Renee Cabatic, the mother of two unschooled teens, joins me this week to share some wonderful stories from their lives. We dive into passions and comfort zones, college and quitting, agency and self-efficacy, and lots more.
Questions for Renee
Can you share with us a bit about you and your family?
What did your family’s move to unschooling look like?
Many long-time unschooling parents have a story around learning the value of stretching their comfort zones. The spark is usually one of our kids becoming interested in something that makes us feel uncomfortable, or even fearful. Do you have one of those stories?
I regularly get questions from newer unschooling parents about concerns around technology. I’d love to hear how technology like TV, video games, and YouTube, wove through your unschooling days. What was your experience?
One of the valuable paradigm shifts that often happens on the unschooling journey is around the idea of quitting. Conventionally, it’s often seen as a failure or lack of commitment. But there’s another way to look at it, one that’s much more positive. Do you have a quitting story you could share?
Another common concern is that choosing unschooling closes the door to college. I’d love to hear a college story or two!
Looking back, what do you feel has been the most valuable outcome from choosing unschooling all those years ago?
Things mentioned in the Episode
Renee mentioned a couple of unschooling conferences, Free to Be and Life is Good
Episode Transcript
... an online resource for parents who are curious about unschooling. If you're passionate about exploring the world with your children, this site is for you. I'm Pam Laricchia, the author and owner of this site. Thanks for inviting me along on your unschooling journey!
Truly inspiring. I so appreciate Renee’s ability to acknowledge her fears and let go of so much control and at the same time be so connected in relationship with her kids. I loved the personal stories and a different perspective than cultural norms.
Thank you Pam for your work to help us think differently and be able to see our children as whole human beings, deserving of respect, space, support, and their own life to discover and live.
I had a lot of house chores to catch up with today which was a wonderful opportunity to binge listen to the unschooling podcast! Isn’t it wonderful that we have the internet and podcasts and audio books, I’m so grateful to be living in these times!
What Renee shared about quitting gave me goosebumps!
Yes, we choose an activity/a club to join but then as we naturally change so do our interests. Not being given the option to quit is like being denied the opportunity to grow and develop and being forced to dwell in your old you.
Unfortunately it’s not only children that “fall victim” to the idea that quitting is bad.
I have a few friends, adults, who are having a hard time over having started a degree at uni and not finished it. There’s this stigma about not finishing something that’s so strong that even in our life as adults it’s hard to let go and move on. It can be so wasteful to focus your time and energy in accomplishing something that no longer serves you instead of focusing on (finding out) what works for you . a t . t h e . m o m e n t .
Thank you so much for sharing your experience and wisdom, dear Renee and Pam!