Heidi Steel is joined by Esther Jones in this episode of Unschooling Conversations—author, mindfulness teacher, and unschooling parent—to explore the transformative journey of unschooling, both for children and parents.

Together, they discuss Esther’s new book, The Parent’s Handbook to Unschooling Yourself: A Mindful Guide to Embracing a New Way of Living and Learning with Your Child, and share candid reflections on the challenges and rewards of stepping outside the mainstream education system.

Chit chat circles around:

• Esther’s personal journey from traditional schooling to unschooling and how it shaped her family’s life

• The emotional and psychological challenges parents face when choosing unschooling

• Strategies for balancing self-care, personal hobbies, and the demands of parenting

• The importance of self-compassion and mindful presence in the unschooling process

• How unschooling fosters deep personal growth, self-awareness, and healing for parents

• The role of community and connection in sustaining the unschooling journey

• Practical tips for creating a supportive home environment and modelling healthy habits for children

• Insights from Esther’s book and her work with unschooling families

Resources Mentioned:

• Esther’s website: esther-jones.com – Find her book, blog, podcast, and more

• The Parent’s Handbook to Unschooling Yourself (available on Amazon and from publisher Jessica Kingsley)

• Heidi’s community and resources for unschooling families: liveplaylearn.org

• Esther’s podcast: The Unschool Space

  
  

Guest information:

Esther Jones is an unschooling mother of three, founder of the The Unschool Space podcast and author of the recently published The Parent’s Handbook to Unschooling Yourself. Esther was led into unschooling by her children, who have helped her unravel years of conditioned beliefs around parenting, children, learning and neurodiversity. Today, she supports other parents in transforming their mindset and building a life beyond traditional schooling in which their children and themselves can thrive, using mindfulness and self-compassion as the foundation tools for change.

You can find all her work at www.esther-jones.com

Whether you’re new to unschooling or a seasoned home educator, this episode offers heartfelt wisdom, practical advice, and inspiration for embracing a more mindful, compassionate approach to parenting and learning. Listen now and join the conversation!

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