Be the Change: Life, Unschooling, and the Art of Grandmothering
For fifteen years, I have been blogging and podcasting about what happens when you choose a life that is "different". In my universe, you can find personal, heartfelt, passionate pieces about the whole journey from when the children were small, to now, when they are grown, some of them adults.
Originally from Copenhagen, trained as a psychologist and mother of four, I gave up the safe path and set out into the world in a big red bus, and have lived as a nomad since 2018. Three of my four children have never been to school.
Life is not an experiment – it is far too important for that. But it is also not just another package on the mainstream sausage factory line. With all senses open and infinitely vulnerable – also and perhaps especially to my own limitations – I have challenged what life can be, to find a way of being in it that makes sense.
That journey continues.
For fifteen years, I have been writing about it, and for five, I have been podcasting. Here you can find everything. Just go exploring. If you are looking for something specific, ping me an email or better: a message, and I will point you in the right direction. If you would like guidance, you can book a free discovery call and read more here, and we can see if I am the right person to help you.
Welcome, as I said. Cecilie
I have an appetite for life and a deep compassion and devotion for the moments that shape people's lives – both feeding my urge to get out there and LIVE, and to get down there in the depths of what it is all about, so I can help my fellow humans clear the chaos, adjust the lens, breathe deep, and be ready for anything!
As a cancer survivor, I am deeply grateful for every second I was given back when I got my life back 14 years ago. I am a mother of four – and I know how incredibly wealthy that makes me.
I like to think of myself as someone in service of something bigger – in service of life itself, that which is greater than I can ever understand – which is, at its deepest, love. My work in this life is for that. I don't need to understand it fully or plan it – I need to listen and do what needs to be done.
I know that many of the elements of modern life are devastating our capacity to live true to what life is truly about – and I am here to fix that. I am humble and strong at the same time.
I call my work grandmothering. Maybe I am just very excited about the next stage of my life, which I hope to see in a few years. But it is also about something else:
The truth is, I don't like the idea of coaching, therapy, or courses – all that structured "I-know-it-all" kind of work is not my cup of tea.
I am here to serve, to share my perspective, my experience, and my knowledge – and to hold your hand and your heart, if you will allow me. I am here to help, to see you and acknowledge your unique presence – to help you live a better life.
Dive into the blog or the podcasts and learn about unschooling, nomad life, radical choices, and the reality of our inner world – and sign up for my newsletter to be the first to know when I show up live sometimes. Or just give me a call. I am here to serve.
Cecilie
A life in change
In our family, things change continuously, always. We certainly have habits and routines, but things shift all the time – the children develop, seasons change, different phases follow and overtake one another. Any glimpse into our family life, our routines and habits and "this is how we do it", is therefore to be understood as snapshots, examples of what reality can look like. You will find articles from earlier that in no way describe where we are in our lives today. That is the beautiful thing about living, about growing, learning, and getting wiser, while filling life with moments of wonder. Even though we no longer eat gluten and don't watch TV or spend hours in front of an iPad, I have chosen to leave the old articles up for the enjoyment and inspiration of those who wish to read them.
Be the change
I am a woman who stands by her convictions. Lives by her convictions. Who can feel her gut instincts and trusts them. Einstein wisely said: "The intuitive mind is the sacred gift, and the rational mind is a faithful servant". I dare to believe that. I don't believe much in politics and polemics, in talk and principles. I believe in the real lived life, the moments, the everyday, reality. I am a child of the seventies, and I have carried the "be the change" banner high my whole life.
I blog because I want this change, also beyond my own family, and because I have experienced a growing and genuine interest in our lifestyle from many sides. At the same time, I believe it is difficult to be a family with children in Denmark today; that the good life for children and adults is under threat, and that the discourses running in this area in many ways only make it worse. That is why I write. To try to shine a light in the dark, to put it a little grandly.
More concretely: I am from 1975, I am from Copenhagen. Trained as a psychologist at the University of Copenhagen, specialised in family dynamics. I was a single mother (by choice – but not planned) in Nørrebro for five years, before I met my prince (again – he is actually my first love), and became a wife in Valby. We had two more children, and he adopted my fatherless daughter, before I got leukaemia (AML), which thank God and eternal glory I survived (until proven otherwise). Then we had – as a true miracle – another child. Our eldest is from 1999, our youngest from 2012. We have two boys and two girls.
The blog is mostly about unschooling and life as a full-time travelling nomad family. I mostly write in English these days, because we meet so many people on our travels who want to follow along. All Danes can read English, so I figure nothing is lost.
On the blog you can also read about co-sleeping, baby carriers, children's freedom and rights, about adults' responsibility, about language and conversations and language development, about the radical choice: homeschooling, and about how to organise an existence full of joy, time, and enthusiasm as a homemaker in a large household. You can read about the modern women's "struggle", about highly sensitive children (HSP) and adults, about special diets and everyday food, about vegetarian food and quick food and food from the garden (because recipes are just so lovely to browse when you have read something more thoughtful).
There are many, many articles about life with children – what I do not call and do not think of as "parenting" – about how to live the good life together, and help your children get a good start in life at the same time. You can read about breastfeeding, also breastfeeding beyond 12 months, and about how to teach your children to read in an undramatic way. About yoga for children, about "the social question", and much more.
All articles are seasoned with photos and stories from my own family. We have no secrets.
These years we travel around Europe. We travel on a whim and seize the moments that present themselves. The stories are local and inspired.
Personal and wholehearted guidance
I am happy to listen to questions, and often they lead to new stories and articles on my blog, because they are genuine and authentic questions – real wonder, exploration, interest … and sometimes a need for personal sparring. I am happy to do it. By email, on Facebook and via the blog, on the phone and in the form of walk and talk (works better than coffee chat, I think). When there is a real need for help and for a truly uplifting process, I am happy to take a humble price for my time and expertise. It is always hard to do – as a psychologist, I have to earn my money on what I would happily do voluntarily and spontaneously. But that is the game. Do write and ask a bunch of questions. If it looks like work, I will just say so, quietly.
Love and name changes – and hey – do ask.
Love and name changes – and hey – do ask. In all humility, this is my presentation of Cecilie Conrad, yours truly. I was originally called Cecilie Vestlev (just in case anyone might recognise me from before), but changed my name when I married and am now Cecilie Felumb Conrad Vestlev, but just go by Cecilie Conrad.
Questions about our life, unschooling, travels, and way of being parents are received with joy. I share my answers as blog posts, so as many people as possible can benefit.
I hope all you wonderful people harvest plenty of joy and inspiration from my site.
Enjoy.
Cecilie Conrad
