120: Anna Vestlev Sandfeld | Why We Choose Unschooling

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What happens when your child simply won't fit inside society's educational box?

When Anna Vestlev Sandfeld realized her son didn’t fit into the structure of kindergarten—and likely never would fit into traditional school—she and her husband chose unschooling. In this conversation with her cousin Cecilie and co-host Jesper, Anna reflects on the first year of stepping away from the system.

Anna shares how the loss of her first child shaped her parenting values, what it meant to leave a job she loved, and how her son’s strong will and focused interests made conventional paths feel impossible.

We explore what unschooling looks like when a child is, as Anna puts it, a “force of nature.” She shares how they’ve let go of routines around food, sleep, and learning, and how screen time—especially a Paw Patrol obsession—became a mirror for her own discomfort.

We also discuss emotional availability as a form of parenting work, and why being present can be more powerful than teaching.

🗓️ Recorded May 13th, 2025. 📍 Budapest, Hungary

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