Unschoolish Things
dana_burdick
This post is probably more blog oriented, but since I am blogless
right now, I thought I would go ahead and post it here.
Three years ago, when I proposed to my husband that we take our son
out of school, one of the things that got him sold on the idea was
that we would have the freedom to go traveling. I was thankful that
my husband had something to hold on to while we got through the
early stages of deschooling ourselves. I also agreed with him that
with traveling we could expose our kids to so much more now that we
were outside the `school box'. Well, as time passed we got
ourselves more and more out of that box, but not in a physical way
as we had anticipated. As we delved deeper into unschooling, then
into radical unschooling, the process took us on a journey richer
and deeper than we ever could have imagined. With unschooling, the
joy has not come from our freedom with open schedules or traveling
abroad as much as it has come from getting to know ourselves on a
deeper level and delighting in doing things in each other's company.
Sometimes people ask what we do when we unschool. It's a tough one
to answer of course, because any one thing that I may mention looks
horribly mundane to most people. It's not the things that we do
exactly, but the way that we experience them. The thoughtfulness,
excitement, joy, delight, and yes, sometimes even sadness is what
makes the things worthwhile. Awhile back, I started a `My Favorite
Things' list (I know, I know you just can't help hearing Julie
Andrews' voice in your head when you read that). My list is just
another list that I felt compelled to write one day, but I think
that it is also a good way of answering the question, "What do you
do when you unschool?" Well, this list is the rich and immensely
gratifying everyday things that unschooling has brought our way.
My Favorite Things
Holding my kids hands while we walk and feeling their tiny fingers
and slightly sweaty palms.
Sitting in the coffee or doughnut shop brainstorming with my kids,
telling stories and doing `doughnut shop' math for the pure delight
of it.
Drinking my tea in the morning while feeling the warm sun and slight
breeze from an open window.
Being woken up in the middle of the night by my son telling me that
he has finished his very first book.
Watching my daughter walk on tip-toe.
Smelling my kids' spicy bodies after they have been out playing.
Listening to my daughter act out one of her stories with one of her
little stuffed animals.
Making homemade gravestones (complete with names and epitaphs) for
two birds that passed away in our yard.
Listening to my son in a craft store as he excitedly rattles off his
ideas in a voice slightly too loud and observing people's smiles
around us.
Getting spontaneously hugged, ever so tightly, by both my son and
daughter at the same time.
Pretending we don't see the kids when they are sneaking around
spying on my husband and I.
Yelling, "We love unschooling!" at the top of our lungs when our joy
can no longer be contained.
-Dana
right now, I thought I would go ahead and post it here.
Three years ago, when I proposed to my husband that we take our son
out of school, one of the things that got him sold on the idea was
that we would have the freedom to go traveling. I was thankful that
my husband had something to hold on to while we got through the
early stages of deschooling ourselves. I also agreed with him that
with traveling we could expose our kids to so much more now that we
were outside the `school box'. Well, as time passed we got
ourselves more and more out of that box, but not in a physical way
as we had anticipated. As we delved deeper into unschooling, then
into radical unschooling, the process took us on a journey richer
and deeper than we ever could have imagined. With unschooling, the
joy has not come from our freedom with open schedules or traveling
abroad as much as it has come from getting to know ourselves on a
deeper level and delighting in doing things in each other's company.
Sometimes people ask what we do when we unschool. It's a tough one
to answer of course, because any one thing that I may mention looks
horribly mundane to most people. It's not the things that we do
exactly, but the way that we experience them. The thoughtfulness,
excitement, joy, delight, and yes, sometimes even sadness is what
makes the things worthwhile. Awhile back, I started a `My Favorite
Things' list (I know, I know you just can't help hearing Julie
Andrews' voice in your head when you read that). My list is just
another list that I felt compelled to write one day, but I think
that it is also a good way of answering the question, "What do you
do when you unschool?" Well, this list is the rich and immensely
gratifying everyday things that unschooling has brought our way.
My Favorite Things
Holding my kids hands while we walk and feeling their tiny fingers
and slightly sweaty palms.
Sitting in the coffee or doughnut shop brainstorming with my kids,
telling stories and doing `doughnut shop' math for the pure delight
of it.
Drinking my tea in the morning while feeling the warm sun and slight
breeze from an open window.
