Jas flower is 5 and Noah is 2 years old and me, well I’m 30 and we homeschool! I work from home so I get to have my children with me always. O’course it helps that daddy is a teacher.

When we conceived Jas I had already experienced many life changing beliefs that transformed me from the core and all. Thankfully my husband and I see eye to eye on pretty much all important decisions…actually, he is the one that has even taught me so much! Like encouraging me to homebirth, become raw vegan for a season, taught me about herbs and essential oils. Yep ALL HIM! I truly appreciate my husband and all the wisdom Our Father has given him.

Homeschool

After Jas was born, maybe after around 5 months, I really immersed myself in lots of mom groups, babywearing, breastfeeding, crunchy mamas, playdates, etc. Through these mamas I found out a lot about different types of schooling options like homeschool co-ops, Montessori, Waldorf and Charter schools.

My work-from-home business was still not earning as much as I needed to help my husband pay bills. So when the opportunity came up to work at a Waldorf daycare I jumped on the chance! From when Jas was 10 months til she was 1 year and 7months. We worked together in the afterschool care of the Waldorf daycare. And some days I got to take over full days!

Part-time work

I learned so much from the oh so experienced waldorf teacher Barbara Jimenez. Although some of the philosophies didn’t jive with me.  How to speak to the children, the importance of routine and how to get it flowing, and other great waldorf tips were so worth it.

Jasmin thrived in the schools playroom, the playground and garden. Even at home with all the new tips I gained, we got to enjoy the balance at home. With one child it’s much easier, seeing now with 2 it’s a bit challenging! Still, it can be done though!

Mama groups

Through that school year we still had our other mommy groups and my essential oil and doula meetings as well. I mention this because I truly feel our children have learned a lot also from being out and about. Having experiences visiting different people and places with me. Teaching them along the bus ride, walk and how to behave in certain meetings and around people. They’ve learned how to befriend other children and playing with different personalities. It has also taught me a lot about how to deal with them when they have tantrums or difficulties when were out and about too.

Homeschooling gives us these different liberties and learning scenarios. It’s not so much about being at home and creating my home into a classroom. More about the freedom it provides to go out and explore!

Proverbs 22:6

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Panama

In Panama from about January to May Jas also got to attend a free school where again I had the opportunity to teach part time. We had 2 year olds til 6 year olds when I was there. It was truly an amazing experience for all of us. Living right on the beach, totally outdoors, surfing, horse riding, exploring! Was just amazing. It was a stress release for all of us especially my husband who had been teaching in the same school for 15 years!

Jas really thrived there with all the other little free spirit children and lifestyle!

I worked with another teacher so jas really got to experience having another teacher, another adult who she had to listen to and be guided by. It was a relief to see her open up to another adult and children, she is a bit of an introvert!

Again I learned so much about lesson planning, activities, and being guided by what children want to learn and their interests! This time we were more guided in Montessori teaching. Having different activities within a same theme that will guide the children to learn various subjects of their choosing and at their pace. Jasmin really enjoyed the freedom and she still had me nearby!

Now

We have 2 children now and life is sooo different. I don’t dont want to teach other children!!! Ahh sounds so bad but I am just being real. I feel like I only have patience for my own children and even that wears thin!

Our routine:

• Children breakfast
• Mom yoga
• Mom breakfast
• Jas schooltime
• Go out or playtime
• Noahs nap/jas free time
• Dad gets home

Now that Jas is 5 I have inserted a time in the day where we sit down together and work on a subject or 2 and do a music or art activity too. Where mama doesn’t check her work and shuts off just to focus on Jas.

It’s really fun actually to get to see her progress!

She doesn’t like math, but I’m going to find a funner way to teach it to her. Jas loves phonics and words games and enjoys cutting and pasting. She also loves learning about animals. Her favorite is music, ballet, any dancing and singing. And most recently into drawing!

Noah is learning colors and shapes! It’s so cute when I’m teaching jas and he repeats what he hears and tries to learn too!

So our homeschooling is as simple as having a variety of workbooks or printed activity sheets on various subjects and simply asking Jas, what do you want to do first?

And if she’s not keen on doing much then I’ll show her all her options and if necessary I’ll pick one and motivate her to finish a task. So we can go move on and do her favorites things. Whatever that might be for the day.

Some days we will skip the academics altogether!

So we’re leaning more towards unschooling.

Haven’t heard of unschooling?

Well it looks different for everyone! Because we let our children just go with the flow.

Future

I cannot say for certain. We are open to the possibilities of our children going to school so mama can work. Go to midwifery school, attend more births as a doula, and focus more on the blog and Young Living.

Maybe if we move somewhere with better school options.

We shall see what Our Father has for us later on

Thanks for reading!!!!

 

Here are some helpful resources:

• Joyful Toddlers
• Stepping Stone
• Montessori-Ami  and also Here  Montessori Routine
• Montessori Sample Lesson pdf
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