Explore every episode of the podcast Unschooling Mom2Mom
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What the Homeschool Socialization Question Misses | 229 | 15 Sep 2026 | 00:12:44 | |
Everyone asks, “But what about socialization?” Usually, they mean: Will your child have friends? But sometimes they’re asking something much bigger: And that raises a question we rarely stop to ask: What kind of socialization are children actually getting at school—and is all of it something we want to recreate? Because spending every day with same-age peers doesn’t teach children only how to make friends. It also teaches them about popularity, conformity, peer pressure, and where they’re expected to fit in. In this episode, Sue untangles socializing, social skills, and socialization—and explains why they’re not interchangeable. You may never answer the socialization question the same way again. Let me know what you think of this! _____________________________________________________ Try Creating Confidence free for 7 days. Whether you prefer daily encouragement or a supportive community with live coaching, you can explore it all and see what fits your family best. Choose the level of support that fits you best—from daily encouragement to live coaching and community. Come spend a week with us! | |||
| You Don’t Need Curriculum to Make Learning Happen | 228 | 08 Sep 2026 | 00:10:21 | |
Looking for fun homeschooling ideas that don’t require curriculum? Discover how unschooling and strewing help children learn naturally through everyday activities and interests. Your September Calendar is ready for you! In this episode, Sue explores how learning can weave through playful September possibilities—from making Rice Krispie treats to investigating rabbits or noticing the changing daylight around the Autumn Equinox. She explains how strewing introduces interesting ideas without assigning lessons, controlling the outcome, or requiring every activity to become a major project. You’ll also hear how the Strewing Calendar makes this easier with a printable monthly calendar, daily links and ideas, and learning objectives that help parents recognize—or document—the academics already woven through real life. Your children don’t need days packed with educational activities. They need an interesting life with plenty of possibilities. Learn more about the Strewing Calendar: Explore Creating Confidence Community Support: Let me know what you think of this! _____________________________________________________ Try Creating Confidence free for 7 days. Whether you prefer daily encouragement or a supportive community with live coaching, you can explore it all and see what fits your family best. Choose the level of support that fits you best—from daily encouragement to live coaching and community. Come spend a week with us! | |||
| How to Stay Confident About Unschooling—Before a Crisis Hits | 227 | 03 Sep 2026 | 00:11:44 | |
Looking for unschooling support that will help you stay confident without adding another overwhelming plan or curriculum to your life? In this episode, Sue Patterson explains how a simple daily “unschooling workout” can protect your confidence from the school-centered messages surrounding you. You’ll hear:
Both membership options are changing after Labor Day. Join Creating Confidence Daily by September 7, 2026, to lock in the introductory price of $8.99/month or $60/year. Want coaching from Sue and support from an experienced unschooling community? Join Full Community Support before Labor Day to lock in the current month-to-month price of $49/month. Listen to the previous episode (#226) for the story behind Sue’s “little unschooling experiment”—and why new members can benefit from it now. Let me know what you think of this! _____________________________________________________ Try Creating Confidence free for 7 days. Whether you prefer daily encouragement or a supportive community with live coaching, you can explore it all and see what fits your family best. Choose the level of support that fits you best—from daily encouragement to live coaching and community. Come spend a week with us! | |||
| Six Months Ago, I Tried An Unschooling Experiment | 226 | 25 Aug 2026 | 00:08:30 | |
Daily unschooling support can help homeschooling parents build confidence before doubts, comparisons, and outside pressure take over. Six months ago, I created a small Daily Support app as an experiment. Those one- or two-minute morning voice notes became something much more useful than I expected. In this episode, I’m sharing:
Creating Confidence pricing changes on Labor Day.
Choose your support: Here Maybe tomorrow morning, we’ll have our coffee together. ☕️ Let me know what you think of this! _____________________________________________________ Try Creating Confidence free for 7 days. Whether you prefer daily encouragement or a supportive community with live coaching, you can explore it all and see what fits your family best. Choose the level of support that fits you best—from daily encouragement to live coaching and community. Come spend a week with us! | |||
| School Refusal: A Mom-to-Mom Reframe When Your Kid Is Miserable | 225 | 21 Aug 2026 | 00:06:11 | |
My Kid Won't Go Back to School — What If We Didn't Make Them? Every school-refusal article this week says the same thing: watch for the warning signs, then find gentler ways to get your kid back in the building. In this episode, Sue talks — mom to mom — about the real question underneath the panic of school refusal: not "how do I get compliance," but "what if my kid's distress is actually information worth listening to?" Sue shares her own story of never planning to homeschool, why "unschooling" doesn't have to be a scary word or an identity you adopt, and why a plan that wasn't working at school probably won't magically work at your kitchen table either. If you're standing at the edge of a decision you never expected to be making, this episode is for you. Want to talk it through? New episodes exploring what comes after this decision — coming soon. Let me know what you think of this! _____________________________________________________ Try Creating Confidence free for 7 days. Whether you prefer daily encouragement or a supportive community with live coaching, you can explore it all and see what fits your family best. Choose the level of support that fits you best—from daily encouragement to live coaching and community. Come spend a week with us! | |||
| The School Year Is Starting Without Us—Why Does It Feel So Weird? | 224 | 18 Aug 2026 | 00:07:56 | |
The school year is starting, but your child isn’t going back. Even when homeschooling is the right decision, back-to-school season can stir up doubt, mixed feelings, and the urge to suddenly make a bigger plan. In this episode, we talk about why August can feel so strange when your family steps outside the school calendar, why your child may miss parts of school without wanting to return, and how old school expectations can creep into your thinking before you realize it. If you’re new to homeschooling or unschooling and wondering why this transition feels harder than expected, this episode will help you recognize what’s really happening—and why you don’t need to rush to recreate school at home. If you’re ready for some help figuring out what comes next, join me for the Not Back to School 7-Day Challenge.
