my podcast, please consider sharing the link so that we can spread the word about unschooling. A quick review or rating would help too!
Please feel welcome to visit my blog Stories of an Unschooling Family to leave a comment about this episode.  Or you could just stop by and say hello!
 

160: Shall We Talk About Christian Unschooling?

This week's episode is for my Christian unschooling friends.
I'm exploring the question: can Christians unschool?
I share some quick (and maybe muddled!) thoughts on such things as trust, freedom, unconditional love, passions and interests, respect, families, our missions in life, and forgiveness from a Christian unschooling perspective.
I didn't aim for a perfect podcast covering all aspects of Christian unschooling. Instead, I just wanted to share a few thoughts that might open up some conversations.
I'm also sharing an adventurous mother story from one of my children's novels.
 
Show Notes
 
My Unschooling Books
Curious Unschoolers: Kindle
Curious Unschoolers: paperback
Radical Unschool Love: Kindle
Radical Unschool Love: paperback
My Amazon Author Page
 
My Children's Novels
The Angels of Abbey Creek
The Angels of Gum Tree Road
 
Blog Post
 Bringing God into the Unschooling Picture
 
The Curious Unschoolers Book Club
The Curious Unschoolers Book Club Is Now Open!
The Book Club Link
 
Where You Can Find Me
Youtube
Sue Elvis
 Instagram
stories_ofan_unschoolingfamily
Blog
Stories of an Unschooling Family
 
Thank you for listening to this episode. If you enjoy my podcast, please consider sharing the link so that we can spread the word about unschooling. A quick review or rating would help too!
Please feel welcome to visit my blog Stories of an Unschooling Family to leave a comment about this episode. Are you interested in talking more about Christian unschooling? Join us in the Curious Unschoolers Book Club. And please join me on Instagram!

159: Turning Waiting Times into Unschooling Adventures

This week, I'm talking about how we can make the most of waiting times by filling them with adventures.
I'm also discussing:
Perfection and how it stops us from doing important and enjoyable things.
How we can be adventurous parents.
My vlogging plans.
How life and our typical unschooling days change as our kids get older and their needs and interests change.
How we don't need to set assignments for our kids after they've enjoyed an adventure.
The Curious Unschoolers Book Club
My Baby Loss Club website.
I'm also sharing two stories of when my kids were younger:
An Adventure Hiding in Every Moment
The Photography Girls Head into the Bush
 
Show Notes
 
My Unschooling Books
Curious Unschoolers: Kindle
Curious Unschoolers: paperback
Radical Unschool Love: Kindle
Radical Unschool Love: paperback
My Amazon Author Page
 
Blog Posts
 An Adventure Hiding in Every Moment
The Photography Girls Head into the Bush
The Bush Walk
 
Podcast
Episode 2: Mistakes, a Teenager's Love of Learning, and Loose Change
 
The Curious Unschoolers Book Club
The Curious Unschoolers Book Club Is Now Open!
The Book Club Link
 
Where You Can Find Me
Youtube
Sue Elvis
 Instagram
stories_ofan_unschoolingfamily
Blog
Stories of an Unschooling Family
 
Thank you for listening to this episode. If you enjoy my podcast, please consider sharing the link so that we can spread the word about unschooling. A quick review or rating would help too!
Please feel welcome to visit my blog Stories of an Unschooling Family to leave a comment about this episode. Share your waiting time adventures! Join us in the Curious Unschoolers Book Club. And please join me on Instagram!
 
 

158: Old and New Stories, a Book Club and Other Unschooling Things

This week, I'm sharing some old stories and some new ones, as well as some news.
I talk about:
When my kids were younger by sharing a snow story and a homeschooling camp story.
How my ideas about how kids learn have changed.
How Gemma-Rose (15) has been enriching her own life.
Our family passion for musicals.
How our kids can come alive when they are involved with their passions and using their talents.
How young kids can join in with things we might think are too advanced for them.
My new Curious Unschoolers Book Club.
How Imogen, Sophie and I are travelling to Canberra on 31st August to meet up with other unschoolers.
 
Show Notes
My Unschooling Books
Curious Unschoolers: Kindle
Curious Unschoolers: paperback
Radical Unschool Love: Kindle
Radical Unschool Love: paperback
My Amazon Author Page
 
Blog Posts
 
I Am a Pirate King!
When Unschooled Kids Charge Off on Their Own Learning Adventures (includes links to mentioned musicals)
 
The Curious Unschoolers Book Club
The Curious Unschoolers Book Club Is Now Open!
The Book Club Link
 
Books by Father James Tierney
The Bush Boys books
 
Where You Can Find Me
Youtube
Sue Elvis
 Instagram
stories_ofan_unschoolingfamily
Blog
Stories of an Unschooling Family
 
Thank you for listening to this episode. If you enjoy my podcast, please consider sharing the link so that we can spread the word about unschooling. A quick review or rating would help too!
Please feel welcome to visit my blog Stories of an Unschooling Family to leave a comment about this episode. Join us in the Curious Unschoolers Book Club. And please join me on Instagram!