Stories of an Unschooling Family

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207: The Unschool Fangirl Returns Feb 05, 2025

Show notes

I’m back and I’m fangirling!

Will I stay? Will I find a new focus for my podcast? Will I find a co-host? Will I get enough sleep? And who am I fangirling over?

This week, I’m sharing thoughts on

unschooling as a business

doing things for free

ageing unschoolers who might have unique skills to offer

our superpower- unconditional love

competing and persuading

social media

and lots of other things.

Show Notes

Websites

Erin’s website, Everlearning

Sandra Dodd’s website

Cecilie Conrad’s website

Podcasts

Da Ladies Fixing the World podcast

Self Directed podcast

Virtual Kitchen Table podcast

Unschooling Community

Virtual Kitchen Table Community

Book

From Strength to Strength by Arthur Brooks

Blog Posts

Why I’m Content to Be a Blogger and Not an Instagram Influencer

Do You Need to Follow an Older Unschooler? (Part 1)

Do You Need to Follow an Older Unschooler? (Part 2)

How to Write a Million Unschool Love Stories

A Genuine Invitation for Christian Unschoolers

The Problem with Being Too Nice

If You’d Like to Support My Work

Buy Me a Coffee: Sue Elvis

Receive access to my password-protected blog posts and my thanks!

206: A Birthday Chat Apr 30, 2024

Show notes

Today, on my birthday, I’m chatting about ageing, experimenting, taking risks, encouraging others, and other things.
Show Notes

I mentioned:

The Self Directed podcast with the Conrads

Episode 65 of the Self Directed podcast: Sue Elvis / Stories of an Unschooling Family

The Unschooling Together community

Podcast episode 3, Getting Older, Admitting One’s Age, Lines and Wrinkles

The Video Version of this episode on YouTube

My Unschooling Books

The Unschooling Together community

Where You Can Find Me

Unschooling Community

Youtube

Sue Elvis

Blogs

Wholy Souly

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/stories_ofan_unschoolingfamily/stories_ofan_unschoolingfamily

205: Chatting with My Unschooled Author Daughter Apr 23, 2024

Show notes

I’m back with my author daughter Imogen!

In this episode, we’re chatting about…

Writing and how Imogen is promoting and selling her YA novels
Collaboration and how we achieve more when we work together
The ups and downs of social media

We also share some news and tell a couple of stories, including the one about my frightening Frida Kahlo eyebrows!

Show Notes

We mentioned

The Virtual Kitchen Table podcast

The Self Directed podcast with the Conrads

The Unschooling Together community

The Christian Unschooling group and Zoom discussions within the Unschooling Together community.

Writing podcasts with Imogen: episodes 181 and 183

My Unschooling Books

The Unschooling Together community

Where You Can Find Me

Unschooling Community

Youtube

Sue Elvis

Blogs

Wholy Souly

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/stories_ofan_unschoolingfamily/stories_ofan_unschoolingfamily

Where You Can Find Imogen

Blog

Instagram

Youtube

Books

Thank you for listening to this episode!

204: Santa, Books and Expectations Dec 07, 2023

Show notes

This week, I’m talking about:

Desires and Expectations

Are desires good? Are expectations about control? Can our expectations spoil our family celebrations?

Challenges

Should we give our kids space to set their own challenges? Do we need to challenge ourselves too?

Books

Do people judge us on our book choices? Can sharing the books we’re reading lead to some stimulating unschooling conversations?

The Santa Myth

Is it wrong to pretend Santa brings gifts to our kids? Is that lying? Should we eliminate Santa from our Christmas celebrations? Or is it possible to include the magic of Santa with the true meaning of the season?

2023

What were the highs and lows of my year? Does blogging about our kids lead to problems? Should adults make time for their passions and interests? Can we feel lost when our kids grow up? How do we move on? What do we do while we’re working out what to do next? Is it important we’re successful in a big way?

Stories

I’m sharing a story about books, people’s opinions, and the difficulties of parenting: Is it Risky to Share Our Book Collections? What Will People Think?

I’m also sharing a story about the Santa myth and family traditions from my book, The Unschool Challenge.

Please visit my blog, Stories of an Unschooling Family, to leave a comment or say hello.

This is my last episode for 2023. Thank you for listening. I hope you have a very happy Christmas!

My Unschooling Books

203: Unschooling: Doing What Is Right Nov 23, 2023

Show notes

This week, I’m talking about right and wrong…

If we think something is right, should we do it? Do we have to push through any difficulties we might encounter? Perhaps we can’t give up unless we’re willing to do something we know is wrong. And if we do that, we won’t feel at peace.

The big question is: is unschooling the right thing to do? If it is, we shouldn’t be concerned about the future. Whatever happens, regardless of the outcome, we’ll know we did what we should have done.

Also, how do kids learn right from wrong if we always love them regardless of their behaviour? Are the critics right? Are unschooling parents irresponsible? Or do our strong connections allow us to guide our kids?

I have lots of stories and comments to share with you!

Show Notes

Please visit my blog Stories of an Unschooling Family, to read my blog post, Unschooling: Doing What Is Right. It contains this episode’s show notes!

My Unschooling Books

202: Tough or Unconditional Love? Nov 15, 2023

Show notes

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

201: Unschooling, Drifting, Planning and True Freedom Nov 08, 2023

Show notes

Is unschooling about drifting aimlessly through each day?

Do unschoolers waste time? Or do they live intentionally responding to their needs and making sure they achieve the things that are relevant and important to them?

Do unschoolers direct their lives instead of letting life direct them? Is that the meaning of true freedom?

Does the word ‘planning’ have a place in unschooling?

This week, I’m discussing these questions and more while telling a few stories.

Show Notes

Please visit my blog, Stories of an Unschooling Family, to read my post, Do Unschoolers Drift Aimlessly Through Each Day? It contains today’s show notes.

My Unschooling Books

200: Unconditional Love and Parenting Nov 03, 2023

Show notes

It is what it is. An interesting episode or not. I don’t suppose it matters. All that’s important is love.

Show Notes

Please visit my blog, Stories of an Unschooling Family, to read my post, Preventing Childhood Trauma with Unconditional Love. It contains today’s show notes.

My Unschooling Books

199: Should We Trust and Unschool Teenagers? Oct 24, 2023

Show notes

Is it irresponsible to trust and unschool teenagers? When unschoolers reach the teenage years, is it time for something else? Or could unschooling be exactly what our older kids need? Could it keep them safe?

This week, I’m discussing these questions and more, sharing lots of thoughts, stories and resources.

Show Notes

Please visit my blog, Stories of an Unschooling Family, to read my post, Could Unschooling Be Exactly What Teenagers Need to Do? It contains today’s show notes.

My Unschooling Books