Join the challenge: https://www.unschoolingmom2mom.com/nbts-challenge Let me know what you think of this! _____________________________________________________ Try Creating Confidence free for 7 days. Whether you prefer daily encouragement or a supportive community with live coaching, you can explore it all and see what fits your family best. Choose the level of support that fits you best—from daily encouragement to live coaching and community. Come spend a week with us! | |||
| My Child Isn’t Going Back to School—Now What? | 223 | 13 Aug 2026 | 00:12:57 | |
Is your child not going back to school? Here’s how to start homeschooling—or explore unschooling—without rushing into curriculum or recreating school at home. Once you’ve made the decision to leave school, a new worry often moves in: What are we supposed to do now? In this episode, Sue Patterson shares five practical ways to begin:
You don’t need to become a homeschooling expert or understand unschooling perfectly before you begin. You need time to reconnect, observe your child, and create an approach that fits your actual family. Help for Parents If your child isn’t going back to school and you’re wondering what happens next, the Not Back to School 7-Day Challenge will help you take those first steps with more clarity and confidence. For ongoing coaching, resources, and support from other unschooling parents, explore the Creating Confidence Membership. Let me know what you think of this! _____________________________________________________ Try Creating Confidence free for 7 days. Whether you prefer daily encouragement or a supportive community with live coaching, you can explore it all and see what fits your family best. Choose the level of support that fits you best—from daily encouragement to live coaching and community. Come spend a week with us! | |||
| The Cons of Unschooling: Where Homeschooling Parents Need to Pivot | 222 | 30 Jul 2026 | 00:10:00 | |
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: Let me know what you think of this! _____________________________________________________ Try Creating Confidence free for 7 days. Whether you prefer daily encouragement or a supportive community with live coaching, you can explore it all and see what fits your family best. Choose the level of support that fits you best—from daily encouragement to live coaching and community. Come spend a week with us! | |||
| Unschooling Course or Resource Library: Which One Fits You? #221 | 27 Jul 2026 | 00:05:10 | |
Let me know what you think of this! _____________________________________________________ Try Creating Confidence free for 7 days. Whether you prefer daily encouragement or a supportive community with live coaching, you can explore it all and see what fits your family best. Choose the level of support that fits you best—from daily encouragement to live coaching and community. Come spend a week with us! | |||
| Maybe Timelines Are Why Unschooling Feels So Hard | 220 | 24 Jul 2026 | 00:10:41 | |
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: Let me know what you think of this! _____________________________________________________ Try Creating Confidence free for 7 days. Whether you prefer daily encouragement or a supportive community with live coaching, you can explore it all and see what fits your family best. Choose the level of support that fits you best—from daily encouragement to live coaching and community. Come spend a week with us! | |||
| Is My Child Behind? Or Am I Using the Wrong Timeline? | 219 | 16 Jul 2026 | 00:13:33 | |
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. That's exactly what we talk through inside my Creating Confidence Community. 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! _____________________________________________________ Try Creating Confidence free for 7 days. Whether you prefer daily encouragement or a supportive community with live coaching, you can explore it all and see what fits your family best. Choose the level of support that fits you best—from daily encouragement to live coaching and community. Come spend a week with us! | |||
| Why Summer Makes Homeschooling Parents Rush to Plan | 218 | 08 Jul 2026 | 00:07:32 | |
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. NEW! Try Sue's Creating Confidence Community for a week - for Free! Let me know what you think of this! _____________________________________________________ Try Creating Confidence free for 7 days. Whether you prefer daily encouragement or a supportive community with live coaching, you can explore it all and see what fits your family best. Choose the level of support that fits you best—from daily encouragement to live coaching and community. Come spend a week with us! | |||
| When Your Kid Won't Get Off Screens: Why It Turns Into a Battle | 217 | 06 Jul 2026 | 00:08:12 | |
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.
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. Let me know what you think of this! _____________________________________________________ Try Creating Confidence free for 7 days. Whether you prefer daily encouragement or a supportive community with live coaching, you can explore it all and see what fits your family best. Choose the level of support that fits you best—from daily encouragement to live coaching and community. Come spend a week with us! | |||
| Making Homeschooling Decisions Out of Fear | 216 | 23 Jun 2026 | 00:06:44 | |
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. If you've ever wondered whether you're responding to your child—or to your fear—this episode is for you. Let me know what you think of this! _____________________________________________________ Try Creating Confidence free for 7 days. Whether you prefer daily encouragement or a supportive community with live coaching, you can explore it all and see what fits your family best. Choose the level of support that fits you best—from daily encouragement to live coaching and community. Come spend a week with us! | |||
| Can Video Games Count as High School Credit? | 215 | 19 Jun 2026 | 00:11:38 | |
They're playing all the time - is there anything worthwhile that we can count for homeschooling transcript? The answer may surprise you. 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 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:
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! _____________________________________________________ Try Creating Confidence free for 7 days. Whether you prefer daily encouragement or a supportive community with live coaching, you can explore it all and see what fits your family best. Choose the level of support that fits you best—from daily encouragement to live coaching and community. Come spend a week with us! | |||
| Are Homeschooling Questions Stealing Your Summer? | 214 | 12 Jun 2026 | 00:05:10 | |
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 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: Let me know what you think of this! _____________________________________________________ Try Creating Confidence free for 7 days. Whether you prefer daily encouragement or a supportive community with live coaching, you can explore it all and see what fits your family best. Choose the level of support that fits you best—from daily encouragement to live coaching and community. Come spend a week with us! | |||
| What Really Prepares Kids for Adulthood? | 213 | 18 May 2026 | 00:06:43 | |
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:
If you’ve ever wondered whether unschooling truly prepares kids for adult life, this episode will help you rethink what “life prep” really means.
