How did a man get into my podcast?
I spend a lot of time planning a podcast, and then I head into my closet to record episode 163. I’m going to use Imogen’s mic and GarageBand like I did last week. This is going to be easy, I think. It won’t take me very long to record an episode.
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I probably don’t need to do a soundcheck because I’m using the same setup as for episode 162, but I decide to do one anyway. I press ‘record’ and say, “Hi there! I’m Sue Elvis from the blog Stories of an Unschooling Family. Welcome to my podcast!” I hit ‘stop’, rewind the audio and listen. And I get a shock: there’s a man in my podcast (and he’s not my husband). He’s saying my words, and he’s saying them very, very slowly. Obviously, something is wrong. The pitch of my recording is too low. The speed is far too slow. How do I fix these problems? I’ve no idea. Suddenly, I lose interest in podcasting. I decide to go do something else.
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Then this morning, when I open my computer, I catch sight of my carefully prepared podcasting notes. I have an idea: what if I turn them into a blog post? But not just an ordinary post. How about I put together an Unschoolgram-type magazine post? I could call it, “How Did a Man Get into My Unschool Podcast?”
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What’s your coffee name?
A story. It’s always good to start a podcast with a story. Grab listeners’ attention. So here’s my story. Actually, it’s not my story. It belongs to Gemma-Rose. She told us this story, one evening last week, when she returned home from work.
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At the cafe where Gemma-Rose works, a woman asked if they had any plain scones because she couldn’t eat the sultana ones because she doesn’t like raisins. When she was told the cafe doesn’t sell plain scones, she said, “Then I’ll have 2 slices of raisin toast.” Are you confused? We are!
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Did you know that baristas have names for their regular customers? Sometimes Sophie will say to Imogen, “You’ll never guess who I saw today. Jumbo cap, two sugars, extra hot came into the cafe!” Yes, baristas have fabulous memories. If you usually order the same coffee from the same cafe, maybe your barista has given you a name. I’m one of those annoying people who keep changing their coffee order. At the moment, I’m regular soy latte, no sugar. So what’s your coffee name?
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Will ‘The Shattering Song’ be available in time for Christmas?
I’ve spent a lot of time this week proofreading the manuscript of Imogen’s latest YA fantasy novel. It’s called ‘The Shattering Song’ and is the sequel to ‘The Crystal Tree’ which Imogen published last year.
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We’re hoping that the book will be available from Amazon in time for Christmas. Do you think it will make a great gift?
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Talking of Christmas, last week, when I had my hair cut, my hairdresser asked if I wanted to make my Christmas appointment. I said, “Is it that time of year already?” Apparently, it is. Now I’m thinking about my shopping. Every year I hope to have all my gifts bought before Advent begins. I’d better get organised!
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Back to Imogen’s novel, if you haven’t read ‘The Crystal Tree’ why not check it out? Here’s what people are saying about it:
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Do you like interior design shows?
Gemma-Rose and I love watching interior design shows. We devoured all the episodes of ‘The Great Interior Design Challenge’. And then a week or so ago, we discovered ‘Interior Design Masters’ on Netflix:
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Aspiring interior designers transform a variety of spaces from dowdy to delightful as they vie for a life-changing contract with a top London hotel.
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Do you need a new interest or hobby?
After watching ‘Interior Design Masters’, I wondered if Gemma-Rose would be interested in doing an interior design course. So I googled ‘online interior design courses’ and then found myself on the Skillshare website:
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Skillshare offers courses for lifelong learning, whether you’re looking to sharpen up skills for your career or learn a new hobby.
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I started browsing through the courses and soon I was feeling very excited. Could I learn a new skill? I could take up a new hobby. I’d forgotten all about Gemma-Rose. Later, I remembered why I’d headed over to Skillshare in the first place, and yes, there were lots of interior design courses that might appeal to my daughter.
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I’ve signed up for a 2-months-free trial of Skillshare. Over the past week, I’ve been dipping into a diverse range of courses. I’m learning about self-portrait photography and taking photos to tell stories. I’ve been brushing up my storytelling skills by listening to a Ted X speaker talking about public speaking. I learnt more about audio editing and tried writing poetry. And I’ve bookmarked a lot of other classes including a few about drawing and illustrating daily journals.
