Shira Rocklin

I was thinking about those "keep calm and carry on" posters tonight, and all the variants of it wandering around the internet lately.  I'm not a writer or a poet, so I thought to put this to the list.  I thought it might be helpful to some to explore this.  I sometimes think about trying to describe unschooling, or some peice of unschooling, in one line, for those who don't have to time to read lists, articles, websites, books, etc.  What would be an unschooling variant of this poster?  Or, is the original version a helpful motto for us as it is?  I was thinking of painting one to hang up :)  Here is what I'm referring to, for example: https://www.etsy.com/shop/KeepCalmShop

Thanks, 
Shira

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Miles Tress

"Keep Calm and Mine On"

We are big Minecrafters and in good unschooling fashion, my daughter
learned to read while playing Minecraft.

Tress, mom to Lillie, just turned 11


On Mon, Aug 26, 2013 at 10:05 PM, Shira Rocklin <shirarocklin@...>wrote:

> **
>
>
> I was thinking about those "keep calm and carry on" posters tonight, and
> all the variants of it wandering around the internet lately. I'm not a
> writer or a poet, so I thought to put this to the list. I thought it might
> be helpful to some to explore this. I sometimes think about trying to
> describe unschooling, or some peice of unschooling, in one line, for those
> who don't have to time to read lists, articles, websites, books, etc. What
> would be an unschooling variant of this poster? Or, is the original
> version a helpful motto for us as it is? I was thinking of painting one to
> hang up :) Here is what I'm referring to, for example:
> https://www.etsy.com/shop/KeepCalmShop
>
> Thanks,
> Shira
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hannah North

Keep Calm and Read, Try, Wait, and Watch.

On 27 Aug 2013, at 04:32, Miles Tress <milesdt@...> wrote:

> "Keep Calm and Mine On"
>
> We are big Minecrafters and in good unschooling fashion, my daughter
> learned to read while playing Minecraft.
>
> Tress, mom to Lillie, just turned 11
>
> On Mon, Aug 26, 2013 at 10:05 PM, Shira Rocklin <shirarocklin@...>wrote:
>
> > **
> >
> >
> > I was thinking about those "keep calm and carry on" posters tonight, and
> > all the variants of it wandering around the internet lately. I'm not a
> > writer or a poet, so I thought to put this to the list. I thought it might
> > be helpful to some to explore this. I sometimes think about trying to
> > describe unschooling, or some peice of unschooling, in one line, for those
> > who don't have to time to read lists, articles, websites, books, etc. What
> > would be an unschooling variant of this poster? Or, is the original
> > version a helpful motto for us as it is? I was thinking of painting one to
> > hang up :) Here is what I'm referring to, for example:
> > https://www.etsy.com/shop/KeepCalmShop
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Shira
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
> >
> >
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Sandra Dodd

-=-Keep Calm and Read, Try, Wait, and Watch.-=-

Cute, but I object. :-)
It's short enough in its "long form" without shortening more.

I think for unschooling purposes it would be more interesting to share with your kids what the original slogan was about. It's pretty serious, and making light of it might not be as good as looking at why making light of it might not be good. It might be too serious a subject for some young children. It's too serious for me.

The original posters were never used, which is the most interesting part, I think.
http://www.keepcalmandcarryon.com/history/

-=-I sometimes think about trying to describe unschooling, or some peice of unschooling, in one line, for those who don't have to time to read lists, articles, websites, books, etc. What would be an unschooling variant of this poster?-=-

People have tried to describe unschooling briefly for a long time. :-) Cutting it down to one or two words isn't likely to help. Learn? Play?
It won't convey the purpose.

-=-Or, is the original version a helpful motto for us as it is? -=-

"Calm" in the face of what, though?
Would the message be more toward the parents than the children?
"Keep calm" suggests fear and the imminent danger of chaos or danger, to me.

Sandra



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Sandra Dodd

I just got an e-mail note about today's Just Add Light:

___________
Lovely! This would make a great poster to serve as the basis of unschooling.

Thanks,
Debra
___________

About the image and quote here:

http://justaddlightandstir.blogspot.com/2013/08/all-that-is-good.html

I don't think there can be a single thing that is, or should be, a simple representation of unschooling. Unschooling is broad and deep and operates over time. I'm pretty sure that people who don't have time to read and think and work at getting it can do it right and well.

Sandra

Carol Ivany

Keep Calm Together

Carol I

(sorry, I can not snip the whole of the previous post due to my lack of technical abilities and not having a child to hand to help me)

----- Original Message -----
From: Sandra Dodd
To: [email protected]
Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2013 5:24 PM
Subject: Re: [AlwaysLearning] Keep Calm and Carry On - unschooling alternatives?