Being woken up in the middle of the night by my son telling me that
he has finished his very first book.
Watching my daughter walk on tip-toe.
Smelling my kids' spicy bodies after they have been out playing.
Listening to my daughter act out one of her stories with one of her
little stuffed animals.
Making homemade gravestones (complete with names and epitaphs) for
two birds that passed away in our yard.
Listening to my son in a craft store as he excitedly rattles off his
ideas in a voice slightly too loud and observing people's smiles
around us.
Getting spontaneously hugged, ever so tightly, by both my son and
daughter at the same time.
Pretending we don't see the kids when they are sneaking around
spying on my husband and I.
Yelling, "We love unschooling!" at the top of our lungs when our joy
can no longer be contained.
-Dana
zenmomma@comcast.net
Beautiful Dana. Thanks for posting this.
--
~Mary
http://zenmommasgarden.blogspot.com/
"The miracle is not to walk on water. The miracle is to walk on the
green earth, dwelling deeply in the present moment and feeling truly
alive."
~Thich Nhat Hanh
-------------- Original message ----------------------
From: "dana_burdick" <DanaBurdick@...>
--
~Mary
http://zenmommasgarden.blogspot.com/
"The miracle is not to walk on water. The miracle is to walk on the
green earth, dwelling deeply in the present moment and feeling truly
alive."
~Thich Nhat Hanh
-------------- Original message ----------------------
From: "dana_burdick" <DanaBurdick@...>
aplan4life
Dana,
That was great! Thanks so much for posting that. Your journey is
very inspiring indeed. :-)
~Sandy Winn
--- In unschoolingbasics@yahoogroups.com, "dana_burdick"
<DanaBurdick@...> wrote:
That was great! Thanks so much for posting that. Your journey is
very inspiring indeed. :-)
~Sandy Winn
--- In unschoolingbasics@yahoogroups.com, "dana_burdick"
<DanaBurdick@...> wrote:
>
> This post is probably more blog oriented, but since I am blogless
> right now, I thought I would go ahead and post it here.
>
> Three years ago, when I proposed to my husband that we take our son
> out of school, one of the things that got him sold on the idea was
> that we would have the freedom to go traveling. I was thankful that
> my husband had something to hold on to while we got through the
> early stages of deschooling ourselves. I also agreed with him that
> with traveling we could expose our kids to so much more now that we
> were outside the `school box'. Well, as time passed we got
> ourselves more and more out of that box, but not in a physical way
> as we had anticipated. As we delved deeper into unschooling, then
> into radical unschooling, the process took us on a journey richer
> and deeper than we ever could have imagined. With unschooling, the
> joy has not come from our freedom with open schedules or traveling
> abroad as much as it has come from getting to know ourselves on a
> deeper level and delighting in doing things in each other's company.
>
> Sometimes people ask what we do when we unschool. It's a tough one
> to answer of course, because any one thing that I may mention looks
> horribly mundane to most people. It's not the things that we do
> exactly, but the way that we experience them. The thoughtfulness,
> excitement, joy, delight, and yes, sometimes even sadness is what
> makes the things worthwhile. Awhile back, I started a `My Favorite
> Things' list (I know, I know you just can't help hearing Julie
> Andrews' voice in your head when you read that). My list is just
> another list that I felt compelled to write one day, but I think
> that it is also a good way of answering the question, "What do you
> do when you unschool?" Well, this list is the rich and immensely
> gratifying everyday things that unschooling has brought our way.
>
>
> My Favorite Things
>
> Holding my kids hands while we walk and feeling their tiny fingers
> and slightly sweaty palms.
>
> Sitting in the coffee or doughnut shop brainstorming with my kids,
> telling stories and doing `doughnut shop' math for the pure delight
> of it.
>
> Drinking my tea in the morning while feeling the warm sun and slight
> breeze from an open window.
>
> Being woken up in the middle of the night by my son telling me that
> he has finished his very first book.
>
> Watching my daughter walk on tip-toe.
>
> Smelling my kids' spicy bodies after they have been out playing.
>
> Listening to my daughter act out one of her stories with one of her
> little stuffed animals.
>
> Making homemade gravestones (complete with names and epitaphs) for
> two birds that passed away in our yard.
>
> Listening to my son in a craft store as he excitedly rattles off his
> ideas in a voice slightly too loud and observing people's smiles
> around us.
