Unschooling
My newest foray in the homeschooling world is UNschooling. Have you heard of it? I've heard about it a lot over the years but always overlooked it because I didn't like the sound of it. My initial impression was that it was just too unorganized and I worried that my kids wouldn't learn what they needed to. One of my favorite things to play when I was a child was "school", and I was biting at the chomp to order a curriculum and make everything neat and pretty. Unschooling seemed more like a free-for-all and almost negligent.
Well, it's kind of like a free-for-all, but with much more diligence and attention to your child's interests than I had thought. I'm reading this book on unschooling, which has been opening my eyes so much. I also joined a few Facebook groups for unschoolers and through their answers to tough questions, I've become convinced that this is the way for us. I also found this article helpful, How to Deschool So You Can Unschool. I realized that so much of my hesitation and doubt was coming from my own background of traditional schooling and thinking that there has to be textbooks and forced learning in order to "truly" learn.
When I learned some of the amazing statistics of unschooled students, so many of my original fears were replaced with excitement and passion for unschooling. So for this reason, I've stopped my monthly preschool themes. I'm going to be following my boys' leads much more closely and basically tailor their activities towards what they want to do. I'll probably come up with some sort of monthly post to share our unschooling adventure.
Timberdoodle Blogger of 2016
Speaking of homeschooling, I got accepted as one of 30 or 35 bloggers to write for Timberdoodle this year!! Timberdoodle is a family-owned company that offers the most awesome homeschooling supplies. They've been in business since the 80's and they say their special emphasis is on "engineering, hands-on and thinking-skills products that kids love".
Before I had decided to unschool, I was all excited to buy their secular kindergarten curriculum kit. Although I'm not going to be following any curriculum, Timberdoodle is still going to be a huge resource for me because of all the books and educational learning supplies they offer.
Since I'm a Timberdoodle Blogger for this year, it means I'll get to review products for free in exchange for my honest review. I'm so excited to stock up our homeschooling area with educational toys for the boys to explore. This month we received the Science with Tots Deluxe Kit, so I'll be sharing how the boys liked that!
Journaling as Therapy
Do you journal? I do, on and off. I definitely write things down constantly in a journal, like goals or to-do lists. I love to journal because for some reason still unknown to me, it's like answers come to/from me when I begin writing whatever it is that's bothering me or that I'm confused about.
I had my first critical review for my book this weekend and it made my heart sink. I tried to go on with my day pretending to myself that it didn't upset me, but it kept lingering and making me sad every time I remembered it.
I saw this journal at Target and thought it was perfect: spiral bound, smaller sized, beautiful cover, good reminder on the front. At the end of a very long day, I finally got in bed and started writing. I "confessed" everything I was feeling in that moment. Overwhelmed. Irritated. Annoyed. Embarrassed. Sad.
Just writing that out started to lift these emotions off of me. And then a thought came to me about how I had been checking Amazon to see if anyone had left a bad review "yet". I was LOOKING for it. Expecting it to show up, and it did finally.
I realized that I needed to start looking for the good again. And then a question came to me that asked "What do I need in order to feel better right now?" My 4 answers were: clean house, food in the fridge, alone time, and meditation.
That took me 10 minutes, and I had my answers and felt like I had a plan. This is why I love journaling!
Bedroom Makeover Progress
Speaking of alone time and meditation, I've been slowly making over my bedroom. We've lived in this house for 6 years but we decorated and even RE-decorated the front rooms, but never really did much with our bedroom since no one could really see it anyway. But HELLO, I can see it! It's my retreat, I wish I would've given it more thought from the beginning.
Pinterest for the most part loves bright walls. I like bright walls too but I have not enjoyed having a bright and sunny bedroom. It jars my soul. So I decided that I would go dark with little pops of brightness instead.
So far I've painted the walls dark grey, hung dark wood blinds in the windows, switched out my "sunny" curtains for dark, black-out grey ones (hell yes). The one lamp I had in the room always had a camisole over it because it's brightness was too much for me, so I got two smaller lamps that have much softer lighting. And I wanted super comfy bedding, so I got soft, white sheets with grey embroidery on the edges, and a soft comforter set.
And I'm in love with this pillow from Target's new kids line Pillowfort (soooooo cute), it says "This is my happy place." I order these LED string lights that I'm going to put up around my bed frame. I love these particular ones because they come with a dimmable remote so you don't have to plug and unplug them in. I am ALL about the soft, cozy lighting.
Still deciding on what to put up on the wall above the bed. Maybe a decorative mirror set? So far, so good. I know it's a lot of dark on dark action, but I'm loving my little cave.
That's a wrap for this month! Anything new happening in your life? Any revelations, makeovers, or inspiration that has come your way? I love to talk these things so please leave me a comment below if you'd like to share.
