Is It Working? Wrestling with Doubt in Unschooling

A Ladies Fixing the World Conversation
25 June 2025

A grey day arrives that completely blots out the memory of all the preceding good days. We feel overwhelmed, tired, worried and lost. We wonder why we ever decided to unschool. A puddle of doubt about unschooling forms around us. What do we do?

Cecilie, Sandra and I are discussing unschooling doubts and sharing our experiences in episode 10 of The Ladies Fixing the World podcast.

We enjoyed chatting. We hope you enjoy listening!

Watch the video episode above or listen below

Apple Podcast  Spotify  YouTube

Also available on all other podcast platforms – find the links here.

Show Notes

Cecilie Conrad, Sandra Dodd, and Sue Elvis discuss doubt and fear in unschooling—where they come from, how they spread, and how to move through them without defaulting to school-based thinking. They explore the pressure of responsibility, the impact of lingering fears, and why letting go of outcomes helps build trust in both learning and relationships.

They talk about how fear can be reinforced through casual conversation, especially when parents share worst-case scenarios or compare their children to school-based standards. The discussion includes the idea that much of what parents worry about is based on assumptions that haven’t been questioned, and how simply asking “Is it true?” can shift how we see our role.

There’s also a focus on how unschooling parents can become more confident, not by forcing results, but by staying present, observing real growth over time, and letting go of the need to control outcomes. The conversation points to a broader definition of success—one that includes emotional well-being, agency, and the ability to build a life that fits, rather than one that follows external benchmarks.

Links & Resources mentioned:

Our Websites

🗓️ Recorded April 29, 2025. 📍  Budapest, Hungary

Images

I wonder if birds also feel miserable on grey days. Or do they welcome the puddles, splashing in the water, not caring if they look straggly instead of perfect?

Photos by

Andrei R. Popescu, Unsplash

Katya Vysotskaya, Unsplash

 


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