My First 30 Days of Home Education

Choosing home education (homeschooling for my US friends) is never made in a vacuum, it is never just about our children's education. It factors in so many things like our careers, our need for more human-ness, authenticity and joy, our stress levels and mental health - and of course those of our children too.

I chose to home educate in the height of covid, we had experienced the slowness, that ability to stop prioritising everyone and everything around us over our own needs and I had seen our little family thrive. Better rested, more engaged, learning faster and more autonomously through play and exploration.

I was determined not to let that escape us as lockdowns came to an end and the hustle of the world got right on back to usual and the truth is that was harder than it sounded.

The expectation to send my kids off to school, the expectation to visit and meet friends, family, go to attractions and things again. It all came flooding back in and threatened to carry away the new slowness, the intrinsic curiosity and connection we had built.

Even so, starting home education felt like stepping into the unknown - so much of my mindset was wrapped up in the academia focussed school style of learning and I was anxious to ensure my children would still be successful, happy, independent and capable. As a mother of two children (neurodivergent but unknown to me at the time), I could see that the traditional school system wasn't going to meet our needs. The decision to take their education into my own hands was both daunting and exhilarating.

In the beginning, I was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of criticism and doubt from those around me - our society is brainwashed into believing that school is the only way education can happen - hardly surprising when most of us have experienced learning this way. It felt like I was constantly defending my choice, caught in a cycle of panic and uncertainty. But deep inside, I knew this path was right for us. I longed for a lifestyle that allowed my children to learn at their own pace, driven by their natural curiosity rather than arbitrary rules, assessments and expectations.

The transition wasn't easy. It required a shift from a perfectionist, people pleasing, good girl mindset to one of determination to meet our needs first. I had to let go of the deeply ingrained, automatic beliefs about education and empower our family through a far more individualized approach. It is always about so much more than just giving my children a different educational path; it was about healing and growing alongside them.

Untethered from our hustle culture schedule. Instead, we have learnt to simply explore the world around us, allowing learning to happen organically. Whether we're delving into a new book under the shade of a tree or discussing life lessons during a car journey, every moment is an opportunity for questions, growth, mindfulness, connection and it comes with an endless ability to re-assess and tweak when things aren't working.

As I reflect on my journey I can see how vital those early days were, and if I had had the right questions and guidance back then how much faster I might have felt the conviction and self-esteem that I do today.

I have been thinking a lot about how to distil that into something so easy to follow and approachable that you will see results day after day and literally feel the transition happening as you tap into what your family's needs and desires really are. What you might have lost along the way and how you are going to get it back.

'The First 30 Days of Home Ed Calendar' is available now - take a breath, do one little task or have 1 conversation a day that will help you to reconnect with your kids and yourself, to start the process of deschooling and self growth that will foster strength in you as you grow together, and start to consider how your home education lifestyle should look.

Perfect for anyone, whether it is literally your first 30 days or not, who is in need of a home ed re-fresh and re-assess!

You have an opportunity to enjoy home education, to allow it to transform not just your child's prospects, but the whole family's lived experience and I want to hold your hand through that!

If you'd love more support building a home ed routine that actually works for your family, come listen to The BIG Home Ed Conversations podcast - available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or follow along on Instagram and TikTok. And if you'd like personalised support in those crucial early days, you can find out more about working with me here.