And we’re off.
Make sure your seats are in the upright position, tray tables stowed away and seat belts are fastened and (especially the pilots) please remain seated as there may be some turbulence! We have de-registered and now have made it through the first week and boy! am I learning.. I figured it would be me teaching the kids, but I have found out a lot about myself already, and also my kids. Kids will always naturally learn, and my official title now is Chief Organiser of Opportunities for Learning.. or just call me COOL if you will. The irony is not lost on me..
Our home ed space is a hive of activity, and we now seem to be busier than ever. But more than anything, the pure joy of these kids faces and the pure bliss of an unrushed morning has to count for something. Yes, they are with me for an extra 30 hours a week, but it’s really not all doom and gloom as people may have me believe, and trust me, I have always found 6 weeks holidays tough! I have had wobbles, quite a few! doubting myself, am I doing them a disservice, will they learn, are they eating well enough, am I pushing too hard, or not enough.. but by Wednesday I took off the pressure I was putting myself under and found that they excelled without me breathing down their neck. Even after a few short years I could see the ‘schooling’ in the kids, they were asking if they were allowed to go to the toilet, or ‘can I have a drink now’? .. Oh! which reminds me, the biggest game changer was that I created them their own snack and juice cupboard in the kitchen. No more climbing up, raiding everywhere….! Just one cupboard… I fill up every so often, making them independent and not driving me absolutely crazy hanging off doors or standing on the worktops! I feel this is a little win - Mexican wave to me. And you know what? Now it’s theirs, and they have easy access to it… they aren’t actually as fussed about rummaging around - I guess its like a don’t push the red button scenario, now I’be stopped whining at them for doing things they shouldn’t, they are no longer interested, if only i’d have known this sooner.
My 8, the one who had zero capacity for any outside learning after mainstream school days, started playing the piano.. after learning Chinese - (his choice!) I mean.. I have absolutely no idea what the kid is saying, but a good smile and nod seems to suffice! He has also written out a mini storyboard for a short video he wants to film and edit.
6 is constantly gravitating towards the drums and going through lessons on YouTube and learning Italian on Duolingo. He is very creative and loves science and animals and is very excited about pretty much everything we do!
My 15 is back in school, GCSE year, the pressure is on and I feel if we had our time again, I’d do the same for him also. I don’t ever remember GCSE’s being so intense, and I was fairly academic. Despite his general mood, he’s such a good kid and never once complained about going to school since he was little. He does struggle, but he will come good.. I think he seems stifled in all honesty, like a caged animal, once he’s out, he will flourish.
We made Churros on our Wednesday bake day, but it wasn’t all sweetness and light and instagrammable by any means. It was messy, stressful and a total disaster..I spent more time cleaning up than eating any of the sad pathetic ‘magical mini churros bits/scraps’ but again, they are learning real life. They learned that Mom isn’t a baker, that a hot pan of oil is best outside in the garden to smoke out the neighbours and burn the grass, and that we can play ‘quick run around and open all doors and windows before your Dad gets back’ in under 70 seconds.
The biggest plus to this new way of life so far has to be how empty and quiet everywhere is in term time, and cheaper. It’s a wonder to the senses!
And for me? I'ts going to take me a while to find my rhythm and what I need to stay level headed and not overwhelmed / all consumed. this evening I’m off to London for the book launch of ‘Manifest Like a Mother’ by Francesca Amber, what a bird she is! If you don’t already, give her podcast a listen and find her on Instagram. Soulspace is also keeping me busy and creative and I am writing my book in little snippets of time when I can, the pressure is on and the release date will be December for House of Harmony which is exciting! I am also in the process of finalising the dates for the next years brand new workshops - ‘The Soulspace Rituals Collection’ , these will be online and in person, yes! I get to see real people that aren’t under 9.. dream.
So until next time..have a great weekend!
Laura xx