Let me know what you think of this! _____________________________________________________ Try Creating Confidence free for 7 days. Whether you prefer daily encouragement or a supportive community with live coaching, you can explore it all and see what fits your family best. Choose the level of support that fits you best—from daily encouragement to live coaching and community. Come spend a week with us! | |||
| The Mother's Day Fairy - For Unschooling Moms! | 212 | 07 May 2026 | 00:09:32 | |
Mother's Day can be a lot of things — wonderful, disappointing, emotional, or somewhere in between. For unschooling and homeschooling moms, there's an added twist: your kids aren't sitting in a classroom getting reminded to make something for you. No teacher. No craft. No school newsletter nudging dad to pick up flowers. So this year? You become the Mother's Day Fairy. 🧚♀️ In this episode, Sue Patterson — mom to three now-grown unschooled kids and founder of Unschooling Mom2Mom — shares why unschooling really is a Mother's Movement, and how you can reclaim Mother's Day so it actually fits YOU and your family. You'll hear:
Whether your Mother's Day has been wonderful, meh, or a total flop in the past — this episode will help you create something that actually feels good. No comparisons. No "what will people think." Just a day that fits the actual humans in your family. Because that's what unschoolers do. 🌸 Resources mentioned in this episode:
Let me know what you think of this! _____________________________________________________ Try Creating Confidence free for 7 days. Whether you prefer daily encouragement or a supportive community with live coaching, you can explore it all and see what fits your family best. Choose the level of support that fits you best—from daily encouragement to live coaching and community. Come spend a week with us! | |||
| What Does an Unschooling Day Look Like? Real-Life Examples by Age | 211 | 05 May 2026 | 00:13:54 | |
What does an unschooling day actually look like? If you’ve been searching for a routine, a schedule, or some kind of structure you can follow… and keep coming up empty, this episode will give you something more useful. Instead of a rigid plan, we’re walking through real-life examples of unschooling days—what it looks like for younger kids, older kids, and teens—and why it can feel so unstructured (even when learning is happening all day long). Inside this episode:
This is the shift most parents need: If your days feel open-ended, uncertain, or like you’re “not doing enough,” this will help you reframe what’s really going on. 🎧 Want daily support like this? 📝 Prefer to read or revisit this later? Let me know what you think of this! _____________________________________________________ Try Creating Confidence free for 7 days. Whether you prefer daily encouragement or a supportive community with live coaching, you can explore it all and see what fits your family best. Choose the level of support that fits you best—from daily encouragement to live coaching and community. Come spend a week with us! | |||
| Is Unschooling Enough? What it looks like day to day | 210 | 28 Apr 2026 | 00:07:35 | |
What does unschooling look like day to day—and how do you know it’s enough?This is where most parents start to second-guess everything. If you’ve ever lwondered, “Is this enough?”—you’re not alone. We’re unpacking one of the most common fears in unschooling: With no worksheets, no visible lessons, and no clear benchmarks… it can feel like nothing is happening. But that’s not what’s going on. We’ll talk about:
If you’ve been second-guessing your choices or worried your child is falling behind, let's reframe what you’re seeing—and what really counts. 🎧 Listen in, then take a closer look: https://www.unschoolingmom2mom.com/is-unschooling-enough-what-it-really-looks-like-day-to-day Want daily support instead of figuring this out on your own? https://www.unschoolingmom2mom.com/creating-confidence-daily Podcasts Mentioned: Unschooling Doubts: Why Unschooling Parents Feel They Aren't Doing Enough The Real Reason Unschooling Confidence Disappears Let me know what you think of this! _____________________________________________________ Try Creating Confidence free for 7 days. Whether you prefer daily encouragement or a supportive community with live coaching, you can explore it all and see what fits your family best. Choose the level of support that fits you best—from daily encouragement to live coaching and community. Come spend a week with us! | |||
| How Unschooling Kids Learn Math Without Curriculum (A Real Day, Hour by Hour) | 209 | 17 Apr 2026 | 00:09:21 | |
How do unschoolers learn math without a curriculum? Here's a real “day in the life” of an unschooling teen. See exactly where math shows up—hour by hour—without worksheets, textbooks, or formal lessons. If you’ve been wondering:
…you'll get a clear, practical look at how math naturally develops through everyday life. Real life Math examples like:
But here’s the struggle you'll recognize— Noticing is Step 1 - Seeing it in YOUR kids's lives is the Next Level. We talk about why so many parents feel confident after seeing examples like this… and then fall back into doubt—and what actually helps build long-term confidence with unschooling math. If you’re transitioning from homeschool curriculum, questioning traditional math approaches, or trying to trust unschooling, this episode will help you start recognizing what’s already happening—and understand what comes next. 🎯 Want help seeing and trusting real-life math in your home? UNSCHOOLING RESOURCES for Episode 209
Let me know what you think of this! _____________________________________________________ Try Creating Confidence free for 7 days. Whether you prefer daily encouragement or a supportive community with live coaching, you can explore it all and see what fits your family best. Choose the level of support that fits you best—from daily encouragement to live coaching and community. Come spend a week with us! | |||
| The Truth about Unschooling "Schedules" | 208 | 17 Mar 2026 | 00:13:29 | |
“If we don’t use a curriculum... how do we plan anything?” It’s the number one question new unschoolers ask. If stepping away from traditional lesson plans makes you feel like you’ve lost your roadmap, this episode is for you! Welcome to Season 6 of the Unschooling Mom2Mom podcast! This week, host Sue Patterson explains why planning as an unschooling parent isn’t about deciding what your child must learn next. It’s about shaping an environment where curiosity has room to grow. When you let go of the need to control the learning, you remove the friction in your home. We're shifting the focus from "planning school" to "planning for connection." In this episode, you’ll learn 3 simple planning tools unschooling parents use:
Learning doesn’t need nearly as much management as we were taught. Tune in for your 10-minute pep talk to help you build a life where learning naturally fits! Resources Mentioned in this Episode: Need more daily support or a community of like-minded parents to help you brainstorm? You don't have to do this alone!