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It’s been a long time since I took up a new hobby. Actually, it’s been a long time since I’ve done any of my old ones. I usually spend most of my free time blogging and podcasting. Whenever I get fed up with this and want to do something else, I don’t know what to do. I feel lost. At a loose end. But soon I’m going to have lots to do. I’ve got some photography and writing projects I’m going to work on. And then there’s drawing. Should I get out my sketchpad? Or should I try digital drawing?
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I wonder if you feel like taking up a new interest. Perhaps you need something to distract you from social media and the endless browsing of the Internet. If so, why not check out Skillshare?
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Often parents worry about their kids spending too much time on the Internet. They tell them to get off their computers. My daughter Imogen once said, “Parents say, ‘Go do something else!’ But what will their kids do? Parents need to build up a rich offline family life that their children will want to be part of.” They need to see us get off our computers too and get involved with other activities.
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This post reminds me of one I wrote in February of this year about using technology intentionally. I was going to share that in my podcast. I shall add it next!
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Are you unhappy with your technology habits?
19 February 2019
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We often talk about the amount of time our kids spend on their computers and using the Internet, but how about us? Is anyone unhappy with their technology habits? I am. Somehow I’ve got myself into a situation where my phone is controlling me. And this makes me feel rather pathetic.
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I know spending far too long online isn’t all my fault. Although we label technology as neutral, something that isn’t addictive, web developers have designed certain things such as social media that suck us in with all those likes and follows which give us a momentary empty buzz.
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Anyway, I’ve been trying to get back in control of my life. I want to use technology in an intentional way. Instead of aimlessly scrolling and clicking, I’m thinking about whether I actually need to be online. Perhaps I ought to go do something else? But what?
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While my life has been revolving around the Internet, I seem to have drifted away from all the offline things I used to enjoy. After reading Cal Newport’s book Digital Minimalism, I realise I need to rediscover some of those things. I need something to do instead of reaching for my phone.
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My daughter Imogen once said, “We can’t just tell kids to get off their computers and go do something else. What are they going to do? Parents need to build up rich offline lives that their kids want to be part of.” My kids have no trouble dealing with the Internet. They already have rich offline lives. But me? I’m trying to do something about that.
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At the weekend, my husband Andy and I visited a toy shop and we bought an inexpensive box of classic games. Then we went to our favourite cafe where we set up the checkers board while we waited for our coffee. We had such a lot of fun playing and chatting while we were sipping and eating. And we didn’t look at our phones even once!
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Technology is good. It’s something that can enhance our lives. But maybe we just need to work out the best way to use it. Use it intentionally instead of allowing ourselves to be controlled by it. I’d love to hear your thoughts!
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Have you seen Escape to the Chateau?
Another series that I’ve been enjoying is ‘Escape to the Chateau’.
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This series follows lieutenant colonel Dick Strawbridge and his partner Angel Adoree as they trade in their two-bed apartment in Essex for a dilapidated 19th-century French chateau. Upon finding their fairytale castle, the pair begin work to restore it back to its former glory. With a limited budget to renovate 45 rooms, as well as improve and maintain acres of land, it is a huge task for the couple who want to create a beautiful venue for weddings and events. Dick gets started by installing a complex heating system, while Angel gets creative with the chateau’s vintage decor. The couple soon runs into budgeting problems yet persevere, gaining a few chickens along the way, as the deadline to the wedding season and its hundreds of guests draws ever closer.
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I found episodes on the Dailymotion website. After watching series one, I wondered if Gemma-Rose would enjoy this show too. So I’ve added ‘Escape to the Chateau’ to our strewing notebook!
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXHCGfZuRmo
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My Unschool Unplanning Strewing Notebook
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Do you know how to fold a fitted sheet?
I’ve been listening to an audio version of Marie Kondo’s book, ‘The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up’, while walking our dogs, Nora and Quinn. I love Marie Kondo’s witty style of writing. Who knew a book about tidying up could be so entertaining?
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I haven’t just been listening. I’ve actually been tidying! So far, I’ve sorted my clothes. I ended up with 3 bags of items that don’t ‘spark joy’. The things that I kept are now hanging in my postcasting recording studio (my walk-in-robe!) or they’re in my drawers, neatly folded in the official Konmari way. Vertical storing makes sense, doesn’t it? Everything takes up less space and each item can be seen at a glance.
