I’ve learned so much.
I’m not ready to stop yet.
I made some promises to myself when we started this.
- Do not be swayed by people who do not understand the choice (do not doubt yourself)
- Stand up for yourself and her if you get negative responses
- Do not make excuses ‘I took her out because, because…’ You took her out because there was a problem and you believed you could fix it. You believed you could do better.
- Be academic in approach but flexible, explore other kinds of teaching and more importantly other ways of learning
- Try to remember ‘not knowing’ – we seldom recall a time where we did not know what we know.
- Give her access – to knowledge. No matter what the question, try to answer it.
- Do not give up
- If she ever wants to stop, accept this is her education and no matter what the age her opinion is valid. Her education is her education and should be treated as such.
I though I would need to adhere to everything but the last one.
I didn’t see it coming. I didn’t.
So, rather than sharing anything with our home education now, I will be sharing gripes about teachers, holidays, fines, school runs and lunch times.
I would raise a glass to what is to come, but my heart is heavy and my coffee cup is quite empty. I have told her I support her decision, and I do support her making decisions but I find this one a little tougher to take than normal.
The pill is too bitter to swallow.
From September onward we are going mainstream.