>
> Getting spontaneously hugged, ever so tightly, by both my son and
> daughter at the same time.
>
> Pretending we don't see the kids when they are sneaking around
> spying on my husband and I.
>
> Yelling, "We love unschooling!" at the top of our lungs when our joy
> can no longer be contained.
>
>
> -Dana
>
Mary Anderson
I loved your post. It is yet another inspirational reminder to embrace the
joys we share today, and make note of them so we can more readily cherish
the memories and reminisce about our journeys. I could feel my child's hand
in mine with your first words, and became tearful with the simple, deep joy
of it. Time to get journaling, or list making at least.
in gratitude,
Mary
-----Original Message-----
From: unschoolingbasics@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:unschoolingbasics@yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of dana_burdick
Sent: Sunday, April 02, 2006 7:06 PM
To: unschoolingbasics@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [unschoolingbasics] Unschoolish Things
This post is probably more blog oriented, but since I am blogless
right now, I thought I would go ahead and post it here.
Three years ago, when I proposed to my husband that we take our son
out of school, one of the things that got him sold on the idea was
that we would have the freedom to go traveling. I was thankful that
my husband had something to hold on to while we got through the
early stages of deschooling ourselves. I also agreed with him that
with traveling we could expose our kids to so much more now that we
were outside the `school box'. Well, as time passed we got
ourselves more and more out of that box, but not in a physical way
as we had anticipated. As we delved deeper into unschooling, then
into radical unschooling, the process took us on a journey richer
and deeper than we ever could have imagined. With unschooling, the
joy has not come from our freedom with open schedules or traveling
abroad as much as it has come from getting to know ourselves on a
deeper level and delighting in doing things in each other's company.
Sometimes people ask what we do when we unschool. It's a tough one
to answer of course, because any one thing that I may mention looks
horribly mundane to most people. It's not the things that we do
exactly, but the way that we experience them. The thoughtfulness,
excitement, joy, delight, and yes, sometimes even sadness is what
makes the things worthwhile. Awhile back, I started a `My Favorite
Things' list (I know, I know you just can't help hearing Julie
Andrews' voice in your head when you read that). My list is just
another list that I felt compelled to write one day, but I think
that it is also a good way of answering the question, "What do you
do when you unschool?" Well, this list is the rich and immensely
gratifying everyday things that unschooling has brought our way.
My Favorite Things
Holding my kids hands while we walk and feeling their tiny fingers
and slightly sweaty palms.
Sitting in the coffee or doughnut shop brainstorming with my kids,
telling stories and doing `doughnut shop' math for the pure delight
of it.
Drinking my tea in the morning while feeling the warm sun and slight
breeze from an open window.
Being woken up in the middle of the night by my son telling me that
he has finished his very first book.
Watching my daughter walk on tip-toe.
Smelling my kids' spicy bodies after they have been out playing.
Listening to my daughter act out one of her stories with one of her
little stuffed animals.
Making homemade gravestones (complete with names and epitaphs) for
two birds that passed away in our yard.
Listening to my son in a craft store as he excitedly rattles off his
ideas in a voice slightly too loud and observing people's smiles
around us.
Getting spontaneously hugged, ever so tightly, by both my son and
daughter at the same time.
Pretending we don't see the kids when they are sneaking around
spying on my husband and I.
Yelling, "We love unschooling!" at the top of our lungs when our joy
can no longer be contained.
-Dana
Yahoo! Groups Links
joys we share today, and make note of them so we can more readily cherish
the memories and reminisce about our journeys. I could feel my child's hand
in mine with your first words, and became tearful with the simple, deep joy
of it. Time to get journaling, or list making at least.
in gratitude,
Mary
-----Original Message-----
From: unschoolingbasics@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:unschoolingbasics@yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of dana_burdick
Sent: Sunday, April 02, 2006 7:06 PM
To: unschoolingbasics@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [unschoolingbasics] Unschoolish Things
This post is probably more blog oriented, but since I am blogless
right now, I thought I would go ahead and post it here.