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I think my husband Andy discovered the art of organisation before Marie Kondo. Ever since I’ve known him, he’s always had neat drawers of t-shirts and undies and other things. Maybe I shouldn’t have smiled in my superior way when I saw his clothes sausages. It seems he had the right idea!
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I’m now sorting through our sheets, pillowcases and quilt covers. And I’m folding them. Folding fitted sheets was a big learning experience. I wonder if you know how to do that.
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Love is miraculous, isn’t it?
I’d planned to read something from my book ‘Radical Unschool Love’ during this week’s podcast. I wanted to share the story ‘Perfectly Them’. Because I can’t post a whole story as a caption, I’m going to add an Unschoolgram post. This post originally appeared on Instagram. I edited it, adding more thoughts and details until it became the story ‘Perfectly Them’.
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9 January 2019
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14 and a half years ago, I visited my obstetrician for what should have been a routine checkup. But things got a bit alarming when he couldn’t hear my baby’s heartbeat. He arranged for me to have an ultrasound and an hour later, I was sitting in the ultrasound waiting room drinking cup after cup of water.
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I feared the worst. After miscarrying 6 babies and losing our son Thomas when he was a day old, it seemed to me that this baby had also died. When the technician performed the ultrasound I didn’t want to look at the screen. I’d already taken a step back from the world in order to cope. But then I heard those miraculous words: “Look! Your baby’s heart is beating strongly!”
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I walked home on air. I smiled continuously for days. I had thought we were going to experience more grief but instead, we received overwhelming joy.
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That baby was Gemma-Rose. When she was born, I thought she was perfect. My heart overflowed with love and gratitude and joy.
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It’s strange how the wonderful overwhelming feelings we experience in the early days of parenthood can appear to fade as our kids grow. They are still there, but they get hidden under layers of worry and concern and tiredness. We forget what miracles our children are and how, when we first met them, they seemed absolutely perfect.
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Those feelings of awe and love and gratitude can be unburied. We just need to remember what’s important. Look at our kids carefully. They are unique people who need us to accept and nurture and encourage them with unconditional love. They need the same love we gave them when we saw them for the very first time.
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Love seems to grow and grow. And then when we think we can’t love any more, it grows some more. Love is miraculous, isn’t it?
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I wonder if you’ve read ‘Radical Unschool Love’. Perhaps you think radical unschooling isn’t for you so you’re not interested. If that’s the case, maybe my book will surprise you. Radical unschooling isn’t irresponsible or frightening. It shouldn’t be regarded as an extreme method of parenting. It’s about loving radically. Loving unconditionally. Isn’t that something we all should be doing? What do you think?
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Thank you for your help!
In episode 162 of my podcast, I asked for some help. If anyone has enjoyed my books, would they tell a few people, post a link on social media, write a review, help spread the word about unschooling? Lauren and Emily spread the word!
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Here’s Lauren’s Instagram post:
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“I believe unschooling is different because it’s all about unconditional love. I want to show you how choosing to unschool will result in a love so powerful it will encourage, not only our kids but us as well, to become the people we are all meant to be” -Sue Elvis, @stories_ofan_unschoolingfamily ??? Re-reading Curious Unschoolers for a second time (the BEST unschooling book ever) and sipping Felix Felicis tea ? Please take the time to read this book- no matter how you choose to educate your children. We all deserve to slow down & enjoy the time spent with our little ones rather than getting exhausted by it ?
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And here’s Emily’s Amazon book review of ‘Curious Unschoolers’.
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4.5 stars, but I’m rounding up to 5! I love Sue’s conversational writing style and the way her writing can be read in small chunks. She provides so much for readers to ponder. Her angle feels different from other unschooling authors, and the only thing I wished she had was studies that could back up her methods. However, in the end, I know I can find that information elsewhere, and I’ve realized that “studies” can only tell us so much. Reading her stories made my life suddenly feel more free and less burdensome than before reading. A change in perspective can do that. Thank you, Sue!
