Eclectic homeschooling in New Zealand: Colour, chaos and connection.

Ah, time to dream, dawdle and play. That's what all kids need.

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1000 Hours Outside

You unschool? You can't spend your whole life like that!

People often see homeschool and unschooling as fanciful. The kids just spend their days doing whatever they want, right? Learning only what they are interested in?

"That's "great" when they're little but eventually they will grow up and will need to know how to hold down a job!"

Well, true. As adults they will need to be able to support themselves financially. And what better way to do it than with a job they are passionate about!

What I would love for the girls is for them to continue to follow their interests. To wake each day knowing that they get to do something they love, even if it comes with paperwork.

I want them to focus on connection, curiosity and wonder. To continue to explore, and question and create. Why do adults have to put these aside?

Those on their deathbeds never seem to report wishing they had worked more, they wish they had followed what excited them. They wish they had given themselves permission to be happy, and that they had followed their own path.

I hope these regrets never cross the minds of my children on their deathbed many years from now.

My wish is that they say to their loved ones:

"I lived my life with abundance, love and fun.
I feel fulfilled and am ready to say goodbye".

This closely mirrors our experience with Miss7. She tried so hard, but ultimately it was not a healthy environment.

Days 180 - 190
Halloween always gets the creative juices flowing! We had a spooky birthday party, a ride on a spooky train, and of course...trick or treating!

We also went raspberry picking which was so much fun.

We had our usual assortment of activities, some documentaries, books, art, food, music, and nature. I'm always surprised by how much the girls want to fit into their days!
Life is so rich, and interesting 😍

You unschool and the kids sleep in? How will they learn to get up for a 9am job??

I've heard this question a couple of times and I'm a little perplexed!

Firstly, yes. My girls can wake up whenever their body tells them to. For miss7 this normally means around 7.30am. She comes into my room for a cuddle, chat or book chapter and a snuggle with miss1. Miss5 often wakes around 8.30am.

How will miss5 ever hold down a 9-5 job??
Well, for starters..she is 5 years old. Her body is going through enormous change and growth. Sleep is incredibly important and we prioritise the girls' sleep.

Here are some reasons that I am not worried about letting the girls sleep in:

1. If miss5 does hold a 9am starting job one day it would most likely be after university. In about 15 years. Plenty of time for her sleep patterns to change. Most teenage jobs are shift work and have start times anywhere from 7am (5am if it's a bakery!), to 5pm shift starts.

2. As adults we make choices about the jobs we choose, including whether the start time works for us. If it is a job of passion or pleasure, then the start time will be adapted to. Think of police officers, paramedics and emergency department doctors. They learn to adapt to the start time! Whether it be 3am, 3pm or anything in between.

3. Our world, and that of the workforce is changing. Business is becoming far more international and work hours in many industries are beginning to reflect this. Who knows what work hours will look like in the future?

3. Learning to listen to our body and it's needs, rhythm, and cycles helps maintain well-being. I want this for the girls!

I'm not worried. The girls will find their way, because it will be THEIR way that they are following. Not mine. Not societies view of what work looks like. Theirs.

Days 175 - 179 Activities, and a pull towards home.

Since our camping trip we have felt compelled to spend some extra time at home.

Our activities have continued (scouts, gymnastics, horse riding), and the girls have trialled a circus skills class. But around these we have returned home for connection and rest. There has been playdough, modelling clay, paint, books, chess, Halloween outfits, and miss7 has started using Sketchpad on my phone to create pictures filled with texture. The girls are back into Reading Eggs and Mathseeds and we have been discussing our skill building activities.

Today we've learned about kidneys, and miss5 has asked many more space questions.

So much to learn about in this world!

Days 168 - 174 Camping in Cape Otway

I recently read about the three different types of fun. The fun that is great at the time, and great to remember. The fun that sucked a little at the time but was fun when you look back. And the fun that actually sucked at the time, sucks looking back, but makes a great story.

Our 6 day homeschool camp contained all three types!

We had gorgeous beach trips, blacksmithing our own rings, camp fires and marshmallows. We also had hard hikes, lost ways, and unexpected swarms of flies. On top of all that we had problems with another family, cruel behaviour from some children, deep anxiety, home sickness and falls.

If I ask the girls now whether they enjoyed it, it's a resounding YES! They loved the freedom, having loads of homeschool kids to talk to, the beach and did I say the freedom? 😜 The hard times have faded from memory, and getting out of our comfort zone teaches us so much.

I think we'll go again next year! 😁

And like that miss4 became miss5! Day 167! This little girl was the sweetest of babes, the calmest two year old. Then came the 3's and the 4's and my goodness didn't she find her s***k!

We had a wonderful day of balloons, decorating cupcakes (and her birthday cake!), play with new toys, and search books.

Then a trip to the city to see a spooktacular circus show in the Fringe Festival! So much fun!

Love my girls so much 💓

I'm definitely learning so much as we go!

We sure can! What's something you recently learned WITH your kids?

Days 158 - 168.
As time goes on, this feels more like...just life. I forget that others lives are so different from our own. I'll see an interesting shop, event or a new walking track and go to invite someone. Only to realise that their kids are at school.

We have spent time at the beach with loved ones, and visited a tulip festival in the pouring rain. Met new friends, and celebrated birthdays with others. We've painted, baked, rode horses, (miss7 can now canter!), read, and conversed. Managed boundaries, loved, fought, and laughed. Discussed what it would feel like to be an octopus, and grieved a dead mouse (eaten by our dear cat who is currently in miss7's bad books).

Life continues, our minds stretch out, our hearts expand, and our curiosity flourishes. ♥️

It is not always this simple, and some days are harder than others but this is what I strive for!