S2E10 | Is It Working? Wrestling with Doubt in Unschooling

Cecilie Conrad, Sandra Dodd, and Sue Elvis discuss doubt and fear in unschooling—where they come from, how they spread, and how to move through them without defaulting to school-based thinking. They explore the pressure of responsibility, the impact of lingering fears, and why letting go of outcomes helps build trust in both learning and relationships.

They talk about how fear can be reinforced through casual conversation, especially when parents share worst-case scenarios or compare their children to school-based standards. The discussion includes the idea that much of what parents worry about is based on assumptions that haven’t been questioned, and how simply asking “Is it true?” can shift how we see our role.

There’s also a focus on how unschooling parents can become more confident, not by forcing results, but by staying present, observing real growth over time, and letting go of the need to control outcomes. The conversation points to a broader definition of success—one that includes emotional well-being, agency, and the ability to build a life that fits, rather than one that follows external benchmarks.´

🔗 Sandra, Sue and Cecilie's websites

• https://sandradodd.com 
• https://storiesofanunschoolingfamily.com 
• https://cecilieconrad.com

🗓️ Recorded April 28, 2025. 📍  Budapest, Hungary

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In season 3 of Ladies Fixing the World, host Cecilie Conrad is joined by longtime unschooling voices Sandra Dodd and Sue Elvis to explore unschooling as a lifestyle.