Ren Allen

"
>What's hard for me to get ahold of here is that I'm acquainted with
> so many people in my life who are the most loving, happy, serene,
> sure, successful, and settled individuals who were raised in what
> many here would call "conventional" households, so I'm not making the
> connection with mindful vs. conventional."

I don't think it's a "mindful vs. conventional" thing as much as it's
degrees of mindfulness. There are mindful parents I know, that do
some things in a more conventional manner. The difference is they
listen and try to understand their children, are calm and kind etc...
BUT, I can't separate respecting my children in certain areas, but not
in others. It doesn't make sense to me.

I think those that are more mindful in LIFE (not just parenting) are
most capable of navigating this journey we're on. Mindfulness is a
high level of awareness, a way of BEING that transcends circumstances.
The more mindful we are, the more balanced/healthy and successful we
are in my opinion.

Mindfulness as applied to parenting fosters deep and abiding trust
between ourselves and our children. It's important for that awareness
to be present for this Radical unschooling thing to work.

I was talking at the conference with some people I admire very much.
We discussed that the FREEDOM part is only half of the picture!!
Kids running amok, damaging property or not being concerned about how
they affect anyone is NOT radical unschooling. AWARENESS must be
present for the freedom part to work well.

I really think that some manner of conventional parenting (rules,
bedtimes etc..) is better than freedom without awareness. They go
together.

Ren
learninginfreedom.com