Let me know what you think of this! _____________________________________________________ Try Creating Confidence free for 7 days. Whether you prefer daily encouragement or a supportive community with live coaching, you can explore it all and see what fits your family best. Choose the level of support that fits you best—from daily encouragement to live coaching and community. Come spend a week with us! | |||
| BONUS: Pi Day Without the Hype — When “Fun Learning” Falls Flat | 13 Mar 2026 | 00:05:34 | |
Pi Day is one of those holidays parents often try to make “fun.” But sometimes the issue isn’t the activity — it’s the hype. Here's a quick unschooling perspective on Pi Day and why kids often respond better to curiosity than to pressure. Instead of trying to convince kids something is fun, unschooling families often offer ideas lightly — letting interest show up naturally. Sometimes kids lean in. And both are completely normal. Sue Patterson also shares a simple way to introduce Pi Day at home without turning it into a big event. Just remember, real learning doesn’t need a sales pitch. Huge collection of Pi Day ideas here: Blogpost: 🎧 Unschooling Mom2Mom Let me know what you think of this! _____________________________________________________ Try Creating Confidence free for 7 days. Whether you prefer daily encouragement or a supportive community with live coaching, you can explore it all and see what fits your family best. Choose the level of support that fits you best—from daily encouragement to live coaching and community. Come spend a week with us! | |||
| Quirky Kids: Unschooling and Neurodivergence | 206 | 09 Mar 2026 | 00:08:53 | |
What can unschooling families learn from the neurodivergent community? In this episode, Sue Patterson looks at how our understanding of “quirky” kids has changed over the years—and why many unschooling parents are learning from approaches developed within the neurodivergent community. Even families without a diagnosis can benefit from these ideas when kids struggle with expectations, pressure, or social dynamics. In this episode:
Sue also shares details about the Unschooling Summit, where many speakers will be discussing neurodivergence in unschooling families. 🎟 Free tickets to the Unschooling Summit: Let me know what you think of this! _____________________________________________________ Try Creating Confidence free for 7 days. Whether you prefer daily encouragement or a supportive community with live coaching, you can explore it all and see what fits your family best. Choose the level of support that fits you best—from daily encouragement to live coaching and community. Come spend a week with us! | |||
| Do You Need to Revisit Deschooling? When Unschooling Doubts Show Up | 205 | 03 Mar 2026 | 00:06:02 | |
Do you need to revisit deschooling as your child gets older? Deschooling is often treated as a beginning phase of homeschooling. But school conditioning doesn’t disappear once. It resurfaces in layers. In this episode, we talk about: • Why deschooling isn’t one-and-done If you’re homeschooling without curriculum, exploring unschooling, or noticing old school-based fears resurfacing, this episode will help you pause, recognize the pattern, and revisit deschooling with steadiness instead of urgency. Deschooling isn’t finished. It evolves as your child grows. ____________________________ RESOURCES: Creating Confidence (private community or daily app) https://www.unschoolingmom2mom.com/creating-confidence-daily Deschooling Toolkit https://www.unschoolingmom2mom.com/product/Deschooling-Toolkit Read Transcript at the Blog https://www.unschoolingmom2mom.com/deschooling-isnt-something-you-finish Let me know what you think of this! _____________________________________________________ Try Creating Confidence free for 7 days. Whether you prefer daily encouragement or a supportive community with live coaching, you can explore it all and see what fits your family best. Choose the level of support that fits you best—from daily encouragement to live coaching and community. Come spend a week with us! | |||
| Those Voices in Your Head? Let Me Elbow In | 204 | 27 Feb 2026 | 00:07:22 | |
If you’re an unschooling or homeschooling parent struggling with doubt, internal criticism, or wondering if you’re doing enough, this episode is for you. We talk about how unschooling confidence is built through daily reinforcement — not one-time inspiration. Start your free week of Creating Confidence Daily here: Unschooling doubt doesn’t disappear just because you left school. Old scripts — about productivity, laziness, timelines, and “doing enough” — are still there criticizing you. And when real life gets loud, those voices get louder. In this episode, we talk about:
You don’t have to silence the critical voices completely. But you don’t have to let them be the only ones speaking. I want to be in there too —elbowing them out of the way. If daily reinforcement would help you stay grounded in your unschooling values, Creating Confidence Daily was built for exactly that — short, steady reminders that fit into real life. Try it free for a week here: I’ll see you there — and I’ll be back here next week. Let me know what you think of this! _____________________________________________________ Try Creating Confidence free for 7 days. Whether you prefer daily encouragement or a supportive community with live coaching, you can explore it all and see what fits your family best. Choose the level of support that fits you best—from daily encouragement to live coaching and community. Come spend a week with us! | |||
| The Real Reason Your Unschooling Confidence Disappears (And How to Strengthen It) | 203 | 14 Feb 2026 | 00:06:31 | |
