Lehla’s First Unschooling Post.

Here we are we have been talking about writing a blog for a long time. I have tried to take our son’s portrait, he told me how to do it, I had to try and make him look like as if he is standing on a small toy car but it didn’t work. So Ant took his shot. My daughters have been busy tapping away….it is nice. It feels like an exciting family project and we are all in on it. The kids love the idea, I love it and here we are. A bit of a learning curve for everyone…

So that is me in the picture under the kids. After having had my daughter try and style a picture of me. I previously had on an apron, was holding a computer, had The Art Book under my arm and was holding a saucepan and a cup of tea. After that picture was taken, I looked at it and I realised I look mad. So Ant’s idea was to pile the children on top of me and it kind of fits and I won’t be able to do that picture in a few years as they will grow and with them on top of me, I will most likely stop breathing.

So whilst lying in bed this morning and not being able to go back to sleep, I asked myself the question, why am I doing this website? Here are some reasons why.

To connect with the rest of the world, to meet fellow unschoolers, home educators and people who aren’t necessarily unschooling their kids but are curious as to what the whole concept is about.

To connect with alternative educators, divergent thinkers, creatives, writers, artists, poets, scientists, historians, dancers, actors, in fact to connect with everyone. Basically to connect with people who have a passion for life and for sharing learning. It is a way of opening up our world. Especially for the kids as well as for us.

To use this website as a way to help the kids with the basics, like spelling, sharing concepts and ideas. To support them and help them with their story writing, where ever that takes them. Also thrown in to all of this is that they are learning about the technology behind doing a blog (me too). What is a post? Why do people post? How do you upload a picture? Which picture? How do you be clear when you write, etc? Why do you add links to things? It seems to, at the moment, really motivate them and inspire them and it has got them thinking and tapping away on the keyboard. Also they have to think about photography and images, so I think it is a perfect tool for learning.

So as for posts from me, I guess I will dig in to what being an unschooling parent looks like, from my perspective but who knows where this will take me…. I also want to share thoughts, ideas, tips, films, talks, pictures, paintings, recipes, resources and ideas. (I have stumbled upon some great resources so far on this journey.) I am hoping that this website can be a kind of positive exchange for people, whether you are an unschooling family or not. I would like it to be a place in which to connect and share interesting stuff and to give a bit of a snap shot as to why and how our family are unschooling here up on a hill in Italy.

Ok, everyone is asleep and I am off to silently sneak in to the kitchen make a cup of tea…