Happy Anniversary to the UM2M Community

I had already been quietly blogging for nearly a decade. I knew unschooling.

And I also knew that most mainstream parents—parents like I once was—weren’t hearing the message that unschooling could actually work for them

They were hearing that unless they got it “perfect,” they didn’t belong.

And that just... wasn’t true.

I knew that even “almost unschooling” could be a step in the right direction.

That it wasn’t some miserable failed attempt—it was part of the process.

Because that’s what this is: a process. A process of unlearning the things we were taught to believe about kids and learning and control. A process of finding a better way.

So we created something different.

We built Unschooling Mom2Mom to be a space where curiosity was welcomed.

Where support came first.

 Where parents didn’t need to know all the ‘right’ terms to use—or feel behind because they hadn’t read the few unschooling books that were even out there.

We weren’t looking for where someone said the wrong word or slipped into a schooly thought—we were looking for the common ground.

Because that’s where the real connection happens. That’s where the lightbulb moments start.

I knew that fear was usually what was driving the doubt, the resistance, the clinging to structure.

 But I also knew: with a little information and a lot of support, families could let go. Just like I had.

 And when they did? Life got so. much. better.

What's it Look Like Today?

Our little Unschooling Mom2Mom community has grown into something I never could’ve fully imagined back then:

• Over 49,000 members in the Facebook group
• 37,000 followers on the public Facebook page
• 26,000 on Instagram
• Over 345,000 podcast downloads
  

Unschooling Mom2Mom has become the largest unschooling presence online.

But more importantly—it’s become a space where thousands of families have found clarity, confidence, and connection on this path.

Has it changed over the years? Absolutely.

In the beginning, it was the Wild Wild West.

We had a crew of strong, thoughtful unschooling mamas helping moderate, keeping conversations on track, protecting the tone we wanted to set.

And over time, the group has morphed, just like we all do.

We paused questions for a while… we navigated algorithm shifts and social changes… but this summer, we’ve reopened the gates to welcome a new wave of parents who are realizing:

• Something about school isn’t working.
• Something about the pressure, the power struggles, the lack of autonomy—it just doesn’t feel right.
• And they’re wondering... Could this be the better way?

This podcast, this community, this work—it’s here to say:

 Yes. It can.

 And you don’t have to figure it out alone.

So whether you’ve been here since the start—or you just stumbled on this podcast today—I want to say:

💛 Thank you.

 Thank you for being here. For showing up. For asking the questions.

 For choosing connection over control.

 For doing it differently.

Because when you speak publicly in comments or posts, thousands who were too scared to post are nodding along.

You’re actually making a huge contribution to the community.

You’re helping others see they’re not alone.

They thought that too!

And they’re glad YOU were brave enough to say it outloud. 

If you’re not already in the Facebook group, come join us.

Check out the website.

Or—better yet—come get support in the Not Back to School 30-Day Reset that starts next month.

I used to do annual webinars every August...but this year, I wanted to offer something more impactful.

More personalized. More hands-on.

Because what you need right now isn’t just information—

You need hand-holding that actually grows your confidence as the rest of the world rushes back to school.

And that’s exactly what this 30-Day Reset is here to do.

You don’t have to do this alone. You never did.

Here’s to 11 years of unschooling support—and whatever comes next. 💛