You feel steady about unschooling… Why does confidence disappear so fast? Let's unpack why unschooling confidence doesn’t “stick” — even when you understand the philosophy. Confidence doesn’t grow on autopilot. It comes from intentionally brining it back to the front of our minds. Rhythm and repetition. Today, we'll talk about: If you’ve ever thought, “I know this… so why am I still worried?” — this one’s for you. NEW UNSCHOOLING RESOURCE: Creating Confidence Daily opens February 22. Learn more: Read the transcript: Happy unschooling. Let me know what you think of this! _____________________________________________________ Try Creating Confidence free for 7 days. Whether you prefer daily encouragement or a supportive community with live coaching, you can explore it all and see what fits your family best. Choose the level of support that fits you best—from daily encouragement to live coaching and community. Come spend a week with us! | |||
| Unschooling the Olympics: No Curriculum Needed | 202 | 05 Feb 2026 | 00:07:08 | |
When the Olympics roll around, it’s easy to feel pressure to “do something educational.” Big cultural events like the Olympics are already rich with opportunities for curiosity, connection, and noticing — if you let them be. In this episode, Sue talks about how to strew the Olympics: leaving learning invitations available without turning them into lessons or checklists. You’ll hear what strewing actually looks like in everyday life, how to follow interest without forcing it, and why resisting the urge to document or capture learning often creates more space for it to happen naturally. Whether your kids are glued to the events or barely paying attention, this conversation will help you relax and trust that learning doesn’t need to be organized to be meaningful. Resources mentioned: Let me know what you think of this! _____________________________________________________ Try Creating Confidence free for 7 days. Whether you prefer daily encouragement or a supportive community with live coaching, you can explore it all and see what fits your family best. Choose the level of support that fits you best—from daily encouragement to live coaching and community. Come spend a week with us! | |||
| I Want to Do More to Teach — Why That Feeling Shows Up | 201 | 22 Jan 2026 | 00:05:49 | |
Feeling lost about teaching is common when you step away from school. Sue Patterson explores why the urge to teach more keeps showing up — and why learning doesn’t depend on parents doing more teaching, but on staying focused on the learner. “I want to do more to teach, but I feel lost.” If that thought has crossed your mind, you’re not the only one. That feeling often shows up when you step away from school-based learning and realize you’re still carrying old ideas about what teaching is supposed to look like. Let’s talk about why parents feel lost when they start on the unschooling path, how we’ve been conditioned to believe learning only happens when someone is teaching, and what to focus on instead when your days don’t look like school. This is a calm, reassuring conversation for parents who are doing something unconventional — and want steadier footing without more pressure. Additional Unschooling Support: If you’d like more examples and a little support, you’ll find related resources here: Blogpost: "I Want to Do More to Teach" — Why that feels so confusing Deschooling Toolkit (for that 365 Days of Deschooling guide) Creating Confidence membership Let me know what you think of this! _____________________________________________________ Try Creating Confidence free for 7 days. Whether you prefer daily encouragement or a supportive community with live coaching, you can explore it all and see what fits your family best. Choose the level of support that fits you best—from daily encouragement to live coaching and community. Come spend a week with us! | |||
| Learning from Dragons - Without Planning a Thing! | 200 | 15 Jan 2026 | 00:05:49 | |
How do kids really learn without curriculum? What if learning is hiding in the things we almost dismiss as “just for fun”? Let's use Appreciate a Dragon Day as a real-life example of how learning shows up naturally — through curiosity, imagination, conversation, and play — without planning lessons or following a curriculum. Parents exploring unschooling or questioning traditional homeschooling can learning how to notice learning instead of trying to engineer it. You’ll hear about:
For more ideas and specific ways to weave multiple subjects into a day, check out the blogpost with 10 creative ways unschooling shows up through dragons here: https://www.unschoolingmom2mom.com/what-do-dragons-and-homeschooling-have-in-common You can read the transcript at this link too. 📅 Want daily sparks like this — without having to come up with them yourself? https://www.unschoolingmom2mom.com/category/Strewing-Calendar-Subscriptions Let me know what you think of this! _____________________________________________________ Try Creating Confidence free for 7 days. Whether you prefer daily encouragement or a supportive community with live coaching, you can explore it all and see what fits your family best. Choose the level of support that fits you best—from daily encouragement to live coaching and community. Come spend a week with us! | |||
| Why Deschooling Is Really for Parents: Letting Go of Schoolish Thinking | 199 | 13 Jan 2026 | 00:07:18 | |
Many parents expect deschooling to work like a big reset button — pull kids out of school, give it a little time, and everything will fall into place. But when kids seem to be “vegging out,” parents often panic: Is this really how it’s supposed to work? In this episode, I unpack what’s actually happening in those moments — and why that panic makes sense. Leaving school doesn’t automatically erase the habits we learned growing up. Even when unschooling feels right, school-shaped ideas about productivity, pace, comparison, and structure can quietly shape how we interpret learning at home. We’ll talk about:
Deschooling isn’t about rejecting learning.
