Do Beautiful Photos Fail to Tell the Whole Unschooling Story?
Can photos reflect the beauty of an unschooling life?
We could post loads of pictures of smiling kids involved with impressive activities or running wild and free, surrounded by the spectacular beauty of nature. How about sharing photos of the stunning places where we live? Or visit? The campervans, the rustic cottages, the self-sufficient farms, the yurts, the attractive bits of our more conventional homes, the piles of interesting books and other resources?
We could share eye-catching images that might convince everyone that our lives are indeed beautiful, maybe even perfect.
But can photos adequately tell the story of an unschooling life? Or do they capture only the surface beauty of our days? Could they miss the deeper and more significant beauty of this way of life?
What about the beauty associated with the times…
When we forgive instantly, saying to our kids, “It’s not a big deal”, adding the words, “We all make mistakes”?
When we feel deep gratitude for our family’s forgiveness and, because of it, yearn to be the best parent and spouse possible?
When we refuse to withdraw our love to make our kids feel bad and influence their behaviour?
When we ignore the opinions and expectations of people from outside our family and, instead, listen to our kids and their needs?
When we allow space for God to speak to our kids instead of trying to impose our own ideas upon them?
When we don’t crush our kids’ dreams and value the things that are important to them?
When we refuse to force facts into our kids using such things as rewards, punishments and shame because we’re worried about them getting behind?
When we trust our children are learning exactly what they need to know right now?
When we refuse to worry about the future and don’t make our kids do things ‘just in case’?
When we focus on today, extracting every drop of joy possible, making sure our kids know how much we love and enjoy being their parents?
When we face difficulties together as a family, loving and supporting each other?
When we allow our kids to express their opinions, and listen to them so that they discover who they are and what they believe?
When we accept our kids exactly as they are with all their delights, quirks and individual interests and talents instead of trying to turn them into the people we think they should be?
When we realise we’re changing and are a step closer to becoming the people we were created to be?
When we discover it’s not too late to learn anything and set out on new adventures of our own?
When we experience that overwhelming love and sense of awe that grips our hearts as we look at our kids and feel thankful that we are their parents?
When we feel gratitude for the freedom and trust that allows us to live this beautiful way of life?
When we…?
What would you add?
Our photos can capture a lot, but do they fail to share the deeper beauty of living a radical life of unconditional love? Perhaps we need to experience unschooling for ourselves before we can appreciate the whole beautiful story.
What do you think?
Photos
The beautiful place where my daughter Charlotte works.
Book
I often describe radical unschooling as something beautiful. If you’d like to know more about this way of life, why not check out my book, Radical Unschool Love. There’s an updated edition available now on Amazon!