I'm back! Are you surprised? I am! This week, I'm talking about: How lack of control makes us feel helpless. Do controlled kids feel helpless? Does control lead to mental health issues? If we want a society of responsible adults, do we need to listen to kids, give them freedom, and let them learn how to be responsible for themselves? Difficult times, friends, and our unschooling community How change can stretch us, and how we learn when we have an interest or a need. Video gaming and what I've learnt since I became a video gamer. My new children's novel, The Angels of Wallaby Way! Perfectionism, and the fear of criticism, and Marco Polo video messages The value of feedback, encouragement, and the most important people in our lives Show Notes My Unschooling Books Curious Unschoolers: Kindle Curious Unschoolers: paperback Radical Unschool Love: Kindle Radical Unschool Love: paperback The Angels of Wallaby Way: available very soon! My Amazon Author Page   Where You Can Find Me Unschooling Community including Unschool Plus and Marco Polo My Stories of an Unschooling Family community Youtube Sue Elvis Blogs Stories of an Unschooling Family Where the Carol Birds Sing   Thanks you for listening to this episode!  

Stories of an Unschooling Family

189: The Important People in Our Lives

This week, Imogen and I are discussing: The value of casual work How our kids can surprise us Jobs and passions Why we need to promote our work How to answer critics The importance of helping each other Sanditon  Ageing And other things!   Show Notes   Things we mention in this episode This is Marketing: book by Seth Godin The Illustrated Man: book by Ray Bradbury Sanditon: miniseries adapted from Jane Austen's novel by Andrew Davies  Sanditon: unfinished Jane Austen novel Pride and Prejudice: 1995 miniseries adapted by Andrew Davies from Jane Austen's novel   My Unschooling Books Curious Unschoolers: Kindle Curious Unschoolers: paperback Radical Unschool Love: Kindle Radical Unschool Love: paperback My Amazon Author Page   Where You Can Find Me Unschooling Community My Stories of an Unschooling Family community Youtube Sue Elvis Blogs Stories of an Unschooling Family Where the Carol Birds Sing Instagram sue_elvis   Where You Can Find Imogen Blog Write.Rewrite.Read Instagram write.rewrite.read Youtube Imogen Elvis Books The Crystal Tree The Shattering Song Frost Hands   Thank you for listening to this episode!    

188: It's Not for Me!

This week, Imogen and I are talking about: High expectations and control. Do they result in unhappy children? Do controlled kids look for distractions? Does limiting screen time result in an increased attraction for devices? A novel that Imogen reviewed: Dear Hero Inspiration and different ways of telling a story How we can work together, share our skills, and help each other The Catholic Homeschool Conference (I'm a speaker!) News of two soon-to-be-produced unschooling podcasts   Show Notes Things we mentioned in this episode:   Indistractible by Nir Eyal Masterchef Australia 2021 Show Your Work by Austin Kleon Dear Hero by Hope Bolinger and Alyssa Roat Illuminae Files Book Series by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff The Catholic Homeschool Conference   My Unschooling Books Curious Unschoolers: Kindle Curious Unschoolers: paperback Radical Unschool Love: Kindle Radical Unschool Love: paperback My Amazon Author Page   Where You Can Find Me Unschooling Community My Stories of an Unschooling Family community Youtube Sue Elvis Blogs Stories of an Unschooling Family Where the Carol Birds Sing Instagram sue_elvis   Where You Can Find Imogen Blog Write.Rewrite.Read Instagram write.rewrite.read Youtube Imogen Elvis Books The Crystal Tree The Shattering Song Frost Hands   Thank you for listening to this episode!    

