I just spent almost an hour sitting here with Sydney talking about the She-Ra reboot (It. Is. AWESOME!). We are about to finish season 4. People might have a hard time understanding that we are Unschooling while we watch the show, even though all we are doing is watching with joy. No teaching. No “teachable moments”. No pointing out plot or setting or anything else. We just watch as though we were watching for pleasure- because that’s exactly what we are doing.
We have been watching the show together for a few weeks.
As we sat here for an hour talking, Sydney talked about foreshadowing, plot, character development, art style, color, setting… and so much more. She talked about them in sophisticated ways. Not because she’s smart, because it is totally and completely contextual. There was no assignment. She wasn’t pulled out of the experience to learn the things I thought she should learn.
Instead, she learned things I never knew and shared them with me.
I couldn’t have had this conversation if I had not been fully present and excited watching this show with her these past few weeks. I couldn’t have known the depth of what she was describing or how perceptive and observant it was. I couldn’t have offered my own perspective that offered up some new things for her to consider.
Most importantly, I wouldn’t have just spent an hour connecting with Sydney. Getting to know her more. Making huge deposits in our emotional bank account just by living life with her.
Unschooling is not separate from life. Not if we do it well. It just is life. It’s living in a connected, intentional, joyful, curious, wondrous, and excited way and it is so fun! And amazing.
I guess I am thinking about it more as we are in “back to school” time. Though this time of year no longer throws my family and I off kilter, I guess deep down it will just always be a part of who I am.
Here’s to our 9th official year of homeschooling. I’m so grateful that I do not have a kid entering high school and another in junior high. Our family would be so different. Instead, we will spend this year just like the others; exploring, trying, snuggling, playing, watching, creating, listening, and getting better. I am so grateful we took this path.
Click here to read “Homeschool Fall: Moving Beyond Old Expectations”.