Communication has been breaking down in this house of ours : pinching, snatching and arguing is back in force amongst the youngsters ~ also we have a strong pull towards the 'Telling Each Other What To Do' trend. Panic ensues occasionally as our eldest slips through our grasp like a slippery fish, avoiding answering any tasks, ideas or shared learning opportunities.
On her own, she's on fire! Gallops ahead with idea after idea, writing reams on her chosen projects, stacking up tadpoles, tea stalls, cooking projects. But a slight breeze of attention from a parent and the spinning top veers from its axle.
Letting go letting go letting go is the theme. Trusting we'll find an equilibrium again soon.
Sunday, 27 May 2012
Wednesday, 2 May 2012
wobble number seventy-four
I wonder if this was my last wobble of our first year's home educating. It peaked in that week after Easter when schools were back in and we weren't quite in our rhythm yet.
Chaos I think was the cause. And I'd like to learn to love chaos if at all possible! Much is there in its midst to grow and develop through - it is a time when all roads present themselves... ooo I feel a song coming on!
George Harrison: Any Road
I love this: there is such peace in remembering that each footstep takes us to the same place essentially. Whatever will be will be.
In the moments which can stretch to days where I doubt our choice or I have a niggle about one of the kids perhaps not being best off, whether I Fret or not, moments and days continue to unfold and the moment passes. I trust that if the moment did not pass I would naturally act on it.
This time my path crossed with a friend, mum of 5 school-goers, who's youngest brother was home educated when she herself was in her late teens, twenties. She simply said, you've got to give it a few years really to know haven't you? And in those words I found the peace I was looking for (still my occasional need to be given permission to do what I'm doing, sure, and maybe thats how I managed to conjure up just the person I needed to deliver the line!!)
There's only so much that the human brain can grasp, thank heavens. Rational thought tends to tie me up in knots. Going with the flow is my favourite. Its all practice.
Chaos I think was the cause. And I'd like to learn to love chaos if at all possible! Much is there in its midst to grow and develop through - it is a time when all roads present themselves... ooo I feel a song coming on!
George Harrison: Any Road
I love this: there is such peace in remembering that each footstep takes us to the same place essentially. Whatever will be will be.
In the moments which can stretch to days where I doubt our choice or I have a niggle about one of the kids perhaps not being best off, whether I Fret or not, moments and days continue to unfold and the moment passes. I trust that if the moment did not pass I would naturally act on it.
This time my path crossed with a friend, mum of 5 school-goers, who's youngest brother was home educated when she herself was in her late teens, twenties. She simply said, you've got to give it a few years really to know haven't you? And in those words I found the peace I was looking for (still my occasional need to be given permission to do what I'm doing, sure, and maybe thats how I managed to conjure up just the person I needed to deliver the line!!)
There's only so much that the human brain can grasp, thank heavens. Rational thought tends to tie me up in knots. Going with the flow is my favourite. Its all practice.
Wednesday, 25 April 2012
Base camp
Was sent a link to a Peaceful Parenting blog today that spoke of success in home ed being about time in the home. Staying at base camp for a lot of the week rather than running from group to group. I have found this reminder heartening.
Whilst the groups are fun, meeting up with others is essential for us, there is one fortnightly session that costs considerably more and we may not be able to meet the costs in the future. It has been a great stepping stone to get us from the busy school calendar to a more autonomous life style by providing us with a structured learning environment we were all familiar with, but if we need to stop going next year, I trust the alternative will be enriching also.
When I notice my head running ahead of myself, planning, erking a little about "What have we quantifiably done today ?!", I let the muscles relax, light a fire and we all sit together for a bit. This is the heart of my home ed decision. Being together. Learning together, grappling sometimes sure, all out fighting sometimes sure, but doing it together at the hearthside of our home environment.
Equally I may just go find them with my book/knitting or similar, and be in the same room, present. What a gift to each other to be fully present.