187: The Problem With High Expectations and Control

 This week, Imogen and I have a lively conversation about: The highs and lows that affect our parenting, homeschooling and creative lives Criticism: why do we let other people's opinions affect what we do? Whose opinions should we listen to? Why we shouldn't let criticism stop us from using our talents Reviews: why we don't ask for many reviews Writing about things we have never experienced Paying it Forward: is free online stuff really free?  We're also discussing some books and movies. And we're telling stories about: how to remove a dead tree cockroaches how I might have made a difference to the lives of the world's dogs and many other things   Show Notes Things we mention in this episode:   Tamworth Botanic gardens and Marsupial Park Country Music Festival   Gunnedah Silo Art: Dorothea MacKellar and her poem, My Country Water Tower Art: The Long Tan Battle of the Vietnam War Silo Art at Barraba   Book Show Your Work: Ten Ways to Share Your Creativity and Get Discovered by Austin Kleon   Tin Tin comics and Netflix shows   Movies and Series The Greatest Showman Les Mis Oklahoma Hamilton The Crown   My Unschooling Books Curious Unschoolers: Kindle Curious Unschoolers: paperback Radical Unschool Love: Kindle Radical Unschool Love: paperback My Amazon Author Page   Where You Can Find Me Unschooling Community My Stories of an Unschooling Family community Youtube Sue Elvis Blogs Stories of an Unschooling Family Where the Carol Birds Sing Instagram sue_elvis   Where You Can Find Imogen Blog Write.Rewrite.Read Instagram write.rewrite.read Youtube Imogen Elvis Books The Crystal Tree The Shattering Song Frost Hands   Thank you for listening to this episode!    

186: Criticism, Reviews, and Paying it Forward

 This week, Imogen and I are discussing: Social media and video games: can we break the hooks that pull us in? Books: is it okay to use someone else’s ideas and create something of our own? In particular, we’re talking about the documentary, The Social Dilemma, and the books, Dust by Kara Swanson and The Drover’s Wife by Leah Purcell. We’re also telling a few family stories.   Show Notes Things we mention in this episode: Indistractible and Hooked by Nir Eyal The Social Dilemma on Netflix Dust by Kara Swanson The Drover’s Wife by Leah Purcell Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie Henry Lawson: poems and short stories Bleak House and Little Dorritt by Charles Dickens How to Train Your Dragon: movie and book The Princess Bride: movie and book The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells Jeff Wayne’s musical, The War of the Worlds   My Unschooling Books Curious Unschoolers: Kindle Curious Unschoolers: paperback Radical Unschool Love: Kindle Radical Unschool Love: paperback My Amazon Author Page   Where You Can Find Me Unschooling Community My Stories of an Unschooling Family community Youtube Sue Elvis Blogs Stories of an Unschooling Family Where the Carol Birds Sing Instagram sue_elvis   Where You Can Find Imogen Blog Write.Rewrite.Read Instagram write.rewrite.read Youtube Imogen Elvis Books The Crystal Tree The Shattering Song Frost Hands   Thank you for listening to this episode!  

185: Social Media, Hooks, Distractions, and Books

This week, as the rain continues to fall, I'm telling a few stories:   Wondering Weather I Should Iron The Elvis Connection Me? I'm Elvis' Wife Why I'm Wearing Stiff Undies   Show Notes   My Unschooling Books Curious Unschoolers: Kindle Curious Unschoolers: paperback Radical Unschool Love: Kindle Radical Unschool Love: paperback My Amazon Author Page   Where You Can Find Me Unschooling Community My Stories of an Unschooling Family community Youtube Sue Elvis Blogs Stories of an Unschooling Family Where the Carol Birds Sing Instagram sue_elvis   Thank you for listening to this episode!  

184:Trying Not to Complain

 This week, my daughter Imogen is back, and we're talking about: Writing: the definition of a story, what to write about, how we use our own experiences in stories. Superhero movies: the big ideas contained in seemingly trivial stories Behind-the scenes documentaries. Rock climbing and glass blowing: creativity, and the lengths (or heights!) some people will go to follow their passions. We’re also telling lots of stories.   Show Notes Things we mention in this episode: Camp NaNoWriMo The A-Z blogging challenge   Masterclass: Neil Gaiman and his writing class Margaret Atwood and her writing class   WandaVision The Making of Wandavision Captain America: Civil War   Solo Free on Amazon Prime The Dawn Face on Netflix   Blown Away on Netflix   My Unschooling Books Curious Unschoolers: Kindle Curious Unschoolers: paperback Radical Unschool Love: Kindle Radical Unschool Love: paperback My Amazon Author Page   Where You Can Find Me Unschooling Community My Stories of an Unschooling Family community Youtube Sue Elvis Blogs Stories of an Unschooling Family Where the Carol Birds Sing Instagram sue_elvis   Where You Can Find Imogen Blog Write.Rewrite.Read Instagram write.rewrite.read Youtube Imogen Elvis   Thank you for listening to this episode!  

