Thursday 30 January 2014

First Day


The last two days my Facebook news feed has been full of adorable little uniform - clad five year olds starting school for the first time. It happens every year, but this time has felt particularly poignant because Tully is not one of them. After two years of thinking, talking, reading, weighing up, here we are, officially not sending our five year old to school.
And this post is absolutely not a comment about those other five year olds and their families. They, many of them my close friends, know what's best for their families. But today, especially, with its absence of uniform and lunch box and out-the-door-by-nine, I am particularly peaceful and thankful for our decision.


Tully and Eve wake up and play well together most of the time while I sleep in. It's taken me most of this pregnancy to be ok with not trying to get up before them, but I'm at the uncomfortable stage where I eventually, fitfully fall asleep around 2am. Tully gets them both a little yoghurt and piece of fruit, first breakfast, and then when Tim or I get up, we make a big batch of porridge. I'm so thankful I can get the rest I need.

 
After breakfast, it's tidy up time. Last year, when I had pre-school and daycare, I wondered how the heck I was going to cope without my child free days. Surprisingly, I'm actually finding it easier without them! Not having 3 or 4 days a week where we have to be out of the house early means we've developed a new routine of tidying the house every day, all of us together. I have never been so underwhelmed by housework. I'm hoping this routine will hold us in good stead when the baby comes in just 7 weeks (!) and I'll be asking them to do some of it without me.


While we tidied, the post lady rode by. The person who lived here before us (nearly 5 years ago) was a travel agent and never changed her address with certain travel magazines.  The kids are convinced these come for them (which works in my favour with all the packages that arrive for us!). Tim and Tully had a flick through over morning tea, chatting about different destinations around the world, while I went to an antenatal appointment. I'm so thankful Tim's PhD has him choosing his own hours. He does usually 'go to work' at the uni, but he can stay at home and be with the kids when I need him, and study in the evenings.


Then, at 11, we started some sit-down work. We read a Beatrix Potter book together on the couch, then some phonics. I wasn't going to use work books for Kindergarten, but Tully felt so left out when everyone was talking about going to big school at the end of last year, that I bought them for him to make it feel official and real. He absolutely loves them, partly because they're right at his level, and partly because I sit down with him.



The post lady's delivery brought up a discussion about where the mail comes from and how the post system works, so after lunch and a rest, we made cards for each other, so we could post them in the red box down the road, and have them arrive back in our letterbox.


My number one goal this year is to nurture a peaceful home. I never thought that could be synonymous with newborn, caesarean, PhD, homeschool. And believe me, the heat and discomfort has me failing often! But today, as we came and went as we needed, as we worked at things that interested us, as we paid no attention to the clock, as we organised our day around our needs, and not those of a big institution, it confirmed what I hoped for as we weighed up this big decision. This is peace for us.

11 comments:

  1. Sounds good to me. I remember those days when I had to get kids to child minders & then onto work. Home schooling in the UK in the UK isn't common
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  2. What great kids you have. I love that Tully gets him and his sister breakfast in the morning. It's great to see an independent kid when so many are mollycoddled these days! By the way, I work at a baby goods store Kotara and always wonder if I will see you and your family there one day and whether I would tell you if I read your blog or not... I think I would come over all starstruck haha!

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    1. Taylor, I'm going to have to start looking through baby stores in Kotara! How lovely to have a reader close by! Hope we meet sometime! And thank you! :)

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  3. I admire you so much Jodi! I'm so glad you're finding peace through your choice. I'm also super jealous of how spotless your house is in these photos!

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    1. Bec, I admire you too! Thank you! And I can't believe my tidy house myself. Nice to be in this season. :)

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  4. Bravo to you for finding what works best for your family, and sticking with it. Homeschooling in the US is a mixed bag, but more common in the area of California where I live. Best wishes for your impending arrival!

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  5. peace in your house - what a beautiful aim to have :-) I love days with no deadlines and rushing - so much more restful .

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  6. I can feel the peace and "in the moment" joy that's just radiating off of all of you in these photos and in your words. What a wonderful thing! I remember when Aria started getting Liam breakfast in the morning so that they could eat right away, even if I was 15 minutes later. What a blessing! That's perfect timing for the new baby too, as you said. Hope your last few weeks are a special peaceful time for all of you!

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  7. I feel the same way. We decided to homeschool our two boys (5 and 7) and it has been wonderful. I really enjoy our relaxed schedule. I had another boy 7 months ago and the two older boys at home helping out has been such a blessing. And the plus for them is they get to be with their little brother more which they love!

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I so love your comments! I read all of them and reply when I can. If you don't hear back, I'm lost under a mound of scraps or outside jumping on the trampoline with the kids. Jodi. xx