{ REMEMBERING SWEET SUMMER DAYS + AN UNSCHOOL UPDATE ... }

I owe myself an update. an update on our unschooling life. we officially transitioned to an unschool style of learning just before 2020 only to realize that we’ve been unschooling from the start. so, while I spend a little time culling through memories from our week at lake norman with family, i’ll take a few moments to share a bit about how official unschool life has been.

first things first, just know that its been HARD!

also know that my experience as their homeschool mom and teacher is a VERY DIFFERENT THING from their experience as unschooled kids.

chileeeee… they are thriving! they are learning. they are growing. some days are full of delight and some days are down in the dirt frustrating… just like life! I want to go into major detail sometime in the near future but for now im going to focus on the sum of THeiR experience.

the last few years brought with them challenges that I didn’t anticipate (although, I should have) and this past year has been just the same. but, I consider it joy and work hard to lay my worries down and spend my days catching memories that are soon to fade away. i’ve spent the summer trouble shooting. reflecting on our learning goals and the obligations and activities that will quickly fill our days again. trying to figure out the best way to make this live and learn lifestyle a thing for yet another year.

as I write this post i’m sitting in bed exhausted after a lonnnnnnggggg week of ‘study hall’ aka ‘school’. overwhelmed and frustrated for the third week in a row after introducing new systems and setting in motion this new years’ rhythms and goals. and also… so grateful for the gift of memory keeping. as I sit and scroll through pictures and videos of some of the sweetest memories of our time at the lake. it’s giving me rest. recharging my batteries, reminding me of my why.

creating ‘core’ memories is key to our unschool life. it is how they’ve grown to trust my judgement, follow my lead and find safety in jumping aboard whatever train I tell them is leaving the station. every week looks different and the same all at once. some days are more structured and others flow as freely as freely as they can be. some days are for focusing on our listening skills and taking care to follow even the tiniest of instructions while others are for discipling our hearts and minds to the HARD and HEART work that will always be required to lead a PURPOSEFULL life. and, then there are days when adventure is the only thing on the agenda…

we arrived at the lake house and I inched my tired soul out of the car, last of the bunch just after they rushed themselves through the front door to meet their grandparents, aunt/uncle and cousins with the happiest of hugs as they missed them deep.

in the front door and straight through the back we were greeted by the sweetest little boathouse off the lake that held promises that my bear would finally get a chance to fish for the first time this year! his tio came with all of his fishing gear and he was proud to set his very own tackle box right up along with all of the big fish gear. ya’ll, I took sooooo much footage. trying to soak in all the information that I could. I don’t fish!!! I have no clue how even to begin. I am certain that I am overthinking it. especially with us being right in the thick of the age of information and YouTube university. i’ve got to do better. I will do better. better getting outdoors and trying all the things whether i’m ready or not. but, first, we took a little spin around the lake…

one of the biggest components of our unschool transition has been the shifting and focus on building our media/filmmaking company. it’s been so much harder than I thought it would be and that will be a story for another day.

looking back on these moments, I wish I had worried about the days ahead a bit less. constantly considering high-school transcripts, finding more educational opportunities and how we will gather resources and find the time and space to ‘fit it all in’. I think these photos… these memories help to remind me of the LORD’s faithfulness along our educational journey. HE has brought us such a long way and im grateful.

do y’all see him? my bear!? my boo was happy happy.

my fisherchef…

we played games, built castles in the sand bar, fished off the pier, spent the day out on the boat, set out on our kayaks, roasted marshmallows and ate s’mores by the fire until the last of the embers faded away.

this unschool life hasn’t been without its challenges. constantly fighting the norms and pressures of traditional education. fighting to keep what matters most at the forefront and not absorb the worries of the world while still being in the world. focusing on not casting away my confidence that the good work that HE has begun in and through us will be carried onto completion.

so, that’s it. that’s the update for now.

as long as living and learning is alive and well, I’ll keep sharing.

with all the love,

syreena