The practical support resource for parents who find themselves in that in-between space — where unschooling makes sense, but school-shaped thinking keeps creeping back in. The Deschooling Toolkit is a collection of parent supports designed to walk alongside you as you step away from system-focused ideas and sort through what actually supports your family’s learning now. It includes:
There’s no schedule to follow and nothing to “complete.” You can return to it whenever old patterns surface. The Deschooling Toolkit is included with Creating Confience Membership, or as a standalone resource. Learn more at: Let me know what you think of this! _____________________________________________________ Try Creating Confidence free for 7 days. Whether you prefer daily encouragement or a supportive community with live coaching, you can explore it all and see what fits your family best. Choose the level of support that fits you best—from daily encouragement to live coaching and community. Come spend a week with us! | |||
| When School-at-Home Homeschooling Stops Working | 198 | 06 Jan 2026 | 00:10:19 | |
When traditional homeschooling stops working, there’s nothing wrong with exploring your options. -> Creating Confidence Membership (Unschooling 101 is included) ___________________________ If you’ve been homeschooling for a while — especially in a more traditional or school-at-home way — there often comes a point when it just doesn’t feel like it’s working anymore. Not because you’re doing something wrong. In this episode, Sue Patterson talks through what it really means when traditional homeschooling stops working. She explores why so many families reach this place, why it often shows up midyear, and why unschooling frequently enters the conversation at this stage. You’ll hear about the difference between homeschooling and unschooling, what “deschooling” actually looks like in real life, and why questioning your current approach is a thoughtful, responsible response — not a failure. This episode is especially helpful if you’re searching for alternatives to traditional homeschooling or trying to understand whether unschooling might be a better fit for your family. Rather than offering quick fixes or rigid plans, this conversation focuses on clarity, reassurance, and next steps you can take without panic or pressure. If homeschooling isn’t working the way you expected and you’re wondering what comes next, this episode will help you slow down, make sense of what you’re noticing, and feel less alone as you explore your options. Sue also shares how the Unschooling 101 mini-course can support parents who want a practical, grounded introduction to unschooling — especially those transitioning away from school-at-home methods and looking for a clearer understanding of what unschooling actually looks like day to day. Read the Transcript at the blog Let me know what you think of this! _____________________________________________________ Try Creating Confidence free for 7 days. Whether you prefer daily encouragement or a supportive community with live coaching, you can explore it all and see what fits your family best. Choose the level of support that fits you best—from daily encouragement to live coaching and community. Come spend a week with us! | |||
| 197 - Let Winter Be Winter: Resist Rushing into January | 29 Dec 2025 | 00:09:31 | |
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:
This is not about planning or starting over. If you’d like a little more support right now, here are a few gentle options: • Discounted Private Coaching Calls (January too) 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. Let me know what you think of this! _____________________________________________________ Try Creating Confidence free for 7 days. Whether you prefer daily encouragement or a supportive community with live coaching, you can explore it all and see what fits your family best. Choose the level of support that fits you best—from daily encouragement to live coaching and community. Come spend a week with us! | |||
| 196 - Unschooling in December: What Typical Days Really Look Like | 08 Dec 2025 | 00:13:17 | |
Unschooling in December doesn’t mean “taking a break from learning.” 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:
This episode is perfect for new unschoolers, almost-unschoolers, or any parent who dreams of a calmer, more connected December. 🎁 UNSCHOOLING RESOURCES: Holiday Unschooling Bundle (4 Guides) Everything you need to navigate December: Want help unschooling through the holidays? Join the Creating Confidence Membership for coaching, community, and ongoing support. ❤️ Stay Connected Free 7 Day Unschooling Holidays Challenge - starting this week on my email list! Private coaching with Sue - December Special: Unschooling Holiday Hub Let me know what you think of this! _____________________________________________________ Try Creating Confidence free for 7 days. Whether you prefer daily encouragement or a supportive community with live coaching, you can explore it all and see what fits your family best. Choose the level of support that fits you best—from daily encouragement to live coaching and community. Come spend a week with us! | |||
| 195 - Confused About Unschooling? Let’s Talk It Out | 05 Dec 2025 | 00:04:36 | |
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: Tell me your Biggest Fear. Seriously. I'll answer
https://www.unschoolingmom2mom.com/unschooling-doubts-and-fears Let me know what you think of this! _____________________________________________________ Try Creating Confidence free for 7 days. Whether you prefer daily encouragement or a supportive community with live coaching, you can explore it all and see what fits your family best. Choose the level of support that fits you best—from daily encouragement to live coaching and community. Come spend a week with us! | |||
| 194 - The Unschooling Roller Coaster & Why You Shouldn't Ride Alone! | 01 Dec 2025 | 00:06:08 | |
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: 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. Monthly - 20% off! Annual - 56% off!!! Join here: Let me know what you think of this! _____________________________________________________ Try Creating Confidence free for 7 days. Whether you prefer daily encouragement or a supportive community with live coaching, you can explore it all and see what fits your family best. Choose the level of support that fits you best—from daily encouragement to live coaching and community. Come spend a week with us! | |||
| 193 - Your Thanksgiving Toolkit: 3 Tools to Handle Holiday Criticism | 26 Nov 2025 | 00:07:53 | |
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 Let me know what you think of this! _____________________________________________________ Try Creating Confidence free for 7 days. Whether you prefer daily encouragement or a supportive community with live coaching, you can explore it all and see what fits your family best. Choose the level of support that fits you best—from daily encouragement to live coaching and community. Come spend a week with us! | |||
| 192 - Staying Grounded During Holiday Stress (Unschooling Parents) | 25 Nov 2025 | 00:11:17 | |
