Why We Chose Unschooling

I was asked this today and really wish I had the whole clip of our interview with Lisa Ling. It boils down to one person...Joaquin. Joaquin is our now nine year old son. He was born on a hot August day in 2002. I was so ready to have this little boy, two weeks earlier they stopped my labor with him.
Joaquin was so different from his older brother when he was born. He was the polar opposite from him. I knew in my heart, he would forever be so different.
Joaquin had been diagnosed with Autism, Epilepsy, Sensory Integration Disorder, and some digestive issues. He is also, heat sensitive. But, if you look at him you'll just see a sweet boy, thank you goodness you can't see the meltdowns.

When Joaquin became school age, we were homeschooling Dexter through a charter school. Joaquin had a hard time with the reading curriculum as he had mastered one the summer before. We had a very strict daily schedule for the kids, as we were told this was best for Joaquin. We adhered to it as if life itself could not exist outside of it.
There were times when we had to break from this schedule, appointments, field trips or mom wanting a park day. The melt downs were horrible and he was uncooperative. Something had to give. It was heartbreaking to think, he would never learn that sometimes you have to break from the schedule, and life would be okay. Thoughts of, how would he be as an adult or even a teenager when life was even more out of his control, for work and play. We had to break from the schedule completely.
We had a pocket schedule on the wall, times and subjects on it. We took it down and put it up. He kept bringing it out, we left the charter and ventured out on our own. It was a bit scary, the unknown...but, nothing is ever certain. We had him throw the schedule into the dumpster and move on to a new life, where he could learn what he wanted (really all of them) and no day was the same....and that everything would be okay.

Today, this is Joaquin...happy, healthy and full of life. A lot less meltdowns and able to go at a whim (most of the time). He plays, he laughs and he is still very shy around new people. I won't lie and say he warms up to everyone he meets but, he is open to meeting new people. He loves animals and wants a bird.

He is why we chose unschooling...and he is why, it's be so so wonderful.

Love,
Momma and Joaquin

Our Time with Lisa Ling

This summer we had the crew of Our America with Lisa Ling in our home. For two days they filmed us being, us. We are unschoolers and they wanted to know how it works for a family. They were mostly interested in our son Joaquin, he has Autism amongst other things. We welcomed them in with open arms, minds and hearts.

They filmed the kids mostly. It was summer and they filmed the kids doing various things. The kids swam, swung and other things. They made art and origami. They played with animals, we read and went to the museum.

It was a little surreal having these people in our home. But, they were really nice. All of them were and I know they were also really tired. I was a little upset about the amount of time they filmed Dexter with his video games. They never filmed him playing his guitar or banjo.

The episode aired on Sunday on OWN. I have heard it has reaired a few times. Most of the feedback has been good. Although we have been called a "parody of unschooling" and we have been fat shamed. Life goes on and we are happy just being.

Love
Button and the Sherman Kids

Our America with Lisa Ling: Season 2 Official Trailer

Watch an exclusive preview of what's in store on Season 2 of Our America with Lisa Ling! Plus, Lisa reveals her thoughts about people sharing their deepest, darkest secrets with her while she is investigating some of the most challenging and thought-provoking issues in society today.

Extreme Parenting: Pageant Moms & Football Dads

From pageant parents to a "tiger mom" to parents who opt for radical "un-schooling," Lisa Ling explores the world of extreme parenting and discovers what these moms and dads have in common: they all believe their path is the best for their children.