Unschooling Mom2Mom

A recent Parents.com article explaining the pros and cons of unschooling raises an important question: Are these really problems with unschooling—or signs that we’re still defining learning through a school lens?

In this episode, Sue Patterson looks at the concerns raised about basic skills, parental involvement, free time, and schedules—and explores where homeschooling parents may need to pivot.

Are children really learning only when they’re completing lessons? Does making them study subjects they dislike prepare them for the future? And what might they lose when their curiosity is repeatedly interrupted by an adult’s curriculum checklist?

We’ll also explore what involved unschooling parenting actually looks like—and why starting with the learner may make more sense in today’s world than starting with a predetermined body of knowledge.

If you’re ready to move away from the school version of learning but aren’t sure what to do next, Unschooling 101 and Learning Math Without Curriculum can help. Both courses are included in the Unschooling Starter Bundle for $99 through July.

Find the Unschooling Starter Bundle:
https://www.unschoolingmom2mom.com/product/Unschooling-Starter-Bundle


More about the July Special:
https://www.unschoolingmom2mom.com/build-your-unschooling-confidence
 

Let me know what you think of this!

Support the show

_____________________________________________________

You don't have to do this alone.

🌻 Creating Confidence Community Support!

Build your unschooling confidence with daily voice notes, coaching, and community in the Creating Confidence membership:
https://www.unschoolingmom2mom.com/membership

Now 2 Tiers available for community support!
Tier 1: Monthly themes, Daily posts/audios from Sue, discussion threads @Circle, 1 monthly group call (month-by-month $39)
Tier 2: Full support, 8 group calls per month, extensive library (+Tier 1 benefits)
$99 month-by-month or $49 in 6 month pkgs.

• Creating Confidence Options
• UNSCHOOLING 101 Course
• Math WITHOUT Curriculum Course
• Unschooling Transcript Course
• Seasonal Unschooling Guides 
• Strewing Calendars
• Private 1:1 Co...

Would an unschooling course you can work through step by step—or a library of resources you can pull from when you need them—fit you better?

Some unschooling parents want a clear path they can follow from beginning to end. Others want trusted help waiting for them when questions about deschooling, technology, math, or doing enough appear.

In this short episode, Sue explains the difference between two kinds of self-paced unschooling support:

• The Unschooling Starter Bundle—with Unschooling 101 and Learning Math Without Curriculum
• The Unschooling Parent Toolkit—with all 25 unschooling guides

Both options are $99 through July 31.

See both options and choose the one that fits you:
https://www.unschoolingmom2mom.com/build-your-unschooling-confidence

Let me know what you think of this!

Support the show

_____________________________________________________

You don't have to do this alone.

🌻 Creating Confidence Community Support!

Build your unschooling confidence with daily voice notes, coaching, and community in the Creating Confidence membership:
https://www.unschoolingmom2mom.com/membership

Now 2 Tiers available for community support!
Tier 1: Monthly themes, Daily posts/audios from Sue, discussion threads @Circle, 1 monthly group call (month-by-month $39)
Tier 2: Full support, 8 group calls per month, extensive library (+Tier 1 benefits)
$99 month-by-month or $49 in 6 month pkgs.

• Creating Confidence Options
• UNSCHOOLING 101 Course
• Math WITHOUT Curriculum Course
• Unschooling Transcript Course
• Seasonal Unschooling Guides 
• Strewing Calendars
• Private 1:1 Co...

Why does it feel like unschooling isn’t working—even when you can see learning happening? The problem may be the school timelines you’re still using to measure your child.

Many homeschooling and unschooling parents worry that their children aren’t reading, doing math, becoming independent, or preparing for the future soon enough. We may have left school behind, but its milestones can still shape how we define progress—and turn ordinary uncertainty into fear.

In this episode, Sue looks at why timelines make unschooling so difficult to trust, how today’s concern can become a frightening story about the future, and what parents can use instead of grade levels and curriculum benchmarks.

Through July:
Get Unschooling 101 and Learning Math Without Curriculum together for $99. Learn how to reframe education and put learning without curriculum into practice.
https://www.unschoolingmom2mom.com/product/Unschooling-Starter-Bundle

Let me know what you think of this!

Support the show

_____________________________________________________

You don't have to do this alone.

🌻 Creating Confidence Community Support!

Build your unschooling confidence with daily voice notes, coaching, and community in the Creating Confidence membership:
https://www.unschoolingmom2mom.com/membership

Now 2 Tiers available for community support!
Tier 1: Monthly themes, Daily posts/audios from Sue, discussion threads @Circle, 1 monthly group call (month-by-month $39)
Tier 2: Full support, 8 group calls per month, extensive library (+Tier 1 benefits)
$99 month-by-month or $49 in 6 month pkgs.