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When I hopped over to Amazon to copy Emily’s review to paste into this post, I discovered another new review. Again, it’s a 5-star one. It was written by Deb Lewis:
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This is the long-awaited collection of stories from life in the Elvis household through the perspective of unschooling. It was so very worth the wait! It’s been a pleasure to read and I will re-read it again and recommend it. Sue has been unschooling for years and she has many beautiful, inspiring tales to share about how she did this with her 8 children. It was such an inspiring read. Sue has a talent for making one feel like they are in her kitchen having a cup of tea and she is just relating wonderful stories and adventures. After reading her stories, one is inspired to begin to live this existence with their own family. Love, trust, patience, acceptance and an adventurous spirit are a must. Sue shows through her stories how these are the recipe for a successful education and family life. A gentle approach to living an amazing family life. Such a wonderful, helpful book. A must read for anyone who longs for a better way to live & learn together.
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Thank you Lauren, Emily and Deb. I appreciate your kind words and help very much. I couldn’t do this without my friends!
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And now it’s time to say, “Thank you for reading my post!” I hope to sort out my technical problems and get back to podcasting very soon!
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Asking for Help.
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Hi Sue. My comment isn’t directly related to this particular post. I have a question. I’ve been continuing to look at unschooling and it seems there’s a very wide array of interpretations of it. I’ve read where some parents ask what the child wants to learn and then build a year of school work around that. Maybe some might see what needs to be covered, say in math, and then find fun, creative, real-life ways to learn those concepts. Others may not guide anything at all. I’m curious, what’s your thoughts on this? I’ve not read everything here on your blog, so if you have any posts you want to redirect me to, please do. Also, have you written any posts that give some basic steps to take for the first few weeks or so for beginning to try unschooling? Like things you can focus on one at a time as you work into unschooling?
Karen,
Oh yes, different people have different ideas about what unschooling actually is. It gets confusing!
I think it’s always good to find out what a child is interested in. However, I don’t think that building a year of school work around the things he or she wants to learn about is unschooling. I imagine that there are lots of expectations associated with this method of learning. The child might have to learn everything in the program in a way that satisfies the parent. He’s not free to explore the things he enjoys in his own way. Learning might be structured even though the content has been tailored to the child’s interests. I wonder what would happen if a child suddenly decides he doesn’t want to know any more about a particular topic. Maybe his interest has been satisfied even though he hasn’t completed everything that the parent has put in his school work plan. Or what if he wants to pick and choose the bits he’s interested in? Would a parent protest and insist he does everything in the plan?
Unschooling is about a child having the freedom to learn in his own way and time. It’s not something that can be planned ahead of time. It’s about being curious, asking questions, pursuing answers… It’s about going unexpected places. It’s an adventure!
Of course, a parent can help a child by finding resources that relate to an interest, tempting a child with new learning experiences, being a curious person herself, learning with a child, and maybe even planning a few things. Sometimes we have to deliberately set aside some time to do such things as go on outings, and read particular books together.
When we have to be registered as homeschoolers, unschooling can be a bit tricky because our children might need to cover certain topics for registration purposes. Our family is in this situation so yes, I’ve looked for resources to cover the subjects that our children, by law, are supposed to be learning about. However, I have strewed these resources rather than made my kids use them. They have been free to accept or reject. Even though we have to fulfil certain registration requirements, we can’t force our kids to learn. That’s just the way learning works. All we can do is offer resources.
There are lots of posts here on my blog about what unschooling is and is not. Also, there are posts about starting unschooling. I’ll add a link. Also, have you seen my book Curious Unschoolers? It has lots of info set out in a more organised way. It’s been good to chat!
https://www.storiesofanunschoolingfamily.com/tag/starting-unschooling/
Thanks for sharing your thoughts Sue. And I have been planning to order your book the next time I do an Amazon order. 🙂
Karen,
You’re welcome! It’s wonderful to hear you’re planning to order my book. Thank you. I hope you enjoy reading it!
My girls and I were dreaming about visiting Australia today. I told them about listening to your podcast and following your blog. And that led me to telling them that a lot of the great resources they have been introduced to came through you! I will continue to pass on your recommendations to them. I thank you for your example and mentoring – bridging the expanse of time and distance.
Kim,
It is always such a delight to see a comment from you. Your words are always kind and encouraging. Thank you! We live in very different places. Maybe one day we’ll both have the opportunity to travel and visit each other’s countries!
Wouldn’t it be wonderful to meet sometime! We have always wanted to visit Australia. This April we go to London but maybe next adventure will be in your neck of the woods?
Kim,
I’d love to meet you. Yes, one day I hope you can take a trip to Australia!