How do you call yourself an unschooler?

Amid blog posts of Latin, Art, Ambleside reading, and my admitted Type A insistence on the '4 R's'.  One might wonder how on earth I can claim to be even part unschooling.

Honest, I am at heart a trusting parent.  I know my kids will figure out what they need to know.  And I know that there is no reason to plan out the order of science or even too much on history.  I know beyond basic math physics is really not a requirement.    When it comes to what to study or plan, I very much invite my children's opinions, and follow their direction.

Dude isn't learning programing because I thought it should be required, he earns the right to goof off with programming by doing his chores and the other 'R's'.  Princess doesn't paint and draw countless princess' at my insistence.  And Little Man doesn't seek out book after book on animals due to some schedule I have.

The vast majority of the kids day is theirs to do with as they see fit.  While some rules apply (no disappearing on me, and be quiet at nap time), the choice of what to do to fill the time is usually theirs.

Though I am not above calling one or more over to check out an interesting link online or to test a new art idea.  I regularly request books from the library that I think may be 'up their alley'.  Or I may occasionally remind them of some former pastime that might be fun to pick up again.

Children do have insatiable curiosity by nature.  But how will they know that some topics are out there to be explored if I don't make them available? chemical properties, and the periodic table are not topics kids are likely to come across in early life.  Yet when presented with them Dude fell in love.  Whales and bears, something we never see in real life here, caught Little Mans interest right away.  He needs me to take him to the zoo, or library, or help him find interesting info online, or in a movie.  Princess has limited access to paintings and other forms of art;  I on the other hand have the internet at my fingertips, and a good 20some years of exposure to origami, topiary, and various other forms of art.

One thing I try not to fall into is assuming I know what they will like.  No topic is automatically tossed out just because I don't like it, or it doesn't fit exactly with their earlier preferences.  Tastes change.  We know it is true with food, I am fairly certain it can be true with 'hobbies' or areas of study.  Besides the world is huge, it is full of amazing things, why discount any of them based on a preconceived notion of what is interesting or fun, and what is not?

So I share, and I see what catches their interest.  I don't insist any one kid follow the interest of another, and I don't waste my time insisting they learn anything I am not (nearly) certain they will need in adult life.

I call that freedom of exploration Unschooling.  No schedules, no tests, no requirements.  The no teaching part is the one I thoroughly fail at.  I like to share information with folk to much to give it up.