Beauty 365 … Stories of Love and Life for Everyday

Day 3 of our lockdown journey. My boys are adamant that although they are continuing their studies at home, it is not home schooling. They assure me that they are still very much under the tuition and guidance of their own schoolteachers, albeit remotely, and basically, the clear message is that my nose is not needed in their business!

Perhaps I brought it on myself the day we first decided to keep them home from school. I made a fuss, rubbed my hands together and let them know how much fun I would have, writing timetables, packing lunch boxes, requiring them to wear uniforms while they studied, and generally playing strict school m'am.

When our kids were younger, for a period of four years, we did homeschool them. We had lived overseas and interstate for a number of years, and it really suited our family life. My goodness, they were wonderful, but crazy days!! The year we began, I had a baby, one at four year old kinder, one at school in grade 3, and then I homeschooled one in Year 5, one in Year 7 and one in Year 9. I reflect on that time now and know that of all the learning that transpired, (Oh yes, the kids flourished academically! Since that time whenever they get a good mark at school, I secretly, and sometimes not so secretly, take the credit for it!) , I did more learning than them all! I discovered the deep satisfaction of teaching my own child to read from scratch. Oh so sweet! Having to teach Maths, I finally understood Maths!! I learned that kids learn differently. I was stretched in so many ways, beyond what I had imagined were my limits. By the grace of God, I grew in patience, fortitude and courage. And of course I learned an appreciation for all teachers, who are expanded beyond their own limits, all day, every day.

The woman in the image is Dame Slap from Enid Blyton’s “The Faraway Tree”. She was the horrible teacher in one of the lands at the top of the tree. I have, on some occasions, somewhat unfairly, been dubbed Dame Slap!