Day 20

1st November 2021

Community!

I can be so dumb!!

I mean, really.

Friday was so hard, and Thursday wasn’t that much better & all because of me.

We decided to home school the kids, so they could be free to learn whatever they wanted.

When they told us. We didn’t listen!

When we told Lincoln we’re going to pour all our time and effort into skateboarding, he came alive in a

WHOLE NEW WAY!

We told him we will take him to skate every day. We told him he should carry his skateboard everywhere he goes because there would always be one or two tricks to be had on our travels.

He threw his arms around me & whispered, “Thanks mum”.

Yes, I did cry. 🥺

Big fat tears, that slowly rolled down.

I was so happy. 😃😃😃😃😃

I really listened to him, and made his heart explode with joy.

I’m kicking myself that it took me so long to realise that he had told me all along what he wanted to learn.

Our house began to percolate with ideas! 💡

We want to learn everything about skateboarding! We want to skateboard every day, we want skateboarding books, we want to build our own skateboard, we want to enter comps, we want sponsorship, he wants to go to the Olympics! His mind is working overtime.

It is magnificent to watch him so inspired.

Only a few days ago he was so uninspired and now, electrified with passion.

Then I ruined it. 😤

The Monica Gellar inside me couldn’t help herself, she exploded with ‘school’ enthusiasm,

“And then you can put it all together into a Google slide presentation!!”

His face dropped and he began to wail,

“NO Mum!!”

Sigh.

Liam took them to the skatepark & I sat there feeling gutted.

I thought I’d cracked it.

Isn’t this what HE wanted to do?

I took my problem to the unschooling community.

I am blown away by the support we received.

Within minutes our house was alive with the sound of pinging.

Mums reached out to me from all over. And dads too!

Over 50 parents, replied with ideas of how to engage Lincoln, and with stories of their own children when they first started.

It was heart warming & wonderful & felt like a cuddle.

I didn’t feel alone, & as I read their messages my confidence grew and grew.

Did you know, there is a thing called de schooling?

And it is DIFFERENT to un schooling?

Well, I didn’t.

De schooling is when you all take a step back & recover from the trauma of school.

From marching here, sitting there, writing this, doing that. Being stood over and marked & edited and controlled.

It’s the idea that you all just stop.

Play together, re bond and do whatever you want.

Yes, all day!

Yes, for months. Or as long as it takes!

Yet another mum says to listen to the podcast called ‘Unschooling Conversations’ (http://thehomeschoolyear.com/Deschooling%20Spotify) where they talked about the blob!

Being a blog is a real (and common) stage of leaving the school system.

You have to listen to this!

We need to do this. We’re starting tomorrow.

And I’m excited! No more drama, storm outs or meltdowns.

There has to be a better way.

Another mum sent a link to a film called Summerhill. (http://thehomeschoolyear.com/Summerhill) (Sorry, I don’t know why the link won’t open at the start. Might have to drag it back to the start.)

A 2008 film about a real school in England that began in the 70’s where all classes are optional. Children are offered many diverse classes and they can choose to, or not to attend. If they like, they can play outside all day long.

We watched it tonight with the kids. They couldn’t believe the adults in this school listened & respected what the kids wanted & how they felt, all day every day.

It made me sad that I didn’t even realise they were feeling this way.

It was a huge eye opener for us and very confidence building & inspiring.

Then, the same mum sent me an interview (http://thehomeschoolyear.com/Boy%20who%20couldn)with a now 50 something man who attended Summerhill who was one of the children who DID NOT attend any formal classes.

He says he left Summerhill aged 15, not knowing how to read or write.

He now has a degree in economics & helps developing countries. 😲 Wow!

I could go on and on. So many wonderful, generous people reached out.

I will leave some of their messages in the comments below for you to read just in case you’re thinking about home schooling or have started and are feeling a bit lost. Like we were.

Let him Skate!!

We are freeing our beautiful boy from all the pressure.

We are going to let him skate. 😎

For as long as he wants to. Maybe for a week, maybe for 8 years.

We are going to trust him to make the right decisions for him.

Far out!! (Who am I?)

We have ordered a blank board for him to begin building his own skateboard.

Oh, and our beloved frog pond?

It’s toast.

We’re building a full-sized skate ramp!!!

Liam was so keen on the idea too.

Happy child. Happy husband!! 😀😀😀 🛹🛹🛹

Roller Girl

Mila wants to learn all about roller skating. She is the ultimate roller girl. She is very proud of her unchallenged status of limbo champion at the skating rink.

She plans to host a big Sunday skate session with all her friends along the beach, ending in a BBQ.

She will design the poster, (she has already started) organise the BBQ, film the afternoon with her GoPro, then make a film & as she loves music & singing, she will also make a playlist. 👌

We’re all so excited!!

Last week Liam and I were feeling utterly lost, and now we are all supercharged and pumped!

I’ve chattered so much; I haven’t told you anything about our day.

It was great. (Other than when I tried to ruin it)

Morning chores, skating, fresh orange juice with lunch, (all eaten again, just saying) soccer training with Dad, walks with Pepe, family movie (Summerhill) and the last of our Indonesian Yums.

Phew, great day.