Day 21

2nd November 2021

Top Day!

Waking up with no plan, was the best plan we’ve had in a while.

Today was so good!

I felt all Jerry Maguire!

Watch Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJ9A3GCL7jU

The sun was shining, we did our chores & were at the dog park by 9.30am. 🌞

All our favourites were there & we had dog cuddles galore.

Although poor Pepe couldn’t have a run as we left his muzzle at home. 😞

It’s illegal for Greyhounds to run off leash without a muzzle in case they come across a small fluffy dog aka ‘rabbit like’.

They look far too delicious & he would chase it down for a good chomp.

It’s happened before, & it’s really awkward. 😲😬😬

After that we hit the Valley for some skate park time.

And you know what?

Now that we’re home schoolers, we had the whole place to ourselves!

A bank
I mean really, how gorgeous! Every cloud looked like a candy floss dream.
Mila on the pump track
Lincoln on his skateboard
Lincoln & Mila on the bike.
They thought doubling was super fun. They just get closer & closer. It’s so nice.
Lincoln on bike with Mila

Learning Was Everywhere

We wandered down the main street and came across some old telephone boxes. The kids were so excited to go in.

They picked up the receiver and started pushing the numbers. 🤣🤣🤣

Lincoln says in all seriousness,

“How do you press the buttons?”

Ah, post millennials will never know the frustration of dialling so fast that you didn’t complete the full turn of the dial & thus had to redial all over again. 😤😤

Mila and the phone box
London phone boxes mama!
Linc & Mila using the phone box
“Mum, how do I press the buttons?” Followed by, “Quick, give me 10 cents.” Followed by, “What’s a dial tone??” 😂
Mila using the phone
What is this enormous black thing?
Lincoln playing piano
We found a piano on the street which was fun too.

Discovering Mark Rober

We’ve been having TV time over lunch (which is an awesome way to onboard knowledge btw) and we have discovered Mark Rober.

What a legend!

He’s an Ex-NASA engineer & inventor.

He’s also a youtuber, which is how Lincoln found him.

He has these hilarious videos involving squirrels.

He set up a ninja warrior course in his back yard for the wild squirrels that were interfering with his bird watching (😂😂) & he films them from his window.

He makes adorable little sets for the squirrels & creates stories. I think it was called Backyard Squirrel Maze – The Walnut Heist?

So funny, you gotta watch it (http://thehomeschoolyear.com/Squirrel%20Videos). Your kids will LOVE it!

Then he made a second one, Backyard Squirrel Maze – The Walnut Heist 2.0. (http://thehomeschoolyear.com/Squirrel%20maze%202.0) (Equally funny)

He has a bunch more science videos, (not featuring squirrels) that are really fun. He writes in the comments how he makes everything; in case you want to try it at home.

So, we discovered he is working with a company to deliver science boxes to kids, where each month they have a new science thing to assemble. I think they were $38 if you subscribed to 3months?

Anyway, the kids were keen and we’re having some delivered.

If you refer a friend, the friend gets a discount, so here’s the link. (http://thehomeschoolyear.com/Kiwico)

Kids eating salad sandwiches
Salad sandwich for lunch, eaten in full. Kids don’t eat at school. No wonder they are so tired & ratty at the end of the day. All that time forced to sit still & learn things of little interest & on an empty tummy! I love watching them eat!

A Letter From Fiona Phillips

I almost forgot!

We had an envelope delivered from Fiona Phillips yesterday.

They were very excited!!

Mila read the letter aloud.

Mila & Linc reading the letter
Very important letter!

Letter
Spoken like a true politician – although Fiona address loneliness, she doesn’t mention that many people are still being isolated by the Government.

All this and it was only 1pm!

We went to a friends place for a play and swim in their new pool (also home schoolers, yay!) picked up a school friend on the way home and went to soccer.

They were passed out solid at 7.30pm on the dot.

I don’t want to jinx it.

But we may have stumbled on nirvana!

PS

As the messages of encouragement and testimony continue to pour in on the FB thread I will leave them below in the comments.

So many lovely people.

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?!

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