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Episode #4: Home Education During Transition and Difficult Times
When things are rosy and our days seem to flow, it’s easy to feel confident and comfortable in the choice to be a home educating family. During harder times, it can feel shaky. Parents want to bring their best for their child but sometimes life circumstances make that challenging. What happens then? How do we ask for support? What does self-care look like? What growth do we notice in our children and families during and after these times? What difficulties? Join us as we shake off the “perfect home education family” image and dig into the ebbs and flows of living and learning together.
We were so grateful to have Kiki from Kiki and the Wildlings (on Instagram) join us for this conversation. You can hear and read more of Kiki’s thoughts on her own podcast and blog, Educating Wildlings.
We Discuss:
The helpfulness of acknowledging and hearing others express that there are difficult times
Whether home ed parents feel additional pressure to “hold it all together” because there are already doubts from others as to whether homeschooling “works” and whether they can do it
Asking for and accepting help and support
The assumption that school is the default if a family is having a difficult time
Parenting without having extended family close by
Trusting (or not) other people to provide respectful care to our children
Finding and noticing “sites of mutual fulfilment” (a nod to Lucy Aitken-Reed for that term)
That self-care doesn’t necessarily mean we need to be away from our children, building it into our daily rhythm
That leaning into our connection with our family can be healing and comforting for all and draw us closer
Modelling to children that we have passions, interests and also needs
Types of rest and practices of self-care
Being honest with children that we are having difficult times; it normalizes vulnerability and the need for help from one another
What we notice in our children during difficult times – resilience, strength and new or uncovered skills and characteristics
How sometimes difficult times do affect children in negative ways and letting go of being able to fully control and being responsible for that
How over time we become more confident that learning will be happening regardless of circumstances
Giving our children space to really feel what they feel
Resources Mentioned:
Unschooling Stanley (Instagram)
What are Sites of Mutual Fulfilment? Something Parents Need More of, That’s What – www.lulastic.co.uk
Sacred Rest: Recover Your Life, Renew Your Energy, Restore Your Sanity – Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith (includes description of the seven types of rest)
19 benefits of a good cry: the comforting case for crying (and why it’s good for us) – www.takingakinderpath.com
And as a bonus:
Self-soothing checklists: the secret to raising our mood and energy levels fast – www.takingakinderpath.com