A new year is a chance for a rethink
A time to refocus on what we want to do
This is a tough time of year for our little family
With Tilda’s anniversary
And reliving those earliest hours and days after her death
These few weeks do not get easier
They just do not
I thought that the way to get through
This winter
Would be to fill our time with classes
I learned today that is not the way
With four children
Aged 8 months to approaching 8 years
Making our days work for everyone
Is not an easy task
But I think now I am settled on a routine that works
A timetable of activities chosen by our children
To fit their wants and needs
From now until Easter our weeks look like this
Monday
This is a music class aimed at preschoolers. Bea attends this class, Esther joins in with her and Edie watches avidly. William uses the time to read or complete Maths / English / Science workbooks or to read whichever book he is currently engrossed in
This is a private Spanish lesson for Esther and William. They had their first session this week which they really enjoyed. The lesson is practical with songs and puppets and has a small written element too. Perfect for my two.
Esther and Bea both do ballet on a Monday afternoon. Esther also helps out with Bea’s class which she loves. William again spends this time with his head buried in books.
Tuesday
Tuesday has been a preschool day for Bea
But she is desperate to dance
And so today after trying to fit in preschool and ballet
And it really not working very well
For any of us
I have taken the decision
With Bea
To reduce her preschool hours
To focus on dance
So Tuesdays we will have a quiet morning at home
Or in the woods
Then go to ballet and acro after lunch
These are Bea’s classes
Esther is very keen to be a helper for the little ones
And William will again use the time for independent learning
Some days William might stay with David so that he can work on his laptop
Wednesday
Wednesdays are going to be home days
My aunty and uncle often see us on this day
And I sometimes take some time with my best friend
Bea is starting a preschool Spanish group in the afternoons
And Esther and William go to Beavers in the evening
Thursday
On Thursday Bea has preschool in the morning
And she spends the afternoon with Granny
This is the one day I have with Esther and William
To go out on visits that are not so good for Bea
In the late afternoon
Esther has ballet
And both Esther and William do Acro
Friday
Friday is a preschool day
Bea is at preschool until lunchtime
I use the time to do some work with Esther and William
Or we sometimes go to the library
In the afternoon
William has gymnastics
Saturday
Saturday is music school day
I take Esther and William to their lessons
Piano for Esther and Ukelele for William
In the afternoon William is very excited about starting Street Dance
And twice a month both twins go to a musical theatre workshop
Sunday
Sunday is family day
Once a month we attend a family service at our local church
We are going to make better use of our National Trust membership this year
And English Heritage
It will be a slow day when needed
An adventure day when wanted
A chance too to reflect
Before our week starts over again
I think that this weekly routine
Is busy without being crazy
It leaves us time to play at home
It leaves us time to go slow in the mornings
I like how this week feels
Most of the classes are with Charlotte
She is such an amazing dance teacher
She has patiently helped me to find the right classes
For all three children
At the moment they are working towards a show in March
Then the classes will all change
Meaning at Easter
Which is really not too far away
We can look at this timetable again
The most important thing about this plan
Is that the classes are with people we know and trust
They are in places I am happy to drive to
They are activities the children really want to do
I feel like for the first time
I do not care what other people think
I am building a life for me and my family
That fits us
There is a lot of pressure on home educating families to socialise
Oh how will your children ever make any friends?
Esther and William have friends
They do not each have a best friend outside of our home
For one very good incredibly genuine reason
They have each other
They are best friends
And have the most wonderful relationship
I am sure that in time that will change
But at the moment they have the best time everyday
In the company of their very best friend
I have felt the need to push them into all sorts of things
They do not really want to do
To make home educated friends
As they would have school friends if they attended school
But right now they do not want that
They want each other
And that is fine with me
So we will go to classes because they enjoy the class
And if they make friends that is a wonderful bonus
My children are just about as sociable as children can be
They are intelligent, confident and articulate
They will happily engage in conversation with anyone
Who will stop long enough to listen to them
I have realised recently that I do not give my children enough credit
For the wonderful human beings that they are
Particularly Esther and William
They have had their own battles to fight
Linked to prematurity
Health issues that are still ongoing now
They have been through the death of their baby sister
And seen their parents battle with grief
They have coped so well with some really tough times
And I am incredibly proud of them
I am incredibly proud of us
And today
In making this timetable
And setting out a framework
For the coming weeks and months
I feel I am giving us time
To settle into ourselves
As a family
Now that Edie is not a newborn anymore
Some time to be realise how blessed we are
To have one another
To have these wonderful opportunities
To be able to take this time together
To do the things that we want to do
And to be proud of the life we have chosen
Because I am
Proud
But scared to say so
And never seem to be able to put in words
The passion that I have for what we do
And the belief that this is the best way for us
Because I know this is right
We may not get it right everyday
But the choices we make are made after careful thought
Lots of discussion and deliberation
I am proud to teach my children at home
I am honoured to learn alongside them
And though we may trip and stumble along the way
I know that this is the path for us
I am also letting myself off the hook a little this year
Realising I cannot do everything with Edie
That a mummy with just one baby can do
I cannot do everything with Esther and William
That a parent homeschooling one child can do
And that is okay
It really is
I have to make myself believe that I am enough
And what we do
What we achieve
Is enough
We are all doing the best we can
And that is enough
I am excited to see how 2018 unfolds
We have some exciting adventures planned
Lovely post, it sounds like your children are happy and thriving in homeschool and that’s what matters. What is Acro? My children love to dance too, I think it benefits them in many ways, not least by giving them self-confidence.
Nat.x