I unschool my children. Unschooling has myriad definitions, but for me, it means I follow my children’s lead. If it seems like they’re interested in it. We do it. We dive deep. We go to the library and check out books about it. We watch YouTube videos about it. We learn until it seems the desire to know is sated and we move on.
I used to be a teacher, so the temptation to lesson plan and attempt to make things
look like what I used to do in the classroom definitely comes up. Sometimes, the kids love that. Often, however, it blows up in my face. The kids get bored. I get irritated that they aren’t following the unwritten script I have in my head, and we end up scrapping the whole thing. But even that I could say is a “teachable moment”.
But What If?
Quarterly, I have a freak-out moment. I start comparing them to other kids that might be in a traditional school setting. Of course, I focus on how I might feel they are lacking. I grow anxious and start exploring traditional curriculums. I swim in the what if’s and not enough’s, and then just when I think, “Oh noooo! I’ve ruined my childen!” They will throw me a life buoy, and they will show me why I need to chill out.
I’ll watch them sift through books at the library and find a book (all on their own) about something they are interested in. They’ll create a game when they’re bored using skills we’ve gone over together. They will take the initiative to research things they don’t understand. They’ll show me how the path we’re choosing is working for them right now. I take a deep breath and relax, until the next quarter.
A Life Buoy Day
This day at the library was a life-buoy day. My littlest is into superheroes. Only four years old and he knew where to find the superhero books. He went there. He sat down on the floor in front of those books and just perused. No, he can’t read, yet. He just looked at the pictures, but after looking at pictures and scanning he usually chooses the ones he wants to check out. It is usually those books that he has me read over and over and over and over again.
My two oldest were also very focused this day. They, too, headed right for the sections that excited them or held the answers to their burning questions. They were comfortable and at home scanning the stacks and hunting for the books that were just right. I stopped my fretting on this day.
