Text Sue what you think!

This post-holiday stretch can make even confident homeschooling and unschooling parents second-guess everything. But winter isn’t the time to push harder — even though everything around us insists we need to ‘get back on track.

So what if we took a different approach?

If the last semester felt less than stellar, it may not need a complete overhaul. It often just means real life showed up — and winter is asking for something different. This episode invites you to slow down, reflect clearly, and notice what’s actually true beneath the fear, guilt, and January noise.

We talk about:

• why winter has never been a season of pushing
• how stress and fear can distort how we remember “how things went”
• why reflection gives us better information than rushing to fix
• how learning often looks quieter in winter — and why that still counts

This is not about planning or starting over.
 It’s about letting winter be winter — and giving yourself permission to pause.

Read Transcript

If you’d like a little more support right now, here are a few gentle options:

• New Year’s Bundle (Guides + Kids’ Video Interviews)
 👉 https://www.unschoolingmom2mom.com/product/New-Years-Bundle

• Discounted Private Coaching Calls (January too)
 👉 http://www.suepatterson.as.me/december

• Seasonal Unschooling Guide: Winter
 👉 https://www.unschoolingmom2mom.com/product/Seasonal-Unschooling-Guide-Winter

And this Friday, January 2nd, I’ll be live on YouTube talking openly about the different kinds of support that exist for unschooling families — free and paid, mine and others’. No pitch, just information. You’re welcome to come listen or ask questions. http://www.youtube.com/c/UnschoolingMom2Mom

You don’t have to have it all figured out — just stay connected.

Support the show

_____________________________________________________

As always, reach out if you need more help.
You don't have to do this alone!

Free Email List with weekly unschooling resources

Like what you're hearing - buy Sue a cup of coffee!
Buy Me a Coffee

• Creating Confidence Membership Group
  Podcast listeners can join without the sign up fee - so use this link!
• UNSCHOOLING 101 Course
• Math WITHOUT Curriculum Course
• Unschooling Transcript Course
• Seasonal Unschooling Guides
• Private 1:1 Coaching with Sue

www.UnschoolingMom2Mom.com

Text Sue what you think!

Unschooling in December doesn’t mean “taking a break from learning.”
In this episode, Sue Patterson shares what typical unschooling days really look like during the holidays—slow mornings, cozy rhythms, spontaneous learning, busy outings, and the kinds of meaningful life experiences that traditional schooling often pushes aside.

If you’ve wondered how unschooling families handle December, or if you’re transitioning away from school and worried about “falling behind,” this conversation will help you see how much learning naturally shows up through holiday activities, connection, play, creativity, and real life.

You’ll learn:

• What unschooling days actually look like in December
• How to see academic learning through holiday traditions
• Why kids learn more when the pressure is lifted
• How to stop the “catching up later” worry
• Why connection and rest matter more than checklists
• How busy families can still unschool joyfully
• Ways to notice the learning that’s already happening

This episode is perfect for new unschoolers, almost-unschoolers, or any parent who dreams of a calmer, more connected December.

Transcript at the Blog

🎁 UNSCHOOLING RESOURCES:

Holiday Unschooling Bundle (4 Guides)

Everything you need to navigate December:
Holiday Learning • Coping with Critics • Winter Guide • New Year’s Workbook
https://www.unschoolingmom2mom.com/product/Unschooling-Holiday-Bundle-2025

Want help unschooling through the holidays?

Join the Creating Confidence Membership for coaching, community, and ongoing support.
Special link (no sign-up fee):
https://www.unschoolingmom2mom.com/podcast-friends

❤️ Stay Connected

Free 7 Day Unschooling Holidays Challenge - starting this week on my email list!
https://unschooling-mom2mom.kit.com/6651324494

Private coaching with Sue - December Special:
 https://www.suepatterson.as.me/December

Support the show

_____________________________________________________

As always, reach out if you need more help.
You don't have to do this alone!

Free Email List with weekly unschooling resources

Like what you're hearing - buy Sue a cup of coffee!
Buy Me a Coffee

• Creating Confidence Membership Group
  Podcast listeners can join without the sign up fee - so use this link!
• UNSCHOOLING 101 Course
• Math WITHOUT Curriculum Course
• Unschooling Transcript Course
• Seasonal Unschooling Guides
• Private 1:1 Coaching with Sue

www.UnschoolingMom2Mom.com

Text Sue what you think!

