This week is Part 2 of my wonderful conversation with Sue Patterson about unschooling and the teen years. In this episode we talk about the later teen years, transitioning into adulthood, is there preparation needed, should we be defining success for someone else, connection and how relationships evolve and change. So many wonderful moments talking about this dynamic stage of our unschooling journey!
Questions for Sue
Let’s dive into the later teen years and the transition into young adulthood. The societal expectations can be daunting—for both us and them. Let’s start with that practically ubiquitous question: What about college? And let’s ask it of ourselves first. Some parents who’ve chosen unschooling for their kids growing up do expect them to go to college. Though that can sometimes cause friction, can’t it? And is college the necessity it’s made out to be? How can we find our way through this question?
What if they decide they’d like to go to college? How can we help them with that? Can you share your experience?
Now let’s jump to the bigger picture and another common—and wonderful—question asked by unschooling parents of teens: how can we help and support them as they grow up and into the world? We dove into the college question, but there are so many other possibilities, like getting a job, travelling, transitioning to paid work in their passion field, and so on. And not only around choosing what to do, but exploring who they are as a person and young adult. Can you share how you supported your kids as they moved through these choices and transitions?
Is there anything you’d like to add to our conversation around unschooling and the teen years? Something we didn’t touch on?
Links to things mentioned in the show
The podcast episode I mentioned with Alec: EU141: Growing Up Unschooling with Alec Traaseth
And with Adrian: EU163: Growing Up Unschooling with Adrian Peace-Williams
Sue’s free ebook: Unschooling Your Teens
Sue’s book: Homeschooled Teens: 75 young people speak about their lives without school
Sue offers a private coaching group with weekly calls for only $20/month. You can check that out here : Group Coaching
And a Monthly Unschooling Guide at her Patreon: Patreon.com/UnschoolingMom2Mom
(at the $5 level)
Episode Transcript