183: Big Ideas and Big Passions,

 This week, in this solo podcast episode, I'm sharing and discussing a few adventurous stories: Unschooling: Haircut Courage Younger Unschoolers: Spur-of-the-Moment Adventures Enjoying an Unexpected Little Adventure   Show Notes   My Unschooling Books Curious Unschoolers: Kindle Curious Unschoolers: paperback Radical Unschool Love: Kindle Radical Unschool Love: paperback My Amazon Author Page   Where You Can Find Me Unschooling Community My Stories of an Unschooling Family community Youtube Sue Elvis Blogs Stories of an Unschooling Family Where the Carol Birds Sing Instagram sue_elvis   Photo Me and my daughter Charlotte Thank you for listening to this episode. If you enjoy my podcast, please consider sharing the link so that we can spread the word about unschooling!    

182: Bad Haircuts and Unschooling Adventures

 After a 4-month break, my daughter Imogen and I are back! And we're chatting about: Finishing novels and beta reading My 19-year-old daughter Sophie and 'graduate' unschoolers Bushfires and exploding trees How our generous members saved our unschooling community Vlogging The TV shows we've been watching The Masterclass classes we've been enjoying We’re also discussing the question: is it okay to expose our kids to 'unsuitable' movies and books?   Show Notes   Things We Mention Masterclass website Matthew Walker on Masterclass Neil Gaiman's books including Coraline and The Graveyard Book Coraline the movie WandaVision on Disney Plus The Truth Seekers on Amazon Prime   My Unschooling Books Curious Unschoolers: Kindle Curious Unschoolers: paperback Radical Unschool Love: Kindle Radical Unschool Love: paperback My Amazon Author Page   Where You Can Find Me My Stories of an Unschooling Family community Youtube Sue Elvis Blogs Stories of an Unschooling Family Where the Carol Birds Sing Instagram sue_elvis   Where You Can Find Imogen Blog Write.Rewrite.Read Instagram write.rewrite.read Youtube Imogen Elvis   Thank you for listening to this episode. If you enjoy my podcast, please consider sharing the link so that we can spread the word about unschooling!   Please feel welcome to visit my blog Stories of an Unschooling Family or Instagram to leave a comment. Perhaps you'd like to join our unschooling community?   Imogen and I would love to hear some feedback about our conversation! Photo: Imogen took me out for a special celebratory breakfast. I've finished my children's novel!      

181: Writing, Explosions, and Unsuitable Horror Stories

My daughter Imogen and I are discussing play, writing, books, Martians, and exercise. This episode is jam-packed full of stories, unschooling thoughts and resources.Episode Contents0:00-01:56 Intro01:56-07:53 Excitement 07:53-10:51 Writing10:51-18:08 Music18:08-30:15 Kids’ Play30:15-42:10 Adults’ Play42:10-59:18 A Space Phase59:18-01:03:31 A Novel and Priest Holes01:03:31-01:07:11 Exercise01:07:11-01:13:51 A Risqué Story01:13:51-01:17:01 Listener Questions 01:17:01-01:21:38 End Stuff Show Notes  WritingNaNoWriMo MusicMusescoreGarageband PlayBlog Post: Doing What Kids Ought to Do A Space PhaseThe War of the Worlds book by H.G. WellsJeff Wayne's The War of the WorldsThe Martian bookThe Martian movieSpace Odyssey: Voyage to the Planets ExerciseLeslie Sansone's Walk at Home BooksThe Clockmaker's Daughter by Kate MortonImogen's new novel : Frost Notes My Unschooling BooksCurious Unschoolers: KindleCurious Unschoolers: paperbackRadical Unschool Love: KindleRadical Unschool Love: paperbackMy Amazon Author Page Where You Can Find MeMy Stories of an Unschooling Family communityYoutubeSue ElvisBlogsStories of an Unschooling FamilyWhere the Carol Birds SingInstagramstories_ofan_unschoolingfamily Where You Can Find ImogenBlogWrite.Rewrite.ReadInstagramwrite.rewrite.readYoutubeImogen Elvis Thank you for listening to this episode. If you enjoy my podcast, please consider sharing the link so that we can spread the word about unschooling!Please feel welcome to visit my blog Stories of an Unschooling Family or Instagram to leave a comment. Perhaps you have a question for Imogen? We'd love to hear some feedback about our conversation! 

