LIFE is Good Unschooling Conference Blog

For years, I’ve watched children grow up inside the LIFE is Good community, kids who spent their days building forts in the hallways, staying up too late with friends, and discovering who they were in an environment that trusted them deeply. Now many of those same kids are adults. Some are parents. Some are stepping into the very role their own parents once held: deciding how to raise children in a world that doesn’t always understand freedom, autonomy, or self directed learning. And as they step into that role, they’re doing something completely natural. They’re reflecting. Every grown child, unschooled or schooled, eventually looks back and asks questions about how they were raised. It’s not a rejection. It’s not a crisis. It’s simply adulthood arriving with its own clarity. As a long time conference host, I’ve come to see these reflections as a gift. They help us evolve our approach to unschooling without losing its heart. Below are the themes I hear most often from grown unschoolers, paired with the solutions and strengths I believe our community is uniquely capable of offering.

A look back at the Heathman years of LIFE is Good—loss, rebuilding, homecoming, and the community that kept us connected.

LiG is continuing! A new Conference Coordinator is stepping in, and the next chapter begins this year. Join us to be part of LiG’s future.

Explore LiG’s Nomad Years, from Portland to Tigard, and how our unschooling community thrived while searching for a new conference home.

A warm, nostalgic look back at the Hilton years of the LIFE is Good Unschooling Conference (2012–2015), celebrating growth, community, and joyful learning.

A nostalgic look at the Red Lion Years of the LIFE is Good Unschooling Conference—four years of connection, creativity, and unforgettable community moments.

Discover what one mom has learned after years of unschooling, from the biggest mindset shifts to the everyday realities. These thirteen frequently asked questions offer honest insights, practical reflections, and encouragement for families exploring a more self‑directed path.

A reflective look at how the LIFE is Good Unschooling Conference evolved from 2007 to 2008, including expanded programming, a new venue in Vancouver, WA, and the birth of beloved traditions like the UNtrepreneurial Fair, the Fairy Godparent Game, and dedicated gaming spaces.

A heartfelt look back at the first LIFE is Good Unschooling Conference in 2007. Join us as we honor the beginning of nearly two decades of connection and community.