If you're having doubts or feeling overwhelmed, I have some options for you!

You're not the only parent who enters December feeling confused about their homeschooling or unschooling choices. Sue Patterson shares nearly 30 years of experience here, offering reassurance and perspective. And even if you do need to pivot, you don’t have to figure it out alone.

Unschooling is a practice — one small, brave decision at a time — and you don’t have to walk it alone.

Links mentioned:
• Discounted December Coaching Calls:  http://www.suepatterson.as.me/december

• Ask Sue Page: 

Tell me your Biggest Fear. Seriously. I'll answer

 • Transcript Blogpost: 

https://www.unschoolingmom2mom.com/unschooling-doubts-and-fears

Support the show

_____________________________________________________

As always, reach out if you need more help.
You don't have to do this alone!

Free Email List with weekly unschooling resources

Like what you're hearing - buy Sue a cup of coffee!
Buy Me a Coffee

• Creating Confidence Membership Group
  Podcast listeners can join without the sign up fee - so use this link!
• UNSCHOOLING 101 Course
• Math WITHOUT Curriculum Course
• Unschooling Transcript Course
• Seasonal Unschooling Guides
• Private 1:1 Coaching with Sue

www.UnschoolingMom2Mom.com

Text Sue what you think!

Does unschooling feel like a roller coaster — some days confident, other days full of doubt? You’re not alone. This episode explores why the early stages feel so shaky and what actually helps parents feel steady again.

We’ll talk about:
 • why deschooling feels so emotional and up-and-down
 • the hidden pressures that make you second-guess yourself
 • why doing this alone feels so much harder
 • what real, judgment-free support does for your confidence
 • stories from parents who finally stopped spiraling
 • why the holiday season magnifies everything — good and hard

If you’re tired of the internal wobble or wishing someone could walk with you through this stage, this conversation will help you breathe again.

⭐ Black Friday Membership Sale

If you’ve been wanting support, this is the easiest week of the year to join the Unschooling Mom2Mom Membership.
The discounted Black Friday price makes it simple to get the grounding, clarity, and community that make unschooling feel lighter.

Monthly - 20% off!

Annual - 56% off!!!

Join here:
 https://www.unschoolingmom2mom.com/black-friday

Support the show

_____________________________________________________

As always, reach out if you need more help.
You don't have to do this alone!

Free Email List with weekly unschooling resources

Like what you're hearing - buy Sue a cup of coffee!
Buy Me a Coffee

• Creating Confidence Membership Group
  Podcast listeners can join without the sign up fee - so use this link!
• UNSCHOOLING 101 Course
• Math WITHOUT Curriculum Course
• Unschooling Transcript Course
• Seasonal Unschooling Guides
• Private 1:1 Coaching with Sue

www.UnschoolingMom2Mom.com

Text Sue what you think!

Worried about family questioning your unschooling over Thanksgiving?

In this episode, Sue Patterson shares a simple Thanksgiving Toolkit to help you stay calm, grounded, and confident when the tough questions come. 

Grab 3 practical tools to steady yourself, respond (or not respond) with clarity, and keep the holiday peaceful for you and your kids.

Thanksgiving Parent Bundle https://www.unschoolingmom2mom.com/product/Thanksgiving-Parent-Bundle

Black Friday Deals for Sue's Membership https://www.unschoolingmom2mom.com/black-friday

Support the show

_____________________________________________________

As always, reach out if you need more help.
You don't have to do this alone!

Free Email List with weekly unschooling resources

Like what you're hearing - buy Sue a cup of coffee!
Buy Me a Coffee

• Creating Confidence Membership Group
  Podcast listeners can join without the sign up fee - so use this link!
• UNSCHOOLING 101 Course
• Math WITHOUT Curriculum Course
• Unschooling Transcript Course
• Seasonal Unschooling Guides
• Private 1:1 Coaching with Sue

www.UnschoolingMom2Mom.com

Text Sue what you think!

The holidays can bring up all kinds of emotions — especially when you’re the unschooling parent walking into a room where everyone has an opinion. And even if people mean well, their questions can still hit tender spots or stir up old schooling fears.

