Introducing...The Un-Nanny

Over the last several months, I've begun another chapter of my life. I've been invited into people's homes to help them learn more about Radical Unschooling philosophy. It's much like being an Unschooling Doula, or the "Un-Nanny" for the weekend. I spend time with parents and their kids as they go about their days and when common issues arise, I make mental notes. In the evening we relax and discuss our day and I offer another perspective on how to work in partnership with one another.

Here is some recent feedback from a few parents who invited me into their homes for parenting support.

"Dayna, we can't thank you enough for spending the weekend with us and working with us to a more peaceful path. The time we spent with you changed our lives as a family. I understood RU philosophy on a certain level, but you showed us how to truly LIVE it!" Sharon- Belfast, Maine

"I never knew that two days with someone could improve our family life so much. I now understand what we have been doing "wrong" for so long. Having you see how we interact and then share information with us about it at the end of the day was invaluable. It was so helpful" Dan - Agawam Southwick, Mass.

"Wow! is all I can say about your kindness and insight! I am so glad we hired you to hang out with us for the weekend! Your feedback and support was like nothing we've ever experienced. We used to fight with our kids everyday. Now we are living in harmony. I never knew this type of life was possible. Thank you so much!" Kelly- New York, NY

When I travel to work with families, I bring my family. We stay in a hotel nearby and I spend 6-8 hours a day, for 2 or 3 days, with you while my family explores the area. It's very personal, hands-on support and a fun way that you can experience individualized advice catered to your unique family dynamic and issues. If you so desire, you can spend time with my family as part of the weekend. This is a great way to learn more about a partnership paradigm, through spending time with a family who is already living it! It's one thing to read about RU and a peaceful, connected parenting philosophy, but another to apply it. It can be so challenging, and I am here to help you take what you've learned and bring the peace, joy and connection to your family life.

If you are interested in having me be part of your life for a weekend to help you learn more about Radical Unschooling and respectful, peaceful parenting, just drop me an email here. We are willing to travel anywhere in the world to support others on their path.

This just may be the most leading-edge way to learn about how to shift your life from fear and control, to peace and connection with your family!

Backyard Archaeology

Our home was built in 1926. A large farmhouse was on our property before our home was here and it was destroyed by a fire in the early 1900's.

We were digging in the yard yesterday and began finding old railroad ties, old silverware and thick, unusual pieces of glass. We've only dug in a very small area of our yard and have found so much already!

We've begun researching the history of this area and we are all so curious about why there are railroad ties buried here! I wonder what was here hundreds of years ago? The answers may be right under our feet!

We are so excited to continue digging over time and learn more about this area and our land. The anticipation of what we could find excites us all!

Being Present

As an Unschooling parent, I learn so much alongside my children. I do not pour knowledge into them as the "all-knowing" wise one, or hover over them simply observing as they follow through with activities that I dictate. Our life isn't like that.

Our life is a dance of authentic connection and respect.

It's important that my kids see me learning, growing and pursuing my passions and interests, as well as nurturing theirs. Sometimes it is hard to surrender to my creative side. I've pretty much mastered being present with my kids at this point in our Unschooling lives. It can be harder sometimes for me to be Present with myself.

What does being Present truly mean?

For some people it is a way of life. For others it remains a mystery and a challenge, while for yet others it’s an unfathomable concept. Over the years I’ve come to more fully appreciate the underlying dynamic that ‘being present’ evokes. My current understanding is that a first aspect is to ‘be present with yourself in your experience of the moment you’re in'. The deeper aspect is about inviting our ‘inner presence’ into our lives. This requires a whole lot more than merely being physically present.

Some ways in which I practice being Present is doing Kundalini Yoga, painting, being out in nature and focusing on my inner body while exercising. Our minds are only a tool. They aren't *Us*. Most people in our culture spend their time either thinking about the past or worrying about the future. This is a way of living on autopilot. It takes a conscious effort to connect with our Inner Beings and who we really are and step out of our minds and simply Be in the Now.

By inviting ourselves ‘to be present’ moment to moment, we tune in to a higher frequency of awareness. We open to a state of curiosity, creativity and wonder. And, in so doing we partner with life and our sub-conscious mind to show us more of who we truly are. We invite our spirit, our essence, our core being into our life. And the moment our Spirit joins in, that is when we Sparkle!

The Rice Experiment

For the last month our family has been working on an experiment. It is called, The Emoto Rice Experiment and it is based on the work of Masaru Emoto, author of the book, Messages from Water, (and of What the Bleep do we Know!? fame).