-=-Keep Calm and Read, Try, Wait, and Watch.-=-

Cute, but I object. :-)




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

chris ester

On Tue, Aug 27, 2013 at 12:24 PM, Sandra Dodd <Sandra@...> wrote:

> >>"Calm" in the face of what, though?
> Would the message be more toward the parents than the children?
> "Keep calm" suggests fear and the imminent danger of chaos or danger, to
> me.
>
> Sandra<<<<
>
Absolutely the message would be more towards parents than the children.

My observation has been that most people give up unschooling or
homeschooling out of fear. And that fear almost always comes from an
adult, even if it is a child saying that they want to go to school. For
myself and my husband, there were a few years of worry that our son was
somehow being harmed because we weren't "teaching" him to read (by force of
some sort?!). We kept reading to him, for him, helping him locate books on
tape, lectures on tape, etc. Reading is a family avocation and we just
waited and watched and kept our mouths shut around my son. But there were
several conversations of "it will be okay, he is happy and learning and we
all have a wonderful relationship... "

This site and several others were helpful. Better late than Early by the
Moores helped. Taking a deep breath helped.

Thank you.
chris

>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Sandra Dodd

-=- Reading is a family avocation-=-

I don't think anyone should claim any such thing for a family.
I could say our family is "a gaming family," but Holly can take it or leave it, and I'm limited to fairly short and simple games because I don't have the patience for a long game or the spatial reasoning for one with lots of factors that need to be compared as time goes by. Yet there are lots of games Holly and I like.

Two parents can share a passion or a proclivity and have a child who has no interest in it.

Sandra

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Shira Rocklin

Yes, upon reflection of Sandra and other's comments, I think I was imagining something on the wall for me to look up and read in moments of tenseness and help me through.  Which reminded me of Sandra's advice on breathing, in the past. 

"Take a breath and...carry on"?  But sometimes carrying on is the wrong choice.  

Shira

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Joyce Fetteroll

On Aug 28, 2013, at 8:51 AM, Shira Rocklin wrote:

> "Take a breath and...carry on"? But sometimes carrying on is the wrong choice.

Yes, carry on suggests stuffing down what's bothering you.

Take a breath to keep from reacting to your emotions. Take a breath to let the adrenaline taper off. Take a breath to put yourself in a better state to make a thoughtful choice rather than an emotional one.

Joyce

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

chris ester

Take a deep breath and smile?
Chris


On Wed, Aug 28, 2013 at 8:51 AM, Shira Rocklin <shirarocklin@...>wrote:

> **
>
>
> Yes, upon reflection of Sandra and other's comments, I think I was
> imagining something on the wall for me to look up and read in moments of
> tenseness and help me through. Which reminded me of Sandra's advice on
> breathing, in the past.
>
> "Take a breath and...carry on"? But sometimes carrying on is the wrong
> choice.
>
> Shira
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Colleen

****"Take a breath and...carry on"? But sometimes carrying on is the wrong choice.****

If I were going to make a poster of short words to hang, rather than the Carry On theme, I think I'd go with one that said something like "Laugh more, love more, live well." Because laughing, loving, and living well together speaks more to the unschooling in our particular household than do keeping calm and carrying on.

To me, it's sort of the difference between getting up in the morning, ready to make the most of the day in front of us - vs getting up in the morning and attempting to survive the day. I'd rather thrive than survive, if that makes sense :-)

Colleen



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Sandra Dodd

-=-Yes, upon reflection of Sandra and other's comments, I think I was imagining something on the wall for me to look up and read in moments of tenseness and help me through.-=-

There are quotes you could print out here:
http://sandradodd.com/quotes

And I sell a set of magnets with some good quotes (Holly did the artistry of them):
http://sandradodd.com/magnets

And Joyce may be ready to sell her Toolbox cards, a kit of inspirational messages you can switch out.

Or you could subscribe to Just Add Light and Stir, and keep the current on up on an iPad or print out your favorites. :-)
http://justaddlightandstir.blogspot.com

Sandra

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Sandra Dodd

-=-To me, it's sort of the difference between getting up in the morning, ready to make the most of the day in front of us - vs getting up in the morning and attempting to survive the day. I'd rather thrive than survive, if that makes sense :-) -=-

It makes sense to me. If the first thought is "keep calm," it reminds me of WWII and the bombing of London.

But to wake up remembering that my choices will immediately be 'getting warm' or 'getting cold' in relation to my goal of learning and joy starts with the assumption that there will be learning and joy, and I can facilitate them easily with a series of small choices (or thwart them if I'm not mindful).

Sandra

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

chris ester

I said this a lot when things got hard. My mother had just moved in and
was sick. Things were scary for all of us, and there were not a lot of
choices in a lot of life at that point. Not for some very big things.