• Creating Confidence Options
• UNSCHOOLING 101 Course
• Math WITHOUT Curriculum Course
• Unschooling Transcript Course
• Seasonal Unschooling Guides 
• Strewing Calendars
• Private 1:1 Co...

Is your child really behind... or are you comparing them to the wrong timeline?

When we leave school, do we have to carry the school's timeline with us?

Doesn't the freedom to learn outside a classroom give us a different way to measure growth?

In this episode, we're exploring one of the most common fears homeschooling and unschooling parents face: the worry that their child is falling behind. But before we answer that question, I want to challenge the assumptions behind it.

If you've ever found yourself wondering whether your child is learning enough, reading soon enough, or keeping pace with everyone else, this conversation will help you see learning—and your child—through a different lens.

If this episode has you looking at your own child a little differently, you may have questions that are unique to your family.

That's exactly what we talk through inside my Creating Confidence Community.
https://cc.unschoolingmom2mom.com/checkout/creating-confidence-membership

Every week, parents bring questions about reading, math, teenagers, motivation, transcripts, screens... and yes, those worries about whether their child is "behind."

If you'd like to experience those conversations for yourself, I'd love to invite you to come spend a week with us.

You can join a coaching call, meet other unschooling parents, browse the resource library, or simply listen in.

Your first week is free, so you'll have plenty of time to see whether it's the kind of support you've been looking for.

I hope to see you there.

Let me know what you think of this!

Support the show

_____________________________________________________

You don't have to do this alone.

🌻 Creating Confidence Community Support!

Build your unschooling confidence with daily voice notes, coaching, and community in the Creating Confidence membership:
https://www.unschoolingmom2mom.com/membership

Now 2 Tiers available for community support!
Tier 1: Monthly themes, Daily posts/audios from Sue, discussion threads @Circle, 1 monthly group call (month-by-month $39)
Tier 2: Full support, 8 group calls per month, extensive library (+Tier 1 benefits)
$99 month-by-month or $49 in 6 month pkgs.

• Creating Confidence Options
• UNSCHOOLING 101 Course
• Math WITHOUT Curriculum Course
• Unschooling Transcript Course
• Seasonal Unschooling Guides 
• Strewing Calendars
• Private 1:1 Co...

Summer has a funny way of making homeschooling parents feel like they should have a plan. Even unschooling parents can start worrying about filling the time, finding a routine, or doing... more.

Being between one school year and the next can feel surprisingly uncomfortable. Maybe it's the extra space.

In this episode, we're exploring why those in-between seasons make us want to rush into decisions—to buy something, fix something, or make a plan—and why slowing down to observe your child may bring more clarity than planning ever could.

It's almost as if creating a plan will fill the space and stop the worrying.

Read at the Blog:
https://www.unschoolingmom2mom.com/summer-the-in-between-season

NEW! Try Sue's Creating Confidence Community for a week - for Free!
https://cc.unschoolingmom2mom.com/checkout/creating-confidence-membership

Let me know what you think of this!

Support the show

_____________________________________________________

You don't have to do this alone.

🌻 Creating Confidence Community Support!

Build your unschooling confidence with daily voice notes, coaching, and community in the Creating Confidence membership:
https://www.unschoolingmom2mom.com/membership

Now 2 Tiers available for community support!
Tier 1: Monthly themes, Daily posts/audios from Sue, discussion threads @Circle, 1 monthly group call (month-by-month $39)
Tier 2: Full support, 8 group calls per month, extensive library (+Tier 1 benefits)
$99 month-by-month or $49 in 6 month pkgs.

• Creating Confidence Options
• UNSCHOOLING 101 Course
• Math WITHOUT Curriculum Course
• Unschooling Transcript Course
• Seasonal Unschooling Guides 
• Strewing Calendars
• Private 1:1 Co...

When your kid won't get off screens, even a simple request can quickly turn into a battle. 

Many homeschooling and unschooling parents find themselves caught in this frustrating pattern. What starts as "time for dinner" or "we need to leave" suddenly becomes an argument, leaving everyone wondering why it escalated so quickly.

In this episode, Sue Patterson explores why screen time battles happen, what children experience when they're deeply engaged in gaming, and how understanding those transitions can help reduce conflict without relying on more rules or consequences.

