Strolling towards the shopping centre, I spy an older man with three hand-reared brightly coloured parrots. A few wide-eyed kids are gathered around him, and as I watch, he transfers a parrot to one of their shoulders, where it bounces lightly upon its feet, nuzzling a little ear. The child grins, hardly daring to move. The children have questions which the man is happy to answer. Who doesn’t like sharing their passions with curious people?
We often look for resources in the form of books, videos, and websites, unaware of the rich resources right in front of us: the people we meet.
Exiting a cafe with my husband the other day, I saw a gorgeous bulldog. Her owners were enjoying their coffee at an outside table, soaking up the spring sunshine. I stopped and exclaimed, “What a beautiful dog!” which was true and exactly the right thing to say. Both the woman and the man smiled widely. I could see they would be happy to share some details about their pet. But would they mind if I took a photo? “My daughter loves dogs,” I explained. “I collect dog pictures and stories for her.”
As Andy and I walked away from the cafe, a photo of Bonnie the bulldog on my camera roll, I was glad I’d stopped to chat with two strangers about their beautiful pet.
Cecilie Conrad, Sandra Dodd, and I discussed connecting with people in our local communities in S3E1 of The Ladies Fixing the World podcast. We wondered if some people would feel too shy to approach strangers and begin a conversation.
I used to be hesitant to do this- I’m not an extrovert- but now I talk to strangers all the time.
“People probably think I’m a lonely older woman,” I tell my family. “Oh no, here comes that woman who talks and talks.” But that’s not it. I’m just curious about everything and everyone I meet. Each person has a unique story which they’re often willing to share. So, I pause and ask questions instead of rushing past opportunities to connect with others. I share people’s passions and learn.
I wonder if you do this too?
Sandra, Cecilie, and I explored many questions in our episode, Resources for Unschoolers. Here are just a few of them.
If you spied a man with a parrot while walking through the shopping centre with your kids, would you stop to ask him about his bird? Would you give your children an opportunity to find out more?
What would you do if your unschooling child told you he was lonely and needed a friend? What if there aren’t any unschoolers living nearby?
What would you do if a younger child wants to stay home while you take a sibling to an activity? What if she is too young to stay home alone?
As you can see, the Ladies are back, fixing the world with a new season of long-form conversations where we explore unschooling in depth. Actually, we’ve been back for a few weeks. I’m just slow in writing this post.
Watch the video episode above or listen below
Also available on all other podcast platforms – find the links here.
Shownotes
What counts as a resource when you don’t follow a school curriculum?
In this episode, Cecilie Conrad, Sandra Dodd, and Sue Elvis look at how unschooling families can use the world around them as learning resources. They talk about community connections, museums, libraries, and casual work, as well as the role of park days, gatherings, and conferences in building networks.
The discussion explores whether children really need same-age peers, highlighting the richness of relationships across ages and interests. They also consider how work in hospitality or retail can teach social skills, and how smartphones and online communication function as tools for connection.
The central message is clear: resources for unschoolers are not confined to books or curricula but are found in people, experiences, and the time to follow curiosity.
Deb Lewis’s List of Things to do in the Winter: https://sandradodd.com/strew/deblist
Sandra, Sue and Cecilie’s websites
🗓️ Recorded June 17, 2025. 📍 Åmarksgård, Lille Skendsved, Denmark
Images
Clovis Wood, Unsplash
Happysurd Photography, Unsplash
pen_ash, Unsplash
In addition to seeing the man who takes his parrots to the shopping centre, we often spot brilliant green and red king parrots in our village. They travel in pairs and will perch on an outstretched hand, especially if it contains something to eat.
What about you? Do you have friendly parrots where you live? Do you have opportunities to learn from people in your community? I wonder if you have unschooling friends who live close by. Or perhaps, like us, you are lone unschoolers but never lonely.
Discover more from Stories of an Unschooling Family
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