Mazie R
This post resonated with me so much! I am a musician and just got a bad review for one of my recent shows, and although I tried to shake it off it left me feeling so upset, embarrassed, and angry. It's a hard thing to be so vulnerable, to share so much of yourself, and then to be criticized for it. I am inspired by your response, though, and journaling needs to be a focus for me. It hasn't been in far too long! Thanks for the reminder, and keep writing. 🙂
Jessica Dimas
EXACTLY, that's exactly what it is. When you're so vulnerable and share so much of yourself...you said it perfectly. That's what makes it so hard. I'm glad you commented, I feel less isolated about it hearing your experience. I also told myself that even the best authors and musicians and creatives have gotten critical reviews like that. If they would've stopped creating because of it, think of all the amazing music, books, art, and movies that wouldn't be around for us to love. You keep making music and I'll keep writing 🙂
Jennifer | The Deliberate Mom
Awww, I'm so sorry you had a critical review but can I just say I'm impressed with your response. Writing out the way we feel makes such a difference. Actually, last week I was bombarded with negative feedback over something I wrote - I'm used to mean people on Facebook but for some reason, I was especially sensitive. I wrote a huge blog post in response to it and then decided not to publish it because simply writing out my feelings released all of the negativity I was feeling. I then realized I didn't want that negativity hanging around - so I deleted the post. So yes... journalling is wise (and can be done anywhere).
Congrats on the partnership with Timberdoodle - that's so awesome!
Okay, now that all of that's out of the way, I can address the Unschooling thing... good for you! I've never found the nerve to fully unschool (and seriously someone needs to coin a new term for it because there's a stigma attached to that term). Anyway, I am full-on eclectic. In fact, over the past two weeks, my homeschooling practices have taken such a dramatic turn but I love where we are journeying. We do A LOT of reading and A LOT of hands-on exploration. I've been taken by the Classical Homeschooling and Charlotte Mason methods but have totally steered in my own direction and I'm not even using their prescribed curriculum recommendations.
As a former ECD professional, I can say that following children's lead ALWAYS ends up being way more educational than not... so keep on pushing forward.
Loved this update - and I adore the look your new bedroom is taking on. Would you believe I have orange walls in my bedroom? I like it though - it makes me happy.
Wishing you a lovely week!
xoxo
Jessica Dimas
We're SO cut from the same cloth! I've totally done that too, written a blog post only to not publish it because writing it helped me release the feelings. I don't think it ever gets easy to receive criticism. I'm sorry you were bombarded like that and I'm glad you were able to release the negativity. Being a published writer has really been a huge lesson and reminder that everyone has feelings, even if it's "just online".
And YES, unschooling needs a new name. It kind of gives me the same feel as when someone says UNcircumsized lol, when really it's the first and original way.
I love that you are full-on eclectic, and I love that you're doing everything your way. I remember when you told me I'd eventually be creating my own curriculum and I was secretly thinking "omg I can't, that sounds so over my head." I love hearing your professional opinion about unschooling as well, that following their lead always ends up being more educational. It makes sense to follow a passion than to be forced to do something you have no interest in.
And orange, I totally didn't know that! I'm all for whatever makes you happy, we should have our rooms cater to us, not others.
Thank you for your amazing comment, love you! xo
Tabitha Blue
Girl, first, so sorry about your negative review.... you're right things will happen, people say things, but it's what WE do with it in our own lives that makes the difference. I love how you decided to handle it and get the negativity out. Bravo! We all need a little more of that in our lives. 🙂
I'm new-ish to homeschooling, and feel like I'm constantly in a spiral of learning. We have naturally taken a little more of an un-schooling approach just in that our schedules are not consistent and travel is a big part of our lives, so we look at it from that perspective. Although, I'm excited to read though a few of the links you gave and actually look at it more. I'm a paper person, so lists and curriculum have always been what I "thought" homeschooling should be, but then I find we all get so frustrated with that perfect model and want to quit... a balance is what I'm working on. haha.
Thanks for sharing your life with us!! XO
Jessica Dimas
Yessss exactly Tabitha <3 And I totally didn't know that you homeschooled...what?! That is so awesome! Do you blog about it very often? I must go stalk your blog now haha!
Chelsea @ Life With My Littles
Yay to all of this! Unschooling sounds awesome! And just based on how you described it I'm sure you're going to love it! And that's so cool about becoming a Timberdoodle blogger! I can't wait to see all the cool things you get to try out! I seriously feel like you could've designed that journal yourself. It seems so you!! And your bedroom looks awesome! We are moving to a new house in May and I'm looking for decor ideas, so that pillow has definitely been added to my list!
Jessica Dimas
Haha yes I thought so too about the journal, I was like omg that is so me!! 🙂 So excited for you about the new house, can't wait to see what you do with it!
Tiffany @ A Touch of Grace
Yes! Journaling as therapy! Journaling is my jam for sure and has completely changed my life. I've never heard of unschooling; sounds interesting.
Congrats on being chosen as a Timberdoodle blogger! Super exciting lady!
Jessica Dimas
Yes, journaling is like free therapy, it's completely changed my life too!