I recently renewed my son’s home schooling application and I had to laugh. Just 2 months ago, I metaphorically threw in the towel and said I was not home schooling any more. I have said it a few times this year, but this time I felt like I meant it.

Things were tough. My shifts at the hospital were leaving me shattered with absolutely no energy left. That coupled with the fact Sydney was under lockdown meant that planning for new adventures which have always kept us going was no longer possible. Yet, here were these two little energetic kids waiting for mama to teach, clean, cook, read multiple books multiple times and I just was not coping. Self-doubt showed up on my door step in full regalia. Was I doing the right thing? Was I giving my kids the attention they deserved; academically, emotionally and socially? So in a panicked state, I entertained the idea of sending them back to school and even discussed it at the dinner table. It was not a popular idea.

I promised to reconsider, then I remembered a list I wrote when I decided to home school. It read “Why homeschool” and went on to list reasons I had embarked on this journey. The letter was initially to keep me motivated amid all the doubtful questions I was having to answer each time I mentioned homeschooling. By then end of the last reason, I was busy filing in our renewal application.

The list reads

1.Because the best stories are always told at breakfast between 830 and 930am. I don’t want to rush them in case I miss the most important part.

2.Creativity seems to strike at the same time too. The wooden blocks suddenly become inviting and are piled together to form a house, a road and sometimes a cage. The lego pieces are suddenly appealing and are put together with ease and concentration, a book suddenly calls to them and they flip through it completely drawn to the story. How can I justify asking them to stop learning naturally, so they can learn only when instructed to do so.

3.Spontaneous trips to the city are the best. We always discover new places and learn so much. I am not ready for them to come to an end

4. That mid-morning ocean swim in the middle of the week, when the turquoise water is at its most pristine and calm. Who would want to give up those moments.

5.For the early afternoon walks with endless chatter-who knows what we might discover.

6.For the library visits together and the endless books we read while they sit on my lap. I hope this lasts for a long time

7. For the sibling relationship, with all its challenges and complexities. Its where they will learn to navigate future friendships

6. For a childhood, one with a lot of movement and lots of adventure, a safe space to err and learn, because there will be plenty of time to be an adult, for now, let them be little for a bit longer.

So here we are. Continuing with the homeschooling journey, creating space where we love, laugh and learn through adventure. If you are embarking on a big undertaking, I encourage you to write down your why. When things get tough, read it to keep you going.

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