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: 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 🎄 Holiday Learning Bundle 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 Let me know what you think of this! _____________________________________________________ Try Creating Confidence free for 7 days. Whether you prefer daily encouragement or a supportive community with live coaching, you can explore it all and see what fits your family best. Choose the level of support that fits you best—from daily encouragement to live coaching and community. Come spend a week with us! | |||
| 191 - When Your Child Plays All Day: Unschooling, Deschooling & Real Learning | 19 Nov 2025 | 00:07:52 | |
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:
___________________________ Let me know what you think of this! _____________________________________________________ Try Creating Confidence free for 7 days. Whether you prefer daily encouragement or a supportive community with live coaching, you can explore it all and see what fits your family best. Choose the level of support that fits you best—from daily encouragement to live coaching and community. Come spend a week with us! | |||
| 190 - Unschooling and Gratitude: Noticing What’s Going Right | 11 Nov 2025 | 00:06:29 | |
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: 15 Day Gratitude Challenge: In the membership Unschooling Mom2Mom Pinterest Board: Gratitude Unschooling Mom2Mom YouTube Playlist: Unschooling Gratitude Let me know what you think of this! _____________________________________________________ Try Creating Confidence free for 7 days. Whether you prefer daily encouragement or a supportive community with live coaching, you can explore it all and see what fits your family best. Choose the level of support that fits you best—from daily encouragement to live coaching and community. Come spend a week with us! | |||
| #189 - How to Start Unschooling (Without Trying Every Homeschool Method First) | 05 Nov 2025 | 00:04:35 | |
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 Let me know what you think of this! _____________________________________________________ Try Creating Confidence free for 7 days. Whether you prefer daily encouragement or a supportive community with live coaching, you can explore it all and see what fits your family best. Choose the level of support that fits you best—from daily encouragement to live coaching and community. Come spend a week with us! | |||
| #188 - Unschooling Halloween: Everyday Learning in Disguise | 27 Oct 2025 | 00:06:16 | |
Unschooling + Halloween = real learning. 🎃 __________________________ 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? 🎃 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:
💡 Resources Mentioned:
✨ 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! Let me know what you think of this! _____________________________________________________ Try Creating Confidence free for 7 days. Whether you prefer daily encouragement or a supportive community with live coaching, you can explore it all and see what fits your family best. Choose the level of support that fits you best—from daily encouragement to live coaching and community. Come spend a week with us! | |||
| #187 But I Want a CHECKLIST! Letting Go of School Habits in Unschooling | 22 Oct 2025 | 00:10:10 | |
Watch Video Version Here In this episode, Sue Patterson breaks down why unschooling doesn’t come with boxes to check — and why that’s both scary and freeing. Join a coaching-call-inspired conversation about the brain’s habit of seeking structure, why we feel compelled to “perform” as parents, and how we can shift from tracking tasks to checking connection. If you’re a parent moving away from school-style validation toward real life learning, this episode will help you reframe success, reconnect with your child, and trust your own rhythm. Keywords: unschooling, deschooling, homeschooling, checklist mentality, parenting without curriculum, connection over structure, unschooling parents, free-range learning, trusting your rhythm You’ll learn:
Resources mentioned:
Tune in to reset your checklist culture and rediscover freedom, curiosity, and trust in learning together. Listen now on all major podcast platforms. Read the transcript here at the Unschooling Mom2Mom Blog. Let me know what you think of this! _____________________________________________________ Try Creating Confidence free for 7 days. Whether you prefer daily encouragement or a supportive community with live coaching, you can explore it all and see what fits your family best. Choose the level of support that fits you best—from daily encouragement to live coaching and community. Come spend a week with us! | |||
| 186 - Too Late to Unschool Teens? | 13 Oct 2025 | 00:09:17 | |
(Spoiler: It’s Not) 🎁 Grab the Free PDF: 20 Reasons It’s Time to Unschool Your Teen If your teen is burned out, unmotivated, or just done with school, you’re not alone. Sue Patterson shares what you need to know: You’ll hear why teens can still thrive with unschooling, how real learning never depended on school, and how rebuilding trust and curiosity at home changes everything.
💚 Resources You Need:
🎧 Subscribe to the Unschooling Mom2Mom Podcast for weekly encouragement, real stories, and practical support on your unschooling journey. Let me know what you think of this! _____________________________________________________ Try Creating Confidence free for 7 days. Whether you prefer daily encouragement or a supportive community with live coaching, you can explore it all and see what fits your family best. Choose the level of support that fits you best—from daily encouragement to live coaching and community. Come spend a week with us! | |||
| 185 - How Kids Learn to Make Decisions — The Unschooling Way | 08 Oct 2025 | 00:06:38 | |
Autonomy doesn’t grow from obedience — it grows from real life experience. In this episode, Sue Patterson shares how unschooled kids learn to weigh pros and cons, think through choices, and develop real decision-making confidence. You’ll explore what cost/benefit thinking looks like in everyday life — from messy art projects to sports teams and video games — and why stepping back as a parent creates space for growth. Learn how unschooling gives kids the practice they need to trust themselves, one choice at a time. Let me know what you think of this! _____________________________________________________ Try Creating Confidence free for 7 days. Whether you prefer daily encouragement or a supportive community with live coaching, you can explore it all and see what fits your family best. Choose the level of support that fits you best—from daily encouragement to live coaching and community. Come spend a week with us! | |||
| #184 - Shaky Start? Pivot Homeschool to Unschooling (+ Q & A) | 30 Sep 2025 | 00:25:16 | |
