Ann Rousseau and her partner Tim have been unschooling their three boys for about six years. Ann and I have a fascinating conversation, digging into how her family came to unschooling, moving through fear and discomfort, the many ways curiosity drives their days, her documentary about her experience of alopecia, and lots more.

Questions for Ann

Can you share with us a bit about you and your family?

How did you discover unschooling and what did your family’s move to unschooling look like?

As we’re deschooling, and beyond, one thing that can be especially hard is sitting with discomfort and fear to learn what we need to move through it—that seemingly gaping chasm between knowing what we don’t want to do and figuring out what we do want to do instead. Change is hard. What have you found helpful during those times?

You have three boys, and Kelly Callahan, who was on the podcast a few months ago, describes your home as “unschooling magic.” I’d love to hear about how you approach your days with an eye to cultivating a thriving unschooling atmosphere.

What has surprised you most so far about how unschooling has unfolded in your lives?

You’ve created a film with Nicolle Littrell called Mop Cap: An Alopecia Story, about your experience of alopecia and self-acceptance. I watched the trailers on the website and was especially struck by your words: “I don’t think bald people must be publicly bald to prove a point. But for those of us who are called to do so, it is a kind of LOVE activism. Loving yourself is an act of beauty and it’s contagious.” They connected deeply with me and how it feels to go about living our unschooling lives out and about in public. I’d love to hear how you see your alopecia and unschooling journeys weaving together.

Right now, what’s your favourite thing about your unschooling lifestyle?

Links to things mentioned in the show

podcast episode about David Howe’s book, Attachment across the Lifecourse

Sandra Dodd’s Big Book of Unschooling

Ann’s website: annhedleyrousseau.com

The website for Ann’s documentary, Mop Cap : An Alopecia Story

Episode Transcript

Read the episode transcript