Three years ago, when I proposed to my husband that we take our son
out of school, one of the things that got him sold on the idea was
that we would have the freedom to go traveling. I was thankful that
my husband had something to hold on to while we got through the
early stages of deschooling ourselves. I also agreed with him that
with traveling we could expose our kids to so much more now that we
were outside the `school box'. Well, as time passed we got
ourselves more and more out of that box, but not in a physical way
as we had anticipated. As we delved deeper into unschooling, then
into radical unschooling, the process took us on a journey richer
and deeper than we ever could have imagined. With unschooling, the
joy has not come from our freedom with open schedules or traveling
abroad as much as it has come from getting to know ourselves on a
deeper level and delighting in doing things in each other's company.
Sometimes people ask what we do when we unschool. It's a tough one
to answer of course, because any one thing that I may mention looks
horribly mundane to most people. It's not the things that we do
exactly, but the way that we experience them. The thoughtfulness,
excitement, joy, delight, and yes, sometimes even sadness is what
makes the things worthwhile. Awhile back, I started a `My Favorite
Things' list (I know, I know you just can't help hearing Julie
Andrews' voice in your head when you read that). My list is just
another list that I felt compelled to write one day, but I think
that it is also a good way of answering the question, "What do you
do when you unschool?" Well, this list is the rich and immensely
gratifying everyday things that unschooling has brought our way.
My Favorite Things
Holding my kids hands while we walk and feeling their tiny fingers
and slightly sweaty palms.
Sitting in the coffee or doughnut shop brainstorming with my kids,
telling stories and doing `doughnut shop' math for the pure delight
of it.
Drinking my tea in the morning while feeling the warm sun and slight
breeze from an open window.
Being woken up in the middle of the night by my son telling me that
he has finished his very first book.
Watching my daughter walk on tip-toe.
Smelling my kids' spicy bodies after they have been out playing.
Listening to my daughter act out one of her stories with one of her
little stuffed animals.
Making homemade gravestones (complete with names and epitaphs) for
two birds that passed away in our yard.
Listening to my son in a craft store as he excitedly rattles off his
ideas in a voice slightly too loud and observing people's smiles
around us.
Getting spontaneously hugged, ever so tightly, by both my son and
daughter at the same time.
Pretending we don't see the kids when they are sneaking around
spying on my husband and I.
Yelling, "We love unschooling!" at the top of our lungs when our joy
can no longer be contained.
-Dana
Yahoo! Groups Links
Pampered Chef Michelle
On 4/2/06, dana_burdick <DanaBurdick@...> wrote:
Thank you for this reminder of what is wonderful in my life today. Tonight
I made a very difficult decision to resign as a writer for a Disney
newsletter that I have been a part of since its inception. I loved what I
did, but recently it has had some changes that made me feel unimportant.
The final straw came when the owner (who has had NO editorial comment since
it began) decided that we should run an article that was hotly debated. It
was an article about child safety while attending Disney parks and advocated
the use of leashes. I felt it was too touchy of a subject and that we
should exclude that part and that the void of it would be less controversial
than the inclusion. The owner decided that we should run it with the
inclusion as it is a good way to inform parents who might not know about
leashes. :( (IOW she used it with her kids and thought it was great and so
everyone should use them - she has stated this before "If every parent would
put their preschoolers on leashes then they would always know where their
children are!")
Anyway, I was feeling very down about losing this aspect of my life. I love
writing (as you can all tell from my very lengthy posts LOL!) and love
Disney (we call our Disney trips our "Best Ever Field Trip.") So putting
writing together with Disney was just the icing on the cake! I'm still
feeling a void as there is an approaching deadline and I feel like I am
supposed to be doing something. Reading this wonderful list of things that
I could have written has cheered me somewhat and reminded me of my first
(and most favorite) job.
--
Michelle
Independent Kitchen Consultant #413652
The Pampered Chef
850-474-0817
http://www.pamperedchef.biz/michellelr
Catch our new wave of color!
Book a March show!
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>Smelling my kids' spicy bodies after they have been out playing.
>
> Drinking my tea in the morning while feeling the warm sun and slight
> breeze from an open window.
>
> snip
Thank you for this reminder of what is wonderful in my life today. Tonight
I made a very difficult decision to resign as a writer for a Disney
newsletter that I have been a part of since its inception. I loved what I
did, but recently it has had some changes that made me feel unimportant.
