While I usually describe our style of homeschooling as "eclectic" [a nice way of saying I'm stuck between textbook and Charlotte Mason], we have fallen into a more unschooling approach.  The major reason we adopted this style is the lack of control of our schedule. While my mother-in-law was ill, we lived in a state of being "on-call" for the family.  We have taken the last two weeks off except for read-alouds and one library trip.

I confess--I am a controller. I like to have control over my schedule, lesson plans, and paperwork. I enjoy planning lessons,  designing studies, and teaching my children.  I definitely have a hands-on approach towards teaching the children, and for years I just KNEW that unschooling was an undisciplined, unstructured, and unsuitable method of learning for us.

That is until real life knocked at my door and then forced its way inside!

My beautiful textbooks and workbooks! My craft ideas for the all the read alouds! My poetry unit that was designed for six weeks exactly!   The science book that was supposed to be done by now!  Oh, woe is me, I have not accomplished my plans!!!!

Well, the kids learned anyhow. Imagine my shock---my children can learn without all my fancy add-ons!  from real Science for Kids. They have continued to learn in many ways.  And I didn't have any of them pre-planned on paper.

The lesson here for me is to not judge styles too severely. I'm not ready to abandon my planning for a complete unschooling style, but I am thankful to learn  that styles can be blended to suit the children, the Mom, and the situation.  But I'm bound and determined to get that poetry unit study done!