I love the new Connections issue!!! Wow Danielle, you are doing such an amazing job with the whole thing. I am beyond impressed!

—Dayna

Thanks, I'm looking forward to it as we have just embraced the whole unschooling option and loving it!!

I am a friend of Arun Pradhan who had a article in your latest ezine. It was through your generosity to give friends & family a limited time of access that we checked it out and decided to sign up for more!

Thanks for all your love & work we appreciate it.

—Lisa

Oh my gosh! Another Metallica fan!! I was going to write a blurb for my unschooling blog on this VERY topic--discussing Metallica's "Dyer's Eve" no less!! I just haven't gotten around to it. When we started unschooling (our kids have never been to school, but I mean when we started living by radical unschooling principles), I started looking at music lyrics in a whole new way. My 5 year old daughter and I LOVE Metallica and one day when we were moshing around in the basement together to their album "...And Justice for All," I really listened to the words of the songs and I could just hear the pain that I know so many people experience as children--and I don't just mean those that suffer from abuse and neglect like Dayna. I'm talking about kids whose lives are controlled by parents and school. Kids who aren't trusted or respected. I'm so glad to know of others out there who have chosen the path of radical unschooling for their families.

Thanks for the great article, Dayna. Rock on!!

—Amy

[Danielle's] article "Hacking the Curriculum" contained the sentence "His intuitive grasp of gaming logic aside, part of what makes him so proficient is his willingness to click around without worrying about conforming to any kind of "right way" to play the game" that really jumped out at me.

Recently, we picked up a new videogame (I believe it was a Star Wars game for the PS2). As soon as we got home, Rick and Joshua *had to* start playing "it was a moral imperative" (great movie line from Real Genius). Joshua proceeded to totally annihilate Rick! For exactly the same reason as you note - Joshua was just clicking away, using things he had learned from previous gaming but just trying all different combinations in hopes of hitting something. Boy, did he ever! While Rick was still trying to figure it out in a linear fashion "This button does this, this button does that, this combo does this...how do I...?" Joshua just jumped in and started swimming circles around Rick. It was really cool to watch - and gradually, Joshua connected the combinations to the actions and was able to explain it to Rick. Which is a fun dynamic to be part of - there's as much information, in some cases, going from Joshua to Rick as there is going from Rick to Joshua (Joshua is the resident expert on all things Pokemon, so Rick will ask him about where to find this or how to evolve that or whatever). Totally different than the typical "I'm the grownup, I have all the answers you need" idea of society at large.

Anyhow, back to reading the rest of Connections...

—Deb

I just read my first article of Connections."Living a Principled Life" As i finished the last line shivers went up my spine. It was truly a magical experience, and i can't wait to share it with my husband.

I had just spent a day with a friend yesterday who implements media and food restrictions- two of my own biggest issues. I was able to share my 4 yo as a success story, as i have been practicing living with my daughter rather than controlling her. I still have a long way to go, but felt so much gratitude for alwaysunschooling when i was with my friend. I have come such a long way from where i started.

Your article both affirmed me and also reminded me of my continued journeys that lay ahead of me.

Thanks so much!

—Lisa