Final Post

by Robin

I created the Life Without School  blog in the Winter of 2006 with an idea in mind to convince a few authors to join me on an adventure into group blogging about life without school. At the time, I was fresh off unschooling lists where arguments continued to erupt over the definition of unschooling and who and who was not an unschooler.  I was also fresh off politically minded lists where I saw and participated in quite a few discussions over who is a homeschooler and who is not a homeschooler.

The intentions of the blog were to (1) address  homeschooling and homeschoolers  operating independent of the public school system and to stay out of the argument over who and who is not a homeschooler (2) serve homeschoolers and unschoolers as defined by the individual (3) to explain and expand upon  the concepts and practices of homeschooling and unschooling as education and lifestyle for our own edification and as an outreach tool to the community at large.

Little did I know the blog would take off as it did and become transformed by the fantastic and talented authors who graciously gave of their time and skill to make this blog a day to day reality for 3 years.

Today, we are choosing to let the blog go. Health issues that I am dealing with don’t make time for me to give my full attention to maintaining and developing the blog further. You can learn more about Lyme disease here:

http://www.ilads.org/lyme_disease/about_lyme.html

http://www.underourskin.com/film.html

http://blogs.psychologytoday.com/blog/emerging-diseases

I am so very grateful for everyone who has helped make this blog a reality, from Shay Seaborne who was my mentor as I processed though the idea and worked to make it a reality, to the original authors who put themselves on the line to believe in the idea to begin with and then to make this blog a reality, to the authors who stepped up over the ensuing months and years to add flavor and expand our horizons even more. All such gracious, kind, supportive, and talented people I am blessed to also call friends. Thank you all.

I want to send a special thank you to all guest authors who also made this blog expand with thought and perception, just as I had envisioned and beyond.

I can speak for all of our authors and say thank you all for your support and your honest and thought provoking comments and contributions.

We are especially grateful to Steph W. for taking over blog management when I was struggling to keep up.

The blog will remain as a static site while I focus on regaining my health. When you visit and send people our way, you will see a page which will introduce the blog as an archived static site. As time rolls on, I hope to have the energy and brain space to make the site easier to navigate set up as a website.

If and when conditions are right, we may start rolling again. If not, we hope the blog/site will remain a useful resource for all homeschoolers to refer to for years to come. The writings contained in this blog  have consistently impressed me with the depth of thought, humanity, art, and skill of each author.

Best wishes to you all and power to all homeschooling  bloggers out there! Isn’t this a great medium to share ideas, perspective, and support and to share who we are with the world?

Take care and many blessings to you all,

Robin

Comments

[Shaye]

I am absolutely heart-broken. I don't always comment, but you're in my reader and I do keep up with you each week. Blessings with the health issues and I would love to hear that this blog will make a come-back on down the road.

[Amanda]

I'm really sorry to see you go. I'm a new unschooler, and love this blog! Sending wishes for better health.

[Wendy]

Thank you for your time and dedication to this blog. I plan on keeping this for any future reference. Hope your health gets better! :-)

[Jena]

I'd just like to say thank you for letting me contribute posts here. This blog was one of the first ones I found when I was looking to see who was talking about unschooling on the net. I felt an immediate kinship, and I am glad everything will still be available for future searchers. Thank you for your kindness and your inclusiveness. You have made a great contribution to the online discussion about life without school.

[Summer]

Thank you for the time and energy that you and all the writers have put into this blog. It's been one of my favorites and I will certainly miss it.

[Shellbie]

I am saddened deeply to see an end to the regular postings on this blog. I am a regular reader, although rarely comment. I have sent many a fellow homeschooler/unschooler here for support and comfort. This blog has been a source of strength for many of us.
I am deeply grateful for all that you and fellow bloggers have contributed. You have touched so many lives over these few years. Thank you.
Heal well and best of wishes to you and yours.

[Missy]

Robin,

Thank you.

[Cathy Sheafor]

Best of luck and thank you for all you have done. I have struggled with health issues myself over the years. Take care of yourself. Thank you again

[Laura]

Thank you so much for the time and effort put into this... I plan on making some alternative education choices when I have kids and this has been such a resource to come to and know other people are doing things differently too.