In this episode you'll learn:

• Why screen time battles escalate so quickly
• What children experience when they're deeply engaged in video games and gaming
• Why transitions away from screens can feel so difficult
• How repeated conflicts create predictable family patterns
• Practical ways to reduce power struggles around screen time
• Why understanding your child's perspective often changes everything

Whether you're homeschooling, unschooling, or simply trying to create a healthier relationship with screens, this episode will help you understand why these moments happen—and how to make them feel less like a battle.

Read transcript at the blog:
https://www.unschoolingmom2mom.com/when-your-kid-wont-get-off-screens-why-it-turns-into-a-battle

Let me know what you think of this!

Support the show

_____________________________________________________

You don't have to do this alone.

🌻 Creating Confidence Community Support!

Build your unschooling confidence with daily voice notes, coaching, and community in the Creating Confidence membership:
https://www.unschoolingmom2mom.com/membership

Now 2 Tiers available for community support!
Tier 1: Monthly themes, Daily posts/audios from Sue, discussion threads @Circle, 1 monthly group call (month-by-month $39)
Tier 2: Full support, 8 group calls per month, extensive library (+Tier 1 benefits)
$99 month-by-month or $49 in 6 month pkgs.

• Creating Confidence Options
• UNSCHOOLING 101 Course
• Math WITHOUT Curriculum Course
• Unschooling Transcript Course
• Seasonal Unschooling Guides 
• Strewing Calendars
• Private 1:1 Co...

What if fear is influencing more of your homeschooling decisions than you realize?

When we're anxious about our children's future, it's easy to mistake fear for wisdom and urgency for insight.

In this episode, Sue Patterson explores how fear can cloud our judgment, shape our homeschooling decisions, and make it difficult to separate what we're actually observing from what we're afraid might happen.

If you've ever wondered whether you're responding to your child—or to your fear—this episode is for you.

Need help sorting through your specific situation?
Throughout June, Sue's 30-minute coaching calls are half price.
Sometimes a conversation can help you separate what's actually happening from what fear is telling you might happen.
http://www.suepatterson.as.me/june-special

________________________________

Read the transcript here:
https://www.unschoolingmom2mom.com/making-homeschooling-decisions-out-of-fear

Let me know what you think of this!

Support the show

_____________________________________________________

You don't have to do this alone.

🌻 Creating Confidence Community Support!

Build your unschooling confidence with daily voice notes, coaching, and community in the Creating Confidence membership:
https://www.unschoolingmom2mom.com/membership

Now 2 Tiers available for community support!
Tier 1: Monthly themes, Daily posts/audios from Sue, discussion threads @Circle, 1 monthly group call (month-by-month $39)
Tier 2: Full support, 8 group calls per month, extensive library (+Tier 1 benefits)
$99 month-by-month or $49 in 6 month pkgs.

• Creating Confidence Options
• UNSCHOOLING 101 Course
• Math WITHOUT Curriculum Course
• Unschooling Transcript Course
• Seasonal Unschooling Guides 
• Strewing Calendars
• Private 1:1 Co...

They're playing all the time - is there anything worthwhile that we can count for homeschooling transcript? 

The answer may surprise you. 
In this episode, Sue Patterson explores how gaming can support learning in subjects like history, science, math, philosophy, leadership, and communication—and shares real examples of how those experiences can be documented on a transcript.

Many parents worry that gaming is "just entertainment," especially when their teen spends hours immersed in Minecraft, Civilization, Kerbal Space Program, Factorio, Discord communities, or competitive gaming. But when you look beyond the label and focus on what a student is actually learning, a very different picture begins to emerge.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• How to identify academic learning hidden inside gaming interests
• Real examples of transcript-worthy subjects connected to video games
• Why philosophy, ethics, history, science, and math often show up through gaming
• How leadership and communication skills develop in online communities
• Why "video games" isn't a course title—but can lead to many legitimate high school credits
• Tips for translating interest-led learning into transcript language

Whether you're homeschooling, unschooling, or creating a non-traditional high school transcript, this episode will help you recognize learning that may already be happening right in front of you.

UNSCHOOLING RESOURCES MENTIONED:

• Unschooling Transcript Course
  https://suepatterson-unschooling.thinkific.com/courses/unschooling-transcripts
• Creating Confidence Daily APP - Talking about Technology this month!
  https://cc.unschoolingmom2mom.com/checkout/creating-confidence-daily
• Creating Confidence COMMUNITY - Full Support for the journey!
  https://cc.unschoolingmom2mom.com/checkout/creating-confidence-membership-2

If you've ever wondered how to document gaming, screen time, or interest-led learning on a high school transcript, this episode is for you.

Let me know what you think of this!

Support the show

_____________________________________________________

You don't have to do this alone.

🌻 Creating Confidence Community Support!