The final straw came when the owner (who has had NO editorial comment since
it began) decided that we should run an article that was hotly debated. It
was an article about child safety while attending Disney parks and advocated
the use of leashes. I felt it was too touchy of a subject and that we
should exclude that part and that the void of it would be less controversial
than the inclusion. The owner decided that we should run it with the
inclusion as it is a good way to inform parents who might not know about
leashes. :( (IOW she used it with her kids and thought it was great and so
everyone should use them - she has stated this before "If every parent would
put their preschoolers on leashes then they would always know where their
children are!")
Anyway, I was feeling very down about losing this aspect of my life. I love
writing (as you can all tell from my very lengthy posts LOL!) and love
Disney (we call our Disney trips our "Best Ever Field Trip.") So putting
writing together with Disney was just the icing on the cake! I'm still
feeling a void as there is an approaching deadline and I feel like I am
supposed to be doing something. Reading this wonderful list of things that
I could have written has cheered me somewhat and reminded me of my first
(and most favorite) job.
--
Michelle
Independent Kitchen Consultant #413652
The Pampered Chef
850-474-0817
http://www.pamperedchef.biz/michellelr
Catch our new wave of color!
Book a March show!
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Annas Mum
This was so beautiful. Thank you for sharing it with
me this morning..........Kelly
--- dana_burdick <DanaBurdick@...> wrote:
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me this morning..........Kelly
--- dana_burdick <DanaBurdick@...> wrote:
> This post is probably more blog oriented, but since__________________________________________________
> I am blogless
> right now, I thought I would go ahead and post it
> here.
>
> Three years ago, when I proposed to my husband that
> we take our son
> out of school, one of the things that got him sold
> on the idea was
> that we would have the freedom to go traveling. I
> was thankful that
> my husband had something to hold on to while we got
> through the
> early stages of deschooling ourselves. I also
> agreed with him that
> with traveling we could expose our kids to so much
> more now that we
> were outside the `school box'. Well, as time
> passed we got
> ourselves more and more out of that box, but not in
> a physical way
> as we had anticipated. As we delved deeper into
> unschooling, then
> into radical unschooling, the process took us on a
> journey richer
> and deeper than we ever could have imagined. With
> unschooling, the
> joy has not come from our freedom with open
> schedules or traveling
> abroad as much as it has come from getting to know
> ourselves on a
> deeper level and delighting in doing things in each
> other's company.
>
> Sometimes people ask what we do when we unschool.
> It's a tough one
> to answer of course, because any one thing that I
> may mention looks
> horribly mundane to most people. It's not the
> things that we do
> exactly, but the way that we experience them. The
> thoughtfulness,
> excitement, joy, delight, and yes, sometimes even
> sadness is what
> makes the things worthwhile. Awhile back, I started
> a `My Favorite
> Things' list (I know, I know you just can't help
> hearing Julie
> Andrews' voice in your head when you read that). My
> list is just
> another list that I felt compelled to write one day,
> but I think
> that it is also a good way of answering the
> question, "What do you
> do when you unschool?" Well, this list is the rich
> and immensely
> gratifying everyday things that unschooling has
> brought our way.
>
>
> My Favorite Things
>
> Holding my kids hands while we walk and feeling
> their tiny fingers
> and slightly sweaty palms.
>
> Sitting in the coffee or doughnut shop brainstorming
> with my kids,
> telling stories and doing `doughnut shop' math for
> the pure delight
> of it.
>
> Drinking my tea in the morning while feeling the
> warm sun and slight
> breeze from an open window.
>
> Being woken up in the middle of the night by my son
> telling me that
> he has finished his very first book.
>
> Watching my daughter walk on tip-toe.
>
> Smelling my kids' spicy bodies after they have been
> out playing.
>
> Listening to my daughter act out one of her stories
> with one of her
> little stuffed animals.
>
> Making homemade gravestones (complete with names and
> epitaphs) for
> two birds that passed away in our yard.
>
> Listening to my son in a craft store as he excitedly
> rattles off his
> ideas in a voice slightly too loud and observing
> people's smiles
> around us.
>
> Getting spontaneously hugged, ever so tightly, by
> both my son and
> daughter at the same time.
>
> Pretending we don't see the kids when they are
> sneaking around
> spying on my husband and I.
>
> Yelling, "We love unschooling!" at the top of our
> lungs when our joy
> can no longer be contained.
>
>
> -Dana
>
>
>
>
>
>
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