Happy EVERything Steemians.
I am grateful for another day to ReThink EVERything,
To question the status quo.
To delve deep into the ideas and beliefs by which I conduct my life.
To examine my past, consider the future, and live my present.
I have a fairly uncommon perspective on a lot of things.
One of the major shifts in my perspective from the norm,
on which I have gained insight through personal experience
and joyous passion,
is my relationship with children.
!!! I live at the @gardenofeden where, for me,
the true purpose is to E M P O W E R children.
I believe there is nothing of greater value or importance
on the entire planet !!!
Most children in America attend "mandatory" institutionalized schooling without giving the alternatives deeper investigation. "Mandatory" in this sense is a belief that most American's have, that attending school is a must, especially if you want to "get" anywhere in this world!!!
In the knowing that the only thing we have is now, no matter where we are, we're still right here---hence, there is no place to "get"!
As intelligent beings, I also believe we can do better than what the current education system provides. In fact, I don't believe it can be fixed. The whole dysfunctional system must come down if we are to honor the children.
We must move through our complacent attitudes and rethink the possibilities. We have greater options than school. Even homeschooling is essentially just taking school home.
My involvement with an icon in the unschooling movement @quinneaker, and my experiences as a mom of 2 (now adult) unschooled children has provided me with a move evolved perspective.
In this light, I will share a series of posts over several days that pertain to my perspective on schooling. (All of the graphics and photography from these posts are also my own original artwork and photography.)
Today's post is about my own experience with school and how the black and white life presented to me gave foundation for questioning the bigger picture . . .
. . . Then my personal journey of standing in the purafire, burning out my old ideas and having to put my intuition into action for the freedom of my own children.
The following posts in this series will include:
How Children Aren't Meant to be Treated
If There Should Be a School - What That Could Look Like
Imagining a Life of Freedom
Empowering a New Generation
If you're interested in my life at the @gardenofeden and what a new,
expansive world feels like,
check out my introducemyself post.
I welcome your comments and open discussion. As I am PASSIONATE about children, I am grateful for the opportunity to share perspectives.
Have a blessed day Steemians~~~go kiss your kids!
I enjoyed your post. I am unschooling my three children.
I am very happy with our choice.
I'm happy to find like-minded folks here on Steemit.
Me toooooo! Grateful to find you here and hoping that your journey is one of great delight. Thanks for showing up here on my post!
I'm grateful to witness your beautiful and inspiring relationship with children. You are truly full of love and grace, @everlove, and I respect your perspective.
They deserve a more expansive world than what most have bought into. Thanks for your witness and for also holding space for the children!
Wow!
What a powerful and important post. Thanks forsharing
My pleasure. It's a subject I feel needs addressing if we're going to make new choices of thrival. Thanks for being here with me.
Beautiful and powerful~~
This post is of great importance. Thank you for sharing what I feel is the greatest issue on earth. The life children have and the way they are treated.
Bless~~
I agree wholeheartedly. Now, if we could only treat children with our whole heart!!! You are an inspiration @quinneaker, as man of brilliance, focus, living a cutting edge existence -- a living example of what can happen when children are blessed with a life of their own design. Passion and full on engagement awakens the genius within. Thank you for being who you are and for sharing the possibilities of true potential.
I loved this post, @everlove - how brave you were in taking the plunge into a new paradigm with your children, and how many have come after you pioneers. We who unschool are at the forefront of that wave now, of course: with so many pressures being applied to ensure conformity, we are the brave ones now. And you - with your Garden of Eden - are still mentoring, guiding, guardian of those little ones who shelter beneath your wise yet playful wings. It makes me smile to know that you are there, loving them, nurturing and supporting them. I have no human little ones in my life at the moment - my girl is 14, and my 'babies' are my feather friends (chickens and chicks) at present. I look around and I know for sure that I am more of a friend to and more respectful towards those birds than most British parents are towards their children. They don't know what to make of me when I interact with their youngsters as people worthy of every respect, but the children always respond beautifully and with wonder and gratitude, as I know they do to you. I look forward to reading more of your posts, and seeing more of your work. From my rebel heart to yours - Jay ❤
I once told my children that I believed unschoolers would change the world. My daughter's reply was: "Mom, unschooling parents will change the world. In fact you already are. You have taken your most precious beings and followed your heart with them against all odds. You are breaking the mold and giving us a chance to be free." I took a deep breath and patted myself on the back for taking the leap and following my intuition, even though there were no examples to show me it would all turn out ok. I began unschooling with fears, disbelief that it was possible and keeping my ideas and opinions about it mostly to myself as i was encountering opposition (of course a reflection of me and my own inner struggles). But then I had an epiphany that showed me that all of this had nothing to do with my children, so they didn't need to become anything as they were everything already. I realized I was the one who was limited, biased, fearful and indoctrinated and that I had to work on myself and stay out of their way. They were empowered to make their own choices and showed me how truly easy being a parent could be and also how difficult it could be when faced with resistance because of ideas I brought forward from my childhood. I loved this awakening with them and our journey we have had together. I am truly grateful for the broader perspective and for having had some contrast that really grounds the beauty of this life of thrival. Grateful to share the amazing possibilities.
Reading this reply brought tears to my eyes, @everlove... What an absolutely beautiful, deeply moving validation from your daughter; and what a beautiful, liberating realisation from deep within you which has ushered in so much joy and growth in your own life and the lives of those around you. These are the moments in which we truly open ourselves to the endless possibilities which life actually is...These are the moments in which All That Is speaks to us and through us... Thank you for sharing these words and insights! With love to you and yours, Jay ❤❤❤
Because you've walked the walk you know what a journey it can be and how blessed we are to have the opportunity to evolve so much and share our awareness with our children, and them with us. What an honor bestowed upon us to hold this space for their freedom! Infinite blessings in return. <3
I resonate with your words so deeply. I am thankful for living in and feeling this expansive new world.
It feel great to connect with others who are seeing there is another way. Thanks for making the leap and giving your children the opportunity to be free!
This is a powerful message that everyone should hear!
Changing our interactions with children could change the world. I know it's changed mine.
I appreciate your voice on the issue; I work in `education' but it is becoming about more of dumbing down of children than giving value. But I also know that the authorities are cracking down on parents trying to home school in the UK covertly. I live in a county that had the biggest percetage of home schooling until the government denied those children the right to seat the same exams as their pears who have been in main stream schools. Funny, uhm!
It is sad to me that there are "authorities" that are manipulating and controlling the well- being of children for their own agenda. These little beings come to this planet, and e everyone else has already decided what is in their best interest and what hoops they will have to jump through, and how high. There will be coercion, fines, judgement, threats and more to families who don't comply. I feel it is time we stand up for the children and make this nonsense obsolete. Thank you for your attention here @linzo. I appreciate a perspective from inside the system. I will be posting more to this series. I will be interested to hear your thoughts about them.