Build your unschooling confidence with daily voice notes, coaching, and community in the Creating Confidence membership:
https://www.unschoolingmom2mom.com/membership

Now 2 Tiers available for community support!
Tier 1: Monthly themes, Daily posts/audios from Sue, discussion threads @Circle, 1 monthly group call (month-by-month $39)
Tier 2: Full support, 8 group calls per month, extensive library (+Tier 1 benefits)
$99 month-by-month or $49 in 6 month pkgs.

• Creating Confidence Options
• UNSCHOOLING 101 Course
• Math WITHOUT Curriculum Course
• Unschooling Transcript Course
• Seasonal Unschooling Guides 
• Strewing Calendars
• Private 1:1 Co...

Are you wondering whether it's time to make a change in your child's education?

Many parents spend the whole summer questioning what's working, what's not, and whether a different approach to learning might be a better fit for their family. Some are considering leaving the school system. Others are rethinking traditional homeschooling. Still others are exploring unschooling for the first time.

They aren't just looking for answers about academics, motivation, socialization, or learning gaps. They're trying to decide what comes next—and what they need to know before making a change.

In this episode of Unschooling Mom2Mom, Sue Patterson explores the questions parents often ask when considering homeschooling, unschooling, or a more individualized approach to learning, and shares how coaching can help families move forward with greater clarity and confidence.

You'll hear stories from parents who:

• Had a teen who seemed interested only in gaming
• Felt like their child didn't fit the traditional homeschooling mold
• Were curious about unschooling but afraid to make the leap
• Needed reassurance that they weren't ruining their children
• Wanted a clearer path forward before the new school year began

Whether you're new to homeschooling, curious about unschooling, transitioning away from curriculum, or simply looking for reassurance, this episode will help you approach the new school year with more confidence and less stress.

Special Resource mentioned:
• 1:1 Coaching Calls (50% off during June)

Let me know what you think of this!

Support the show

_____________________________________________________

You don't have to do this alone.

🌻 Creating Confidence Community Support!

Build your unschooling confidence with daily voice notes, coaching, and community in the Creating Confidence membership:
https://www.unschoolingmom2mom.com/membership

Now 2 Tiers available for community support!
Tier 1: Monthly themes, Daily posts/audios from Sue, discussion threads @Circle, 1 monthly group call (month-by-month $39)
Tier 2: Full support, 8 group calls per month, extensive library (+Tier 1 benefits)
$99 month-by-month or $49 in 6 month pkgs.

• Creating Confidence Options
• UNSCHOOLING 101 Course
• Math WITHOUT Curriculum Course
• Unschooling Transcript Course
• Seasonal Unschooling Guides 
• Strewing Calendars
• Private 1:1 Co...

Are we preparing kids for adulthood… or preparing them for school expectations?

Parents worry about grades, gaps, transcripts, screen time, and whether their kids will be successful adults. But real adult life often depends on something else entirely: adaptability, communication, confidence, initiative, emotional regulation, and problem solving.

In this episode, Sue Patterson explores how real-life experiences, play, curiosity, gaming, technology, and pursuing interests can help kids develop the skills they actually need for adulthood.

Also:

•  why school expectations still shape our fears 
•  how unschooling builds real-world problem-solving skills 
•  the difference between memorizing information and learning how to navigate life 
•  reducing power struggles around technology 
•  helping parents feel more confident taking an unconventional path 

If you’ve ever wondered whether unschooling truly prepares kids for adult life, this episode will help you rethink what “life prep” really means.

 → Creating Confidence Community and Daily Confidence App:
https://www.unschoolingmom2mom.com/creating-confidence-sign-up

→ Read transcript at the blog
https://www.unschoolingmom2mom.com/the-life-prep-unschooling-homeschooling-kids-really-need
 

Let me know what you think of this!

Support the show

_____________________________________________________

You don't have to do this alone.

🌻 Creating Confidence Community Support!

Build your unschooling confidence with daily voice notes, coaching, and community in the Creating Confidence membership:
https://www.unschoolingmom2mom.com/membership

Now 2 Tiers available for community support!
Tier 1: Monthly themes, Daily posts/audios from Sue, discussion threads @Circle, 1 monthly group call (month-by-month $39)
Tier 2: Full support, 8 group calls per month, extensive library (+Tier 1 benefits)
$99 month-by-month or $49 in 6 month pkgs.

• Creating Confidence Options
• UNSCHOOLING 101 Course
• Math WITHOUT Curriculum Course
• Unschooling Transcript Course
• Seasonal Unschooling Guides 
• Strewing Calendars
• Private 1:1 Co...