Unschooling in our house - Real Mum story on MoM

9 Comments

Normally one of the best things about unschooling/homeschooling is that we never have to be anywhere before 10am unless we decide to, and we make the most of that fact. My 4 and 6 yr olds absolutely hate going out, regardless of the time, but usually they like a quiet few hours, and heading out no earlier than late morning.

I decided to home-school because when I trialled my eldest in day care shortly after my youngest was born, he found it very traumatic, and the doubts I had about school being suitable for him only grew. Over time we moved into an unschooling approach as a whole family unit.

But the other morning, we decided to go out early. The coffee shop that I wanted to go to opened at 8am and we were actually too early, and had time to go to the bakery on the next block to grab some food.

By 8:30 we were sitting down in the café, with orange hot chocolates for the kids, and coffee for me. My youngest had a blast drinking his hot chocolate, and watching Go Diego Go on the portable DVD player with headphones. (And a part of me revelled in not having to listen to Diego’s annoying voice.)

My eldest had started telling me about the things he wants to invent when he’s “grown up” and one of the most realistic ideas involves a robotic owl that can fly and deliver mail. I’m sure Australia Post would LOVE that as competition.

So at 9am I was sitting there, slowly caffeinating, and firing questions and ideas back and forth with my not-quite-7-year-old, when I saw a bus go past that I vaguely recognised as being used for school runs. I realised in that moment that many families had been rushing around getting school run done, and many parents heading off to work, yet here we were sitting calmly in a café, enjoying the morning and simply being together.

It’s so easy for me to forget in the daily stress of cleaning and caring for kids just what we are lucky enough to have, but in this moment, it was like that moment when the clouds part and you are bathed in pure sunlight. It’s beautiful.

Posted by jaybird93, 8th September 2016

9 Comments

- - mom19782016 said
  - 30 Oct 2016
    1:47 pm
Hats off to you! I love the idea of home schooling but think I’m not very disciplined myself so probably not the best for teaching that to my kids!!!

- - jess said
  - 15 Sep 2016
    11:00 am
i love this idea, i was homeshooled but my mother was very strict with it we started at 9am we sat at a desk we had a recess and lunch time, but if we finished what was set out for the day early then we could do whatever we wanted, and growing up on a farm meant there was a lot to do and we loved it. but then i was sent to highsechool, which i really struggled with, not academically just socially and i was always so tired at school which i wasnt used to at home. i was painfully shy which didnt help and some may say that was from homeschooling but it wasnt as i did prep and grade one at a small public school befor it was closed down and i would have had to go to a big public school. i love that you are doing this and i wish i had the confidence and patience to homeschool/unschool my own children. good on you.

- - cherz said
  - 10 Sep 2016
    9:27 pm
Home schooling is not my cup of tea but I do have a friend who has 8 children and she home school’s them all and does it extremely well.
My daughter is a public school teacher and loves spending her time preparing lessons and activities and teaching her students and gets immense joy seeing them soak up information and retain it.
We are all different and that’s what makes the world go round. So glad your schooling is working for you.

- - mom90758 said
  - 09 Sep 2016
    5:54 pm
I’m glad this system works for you. Have a lot of fun with your kids!!

- - mom176887 said
  - 09 Sep 2016
    12:20 pm
It is so important to be in the ‘moment’ whether you home school or not…. I get that feeling of ‘peace’ from a weekday ritual we have, where we always sit on the sofa before heading out (to school) and do a ‘reading’ (inspirational quote for the day sometimes with questions to think about). It is like nothing else matters .. for a minute or two at least! (for some reason weekends are less relaxed because they are all so different and perhaps because we don’t have that ritual.).
- jaybird93 replied
  
  09 Sep 2016 , 8:44 pm
  I love that idea! Taking a moment before going your separate ways for the day sounds like a great way to reassure your children!
- - mom93821 said
  - 08 Sep 2016
    11:43 am
Homeschooling seems to work for you and your family. Different ways for different families.
- jaybird93 replied
  
  09 Sep 2016 , 10:36 am
  Definitely. What works for one family won’t work for all. I have many friends who take different paths in parenting their children and many find it works great for them. I can’t say all as I’ve had a few turn to me for advice and support in moving away from the school system, or for help with breastfeeding when they had been planning to formula feed, etc.
  
  The world is such a diverse place, and that’s what makes it beautiful.
  - mom93821 replied
    
    09 Sep 2016 , 12:29 pm
    
    The world and the families in it are definitely diverse and that is the beauty of a big wide world.