Shaky start with homeschooling? You’re not failing—the plan is. ___________________________ LAST DAY SALE Unschooling Mom2Mom Parent Toolkit: ALL 25 guides = $99 Annual Membership Sale: Year-round support with Sue & the community (group coaching, Q&As, 30-day deschooling challenge replays, and parent support). _____________________ Those first weeks can feel shaky—kids resist, plans unravel, and the “Am I doing enough?” spiral kicks in. In this expanded episode, Sue explains why early plans collapse (hint: school conditioning), how to see resistance as feedback, and simple ways to pivot toward connection, curiosity, and real learning at home. You’ll learn: Q&A: pivot vs sticking with it | child-led” in practice | “falling behind” & the basics | resistance & grit | balancing expectations RESOURCES: Let me know what you think of this! _____________________________________________________ Try Creating Confidence free for 7 days. Whether you prefer daily encouragement or a supportive community with live coaching, you can explore it all and see what fits your family best. Choose the level of support that fits you best—from daily encouragement to live coaching and community. Come spend a week with us! | |||
| #183 Am I Doing Enough? When Curriculum Isn’t Working Like You Hoped | 26 Sep 2025 | 00:09:52 | |
Worried you’re not doing enough as an unschooling parent? In this episode, Sue Patterson tackles common doubts about reading, math, technology, and “falling behind.” Learn how to reframe fears, spot real learning, and build confidence — plus hear about the Unschooling Parent Toolkit - with 25 Guides - to help you every step of the way. Are you lying awake at night wondering: Am I doing enough for my kids? You’re not alone. Let's dive into the doubts that creep in when families move away from traditional homeschooling and into unschooling - and find some SOLUTIONS! You’ll hear why worries about reading, math, technology, and “falling behind” show up for nearly every parent — and how to reframe them so you can see the real learning that’s happening in your home. Sue shares practical examples from everyday life, mindset shifts that help you shake off school conditioning, and encouragement from her 30+ years of unschooling experience. 👉 And if you’re ready for deeper support, check out the Unschooling Mom2Mom Parent Toolkit — 25 step-by-step guides covering academics, technology, socialization, critics, seasonal learning, and more. Get ALL 25 Unschooling Guides for only $99 - through September 30. https://suepatterson-unschooling.thinkific.com/courses/guides Normally $400 if purchased individually, the complete set is available through September 30th for just $99. Let me know what you think of this! _____________________________________________________ Try Creating Confidence free for 7 days. Whether you prefer daily encouragement or a supportive community with live coaching, you can explore it all and see what fits your family best. Choose the level of support that fits you best—from daily encouragement to live coaching and community. Come spend a week with us! | |||
| #182 - School Skipped These Lessons - but Life Didn't! | 22 Sep 2025 | 00:08:00 | |
We spent 12 years in school but left unprepared for real life — because school skipped the lessons that actually matter. In this episode, Sue Patterson shares 10 life skills adults wish they had learned in school, from money management and stress relief to media literacy and relationships. You’ll also hear how unschooling gives families the freedom to focus on these real-world skills naturally, without waiting until adulthood. 👉 Want support while you make unschooling work for your family? Join the Unschooling Mom2Mom Membership — the Annual NOT Back to School Sale is happening for one more week! Don't miss it! https://www.unschoolingmom2mom.com/product/Annual-Membership-NOT-Back-to-School-Sale Let me know what you think of this! _____________________________________________________ Try Creating Confidence free for 7 days. Whether you prefer daily encouragement or a supportive community with live coaching, you can explore it all and see what fits your family best. Choose the level of support that fits you best—from daily encouragement to live coaching and community. Come spend a week with us! | |||
| #181 How Unschoolers Learn the Basics Without Curriculum: Unschooling the 3Rs | 16 Sep 2025 | 00:08:03 | |
“I love unschooling — but I want my kids to know the basics first.” Sound familiar? If you're worried how your kids will learn those 3Rs — reading, writing, and math — especially if you choose to unschool, Sue Patterson will help you see how unschooling works WITHOUT wasting money on curriculum! Unschooling basics unfold naturally through everyday life — cooking, gaming, texting, problem-solving, and pursuing hobbies. Instead of relying on worksheets or pre-set classes, unschoolers build real skills through self-directed learning. Reading, writing, and math become meaningful when connected to real-world experiences. This podcast can help you reframe what what you're seeing! We’ll talk about:
Whether you’re just starting your unschooling journey or you’re worried your child isn’t “academically ready” to self-direct, this episode will reassure you! Unschoolers don't ignore The Basics — they reframe the starting point AND the path to get there. Resources to dive deeper: Tune in to see how unschooling can trust the fundamentals and let curiosity lead. Let me know what you think of this! _____________________________________________________ Try Creating Confidence free for 7 days. Whether you prefer daily encouragement or a supportive community with live coaching, you can explore it all and see what fits your family best. Choose the level of support that fits you best—from daily encouragement to live coaching and community. Come spend a week with us! | |||
| #180 Strewing: Sparking Curiosity and Learning - without a lesson plan in sight! | 05 Sep 2025 | 00:06:03 | |
Say goodbye to “Am I doing enough?” panic and hello to everyday learning that feels light, doable, and fun! https://www.unschoolingmom2mom.com/strewing-calendars ___________________________________ This time of year, many parents feel the pressure to come up with a “plan” that keeps kids engaged without burning anyone out. If rigid schedules or expensive curriculum sets don’t fit your family, there’s another way: strewing. In this episode, I’ll introduce you to the Strewing Calendar—a simple, flexible tool designed for unschoolers and homeschoolers who want a little structure without the stress. You’ll get answers to common questions: ✨ What is strewing? How can I make it work? Whether your kids chase endless interests or you just need quick, low-prep ideas, strewing helps you turn ordinary days into meaningful learning—without lesson plans. 👉 See the Strewing Calendar here: https://www.unschoolingmom2mom.com/strewing-calendars (less than $5/month! Other options available!) Strewing keeps curiosity alive, gives you confidence, and makes learning fun again. Let me know what you think of this! _____________________________________________________ Try Creating Confidence free for 7 days. Whether you prefer daily encouragement or a supportive community with live coaching, you can explore it all and see what fits your family best. Choose the level of support that fits you best—from daily encouragement to live coaching and community. Come spend a week with us! | |||