when the kids and i are talking about and discussing things, i dont feel (and they dont either) like im giving them a lesson. they (and i) just see it as me explaining how things work in real time.  is that bad?  i mean, as far as unschooling principles go?

take mandys egg question for example. i feel like we had a very interesting discussion which led to others and we had a nice time chit-chatting. BUT now im wondering, is me discussing things with them and explaining things to them, really letting them learn on their own? figuring things out for themselves?

the way i talk about things with them isnt something im doing on purpose. ive always talked to my kids like that. explaining things. discussing things. even with my oldest, before he homeschooled and certainly before i thought I'D ever be a homeschool mom, much less an 'unschooling' one, if he had asked the egg question, our conversation would have gone the exact same way.  from when my kids were babies ive always used grown up sentences and big words. i always gave them straight forward answers to their questions and explained things on a more grown up level yet still at the level theyre at as well. i dont know how to explain it any better than that. and since this is the way ive always communicated with them, i dont feel like im giving them lessons or sneaking teaching in on them or anything. and they donjt see it like that at all!

each topic we discuss is always initiated by them. and we do 'discuss.' its not just me telling them things. its me answering their inquiries one sentence at a time, letting them ask new questions as we go as well as allowing them to surmise for themselves what the answers might be. the more we discuss things, the more curious the kids become. and the funnest part is when i DONT know the answer and we all go and look it up together. okay, i really mean, we all go google it together.

it sounds right to me. it feels right to me. but is this wrong? im stumptified. (yes, i just made that word up!)  blah!