It helped me remember the choices that I did have. The choice to be kind,
instead of angry. The choice to take joy from my children learning, living
and growing. The fact that I had the luxury of being able to stay home,
not earn money and take care of people that I loved.

It is easy to feel martyred/angry/put upon/ etc; but stopping, breathing
and smiling to remind yourself that life is not bad, that a lot of stuff is
not bad is the first step to making better choices.

Take a deep breath and smile, because things get better...
....because then you are pausing from the gut level emotional reaction of
whatever moment you are in and the smile helps me to look at things in a
positive light, to separate my emotions from the emotions of a loved one
who is having a moment of anger or frustration and who is being less than
kind. It helped me to say "l love you" instead of yelling back.
chris



On Wed, Aug 28, 2013 at 9:31 AM, Sandra Dodd <Sandra@...> wrote:

> **
>
>
> -=-Take a deep breath and smile?-=-
>
> That's good moment-to-moment plan.
>
> "Make the better choice" might be helpful, too.
> http://sandradodd.com/choice
> http://sandradodd.com/decisions
> http://sandradodd.com/parentingpeacefully (down at the bottom)
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Virginia Warren

I wonder if any person ever "kept calm" (or "calmed down") because another
person, or a poster, ordered them to do so.

I have heard many adults order many children to keep calm, mostly while
modeling agitation.

Virginia


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Anna-Marie

"Smile, breathe and go slowly"
This quote from Thich Nhat Hanh has helped me immensely in dealing with
anxiety, and is helpful for unschooling too.

On Wed, 2013-08-28 at 09:52 -0400, chris ester wrote:
> I said this a lot when things got hard. My mother had just moved in and
> was sick. Things were scary for all of us, and there were not a lot of
> choices in a lot of life at that point. Not for some very big things.
>
> It helped me remember the choices that I did have. The choice to be kind,
> instead of angry. The choice to take joy from my children learning, living
> and growing. The fact that I had the luxury of being able to stay home,
> not earn money and take care of people that I loved.
>
> It is easy to feel martyred/angry/put upon/ etc; but stopping, breathing
> and smiling to remind yourself that life is not bad, that a lot of stuff is
> not bad is the first step to making better choices.
>
> Take a deep breath and smile, because things get better...
> ....because then you are pausing from the gut level emotional reaction of
> whatever moment you are in and the smile helps me to look at things in a
> positive light, to separate my emotions from the emotions of a loved one
> who is having a moment of anger or frustration and who is being less than
> kind. It helped me to say "l love you" instead of yelling back.
> chris
>
>
>
> On Wed, Aug 28, 2013 at 9:31 AM, Sandra Dodd <Sandra@...> wrote:
>
> > **
> >
> >
> > -=-Take a deep breath and smile?-=-
> >
> > That's good moment-to-moment plan.
> >
> > "Make the better choice" might be helpful, too.
> > http://sandradodd.com/choice
> > http://sandradodd.com/decisions
> > http://sandradodd.com/parentingpeacefully (down at the bottom)
> >
> >
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>

BRIAN POLIKOWSKY

Not ordered but my kids and I have reminded each other to take deep breaths and that has helped us calm down many times. Think about reminders.
 
Alex Polikowsky
 
 
 


________________________________
From: Virginia Warren <vafnord@...>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Wednesday, August 28, 2013 11:57 AM
Subject: Re: [AlwaysLearning] Keep Calm and Carry On - unschooling alternatives?



 
I wonder if any person ever "kept calm" (or "calmed down") because another
person, or a poster, ordered them to do so.

I have heard many adults order many children to keep calm, mostly while
modeling agitation.

Virginia

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]


__

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Stephknee Selby

The ideas that have most impacted me from the group, is to question my
reactions. Like if they are throwing rocks, what harm comes from them
throwing rocks? Am I just reacting? I tell myself to think first, question
from their perspective, and watch. To be thankful, and to think of life as
a series of moments.

For me, if I were to make a reminder to look at it would be "Think with a
tender heart." I'll even remove myself if I need to assess. I have a great
husband I can go to as well when I need to refresh my own thoughts. In fact
I like that word too, "refresh."

I have also learned that I am responsible for how I feel, someone cannot
make me feel any particular way. This helps me not get upset when others
are, I can empathize, and I can be an ear, but I don't need to get wrapped
up emotionally in it. Likewise, I am allowed to feel however, without
expecting others to join in.

