I am not brave.

I’m not particularly patient. I’m not (as discussed previously) a domestic goddess. Housework doesn’t float my boat. I’m quite fond of being alone, although it’s something that I find very difficult to fit in, spending pretty much all day everyday with my three (soon to be four!) children.

But that doesn’t make me a saint, far from it. I am very human. I lose my temper and shout (*far* too often), sometimes I cry and I don’t very often have the right answer.

Which is why I’m never quite sure what to say when ppl say “home education? Oh, I couldn’t do that. I’m not brave/patient/educated enough.”

I suppose I could say but you taught them to walk. And talk. You are the one who demonstrates manners and helps them learn how to dress themselves. You probably already read to them. Are you the one who teaches them how to behave with their friends? There isn’t an awful lot more complicated out there tbh. Maths is nothing compared to empathy and I bet you’ve started with that already. And lots of the basic stuff can be fitted in to just every day life, or you can get a curriculum in a box, or in a book. (Watch out for a review of one such tomorrow.)

The stuff about downtime, yes, that’s important. And it can be difficult. It depends on having a support network, but it can be done. Money can be another difficult area but there are all sorts of inventive ways of working around children – families where one adult works evening shifts, or working from home (like I’m trying to do). Child minding is another possibility – adding an extra child or two might seem like you are making life even harder, but actually it can make life easier as they entertain each other to some extent. I know single parent home educators – and take my hat off to them tbh – so there are all sorts of ways of flexing around your children.

Anyways, one of those children needs to go to bed now, so I’d better stop waffling on and take her. Yes, I know it’s late, but that’s another thing you can do. Live with your own rhythms, instead of externally imposed ones. Just a thought.