Not back to school

My youngest could be starting his first day of school today at four and a half, my daughter grade 2 and my eldest grade 5. The thought of which breaks my heart a little and reminds me how glad I am that we found our way to homeschooling! 

Instead, this lego and Ninjago-loving boy will join his horse and animal-loving sister and his Minecraft and archery-loving brother on a day out in the mountains. We'll be working together on a photo shoot for a creative business and celebrating 'not back to school.'

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My latest nature journaling article and tutorial has been published in Secular Homeschooler Magazine. Grab a digital copy here - affiliate link.

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If you are interested in finding out more about homeschooling or unschooling in Australia, Happiness is Here blog is a great place to start.

Falling back in love with my camera

I much prefer cardigan weather. Queensland Summer's are long, hot and humid. The scarce rain leaves our grass brown and crisp. The chickens burry themselves in the sandy shade, beaks ajar. I don't sleep well in Summer. There is no comfort to be found in a fan and a sheet. Not like a blanket weighing you down in slumber. I am already quite over Summer, though it stretches out in front of us until probably Easter.

Trapped by the suns rays, we have been spending the heat of the day inside. One advantage is that I am finding more time to pursue my interests as the children pursue theirs. I've fallen back in love with photography and have been indulging in time spent in our air-conditioned lounge room with a pile of photography books from the library, and YouTube and Creative Live clips on my iPad. Something seems to have really 'clicked' during this process. A level of fear I had about my skills seems rather silly now. Instead, I'm embracing the process of experimentation and continual learning and enjoying it.

I brought a new lens for my Cannon 1100D, a 50mm, which has further inspired me to bring my camera along on our sweaty Summer jaunts or look for new ways to capture the children at home. I've discovered Lightroom and ColorMade presets and am having a lovely time playing with them too. As such I do believe I shall be sharing more photographs and rambling tales on the blog once again. xx

Fast and Slow

1 & 2. Homegrown flowers, 3. Making hammered leaf prints, 4. A basket full of decorations, 5. Our Christmas tree, 6. Christmas baking traditions, 7. Holiday reading, 8 - 11. Carnation capilary food dye experiment.

December always seems to whirl by in a flurry of decorations, traditions, work and family, and so it was again this year. I find myself overwhelmed by the end of the month, grateful for that blissful window between Christmas and New Years where everything seems to be on hold. A chance to reflect, relax, envision. Then there is the joy and anticipation of the New Year, full of promise and clean slates. I find I always start the year on a high of optimism that carries me through several months. 

I have already started the New Year with a new diary and a new haircut. I have scrubbed my kitchen, cleaned my fridge, culled and organised my wardrobe, spent my Christmas gift vouchers on new clothes and underwear. I'll have a blood test, update my glasses, service my car. All those nagging and necessary parts of being a grown up that once done bring such a sense of satisfaction and make for a fresh start for the year ahead.

I've no resolutions for the New Year, only a word that I will carry with me throughout the days and bring my focus and intention back to as often as I can. Previously, my word was 'nurture', as I nurtured my family, my business, my health. This year, my word is 'slow'. A simple and gentle reminder to slow down and not get caught up in busy. To slow down our cooking and eating, resulting in less prepackaged food and more home grown and cooked from scratch. To slow down our pace, walking more and driving less. To slow down on the number of activities so as to allow white space for pottering, exploration and creativity. To slow down and enjoy the time that unschooling offers to learn from life and my children. To slow down and spend time in this space, recording my thoughts and capturing moments that I will reflect on with gratitude in the future. 

I have so many photos and stories yet to share, and now that I am once again embracing slow, I will be here more often to share them. xx

Homeschoolers

1. Handknit socks from the craft cottage at Logan Village, 2. The suns rays as it dips down in the late afternoon, 3. A most delightful collection of clouds

It's a funny thing when wishes come true. A surreal, 'pinch me' feeling has been my companion this week. Like, everything is so much better than it should be, surely something will go wrong. I'm generally prone to that 'touch wood' feeling when things are going right, but this time instead of waiting for a negative, I have been embracing the positives. This wish has been a long time coming.

We are officially, unofficially, homeschoolers. Yesterday we celebrated our first-week homeschooling. What a relief it has been to leave the struggles and anxiety of school mornings behind us! No more last minute lunch boxes, early morning homework, and teary, anxious goodbyes. Instead, we have had slow, free mornings and days filled with our choices. I feel like we have squeezed several weekends into this last week already, as we have lived, created, explored, experimented and adventured together. It was terrifying at first to take the plunge, but the relief is palpable.

Our days are full, yet relaxed. My focus is on interest lead learning, in addition to short daily lessons in writing and math. We have begun the slow journey to deschooling, building trust and connection between parents and children. I am getting to know my children more deeply that I had before, despite years of attachment parenting. 

Learning with my children this week has been a gift. I am keeping a journal of our educational pursuits, and the moments when the children surprise me with questions, answers or observations far above what I would have imagined possible at their ages.

At times my three little ones irritate each other. They squabble and fight, and irritate me too. And yet, they are learning to spend more time together. They are reminded how to share, be kind, be thoughtful. And they are looking out for each other, reaching out to each other, and communicating in new ways.

So, pinch me and knock on wood! Here's to many more joyous weeks homeschooling my three dear babes.  

October Days

1. Jacaranda flower carpet, 2. Kinetic sand toddler play, 3. Air dry clay bowls made by Miss Five and Master Three as Christmas gifts - still to be painted, though Mama is loving them all white, 4. Blueberries taking a teasingly long time to ripen

The days have just rolled by lately. The blur of school holidays, the return to school and finding our rhythm again, working in my business. There have been many full days, but even more beautiful moments. You know the ones you want to hold tight to? And you find yourself wishing you could take a photo with your heart, to truly remember how it felt as you stroked your toddler's hair while reading him a story. Or listened to your daughter's joyful story about her morning of riding and grooming miniature horses. Or the pride you felt that brought you to tears when she overcame her fear of swimming and got in the pool. Or the other hundreds of little moments that make the sulking, squabbling and ignoring bearable. Still, this Mama's heart is already pretty full with all my love for my three little/big people.

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PS: I brought home six chickens yesterday! They are settling in now and quite shy. No doubt there will be many photos of them gracing my blog soon. xx

Books, flowers and yarn

I think three keys to happiness must surely be fresh flowers on the table to brighten up any day. A pile of books that you can't wait to read. And a project that you can watch grow stitch by stitch.

This week it is warm coloured poppies. Crinkly and colourful. This week I am reading about Charlotte Mason and The Danish Way of Parenting. Home education and re-framing. This week I am reading aloud two chapters a night of Little House on the Prairie to my eight and five year old as they snuggle in the big bed either side of me. And this week, I am alternating between crocheting a pale grey shawl for myself, and knitting a simple garter stitch colour block blanket for my nephew. Appreciating the quiet moments, however long they last, and knowing that a little each day is all that is needed to create something full of love and meaning.

May you also have flowers, books and a satisfying project to bring you happiness this week. xx