180: Unschool, Martian, and Risque Stories

My daughter Imogen and I are sharing some unschooling thoughts while we talk about what we’ve been working on, what we’ve been reading and watching, and what’s making us feel excited. 0:00 Intro 00:58 Introducing Imogen 01:47 Returning to Podcasting 05:50 Frost Hands and Writing 14:34 Writing Novels and Unschooling Books 21:57 The Inconvenience of Losing Our Videographer  32:14 Excited About Exercise 41:59 Escaping into a Novel 48:55 Rereading Retold Fairy Tales 53:52 Masterchef and Kids’ Happiness 01:01:29 The Masked Singer and Twonk 01:08:50 End Things   Show Notes   Imogen's new novel Frost Notes   Podcasts about NaNoWriMo Episode 153: More Unschool Writing Ideas and Resources Episode 140: Difficult Things   Imogen's Music Youtube Channel Imogen Elvis   Websites Skillshare Walk at Home   Books The Lake House by Kate Morton The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer   Blog Post Why We Need to Support Our Kids' Choices   Video My 2020 Global Homeschooling Summit interview video   My Unschooling Books Curious Unschoolers: Kindle Curious Unschoolers: paperback Radical Unschool Love: Kindle Radical Unschool Love: paperback My Amazon Author Page   Where You Can Find Me My Stories of an Unschooling Family community Youtube Sue Elvis Blogs Stories of an Unschooling Family Where the Carol Birds Sing Instagram stories_ofan_unschoolingfamily   Where You Can Find Imogen Blog Write.Rewrite.Read Instagram write.rewrite.read   Thank you for listening to this episode. If you enjoy my podcast, please consider sharing the link so that we can spread the word about unschooling!   Please feel welcome to visit my blog Stories of an Unschooling Family to leave a comment!  

179: Unschooling, Plot Holes and Twonk

 This week, I'm sharing and discussing two stories about strewing:   Time For Some Strewing   Unschooling When Charlotte Mason Also Appeals to Our Hearts   I'm also talking about overwhelming times, how we don't have to be perfect, and looking for the delights in our days.   Show Notes   A Blog Post Unschooling When Charlotte Mason Also Appeals to Our Hearts   Podcasts Episode 151: All About Strewing Episode 30: Why Classical Music Is Not Enough   A Book The Book of Delights by Ross Gay   My Unschooling Books Curious Unschoolers: Kindle Curious Unschoolers: paperback Radical Unschool Love: Kindle Radical Unschool Love: paperback My Amazon Author Page     Where You Can Find Me My Stories of an Unschooling Family community Youtube Sue Elvis Blogs Stories of an Unschooling Family Where the Carol Birds Sing   Thank you for listening to this episode. If you enjoy my podcast, please consider sharing the link so that we can spread the word about unschooling!   Please feel welcome to visit my blog Stories of an Unschooling Family to leave a comment!  

