How We Ended Up Unschooling: A Long Story About What Works for Us

I had read about unschooling and had researched all the methods for schooling alongside my lengthy attachment-parenting reading list. Bridging the gap between public school and unschooling, which I had no real-life personal references to, proved a more difficult leap for my very traditional partner.

Storytime – “Coolness”

“Trying to be cool feels exhausting,” Linny sighed. Tight braids seamed her head, pulling her hair.

Magic Mushrooms – “Oof, the Morel”

Oof liked it that way: a secret life. they didn’t have long, mushrooms, so why shouldn’t they live happily? Three days ago it had rained. A real downpour, the elder Ooaf said, nodding sagely on a gummy stem.

“Sir Nice Saves the Kingdom”

Do you know how Sir Nice got his name? Once his name was something far more dull, like Dale, or Jerry, or your name. Once he wasn’t even a knight, just a small boy who helped when he was needed.

“The Sometimes Friendship”

Gemma blurted, “Why does she hurt me if she likes me?”

“The Knife”

When Mom finally realized he was serious and his need to carve wasn’t going away, she sat Will down with a laptop. “Watch this video,” she told him, and started YouTube. The video taught knife safety: ways to cut deeply or slice more shallowly without catching the edge in his skin.