When You Start to Doubt Unschooling, Try This Simple Spiral Trick
📒 How to Use a Spiral Notebook for Unschooling Mindset Shifts
Steps:
- Grab a simple spiral notebook. Nothing fancy — just one you’ll actually use.
- Write your successes in the front. Include small wins: laughter, curiosity, connection, conversations.
- Write your fears in the back. Get the swirling thoughts out of your head and onto paper.
- Look at both. Remind yourself what’s working — and which fears need information or support.
- Repeat weekly. Watch your confidence grow as fear quiets down and clarity builds.
I'm starting a new series: Weekly Unschooling Tips!
And this one comes from my Membership Group. It really helps when doubts get the better of you. Like most of unschooling, success lies in the prep work! Getting the stage set, anticipating what could happen... all important factors! Same for this!
We All Have Those Moments
Even the most confident unschooling parents hit a wall sometimes.
A bad day (or week) can make you question everything —
“Maybe I should just send them back to school.”
“We’re not doing enough.”
What if I’m messing this up?”
You're not the only one with these thoughts!
But before you spiral into panic, grab an actual spiral.
🎥 Watch the Quick Video
If you’d rather listen than read,
here’s the 1-minute version of this post.
📒 Sue's Spiral Notebook Trick
Here’s what I suggest — it’s simple but surprisingly powerful.
1️⃣ Write your successes in the front.
Record the small wins — the moments that went right, the laughter, the connection, the spark of curiosity, conversations that remind you that they're learning and growing.
I KNOW you think you'll remember them all, but trust me, you'll forget.
And you'll especially likely to forget when you're having one of those middle-of-the-night panic attacks (or Friday afternoon disappointment that you didn't get to everything you wanted to do!)
When you’re discouraged, it’s easy to forget the good things!
So make yourself write them down.
2️⃣
Write your fears in the back.
Let the worries out of your head and onto paper.
Seeing them written down helps you separate what’s real from what’s just anxiety talking.
Sometimes, you’ll notice a fear that’s not realistic (“If they don't change things, they’ll end up living under a bridge!”).
Other times, it’ll point to something you need more information or support for —
and that’s something you can actually do something about.
Did you know I have Unschooling Guides on 20 of the most common things parents worry about?
I gathered years of info into one mini-magazine with tips, essays, and guidance.
They're here.
Why This Spiral Idea Works
This little exercise helps you get out of the emotional storm and back to clarity.
It keeps you from reacting to fear — or from reaching for curriculum you don’t really need —
and reminds you how much learning is already happening in your home.
The act of writing slows your thoughts down.
It gives you distance from the overwhelm.
And it brings you back to what matters most: connection, not control.
Want Help Working Through Those Fears?
Inside the Creating Confidence Membership, we talk about this exact practice — and hundreds of others — every week.
You’ll find:
💬 Live group coaching calls 2x/week!
📱 Supportive parent WhatsApp chat (where you learn how you're not alone!)
📘 A full library of guides, replays, and mindset tools
You don’t have to navigate this alone.
Come see what happens when you build confidence with others walking the same path.