Stephanie

Reply via web post<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AlwaysLearning/post;_ylc=X3oDMTJxNGhvbW1zBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzQ0MTAyNTAEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1NTQyMTExBG1zZ0lkAzcyMDYyBHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA3JwbHkEc3RpbWUDMTM3NzgwMDI3Ng--?act=reply&messageNum=72062>
Reply
to sender
<polykowholsteins@...?subject=Re%3A%20%5BAlwaysLearning%5D%20Keep%20Calm%20and%20Carry%20On%20-%20unschooling%20alternatives%3F>
Reply
to group
<[email protected]?subject=Re%3A%20%5BAlwaysLearning%5D%20Keep%20Calm%20and%20Carry%20On%20-%20unschooling%20alternatives%3F>
Start
a New Topic<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AlwaysLearning/post;_ylc=X3oDMTJlMW9oMDlnBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzQ0MTAyNTAEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1NTQyMTExBHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA250cGMEc3RpbWUDMTM3NzgwMDI3Ng-->
Messages
in this topic<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AlwaysLearning/message/72028;_ylc=X3oDMTM2Y2Q2dWZtBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzQ0MTAyNTAEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1NTQyMTExBG1zZ0lkAzcyMDYyBHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA3Z0cGMEc3RpbWUDMTM3NzgwMDI3NgR0cGNJZAM3MjAyOA-->(19)

> Recent Activity:
>
> - New Members<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AlwaysLearning/members;_ylc=X3oDMTJmZG9xczQzBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzQ0MTAyNTAEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1NTQyMTExBHNlYwN2dGwEc2xrA3ZtYnJzBHN0aW1lAzEzNzc4MDAyNzY-?o=6>
> 12
> - New Photos<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AlwaysLearning/spnew;_ylc=X3oDMTJmZ3RtbzgyBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzQ0MTAyNTAEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1NTQyMTExBHNlYwN2dGwEc2xrA3ZwaG90BHN0aW1lAzEzNzc4MDAyNzY->
> 1
>
> Visit Your Group<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AlwaysLearning;_ylc=X3oDMTJlamwwOXRzBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzQ0MTAyNTAEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1NTQyMTExBHNlYwN2dGwEc2xrA3ZnaHAEc3RpbWUDMTM3NzgwMDI3Ng-->
> [image: Yahoo! Groups]<http://groups.yahoo.com/;_ylc=X3oDMTJkNWxlM3IyBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzQ0MTAyNTAEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1NTQyMTExBHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA2dmcARzdGltZQMxMzc3ODAwMjc2>
> Switch to: Text-Only<[email protected]?subject=Change+Delivery+Format:+Traditional>,
> Daily Digest<[email protected]?subject=Email+Delivery:+Digest>�
> Unsubscribe<[email protected]?subject=Unsubscribe>� Terms
> of Use <http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/> � Send us Feedback
> <[email protected]?subject=Feedback+on+the+redesigned+individual+mail+v1>
> .
>
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Pam Sorooshian

For me, looking back, I think what helped me most was reminding myself to be proactive and solution-oriented. 





Pam 

—
Pam Sorooshian

On Wed, Aug 28, 2013 at 10:54 AM, Anna-Marie <evolunacy@...> wrote:

> "Smile, breathe and go slowly"
> This quote from Thich Nhat Hanh has helped me immensely in dealing with
> anxiety, and is helpful for unschooling too.
> On Wed, 2013-08-28 at 09:52 -0400, chris ester wrote:
>> I said this a lot when things got hard. My mother had just moved in and
>> was sick. Things were scary for all of us, and there were not a lot of
>> choices in a lot of life at that point. Not for some very big things.
>>
>> It helped me remember the choices that I did have. The choice to be kind,
>> instead of angry. The choice to take joy from my children learning, living
>> and growing. The fact that I had the luxury of being able to stay home,
>> not earn money and take care of people that I loved.
>>
>> It is easy to feel martyred/angry/put upon/ etc; but stopping, breathing
>> and smiling to remind yourself that life is not bad, that a lot of stuff is
>> not bad is the first step to making better choices.
>>
>> Take a deep breath and smile, because things get better...
>> ....because then you are pausing from the gut level emotional reaction of
>> whatever moment you are in and the smile helps me to look at things in a
>> positive light, to separate my emotions from the emotions of a loved one
>> who is having a moment of anger or frustration and who is being less than
>> kind. It helped me to say "l love you" instead of yelling back.
>> chris
>>
>>
>>
>> On Wed, Aug 28, 2013 at 9:31 AM, Sandra Dodd <Sandra@...> wrote:
>>
>> > **
>> >
>> >
>> > -=-Take a deep breath and smile?-=-
>> >
>> > That's good moment-to-moment plan.
>> >
>> > "Make the better choice" might be helpful, too.
>> > http://sandradodd.com/choice
>> > http://sandradodd.com/decisions
>> > http://sandradodd.com/parentingpeacefully (down at the bottom)
>> >
>> >
>>
>>
>> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>>
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------------
>>
>> Yahoo! Groups Links
>>
>>
>>
> ------------------------------------
> Yahoo! Groups Links
> Individual Email | Traditional
> http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]