Hey Plebbles, On Saturday, I graduated from a white to a blue belt in BJJ 😎 I must admit that it feels good but I can also see the relation to a school's grade system as a motivation to do better and keep going. I suppose the difference is that I made the choice to practice BJJ, nobody sends me there 4 times a week, I do it because I like it... I'd go every day if I could 😏 Those days will come once I've set up a tatami area at APTB 😀 Anyway, a teenager there who also got a new belt was very upset and when I asked a friend of mine what's up with him, he said 'His mom prohibited him to go to BJJ classes because he's not doing well at school.' This triggered me and I said 'F...g schools!' Although I know it's not the school who denied him his passion... SUPPORT STRENGTHS, NOT WEAKNESSES I went on a 5min rant saying to my friend 'Never put school before your children!' and so on. My friend told me about his 5 year old son who will be starting school this year and when he tried to sit him down to teach him something, the boy wasn't interested and didn't want to do it so he left him alone and didn't try again. He could see what I was talking about... He's concerned about sending him to school but knows that when you want to take your kid out of the system, social services come knocking at your door. Therefore I told him that the important thing is to know that the system is effed up and even though his son will have to go through it, he mustn't be afraid of bad grades and should always remain on his son's side. After this conversation I realized that it's almost like his son will be serving a 10+ year prison sentence that he will just have to endure and make the best out of. But it can turn into a life sentence because if he gets caught up in the system, the conditioning received during this time, will be the driving force in the next decades, unless he undoes the damage. You can take the prisoner out of jail but it's not that easy to take prison out of the person. What are your thoughts on this? Stay updated about and sign up to our newsletter today! www.aplacetobe.me

#ProofOfWalk in Madeira today

Our second SATurday Bitcoin Walk. Looking fly in @Deleted Account gear ⚙️

@BitcoinAtlantis we started collecting funds to buy various items for the kids at APTB, like musical instruments, microscopes, books, camping equipment etc. Here's what we've got so far 🎸🩹🔦

Geyser | Bitcoin Crowdfunding Platform

A Bitcoin crowdfunding platform where creators raise funds for causes, sell products, manage campaigns, and engage with their community.

We had our first Bitcoin walk today. It was awesome to walk and talk, talk Bitcoin and shit but never shitcoins 😁

I came second at my first Brazilian Jiu Jitsu competition in Lisbon last weekend and am looking forward to teaching this gentle art at A Place To Be to the kids who would like to give it a go… 😎😇 If you’d like to support our project please send us sats 😊🙏🏽

This is what #selfdirectedlearning looks like this week: Lima bought herself a bow and arrow set, taught herself how to use it and then also showed her little sister Bo. They both decided to bake some Christmas cookies choosing flavors and shapes themselves and I helped when they asked me to. After spending the morning by the pool where Bo was proud to present her new self-acquired diving skills, the two had the idea of having lunch in the park and invited their friend so we had a nice picnic. They played basketball, then used the field as their stage performing silly dances to each other. I sat and watched 😍 Apart from that lots of other #childledlearning moments happened that I didn’t catch on camera 😊 In short, there are endless opportunities to #learnwithoutschool and without pressure, just by letting kids follow their interests and supporting their ideas 🥰 #unschooling

Terrific excursion to @quintapedagogicadacamacha this morning with 10 families. Farmer Bruno explained all about his awesome project to promote awareness about the importance of buying and consuming local food, circular economy and how things work on his farm. We planted seeds, learned about how to make naturally fertile soil and the problems about the tight bureaucracy in Portugal… Valuable information for @aplacetobe_me because we’ll have animals and will grow food as well. #unschoolingmadeira #unschoolingcommunity Upload failed: File size exceeds the limit of 25.00 MB

We don’t need schools to learn. Throw a bunch of kids of different ages into an open space together. Add a few kind adults who respect children’s right for self-determination and education takes care of itself. Schools are obsolete.

Todays classroom ❤️

Thank you Philipp from @presntdesignco for bringing over these amazing gifts today! You not only designed our rock star logo, you now also printed us our first T-Shirts 😎😍😇🙌🏽 AND WE LOOOOOVE THEM!!! 🥰

Great meeting with @andreloja @CoworkFunchal APTB will get a stand at @BitcoinAtlantis and I’m excited to be organising a panel for unschooling projects. Let’s see if someone from @kubrioxp & @synthesischool would like to come & have a discussion about the topic.

What is happiness? 1/ 🧘Today by the pool, I reflected on my decision to unschool my daughters, Lima and Bo. Why aren't they in school like other kids? Well, I believe they learn more efficiently by interacting with the real world rather than being in an artificial learning environment. #Unschooling 2/ 🤔 Imaginary responses to the schooling question vary from 'none of your business' to explaining our educational choice. Yet, it's not always easy, especially with some disapproving hints from my visiting mother. But watching my girls play, I was reassured. #ParentingChoices 3/ 🌀 While observing them, I noticed how they're learning from each other & the environment. It's a contrast to traditional schooling where kids are often forced to memorize uninteresting facts. Unschooling seems more natural & enriching. #HolisticLearning 4/ 🤯 Yet, self-doubt creeps in at times, pulling me away from the present moment. This introspection led to deeper thoughts on happiness, and how our minds clutter over time with judgemental thoughts & beliefs, often instilled by others. #Mindfulness 5/ 🔄 As we grow, we inherit many of society's judgements & beliefs, altering our perceptions of reality. These inherited beliefs aren't always true, yet they govern our reactions & evaluations, often causing internal conflict & suffering. #SelfAwareness 6/ 👧 When we label something as ‘good’, we automatically create its opposite - ‘bad’. This dualistic thinking starts young. For instance, a child playing with a stick might learn it's 'dangerous' if told so, instead of learning through natural consequences. #LifeLessons 7/ 🎭 Judgements, whether about ourselves or others, create a mental hamster wheel, altering our ability to live in the present. Even positive comments can reinforce a dualistic view, impacting a child's self-perception & behavior. #MindfulParenting 8/ 🏊‍♀️ Back to the pool moment, I yearn for happiness for Lima & Bo. Not from external achievements, but from accepting reality without judgements. Unschooling provides a space free from many societal judgements, nurturing their innate ability to live in the present. #UnschoolingBenefits 9/ 🌈 Our choice may not align with societal norms, but it aligns with our understanding of happiness – living without restrictive beliefs. And while I'm working through my own mental hamster wheels, I'm hopeful for a less judgement-filled journey for my daughters. #ParentingJourney 10/ 💌 What's your take on this? Do traditional schooling systems contribute to societal conditioning, or do alternatives like unschooling offer a freer learning environment? Would love to hear your thoughts! #Discussion #EducationalChoices * Sylvia x 🌸

Great birthday party in the park yesterday- Lima already 7 ❤️

North coast of Madeira

Beautiful walk to camara do lobos this morning #madeira

Chilling in Funchal waiting for Bo to wake

GM

Two beautiful trees

Beautiful wilderness with rabbits and eagles