Day 16

26 October 2021

Wonderous Place

We often play music first thing. The song ‘Wonderous Place’ is one of our favourites and this morning, we found ourselves dancing around the kitchen, as we made breakfast.

The sun was shining in on us, the music filled my ears & I found myself in a moment of bliss.

We took our smoothies out into the garden and then watered our sunflowers.

Today we start a new kind of home school – No workbooks.

Watch Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPHwkjlI3W8

Mila watering sunflowers
Nurturing our sunflowers.
Lincoln watering sunflowers
Mila on the trampoline
Mila celebrating life. Home school freedom! – it’s 7.30am. 😂
Mila on the tramp

A Spontaneous Spark Of Learning

It was the very first day of our no worksheets learning, and the kids had a spontaneous spark of learning that lead us all the way to Scott Morrison!

A friend had suggested checking out ‘In A Nutshell’ (http://thehomeschoolyear.com/In%20A%20Nutshell) YouTube videos.

I suggested this to Mila after breakfast and she chose one called ‘Loneliness’ (http://thehomeschoolyear.com/Loneliness).

It was pretty special, and we learnt a lot!

The fact that stuck out most to Lincoln & Mila was that loneliness is twice as deadly as obesity and cancer!

This led us to thinking about lockdown and how many people have been affected by loneliness. They then made the leap that some people are still in lockdown. We discussed that some people are frightened to take the vaccine and some people can’t take it because they are already sick.

They asked if we could change the rules to help the lonely people still in lockdown and I suggested writing a letter to the Prime Minister, Scott Morrison.

Interested piqued!!

They didn’t realise you could just sit down and write a letter to the Prime Minister!!

So that is exactly what we did.

Mr I’m-not-doing-any-work sat focused for 15 minutes and hand wrote a very heartfelt letter in his best cursive writing.

Mila decided she would type hers on the laptop and navigated her way around Word. She enjoyed changing her font to cursive and signing her name.

After that, we gave Mila’s letter to our local member Fiona Phillips, and Lincoln’s letter went in the post to the Prime Minister.

We phoned Fiona to ask if we could stop by, and she said she would come out of her important meeting to meet the children AND take a photo.

Well!

This upped the ante!

Mila began rushing around looking for a ball dress! 🤣 I talked her down to something a little less formal.

Lincoln called out to me that he “needs a tuxedo!”

They both came out when they were ready, and my heart skipped a beat.

I mean seriously. Utter darlings! 😍 😍 😍

Watching TV
Learning about loneliness from the YouTube channel, ‘In A Nutshell.’ (http://thehomeschoolyear.com/Loneliness) Still in our Pyjamas – home school benefits. 😎
Mila typing
Mila learning to format on Word.
Lincoln writing a letter
Lincoln sitting down to write a letter, from his heart, without needing a worksheet or a textbook.
Lincoln's letter
Lincoln’s letter to the Prime Minister of Australia.

A Letter From Mr Hawke’s Office

I remembered how I had written a letter to the Prime Minister when I was 13. I had just learned about the hole in the Ozone layer, and I needed to talk to someone in charge!

I remember my mum being so excited when I received a reply! It was so exciting!! She kept it for me in a photo album.

A letter from Mr Hawke
My response from Mr Hawke’s office, circa 1988!
Mila in a ball gown
“Mama I’m going to wear this!” (This is a bridesmaid dress from our wedding! 😂)
Lincoln & Mila dressed up
In their Sunday best! (Self-dressed)
We talked about how, whether we like it not, how we dress sends a message to other people & we wanted to be neat & tidy & respectful.
Lincoln & Mila with Fiona Phillips
Chatting with Fiona about the effect of loneliness on people.
Photo with Fiona Phillips
They tell me they felt nervous and excited at the same time.
Word of the day - Grating
Oh, and our home school word of the day – grating.

Time Stands Still

All of this and it wasn’t even 1pm!

We also went to the dog park, made a delicious lunch, went on a play date & went to soccer.

We’re learning how time kind of stands still when you’re home schooling.

People worry that home schoolers aren’t getting a quality education, but I think it’s the opposite.

I think home schoolers get everything they need and more.

More learning, more play & more cuddles from mum & dad.

The Challenge: Home school for 1 year while not losing sanity or love for children and/or husband.
Contenders: Mila 8yrs, Lincoln 10 yrs, Me (Mum), Liam (Dad), Pepe (dog)
Home School Days: 200

This blog was inspired by the film Julie & Julia, starring Meryl Streep & Amy Adams.

Julie decides she will take her love of cooking to the next level by cooking every recipe in Julia Childs French cookbook, in one year! 500 & something fancy, technical recipes!! While working full time!

Julie writes a daily blog about her time in the kitchen for herself & other amateur cooks who may, or may not be, reading along. You gotta watch it (http://thehomeschoolyear.com/about/).  Or read it here. (http://thehomeschoolyear.com/book)

I loved that she wrote every day. I loved hearing about her small everyday frustrations, with the recipes & with life. It really inspired me to throw myself into something.

The timing was perfect as we have just decided to homeschool our children as a lifestyle choice and I thought…Cool! A daily blog will be perfect!

There must be other families out there wondering if there’s another way to live? Another way to do ‘family life’?

If you’re here, then hello & welcome aboard! Please feel free to sit back & watch it all unfold. Put the kettle on & check in with us each night to see what went down and how we all got over the line. I’m sure we’ll find our rhythm, right?

Are you a homeschool family? If you’re watching the wheels fall off this thing, I’m open to your emails or comments any time. I would love them! I am very friendly, & I could use the help.

Ok, come hell or high water….I’m in. A daily blog, for 12 months. I’ll be right, here.

Kindly, Lisa x

Can we be friends?!

[email-subscribers-form id="3"]