Podcast · Kids & Family

Unschooling Mom2Mom

by Sue Patterson · English · Kids & Family

The Unschooling Mom2Mom podcast is a quick conversation with Sue Patterson, coach, author, and mother of 3 grown unschoolers. Sue shares inspiration and tips to help you find the unschooling confidence you're looking for! Even if you’re more of a “homeschooler” than an “unschooler,” these 10 minute

New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 8 min
Latest: 29 Sep 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

29 Sep 2026 · 7 min

Feeling Untethered with Unschooling? | 230

Unschooling can leave you wondering, “Am I doing enough?”—even when you can see your child learning. Why do worksheets, schedules, and grade levels still feel like proof that you’re doing your job? That’s the "untethered" feeling. You’ve stepped away from school’s rules, but when you’re worried, the old ways of measuring a day can still feel reassuring. A hard week, a question about grade levels, or a glimpse of another homeschooling family’s routine can bring them right back. In this episode...

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

S6 · E229 · 15 Sep 2026 · 13 min
What the Homeschool Socialization Question Misses | 229
Everyone asks, “But what about socialization?” Usually, they mean: Will your child have friends? But sometimes they’re asking something much bigger: Without school, who will teach your child how to fit in? 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 po...
S6 · E228 · 8 Sep 2026 · 10 min
You Don’t Need Curriculum to Make Learning Happen | 228
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 ass...
S6 · E227 · 3 Sep 2026 · 12 min
How to Stay Confident About Unschooling—Before a Crisis Hits | 227
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: Why unschooling confidence can disappear even when everything is going wellHow school expectations gradually creep back into our thinkingWhy you shouldn’t wait for a crisis to reconnect wit...
S6 · E226 · 25 Aug 2026 · 9 min
Six Months Ago, I Tried An Unschooling Experiment | 226
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: Why brief, daily support can have such a powerful impactHow unschooling confidence can quietly erode when life gets busyWhy we shouldn’t wait for a crisis to reconnect...
S6 · E225 · 21 Aug 2026 · 6 min
School Refusal: A Mom-to-Mom Reframe When Your Kid Is Miserable | 225
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. But what if that's not the only option? 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 o...
S6 · E224 · 18 Aug 2026 · 8 min
The School Year Is Starting Without Us—Why Does It Feel So Weird? | 224
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 home...
S6 · E223 · 13 Aug 2026 · 13 min
My Child Isn’t Going Back to School—Now What? | 223
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: Handle your state’s legal requirements without mistaking them for an educational planConsider what your child may need to recover from after leaving schoolAvoid le...
S6 · E222 · 30 Jul 2026 · 10 min
The Cons of Unschooling: Where Homeschooling Parents Need to Pivot | 222
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 subject...
S6 · E221 · 27 Jul 2026 · 5 min
Unschooling Course or Resource Library: Which One Fits You? #221
Would an unschooling course you can work through step by step—or a library of resources you can pull from when you need them—fit you better? Some unschooling parents want a clear path they can follow from beginning to end. Others want trusted help waiting for them when questions about deschooling, technology, math, or doing enough appear. In this short episode, Sue explains the difference between two kinds of self-paced unschooling support: • The Unschooling Starter Bundle—with Unschoolin...
S6 · E220 · 24 Jul 2026 · 11 min
Maybe Timelines Are Why Unschooling Feels So Hard | 220
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 ...
S6 · E219 · 16 Jul 2026 · 14 min
Is My Child Behind? Or Am I Using the Wrong Timeline? | 219
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 fo...
S6 · E218 · 8 Jul 2026 · 8 min
Why Summer Makes Homeschooling Parents Rush to Plan | 218
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 b...
S6 · E217 · 6 Jul 2026 · 8 min
When Your Kid Won't Get Off Screens: Why It Turns Into a Battle | 217
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 ...
S6 · E216 · 23 Jun 2026 · 7 min
Making Homeschooling Decisions Out of Fear | 216
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. In this episode, Sue Patterson explores how fear can cloud our judgment, shape our homeschooling decisions, and make it difficult to separate what we're actually observing from what we're afraid might happen. If you've ever wondered whether you're responding to your child—or to your fear—this episode i...