Emoto believes that since people are 70 percent water, and the Earth is 70 percent water, we can heal our planet and ourselves by consciously expressing love and good will towards water.

Masaru has done several experiments where he proves the direct result of positive energy, meditation, and positive intention towards the shape of ice crystals.

Masaru suggests trying out his theory with this simple experiment. Cook some rice and add it to two containers. On the first you write, "Thank You - I love you" and on the second you write, "I hate you - You Fool". Make sure you seal the jars or containers.

Every day pick up each jar at least once, and say what is written on the jar. When I spoke to the jar, I tried to really feel the emotions too. (I even kissed the loved jar a few times. The kids thought this was so funny. ) It took over a week before we started seeing any mold or fermentation.

After only a month, our results are amazing!

The "loved" rice is as white and fluffy as the day I put it in there. The "hated" rice is fermenting and molding. This experiment has been mind blowing to us! It truly shows how powerful our thoughts and words are. Imagine treating those you love with kindness and gratitude and how this affects them both physically and emotionally. Also consider what effect hate and negativity can create in our lives.

This experiment is something you have to see to believe. Try it! It's a fabulous way to learn more about the Power of Intention. Our children are greatly affected by our words and thoughts toward them, as this experiment shows. What kinds of energy are you sending to your kids?

Time for Peace, Passion and Gratitude

One of the benefits for my children living this life is the time they have to discover new passions or to pursue and build on old flames of interest. Meditation is a natural state for my kids when they are really engrossed in something they love to do. I think it can be for all humans. We are meant to visit that state of contentment, peace and bliss. It isn't very often in our culture that children are given time to really find themselves in this way.

I am so grateful that my children can live their peace through a life of having plenty of time to do what they want when they want to.

Recently, Devin has been baking a lot! He has learned so much about making breads from all over the world. Bread-making is something he learned from my mother from England. She shared her love and Devin now uses this love as his "secret ingredient". He loves to share his bread as an extention of his love for others.

Tiff is into cake decorating and making our home beautiful. She adorns our walls with cheerful works of art and creates sculptures for all all to enjoy. She is also an animal lover and because of her intense passion, we have gained many new family members in the last few months! Rabbits, chickens, fish, a turtle and a part-time snake.

Ivy is my little Zen master. She exhibits a calmness and strength about her that many adults take years to learn. She craves calmness, and quiet. She loves to when I read to her alone in her room, and loves to do yoga.

Orion loves big trucks and nursing. He is my constant companion and is learning so much from being on me, living life by my side.

Since beginning this blog years ago, I look back at the images and see how much my family has grown. I have such love and gratitude in my heart for all that we have experienced and have yet to experience together on this wonderful path of peace, love and Joy.

Thank you for reading and for being the "observer" of our life. We are happy to have you part of our family in this way.

Unschooling Report Card

We live in the country and the nearest pediadontist is over an hour drive away. Whenever the kids have dentist appointments we combine it with a trip to Chuck E Cheeses.

They have a promotion where they award kids with tokens for good grades. It felt dishonest for me to grade my kids on traditional subjects where we don't live life in that way.I came up with the idea for the "Unschooling Report Card" To me it is such a statement of what we value.

I love that we can support our kids and promote the things that truly matter to our family on this awesome path of Radical Unschooling!Update! Chuck E Cheeses honored the kids Radical Report Cards! She even read them and exclaimed "Cool!".

The Revolution Continues...

Embracing Springtime Floods

Every year, when the snow melts our backyard floods. Years ago it would bother me so much! I couldn't wait for the pond to be gone so we could have our yard back. It always felt so upstream to get frustrated with nature. I remember the days where my emotions were so easily pliable that if it rained out, I could be thrown in a downward spiral of emotional turmoil.

My children make the best out of any situation. They also have a positive attitude and live in acceptance for what Is. After I had children, I began to see things through their eyes. If it would rain, they would exclaim that it was good for the flowers. If it would snow they'd cheer because they could go sledding. If we lost power in a storm they loved being able to live by candlelight and cook our food on the fire.

My children have taught me so much about unconditional love and acceptance. If as parents we are open to learning from them we grow in so many incredible ways as human beings. I am so grateful for all that my children represent to me in this world.

Here are Tiff and Ivy, making the best out of our yearly springtime flooding. Seeing their ability to go with the flow and focus on the Joy of everything around them inspires me daily.