#187 But I Want a CHECKLIST! Letting Go of School Habits in Unschooling

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Still searching for a checklist to prove you’re “doing it right”?

In this episode, Sue Patterson breaks down why unschooling doesn’t come with boxes to check — and why that’s both scary and freeing. 

Join a coaching-call-inspired conversation about the brain’s habit of seeking structure, why we feel compelled to “perform” as parents, and how we can shift from tracking tasks to checking connection. If you’re a parent moving away from school-style validation toward real life learning, this episode will help you reframe success, reconnect with your child, and trust your own rhythm.

Keywords: unschooling, deschooling, homeschooling, checklist mentality, parenting without curriculum, connection over structure, unschooling parents, free-range learning, trusting your rhythm

You’ll learn:

• Why our obsession with checklists comes from a school-brain still wired for “right answers”
• How unschooling challenges that structure — and what to do instead
• A simple daily question to replace “Did I finish the list?” with “Did we connect today?”
• Why “progress” looks different in unschooling — and how to see what’s real

Resources mentioned:

• 365 Days of Deschooling
• Seasonal Unschooling Guides 
• Strewing Calendar
• Creating Confidence Unschooling Membership (community & coaching)

Tune in to reset your checklist culture and rediscover freedom, curiosity, and trust in learning together.

Listen now on all major podcast platforms.

Read the transcript here at the Unschooling Mom2Mom Blog.