Virtual Kitchen Table

Episode 43: Financially Accessible Homeschooling – How Do We Offer our Children an Abundant Life?

Does homeschooling have to cost a lot of money? We tap into this topic with Anne from @obytheby and Eclectic Kids and come to the conclusion that living richly and abundantly is indeed possible without expensive classes, outings and materials. We agree that sometimes we might choose those things but that as we slow down, observe and integrate other things into our days, they don’t seem as necessary or even desired. *This isn’t a conversation that suggests that everyone wants to or can homeschool, either financially or otherwise. It’s an opportunity for us to sift through how home education can be simplified and enjoyed at a much lower cost than people might imagine and that while that still might not make it possible for ALL people, it might make it possible for MORE people. Something that comes up throughout the conversation is the role that gradual deschooling plays in becoming more comfortable with living simply. We’d love you to tune in and hear our thoughts. If you have links to additional free, low-cost or Pay What You Can resources, please send them our way via Comments or the Ever Learning email and we’ll get a running list going. Resources: @obythebyEclectic KidsEclectic Kids ExploreBirdboundAbundant Homeschooling Doesn’t Need to Cost a Lot of Money – Ever LearningHow Much Novelty Do Our Kids Need? – Episode #11: Virtual Kitchen Table Episode Fear of Missing Out – Episode #26: Virtual Kitchen Table Episode Easy Peasy HomeschoolAll in One Homeschool High SchoolThe Good and the Beautiful Khan AcademyVirtual Kitchen Table Community

Episode #42: What to Do When We Feel Like a Rubbish Parent: 13 Steps to Dealing with Parenting Doubt

Sometimes we all feel we’ve missed the mark with our kids and it’s not a great feeling. What might be helpful during those times? In this conversation, we return to follow up on the discussion from Episode #40: Feel Like a Rubbish Parent? Nine Things to Remember When You Feel Like a Rubbish Parent and weave in some action steps as well as explore many related thoughts. We invite you to join us! Both of these conversations are based on Hayley’s blog posts of the same titles. You can link in the Resources to read the full posts. Resources:What to Do When You Feel Like a Rubbish Parent: 13 Steps to Dealing With Parenting Doubt – Taking a Kinder PathEpisode #40: Feel Like a Rubbish Parent? 9 Things to Do When You Doubt your ParentingWho I Am: The Words I Tell Myself by Susan Verde, Peter H. Reynolds (Illustrator)BirdboundLulastic HippyshakeEver Learning – Being Conscious of the External Processor: How Being Aware of the Way our Child Makes Decisions Can Help Us Avoid Getting Tangled Up 19 Benefits of a Good Cry: The Comforting Case for Crying (and Why it’s Good for Us) – Taking a Kinder PathVirtual Kitchen Table Community Joy lists : A Home Education Essential (what they are, why you should have one and how to get started). – Taking a kinder pathSelf-soothing checklists : the secret to raising our mood and energy levels fast – Taking a kinder pathCreate a calming kit to help you cope (45+ ideas to get started right now) – Taking a kinder path

Episode 41: Creative Kids, Creative Parents

We came back to chat about creativity and creative practice again with Cyrielle from Unschooling and Thriving, and Kendel from spark.to.flame.homelearning joined in and added her perspective. We shared insights about our children’s creativity and our own, and ways we consider and support them and ourselves, both practically and thoughtfully.  This was a really interesting conversation with a lot of little nuggets throughout that helped us zero in on the value of various forms and aspects of creativity and the ways we can invest in our families and ourselves to support well-being and create joy.  Please join us for a listen. Resources:Unschooling and Thriving@Spark.to.flame.homelearningReclaiming your Time – Unschooling and Thriving Episode #37: Nurturing our Well-being Through Creative Practices Episode #6: The State of Flow in LearningTendril TheorySelf-Determination Theory 

Episode 40: Feel Like a Rubbish Parent? 9 Things to Remember When You Doubt Your Parenting

“Do you feel like a rubbish parent? Scared of letting your children down? Convinced you’re not good enough …?”We dug into Hayley’s blog post of the same name and discussed those moments or maybe seasons when we feel utterly lost as a parent, and also the ones where we just aren’t quite sure. We talk about changes in parenting trends and the evolving role and expectations of parenthood, share challenges and ideas and so much more. Join us for an interesting conversation that might be quite relatable. Resources: Connection ParentingVirtual Kitchen Table Episode # 20 – Deschooling Imperfectly: The Beauty of IntentionVirtual Kitchen Table Community 

Episode 39 - The Places, the People and Coming Home to Ourselves

We were joined by Bex Tobin Fine, author of the picture book You Are Home and thoroughly enjoyed a conversation with her about the many aspects of home. We tapped into how we define home, where we feel at home, considerations within our home educating lives, how we collaborate with our children in relation to home and, woven into all of that, is how we nurture in ourselves and our children that in a very real sense, we are our own home. Resources: Books by BexVirtual Kitchen Table Episode #27: What is Strewing – Being IntentionalExploring Unschooling Podcast #189 – Pam Laricchia and Amy MartinezVirtual Kitchen Table Episode #37: Nurturing our Well-Being Through Creative Practices