178: Strewing, Unschooling and Charlotte Mason

This week, I'm talking about encouragement. I have two encouragement stories to share with you which I'm hoping you haven't heard before. But if you are familiar with them, will you think, "Sue is getting repetitive"? Will you consider giving my podcast a negative review? I hope not! Perhaps you will recognise that I'm trying my best, and instead of leaving some discouraging words, you'll offer some feedback.  Do you have any ideas for future episodes of this podcast? What would you like to hear about? Because most of my kids are grown up, often I don't have any current unschooling news to share with you, unless, of course, you're interested in hearing about my unschooling learning! Over the years, I have explored a lot of unschooling topics. Sometimes it seems like I have said everything possible. Could it be time to pack up my mic? Move on and do something else? I'd love to hear your feedback especially if it's kind and encouraging!    Episode Details 0:00 intro 1:53 discouraging words and negative podcast reviews 3:46 Crushed by a Label 11:11 story comments 13:07 Encouraging Each Other to Do Difficult Things  16:08 How I Became a Runner 24:46 what I learnt from my running adventure  33:01 other encouraging stories  33:53 I’d love to hear your thoughts! 34:42 Summit interviews worth watching  38:17 unschooling: something worth hearing about  38:55 an encouraging unschooling community  39:48 thank you for listening!   Show Notes Blog Post Encouraging Each Other to Do Difficult Things    The Homeschooling Global Summit The Homeschooling Global Summit My 2020 Summit interview   My Unschooling Books Curious Unschoolers: Kindle Curious Unschoolers: paperback Radical Unschool Love: Kindle Radical Unschool Love: paperback My Amazon Author Page     Where You Can Find Me My Stories of an Unschooling Family community Youtube Sue Elvis Blogs Stories of an Unschooling Family Where the Carol Birds Sing   Thank you for listening to this episode. If you enjoy my podcast, please consider sharing the link so that we can spread the word about unschooling. A quick encouraging review or rating would help too! Please feel welcome to visit my blog Stories of an Unschooling Family to leave a comment.  I hope to see you inside my unschooling community. And if you haven't already seen it, perhaps you'd like to check out my Homeschooling Global Summit interview!    

177: Encouraging Unschooling Kids and Mothers

This week, I'm talking about how children learn: 0:00 intro 1:30 News: Podcast chapters 2:55 My Homeschooling Global Summit interview 7:25 Unschooling alone: things I’ve been doing and learning about 15:18 Is It Really Okay if Kids Play All Day? 25:53 Comments about the story 30:30 How Ticking Off Boxes Can Be a Waste of Time 35:45 Comments about the story 43:48 Looking ahead and other end things    Show Notes   Blog Post How Ticking Off Boxes Can Be a Waste of Time   Video What's in Your Strewing Basket?   The Homeschooling Global Summit The Homeschooling Global Summit Our 2019 Homeschooling Global Summit Interviews   My Unschooling Books Curious Unschoolers: Kindle Curious Unschoolers: paperback Radical Unschool Love: Kindle Radical Unschool Love: paperback My Amazon Author Page   Other Things I Mentioned Powtoon Adobe Indesign Adobe Font Packs Skillshare   Where You Can Find Me My Stories of an Unschooling Family community Email Me Youtube Sue Elvis Blogs Stories of an Unschooling Family Where the Carol Birds Sing   Thank you for listening to this episode. If you enjoy my podcast, please consider sharing the link so that we can spread the word about unschooling. A quick review or rating would help too! Please feel welcome to visit my blog Stories of an Unschooling Family to leave a comment.  I hope to see you inside my unschooling community. And perhaps you'd like to watch my Homeschooling Global Summit interview!    

176: How Curious Unschooled Kids Learn

This week, I'm talking about starting unschooling and exciting things: 0.00 Intro 0:53 My First Unschooling Zoom Meeting 11:07 A New Podcast Series  19:20 Time to Unschool  32.25 There Has Never Been a Better Time to Start Unschooling  44:10 End Things   Show Notes   Blog Post There Has Never Been a Better Time to Start Unschooling   The Homeschooling Global Summit The Homeschooling Global Summit Our 2019 Homeschooling Global Summit Interviews   My Unschooling Books Curious Unschoolers: Kindle Curious Unschoolers: paperback Radical Unschool Love: Kindle Radical Unschool Love: paperback My Amazon Author Page   Pat Flynn's website: Smart Passive Income   Where You Can Find Me My Stories of an Unschooling Family community Email Me Youtube Sue Elvis Blogs Stories of an Unschooling Family Where the Carol Birds Sing   Thank you for listening to this episode. If you enjoy my podcast, please consider sharing the link so that we can spread the word about unschooling. A quick review or rating would help too! Please feel welcome to visit my blog Stories of an Unschooling Family to leave a comment.  I hope to see you inside my unschooling community. Perhaps you'd like to join me for our next Zoom meetup!    

175: More About Starting Unschooling

Want to know more about unschooling? How about radical unschooling? (It's not as scary or as wild as some people make out!) Join me as I share ideas, stories, homeschool record-keeping tips and resources for living an unschooling life of unconditional love.