S6 · E215 · 19 Jun 2026 · 12 min
Can Video Games Count as High School Credit? | 215
They're playing all the time - is there anything worthwhile that we can count for homeschooling transcript? The answer may surprise you. In this episode, Sue Patterson explores how gaming can support learning in subjects like history, science, math, philosophy, leadership, and communication—and shares real examples of how those experiences can be documented on a transcript. Many parents worry that gaming is "just entertainment," especially when their teen spends hours immersed in ...
S6 · E214 · 12 Jun 2026 · 5 min
Are Homeschooling Questions Stealing Your Summer? | 214
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. T...
S6 · E213 · 18 May 2026 · 7 min
What Really Prepares Kids for Adulthood? | 213
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 ...
S6 · E212 · 7 May 2026 · 10 min
The Mother's Day Fairy - For Unschooling Moms! | 212
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 ...
S6 · E211 · 5 May 2026 · 14 min
What Does an Unschooling Day Look Like? Real-Life Examples by Age | 211
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: What unschooling looks like ...
S6 · E210 · 28 Apr 2026 · 8 min
Is Unschooling Enough? What it looks like day to day | 210
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: What learning actually looks like when it doesn’t look like school. 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: Why unscho...
S6 · E209 · 17 Apr 2026 · 9 min
How Unschooling Kids Learn Math Without Curriculum (A Real Day, Hour by Hour) | 209
How do unschoolers learn math without a curriculum? Can kids really learn math without school—and how do you know it’s enough? 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: how do kids learn math without curriculum is real life math enough am I doing enough math in our homeschool what about unschooling math gaps …you'll ...
S6 · E208 · 17 Mar 2026 · 13 min
The Truth about Unschooling "Schedules" | 208
“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. Whe...
S5 · E207 · 13 Mar 2026 · 6 min
BONUS: Pi Day Without the Hype — When “Fun Learning” Falls Flat
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. Sometimes they don’t. And both are completely normal. Sue Patterson also shares a simple w...
S5 · E206 · 9 Mar 2026 · 9 min
Quirky Kids: Unschooling and Neurodivergence | 206
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: Reassurance for parents of neurodivergent childrenHow the conve...
S5 · E204 · 3 Mar 2026 · 6 min
Do You Need to Revisit Deschooling? When Unschooling Doubts Show Up | 205
Do you need to revisit deschooling as your child gets older? Many unschooling and homeschooling parents start worrying about learning gaps, grade levels, falling behind, and whether unschooling is “working.” 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 • How grade-level thinking creeps back in • Why independence can t...
S5 · E204 · 27 Feb 2026 · 7 min
Those Voices in Your Head? Let Me Elbow In | 204
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: https://www.unschoolingmom2mom.com/creating-confidence-daily Unschooling doubt doesn’t disappear just because you left school. Old scripts — about productivity, laziness, timelines,...
S5 · E203 · 14 Feb 2026 · 7 min
The Real Reason Your Unschooling Confidence Disappears (And How to Strengthen It) | 203
You feel steady about unschooling… and then one comment, one comparison, one tired day — and you spiral. 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: • Why doubt resurfaces in cycles • The difference between insight and dai...
S5 · E202 · 5 Feb 2026 · 7 min
Unschooling the Olympics: No Curriculum Needed | 202
When the Olympics roll around, it’s easy to feel pressure to “do something educational.” You don’t need a unit study, curriculum, or lesson plan for real learning to happen. 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 look...
S5 · E201 · 22 Jan 2026 · 6 min
I Want to Do More to Teach — Why That Feeling Shows Up | 201
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 ...

About Unschooling Mom2Mom

Unschooling Mom2Mom is a English kids & family podcast from Sue Patterson. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: Sue Patterson
Language: English
Category: Kids & Family
New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 8 min
Latest episode: 29 Sep 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1557405164

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