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...Radical unschooler, artist, quilter, organic gardener, horsewoman, farmer, naturalist, aspiring writer, businesswoman, wife, and mother of six, living simply and learning with joy aside my two youngest, autodidacts , in southeastern MA
"A life worth living and work worth doing
that is what I want for all children."
John Holt
www.Child in Harmony.com
A NEST IN NATURE
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Harmony Woods Farm
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LIVEFREEINHARMONY-PROJECT 365
Patience is about trying to endure the present moment until a better one comes. Unschooling is about enjoying the present moment for what it is." ~ Melissa Wiley
embrace the differences
 ![]()
Birds make great sky circles of their freedom.
How do they learn it? They fall, and in falling,
They're given wings.
~ Rumi
It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks of you when you're comfortable with your self ~ Rue Kream
I will play, smile, and stare transfixed at the rain. I will sing, laugh, and make up stories. I will draw, break my crayons, and not care that they are broken. I will walk on stone walls and dig in the dirt. I will not wrinkle up like a prune: I will be the ripe plum I am perfectly capable of becoming. ~Eric Maisel
The routine of my day fits me like an old sweater: comfortable, easy to move, with room enough to stretch. Awake when I finish sleeping; meals when I’m hungry; outdoors when I want to feel or smell fresh air; reading when it beckons me; [my dog] sandwiched in among it all for playing, for fun, for a living being. ~ Alice Koller
My ArT BloG:
tessellations
I'm not afraid of storms for I'm learning how to sail my ship. ~ Louisa May Alcott
HAFLINGER HORSES
The horse is my friend. Now, some of you people might look at him and say he's just a horse.But,and I don't mean any disrespect, the way I look at it,you all are just people."
--Ray Hunt, Master Horseman
AMERICAN LIVESTOCK BREEDS CONSERVANCY
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| Living with two teens (one almost a teen) and watching them grow is adventurous ! VENTUROUS . . .life with unschooled TEENS and musings of how we got here is my newest blog! Come visit here!
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| Me: How was Art class today? ( as she finished week two of the spring session of co-op with art and sign language) Her: It was fun, but noone talked while we drew our pictures. Me: Really? Her: Ya, only if they had to ask the teacher something. Me: I'll bet if the class was full of unschoolers there would be lots of chatter Her: Mom, unschoolers would NOT be taking this class! laugher .. laughter .. laughter. Unschoolers often DO take classes, and I think an art class full of unschoolers would be a happy, busy place to be, with children feeling free to chat about anything and moving about the room while they created. There would be no feelings of only adults do the talking or only speak when you are spoken to. It would be totally different than most kids are used to, that is, unless you are an unschooler :) | | |
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She unschools, yet she still supports her brother. She sees him happier and agrees that school is the best place for him right now, but she wants no part of it for herself.
She is adamant about never going and would rather take a myriad of classes at a later date in time that have meaning to her; college classes, perhaps in mythology, art, design or animal science.
But college as a full-time student? She's not sure yet. How sure is anyone at the age of 12 1/2, nevermind 18, 20 . . . or 55?
"Maybe I'll be a dog trainer or run an animal rescue?"
"Or a make-up artist, set designer or writer?" " Or do a few of the things I like?"
And the latest statement and plan: "I want to travel the world! "
I see the change, I see the growth of one who knows her own mind. She IS a freethinker and truly knows what she does and does not want. She knows what is best for her. And she already knows she can do anything she sets her mind upon; the opportunities are endless in this world.
How does she know what she wants, is so wise and full of confidence at such an early age? The answer is in one six letter word: C H O I C E .
She has been given the freedom to make choices from an early age, and over time it has become second nature. She is very choosey how she spends her time and who she spends it with. She places a high value on herself.
Freedom, choice and trust empower our children to choose what is right for them and to take risks without worrying about making mistakes. They learn from each and every experience and get to know and trust their own selves even deeper.
Other thoughts on choice are here.
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I haven't posted on his school journey since October.
He is still immensely happy. He knows he can quit at any time but his life is full now and it is where he wants to be. He views school as just another *tool* to get him where he wants to go on his life's journey. School has already done what he has wanted. He has met many new friends, gets to stay in contact with the friends he already has, and has a girlfriend. He is a member of Theatre and was in a play, a musical, and played guitar in the talent show, and has had offers to be in a band.
He has established relationships with other adults, including teachers. He is responsible, respectful and confident and has already made a name for himself as such. He is making many more connections from topics that they have touched on in classes and is taking workshops after school in things that interest him. He will also start Fencing in a month and wants to play more instruments.
It hasn't bothered him that he leaves the house at 6:20 am four days a week and doesn't return until 9:45 pm; he has actually thrived on it, not because he doesn't like to be home, but because he is doing things that interest and excite him and with the people who feel the same as he does.
Between rehearsals for the play and the musical was bonding and hanging out with friends.
Homework? It gets done but it doesn't play a huge part. It is not a priority. It is not first on the list. I am ok with that. He manages his own time and responsibilities and knows I am here to help if and when he needs it.
Has he learned anything? Sure he has, he learns with every breath he takes and every experience he has, and has learned as much about relationships as he has about the varied information from his classes.
The best decision I made was to support him and look to the positive, no matter how I feel about school. Life is good for him. He is expanding his world in all directions and the bottom line is that he is happy. | | |
| There is a precious unschooled eight year old in my Earth School. She is sweet and funny and confident and has a zest for life.
It was a on a gloomy, cloudy, somewhat raw day, the drizzle having subsided as Earth School was winding down for the day and she bounded down the steps with her sleeveless top on to join some children in basketball. No jacket. She had no jacket on. Brrr!
I just couldn't let it go.
"I really think you need a jacket, don't you?" I asked her. She shrugged, got her jacket and started putting it in... very slowly.
My own daughter was in flip flops, and often goes barefoot in the snow, but this wasn't my daughter. It was someone else's child, and how do I know what that mom would think if she pulled up and her daughter was outside in a sleeveless top on this kind of day. After all, I am here to keep all the children safe no matter my own personal opinion.
I started talking to someone beside me, and I noticed the jacket was dropped on the steps, and she started running toward the others.
"No jacket?" I called.
"No, I don't need it, I'm not cold", she yelled back.
And I just *had* to ask, (and yes, I *chose* to ask!) "Well, would your mom mind if you don't wear a jacket?",
She stopped instantly and looked at me in a very confused way.
She shrugged and said "I basically just do what I want".
I broke out into the biggest smile and so did she! I could have hugged her, she was just so precious and honest.
I said "Go! That's how we live too!" . . . and I felt confident.
Confident that she knows what she needs and when . . . and that her mom feels the same as I do.
It has been hard for me at times, in my Earth School as well as workshops, to follow an *agenda* and to keep the children on track. It was very difficult at first because it goes against how we live as radical unschoolers, but then I realized I had to separate my personal life from my business life and also think of *why* the children are here in the first place, and also remember that their parents are paying me.
So. . . over time I have come to terms with it and have been able to have the children follow some kind of agenda, as well as allowing for flexibilty, choice and freedom.
Freedom to learn is the way to learn to handle freedom . . . and so is the freedom to make choices, ones they feel are right for them.
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