My prayers and thoughts go with you.

Peace an Light!

[adoptingmama]

Thank you and good luck in the future! I've loved reading the articles!
adoptingmama

[Lisa]

Robin,
Thank for you creating this blog. While I hate to see it go, I understand. Thank you to all the writers for your continued dedication. I love this blog!

[Michele Michael Deradune]

Wishing you WELL, please read this book!

When Antibiotics Fail...LYME DISEASE AND RIFE MACHINES

http://www.amazon.com/When-Antibiotics-Fail-Evaluation-Alternative/dp/0976379708/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1237817553&sr=1-1

I do not have personal experience with RIFE machines but a friend's husband, 55, was already in hospice care with bone marrow cancer, multiple problems with internal organs plus tissue problems akin to 2nd degree burns on legs, hospital visits, expected to die soon -- did the RIFE for an 80-program. You must find someone who knows how to program for cell regeneration from what I understand. Anyhow, even his doctor pronounced him CANCER-FREE three months later and he is still doing fine now a year later. Whatever you do, don't give up!!!!

[Rana]

I'm going to miss getting new articles from you all, but the cool thing is there is so much info. from the archives that I have not had a chance to look at all of it yet, this will have to pacify me. Thank you for all your wisdom and insite. Everyone take care of yourselves and your families.

[Karen]

Robin, it is no exaggeration to say that your wonderful creation gave me the courage to homeschool my children. Thank you so much!
I wish you the very best as you recover, and hope that your voice will be heard on the web again soon.

[Tina]

Robin,
Thank you for providing this forum for our writing and reading. Heal.
Tina

[Christine]

Robin,

Thank you for giving me and so many others this site to read and the opportunity to post our views and experiences. You have brought so much wisdom and support to many families. I have enjoyed the site immensely and am sad to see it on hiatus indefinitely. But, I am thankful it will remain viewable. I have sent many new and veteran home schoolers here and wish you the best in all and especially for your health.

Christine Escobar

[Helen Hegener]

Oh, Robin, I just learned of this via a friend's Facebook post. The work you and so many of our friends have done here over the years has been an encouraging resource to so many people, new homeschoolers and old veterans alike. I wish you all the best in dealing with the health issues and I hope this is only an interruption in service, and not really a "final post."

[Divalicias]

Hi Robin -- I also found out through Facebook that you were stepping back from the blog due to health concerns. Just want you to know that I still think about you and sending prayers, wishes and intentions for your complete recovery and renewed health.

~ Alicia

[tania]

Life without School has always been my space of being inspired, grounded, refreshed. i've never really commented much but it's always been my refuge for my children's learning.
thank you so much for your work, your journey, your spirit and strength. it has made a difference in my life.
warmly
tania

[Lindsay]

I've put off writing, trying to think just what to say. This blog is one of the few I'm in the habit of visiting regularly, and I miss the new posts! But I thank you so much for keeping it going and providing inspiration. Best wishes and blessings on the road to regaining your health.

Lindsay

[CircleReader]

Just wanted to stop by to let you know that I am thinking of you & the LWOS site, and wishing you well. Know that the stories you've collected here are indeed an ongoing, wonderful resource. (And I hope someday to see the site resuming its activity!)

[Crimson Wife]

I hope you are doing okay and that you feel up to resuming this blog in the future. It will be missed!

[Lisa]

Robin,
I just found your site. I'm a homeschool mom also. We have become more of an unschooled family over the years because of chronic illness. I just found out last September that it is Lyme that i've been battling. I went to a wonderful clinic that doesn't focus on "killing the bugs" and works with YOU. It is a very amazing place and the docs there are very interested in people and not just the disease. I left with more energy, lots of HOPE and no more fear of the scary spirochette!

I hope you find the path to health you are looking for.
Blessings,
Lisa

[Dentists Santa Clarita]

I hope that you're doing well and hope that you'll be back on tack once again.