Whilst the groups are fun, meeting up with others is essential for us, there is one fortnightly session that costs considerably more and we may not be able to meet the costs in the future. It has been a great stepping stone to get us from the busy school calendar to a more autonomous life style by providing us with a structured learning environment we were all familiar with, but if we need to stop going next year, I trust the alternative will be enriching also.
When I notice my head running ahead of myself, planning, erking a little about "What have we quantifiably done today ?!", I let the muscles relax, light a fire and we all sit together for a bit. This is the heart of my home ed decision. Being together. Learning together, grappling sometimes sure, all out fighting sometimes sure, but doing it together at the hearthside of our home environment.
Equally I may just go find them with my book/knitting or similar, and be in the same room, present. What a gift to each other to be fully present.
Back after the Easter break
It took a long while to get back into our flow after our break. I felt it was like the self motivation needed for self-employment as an individual, only magnified because the kids were waiting for our cue. I became interested in what was pressuring me to get going again, also what was at play to make me see a difference between learning out and about over the break and 'real work' (?) back at the house.
Mostly I guess this is the collective consciousness of 2 week break then back to the 'hard grind'. If you don't at least look busy then you're not part of society's team.
Also though its simply an urge to have a familiar rhythm back. I feel the children still need that modelled for them, when we slot back into a certain structure or flow of the day we each know where we are a little more.
Mostly I guess this is the collective consciousness of 2 week break then back to the 'hard grind'. If you don't at least look busy then you're not part of society's team.
Also though its simply an urge to have a familiar rhythm back. I feel the children still need that modelled for them, when we slot back into a certain structure or flow of the day we each know where we are a little more.
workbooks?
For the first time since our choice to home-ed-it, I went into a book store to look at work books. I've totally not wanted to before, for money's sake and for creativity's sake. I enjoyed the experience mostly because I had no kids with me (!) but also because:
- most of them I didn't like at all
- it affirmed that I knew inherantly where my children's learning was at which I found empowering
- I found a couple that were inexpensive, attractive to look at and I feel they may be up for..
No worries if they're not of course, I'm just trying a different strand. Whether or not they choose to pick it up is fine by me.
- most of them I didn't like at all
- it affirmed that I knew inherantly where my children's learning was at which I found empowering
- I found a couple that were inexpensive, attractive to look at and I feel they may be up for..
No worries if they're not of course, I'm just trying a different strand. Whether or not they choose to pick it up is fine by me.
Monday, 23 April 2012
Shhhhhh!
Eight months in, and our eldest has just sat down with a workbook and engaged in some mathematics... A nice feeling, and yes, shh don't tell anyone, I feel like it might disappear if I draw attention to it.
This is the subject she struggles with the most, or has some kind of block and refusal to do it. Alongside much rebellion in the last month or so towards Jon and I with regard to any 'formal' learning (feels naturally part of the deschooling period).
She sat down with this book, she was having a great time filling it in but likes me just to be there beside her. Touching, nodding occasionally, laughing about it all, no big deal and it is in that loving space that we move forwards.
This is the subject she struggles with the most, or has some kind of block and refusal to do it. Alongside much rebellion in the last month or so towards Jon and I with regard to any 'formal' learning (feels naturally part of the deschooling period).
She sat down with this book, she was having a great time filling it in but likes me just to be there beside her. Touching, nodding occasionally, laughing about it all, no big deal and it is in that loving space that we move forwards.
Sunday, 1 April 2012
beginners guide
I really liked this article because it straightforwardly talks through the things you might like to consider in preparation for home educating (of all methods)
http://www.wikihow.com/Homeschool-Your-Children
We very much followed an inner guidance to arrive here, a persistent niggle over a few years. But I meet more and more families who arrived at the decision before school age and so presenting it as the full option that it is to parents I think is the way forwards :)
Wikihow also great for creating a habitat for a pet fly we found today....!
http://www.wikihow.com/Homeschool-Your-Children
We very much followed an inner guidance to arrive here, a persistent niggle over a few years. But I meet more and more families who arrived at the decision before school age and so presenting it as the full option that it is to parents I think is the way forwards :)
Wikihow also great for creating a habitat for a pet fly we found today....!
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