I’ve taken a little break from writing on Substack. When I first set out to publish one blog per month, I knew that real life, with its ebbs and flows, would sometimes take priority. And because this space is meant to honour and reflect my experience and journey with home education, I don’t want to force it.
The truth is, there’s a million things I want to write about, but I struggle to separate them into neat, digestible blogs. Some days, I sit and pour all my thoughts into the notes on my phone and suddenly feel like I’m preparing a thesis rather than a blog post. To give you an idea, here are just a few topics I’ve been mulling over: the concept of unschooling, unschooling and generational trauma, rewriting my family’s future, educational philosophy. Not exactly light material!
I think about these topics constantly. I talk them through with friends. But when it comes to writing them down, it often feels overwhelming - like putting them into words makes them permanent, when in reality, they are just part of my evolving thought process. But to be honest, that feels incredibly vulnerable at times.
Over the past few months, I’ve become more comfortable using the term ‘unschooling’ to describe our approach to home education. In my opinion, it’s one of the least understood approaches, especially by those who aren’t doing it - which makes it difficult to talk about. I still get asked questions like, “Oh, so you homeschool?” (which is already loaded, as the correct term in the UK is home education) or, “Do you have a teaching background?”
The short answer is no. But that response alone often leaves people looking at me like, Well, what the hell are you doing then?
Maybe I shouldn’t care so much about changing people’s opinions, but I feel compelled to advocate, for myself and for others on this path, because it’s so widely misunderstood. It’s hard to capture the complexity of unschooling in casual conversation, but I’ve developed a simple response along the lines of:
“In the UK, the law states that children must be educated ‘in school or otherwise.’ Home education falls into the ‘otherwise’ category. It’s not schoolwork at home; it’s an education that is fit for purpose for the child. There is no legal requirement to follow a curriculum, learn within set hours, or be confined to a specific environment. I facilitate learning through real-life experiences and opportunities.”
This either sparks curiosity or makes people disengage and walk away. Either way, I’ve made my peace with it!
Lately, I’ve been hearing a lot of talk about the year our children turn 30. For me, that will be in 2047 and 2051 - years that feel like a lifetime away but will arrive before I know it. No one knows what the world will look like then, but one thing is certain, it will be vastly different from today.
The idea of conditioning children to sit in a classroom and follow a curriculum that has barely changed in 200 years terrifies me. It doesn’t feel future-facing at all. I can’t bear the thought of my children being shaped by a system that strips them of their unique qualities, places limits on their creative freedom, and chips away at their self-esteem.
What they will need - what they already need - are opportunities to develop self-direction, independence, and creative problem-solving skills. They need to know how to think, not just what to think. That’s what I want to provide for them.
Choosing this path has had an unexpected side effect - it has awakened parts of myself that were buried long ago, largely because of my own experience in the school system. Writing is one of them hence starting this Substack. Reconnecting with nature is another.
I’ve also found myself practicing what I call ‘gentle activism’ - standing up for what I believe in, challenging outdated narratives in everyday conversations, speaking my mind, and holding firm boundaries (both for myself and my children). This lifestyle feels like something we’re only just getting started with.
Unschooling has been the gateway I didn’t know I needed - to return to myself, to rediscover my own passions, and to create a life that feels deeply aligned.
This weekend, The Unschooling Summit is taking place - three days of online workshops and interviews with an incredible lineup of speakers. I can’t wait to dive in, learn from others at different stages of this journey, and continue expanding my perspective.
Maybe that’s the whole point - unschooling isn’t about arriving at a destination. It’s about remaining open, continuously learning, and adapting along the way.
Incredible perspective Kirsty, appreciate your shares so much. Xx