8 October 2014

Unschooling Children, a School Teacher Father, and Tea


“What does your husband think about you unschooling your children?” 

I have been asked this question quite a few times. I guess people are interested in the answer because my husband Andy is a school teacher, as well as an unschooling father. 

“Would you like to chat with me about unschooling, being a school teacher and your involvement in our children’s lives?” I asked Andy. “Our conversation could be this week’s podcast.”

Andy was agreeable. I decided to ask our 19 year old daughter Imogen to be part of my podcast too. Soon we were talking, and before we knew it, episode 7 of my podcast series had been recorded.

This is not a ‘what’s wrong with the school system’ conversation. We did discuss both school and unschooling, but as Andy is working in the public school system, and has responsibilities towards his school and his colleagues, there were some things we couldn’t talk about. Also Andy, like so many other school teachers, does a great job under circumstances much more difficult than my own, and I wasn’t about to pull him and his efforts to pieces.

Leaving the subject of school, Andy and Imogen shared their father-daughter story, as we talked about ways a father can be involved in his unschooling children’s lives.

And Andy also chatted about how he faced the challenge of redundancy and had to begin a new career, mid-life. I hope this story will encourage anyone who wonders if they should make their children learn as much as possible while homeschooling,  just in case they might need it sometime in the future.

READ  Facing the Fact We Are an Introverted Family

Program Notes

Related blog posts and a video…

A Dean’s Medallist of a Husband
No Mistake
Good Morning Mr Elvis!
Engines, Muscles and Spending Time with Dad
Imogen Talks about the Role of Parents in Unschooling

A couple of musical videos performed by Andy and our children…

A Musical Interlude
By Your Kingly Power, O Risen Lord

This week you could… 

subscribe to my podcasts on iTunes… 
or listen to my other podcasts
or have a look at my children’s book, The Angels of Abbey Creek on Amazon, as well as Lulu and Barnes and Noble

or join me on my Stories of an Unschooling Family Facebook page where I’m posting lots of extra blog stuff!

And of course you could also watch this week’s podcast episode…

Unschooling Children, a School Teacher Father and Tea.

Tea? Oops! I forgot to talk about the tea. Oh well, you’ll discover the significance of tea as you listen!




Sue Elvis

I'm an Australian blogger, podcaster, and Youtuber. I write and speak about unschooling, parenting and family life. I'm also the author of the unschooling books 'Curious Unschoolers', 'Radical Unschool Love' and ‘The Unschool Challenge’. You'll find them on Amazon!

12 Comments

  1. Lovely to hear Andy's thoughts and Imogen's pride and affection for him. You've built up such an idyllic homeschool environment – it's nice that you take the time to share your experience and inspire other people. Thank you!

    • Vicky,

      Thank you for your kind comment! Idyllic? Yes, maybe it can sound that way. I think we have our own struggles and difficult moments and things don't always go smoothly. But it does help when we all pull together as a family. I am very blessed to have a husband who supports unschooling and who tries to help me as much as he can. It was good of Andy to be part of my podcast. I think he was rather brave, don't you? Andy doesn't seem to mind me making our lives public. As long as he doesn't have to read my blog or listen to himself on a podcast, I think he's quite happy!

  2. Hey there Sue!

    Sounds SO great….fun and informative, friend….sop right now, things are circus-y here. But I bookmarked your podcast page so I can open the tab and listen early tomorrow AM when I am up before everyone and getting things done. I look forward to it. How have I missed your other pods?
    Getting kev settled in school has proven to be rather challenging and I have not been online as much or even blogged as often…but it appears that we may be hitting a smooth patch now….Can't wait to listen in soon.

    I hope all is well. I love the pictures you have here of the girls and Andy.

    "See" you soon !
    xoxoxox
    ~Chris

    • Chris,

      It's so good to chat with you! I've been following your news on Facebook, and enjoying your photos. Yes, you have been busy! I imagine it takes time for a new routine to be established. Kev going to school is such a big change. It sounds like he is coping very well. Your homeschooling prepared him very well. I hope you're not missing him too much.

      Podcasting is my new adventure! I'm enjoying this challenge. I hope you can listen when you are less busy, but certainly no hurry!

      Yes, we'll catch up again soon! xx

  3. Thank you for putting your podcasts on iTunes, Sue – now I can enjoy listening while I am out walking the dogs or in the car on my own. I'm going to listen to this one as I drive to Brighton tomorrow (a grown-up evening with a uni friend. I am very excited. Plus I get to see my Godson!). And thank you to Andy and Imogen, too!

    • Lucinda,

      Putting my podcasts on iTunes was another learning experience! I finally worked out how to do it after much research and watching of Youtube videos. I didn't think I had my image embedded into the podcasts properly but it seems all was okay!

      It's very kind of you wanting to listen to my podcasts. Thank you! My voice is going all the way over the sea to England! Isn't that a fascinating thought? I should say hello to you while I'm recording my conversation!

      I hope you enjoy/ enjoyed your trip to Brighton. A grown up evening? That does sound very exciting!

      I'll pass on the thanks. Thank YOU!

  4. Oh gosh! It has been forever since I left a comment. My life has been a blur of busy. I was able to listen to this entire podcast (while getting some other work done) and I sure am glad I did!! You guys are just great! What a fun bunch. And your "humble" husband (lol) is pretty amazing.

    I have been reading most of your posts..just haven't had much time to spare to comment. I will take the time now to say I LOVE THEM ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks and keep 'em coming!

    You are fantastic, Sue!! Much love <3 <3 <3 <3
    Virginia

    • Virginia Sue!

      I've missed you! Thank you for reading my posts even though your time has been short. I appreciate that. And you listened to my podcast? Wow! Thank you!

      My husband Andy has a wonderful sense of humour. I think it only showed a tiny bit as we were making this podcast. Maybe he was trying not to mess up my podcast so he behaved himself! A shrinking violet? Oh certainly not! Humble? Maybe!

      I'm so glad you stopped by. I've been thinking about you wondering how you're going. I hope things get less busy for you. Thank you for your very kind words, Virginia! Much love to you too. xxx

  5. Lovely to hear from Andy and his obvious closeness with the children. Tea is a bit of a running joke with me and the children – they seem to think I'm obsessed with tea (I only drink around 3 cups a day), but they do a love a cuppa themselves. It is a great thing to share 🙂

    • Kelly,

      Yes, tea is good! Drinking tea is a very social thing to do. I love chatting while drinking it.

      Thank you so much for taking the time to listen to our podcast. I appreciate it!

  6. This was a lovely podcast. My husband is also a teacher but we haven't homeschooled in an unschooling way. This was part of my exploration into unschooling as 'schooling' at home was not working well with one of my children. I appreciate this website very much indeed. Thank you for sharing.

    • Hi Anna,

      Oh my, it seems a long time since I recorded this podcast! I'm glad you enjoyed it. For us, my husband's school and our unschooling are two different things. We can take an interest in both ways of educating. They both have their place. But we know unschooling and not schooling is what we want for our children. We feel very grateful we are able to live this way of life. My husband Andy's students don't have that choice. But they have a good teacher!

      I hope you find a way of education that's a good fit for your family. Maybe you'll arrive at unschooling! If I can help in any way, please ask. I'd be happy to chat.

      Thank you so much for listening to my podcast and for reading my posts. It was kind of you to stop by!

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