In today’s episode, we’ll talk about how to stay grounded when family members question your unschooling choices. I’ll walk you through five simple, steadying tips you can lean on during awkward moments — the same ones I share with parents inside my membership when this season rolls around.

You’ll learn:
 • why these conversations feel so intense
 • how to keep your calm without going into defense mode
 • what to remember when someone still doesn’t “get it”
 • ways to reconnect with your child and yourself afterward
 • how to stay confident even when the room feels tense

If you want to go deeper and make this whole season feel lighter, here are a few helpful resources:

🦃 Thanksgiving Learning Bundle

Simple, meaningful learning ideas to make Thanksgiving week feel connected — not stressful.

🖤 Black Friday Membership Sale
This is the only time all year the Creating Confidence Membership is discounted. If you’ve been needing support, community, and weekly coaching, this is your moment.

🎄 Holiday Learning Bundle
All the learning objectives identified in the typical festive activities so you can ENJOY December with any guilt about learning! I'll help you see it everywhere!

The holidays don’t have to shake your confidence. You’ve got options, support, and tools — and you’re not doing this alone.

Read the Transcript at the blog

Support the show

_____________________________________________________

As always, reach out if you need more help.
You don't have to do this alone!

Free Email List with weekly unschooling resources

Like what you're hearing - buy Sue a cup of coffee!
Buy Me a Coffee

• Creating Confidence Membership Group
  Podcast listeners can join without the sign up fee - so use this link!
• UNSCHOOLING 101 Course
• Math WITHOUT Curriculum Course
• Unschooling Transcript Course
• Seasonal Unschooling Guides
• Private 1:1 Coaching with Sue

www.UnschoolingMom2Mom.com

Text Sue what you think!

Ever wonder if you’re doing enough when your child just wants to play all day — Legos, trampolines, video games — and you’re trying to trust unschooling? 

In this episode, Sue Patterson from Unschooling Mom2Mom answers a real email from a worried parent and explains:

•  Why this “all play” phase is normal during deschooling, 
• What’s actually happening in your child’s brain,
•  How to shift from panic to partnership. 
• How play builds real learning, 
• Why motivation returns naturally
• How to support your child without slipping into passivity or overcontrol.

BLACK FRIDAY SALE!

• Creating Confidence Membership - Only $39/month with no sign-up fee
• Annual Membership - $299! - 76% off!
• Courses 50% off with Discount Code: BF2025
• All Unschooling Guides - only $99!! with Discount Code: BF2025

___________________________

Read the Transcript here: 

https://www.unschoolingmom2mom.com/is-play-enough-what-legos-trampolines-video-games-teach-us-about-learning

Support the show

_____________________________________________________

As always, reach out if you need more help.
You don't have to do this alone!

Free Email List with weekly unschooling resources

Like what you're hearing - buy Sue a cup of coffee!
Buy Me a Coffee

• Creating Confidence Membership Group
  Podcast listeners can join without the sign up fee - so use this link!
• UNSCHOOLING 101 Course
• Math WITHOUT Curriculum Course
• Unschooling Transcript Course
• Seasonal Unschooling Guides
• Private 1:1 Coaching with Sue

www.UnschoolingMom2Mom.com

Text Sue what you think!

Feeling stretched thin — or wondering if you’re doing enough? You’re not alone.

But I have something simple you can try:

Let's look at Gratitude through and unschooling lens!

In this episode, Sue Patterson from Unschooling Mom2Mom shares how shifting toward gratitude can calm the chaos and help you see how much is already working in your unschooling life.

She has created an Unschooling and Gratitude Hub over at the website. You'll find so many tips and resources for bringing gratitude into your homes. You’ll learn how to spot real learning in everyday moments, model gratitude for your kids, and rebuild calm and connection at home — without adding another “to-do.”

💛 Explore the Unschooling & Gratitude Hub for practical tools, videos, and journaling prompts: unschoolingmom2mom.com/unschooling-and-gratitude

The transcript for this podcast is also at the Hub

OTHER RESOURCES MENTIONED: 

Unschooling Guide: Gratitude

15 Day Gratitude Challenge: In the membership

Unschooling Mom2Mom Pinterest Board: Gratitude

Unschooling Mom2Mom YouTube Playlist: Unschooling Gratitude

Support the show

_____________________________________________________

As always, reach out if you need more help.
You don't have to do this alone!

