Thoughts on Homeschooling

We didn't know what we were in for - years ago, when the Machinist and I made the decision to homeschool our children.  At the time, our eldest child was in first year high school.  The other two were in Kindergarten and year one - at our local village school.  We hadn't gone to great lengths to actually research homeschooling either, and nor were we then, or now - qualified or professional teachers.

We were moved towards this decision, from a variety of sources - all confirming that we were doing the right thing for our family.

It really doesn't matter why parents decide to homeschool their children.  We had our own personal thoughts, views, reasons which were then and even now - ours alone.

Every family is different.  What is right for one, may not be for another.

The most important thing that matters is that there is a love and vested interest in offspring.  It's not even about education, but rather - to instil a love of learning in each child.

What we know, without doubt, is that if a child loves to learn, delights in every new snippet of discovery, is happy and well balanced - knowledge and understanding will follow.A child can be trusted to learn, as it is in their nature.

We have no regrets about taking our children out of mainstream schooling - to the learning environment of their home.... Absolutely none.

Non je ne regrette rien

And nowadays we continue in the tradition of instilling the love of learning in our grand-daughter and those still to come, whom we love already....

** We now have another three grand-daughters, and the tradition of  encouraging joy, a love of and interest in life and learning continues.

LYLA LIGHTFINGERS

I don’t know exactly what it is about this time of year, but it always brings about a need to start a new house project.

Last year it was all about finishing off our ‘courtyard’ front garden, making it child safe and low maintenance.

This year I find myself with two (!) babies and suddenly realise that our house isn’t as child friendly as I thought it was. Don’t get me wrong, we did the main baby proofing with the arrival of our first; - new fire guard, switched all our cleaning/personal products to nontoxic, no chemical products, secured all plugs and cords as best as we could. However, only having a child in the space can truly test just how prepared we are.  

And we are not there yet.

When we bought our furniture for this house, we were buying furniture for a couple. I still love our choices.  However, I've learnt that sometimes furniture choice can double your workload when you add a curious toddler to the mix.

The number of times I’ve had to rescue balls that rolled under the bookshelves - (yes, they have legs just high enough to collect all the things underneath) and re-stack said bookshelves.  We cannot get doors for these soon enough! I never realised how handy those baby cabinet door locks are until just this past month! 

A few dust bunnies too...

I will definitely be sharing some of these projects as I get to them, however I though it might be fun to talk about some of the random objects we have had lying around  - because my big girl can open every drawer, cupboard and box we have…

A can of tuna in my bathroom, don’t we all keep supplies in there?!

Most nights Lyla stashes something in her daddy’s work boots, this week included a tennis ball, two dummies and an emoji smiley face rubber ball.

My favourite would have to be the random (positive) pregnancy test she’s been leaving around. I only realised after visits from our family that she had it out… Everyone is already thinking we will be announcing another baby soon.  Alas - no, this is the positive tests from finding out about our Ruby.   I have all of her baby things in my side table ready to put in a box and big sissy apparently loves playing with them. 

Case in point, note my conditioner in the corner there?

All this to say, I don’t know about you Mumma’s but I’m tired of packing ‘my’ things away which shouldn’t be out. I’m not talking about toys and crafts, these are my things that I haven’t had out yet they are all over the house. 

I do watch her despite what you might be thinking, but gosh, kids can get into things in seconds. Even as she stands next to me drying my hair, I tip my hair upside down for a few seconds, look back up and all the flannels are thrown around the room. 

Her actual toy box in the lounge room

Things are going to change around here, doors are going to get latched!

Xoxo - Sarah

Ikea Visits

The girls and I,  along with my sister-in-law and adorable nieces decided to take a trip to Ikea. A treat for the mummies and for my oldest niece while she is on school holidays.

All I can say is thank goodness we allowed a whole day! 

With 3 babies under 1.5 years and a 5 year old, things just take a long time.

First stop upon arriving is the baby room. I’m sure all you mummies out there can relate that a good baby change room goes a long way in your willingness to visit any destination. Ikea does not disappoint on this front.

By the time we had changed nappies and organised our seating arrangements (pram/trolley), we realised lunch was in order. No point starting the maze and the little ones need food… To cut what was a long story short, we had been in the store for a good 1.5 hours before we stepped foot on the showroom floor.

We don’t always take the opportunity to walk around the made up ‘homes’ part of the showrooms, however as we had allowed the day, we wandered around each room/home, looking for inspiration. My niece, Keiralea, was asked to hold tight to my eldest daughter,  Lyla’s hand.  She lead her through each space, testing each chair, textured rug or play thing to be found. 

(TIP: putting an older child in charged of ‘watching’ a little one meant that it kept a very active 5 year old busy and less inclined to go missing in the displays - with mummy’s watchful eye on them still of course!)

By the half way mark, both of the ‘bigger’ girls were in the trolley, in utter exhaustion. Probably a good thing as we were up to the ‘gathering’ part of the store.

I thought I might share with you my little haul…

A new ironing board cover 

Glass containers to allow for extra freezer meals.

New bowls in this stunning blue to replace ones that have started to dwindle in number, and some new mugs in place of ones that have also gone missing. 

Sharp kitchen knives

These little succulents are for a project to spruce up our bathroom.

Ikea:  you were so much fun, we will see you again in another 6 months or so! 

Grace to Learn

I’m learning to let go as a mummy and give my girl (and myself) grace to learn in her own time.

In my eagerness to teach my bubba new life skills, (like colouring in) I try to control HER creativity. 

Kind of contradictory,  hey! 

We have different styles. Mine is controlled, within the lines and one page at a time. Lyla’s, however is free for all, page turning, and sometimes even includes her snack mingled on the paper.

Although this results in completely tatty colouring books, and markers on the floor  - at the end of the day it doesn't matter, she's creating and learning. 

This week she taught herself a new technique:  Dots.

This marker has seen better days now

Why do they make kids colouring books with such terrible paper, you know the kind I mean, slightly yellowing and very fibrous? Also, none of them are what I would consider ‘nice’ pictures. 

So yes, I buy the adult ones, with great paper that doesn't clog the markers, no bleeding, thicker books and pretty images. I believe they are worth the extra $2. 

I got these gorgeous new colouring books from the ‘adults’ section in Big W this week. ($5 each) 

Living with the Irish (Twins)

This past year has been a roller coaster of emotion. 

Just one short year ago I was blessed with my first baby. After over two years of trying before finding out I was fighting against PCOS, and then going through a specialist and fertility clinic, that phone call with the news that my blood results had come back positive and we were pregnant was the happiest day!

I cried in the car with my Grandma who happened to be with me when the call came.

Nothing can prepare you for the happiness and the self doubt that comes with a baby.

My darling girl was only 4 months old when,  after taking a test on a whim of ‘I’ve felt like this before’, we were thrilled to find out we were expecting again. 

Coming from a place where I was told I would never conceive a baby naturally, to being pregnant while still having a newborn, I honestly felt like my life dream was coming true in abundance. God had an even greater plan for me than my most heartfelt desire.

Born one year and two weeks apart, they will always be my Irish Twins.

My great grandmother also had irish twins: one pair of her 8 children. Her youngest two daughters  were born 1 year and two weeks apart on the exact dates as my two darlings.  Can you believe it? I know there is a saying of ‘history repeating’, and somehow this has made me feel closer to a woman I did not know. I wonder if she felt the same way I have felt, or went through similar struggles? 

I like to believe that somehow this connects me to these true women of substance from my family tree, and maybe I can find my way through this adventurous journey of Motherhood.

Would you like to come along?