Free Email List with weekly unschooling resources

Like what you're hearing - buy Sue a cup of coffee!
Buy Me a Coffee

• Creating Confidence Membership Group
  Podcast listeners can join without the sign up fee - so use this link!
• UNSCHOOLING 101 Course
• Math WITHOUT Curriculum Course
• Unschooling Transcript Course
• Seasonal Unschooling Guides
• Private 1:1 Coaching with Sue

www.UnschoolingMom2Mom.com

Text Sue what you think!

Thinking about unschooling but wondering if you have to “try everything else first”? You don’t. 💛

In this episode, Sue Patterson from Unschooling Mom2Mom shares a gentle pep talk for parents who feel called toward unschooling but still hesitate. Maybe you’re waiting for the right method, the right time, or the right confidence — but what if you’re already ready enough?

Sue unpacks common fears, clears up misinformation from the homeschooling community, and reminds you that unschooling isn’t extreme — it’s human.

👉 Visit UnschoolingMom2Mom.com
for more resources, and join the Creating Confidence Membership for weekly support and encouragement. (Discounted for Podcast listeners - no sign-up fee!)

Read the Transcript here: 
https://www.unschoolingmom2mom.com/the-path-to-unschooling-how-to-know-when-youre-ready-to-start

Support the show

_____________________________________________________

As always, reach out if you need more help.
You don't have to do this alone!

Free Email List with weekly unschooling resources

Like what you're hearing - buy Sue a cup of coffee!
Buy Me a Coffee

• Creating Confidence Membership Group
  Podcast listeners can join without the sign up fee - so use this link!
• UNSCHOOLING 101 Course
• Math WITHOUT Curriculum Course
• Unschooling Transcript Course
• Seasonal Unschooling Guides
• Private 1:1 Coaching with Sue

www.UnschoolingMom2Mom.com

Text Sue what you think!

Unschooling + Halloween = real learning. 🎃
Discover how curiosity, culture, and connection replace curriculum this week with Sue Patterson’s gentle guidance.

__________________________

No Need to Pause Learning — Halloween Is the Lesson!

Ever wonder how you’re going to celebrate holidays — like Halloween or Día de los Muertos — and fit in the lessons you planned for the week? 🎃
Here’s the secret: you don’t have to choose. The holiday is the lesson.

In this week’s Unschooling Mom2Mom Podcast episode, Sue shows how these fall celebrations are filled with real learning opportunities — from spooky storytelling and candy math to science, art, and cultural history. You’ll see how learning weaves naturally into family traditions when you slow down, stay curious, and let the season lead the way.

Whether you’re almost unschooling or a (usually) confident unschooler, this conversation will help you relax, reconnect, and see the everyday learning that’s already happening all around you.

🎃 Inside the Episode:

• How to let Halloween be the lesson
• Subject-by-subject learning ideas (Language Arts, Math, Science, Fine Arts, and Social Studies)
• Día de los Muertos projects that connect heart, history, and creativity
• How connection teaches more than curriculum ever could

💡 Resources Mentioned:

• Blog post: Unschooling & Halloween Hub
• 🎧 “An Unschooler’s Haunted House” — a fun, spooky throwback episode
• 🍂 Seasonal Unschooling Guide for Autumn
  
  
• 📅 November Strewing Calendar — packed with easy ideas + a private portal showing the learning behind them

✨ Subscribe on YouTube or your favorite podcast app for weekly encouragement — and remember, pausing curriculum doesn't mean pausing LEARNING.

Holidays can BE the lessons! 

Support the show

_____________________________________________________

As always, reach out if you need more help.
You don't have to do this alone!

Free Email List with weekly unschooling resources

Like what you're hearing - buy Sue a cup of coffee!
Buy Me a Coffee

• Creating Confidence Membership Group
  Podcast listeners can join without the sign up fee - so use this link!
• UNSCHOOLING 101 Course
• Math WITHOUT Curriculum Course
• Unschooling Transcript Course
• Seasonal Unschooling Guides
• Private 1:1 Coaching with Sue

www.UnschoolingMom2Mom.com