All change!

Wow, what a rollercoaster the last few weeks have been! We set off in September with Finn starting school, mornings only, with the rest of his local friends. He did six mornings before we decided as a family that this didn't work for us. Our instincts said he wasn't ready, but he was keen to start so we thought we'd give it a go and I'm glad we did, because I now feel much more sure of our route and don't feel that I'm imposing my own dreams on him. He said he hated it after a day but we encouraged him to keep going in and to give it a fair trial, which he did. He didn't hate all of it, he enjoyed the singing and some of the toys but was very articulate at explaining that he prefers both of these things at home and at Forest School. So, after much anxious conversation (why does a meeting with the headteacher still strike panic into me at nearly thirty?!), we've withdrawn him. We're not sure where this journey will go, we know some families who have never been to school and some who only do secondary, as well as some who are delaying their child's entry into primary school. And our local school does have a lot going for it so it may be that he feels he'd prefer to be there to be part of the community at some point in the future. It may be that he's desperate to start next term, it may be next year, it may be in the far distant future, or not at all. I just keep reminding myself that any of those options are ok, it will all work out in the end and we will be guided by him. He has a wonderful understanding of his own needs and is so grateful that we've responded to them. And people keep remarking on how happy he looks this week :-)

He's not of 'statutory school age' until next year (a fact that isn't often mentioned to parents of reception children!) so we're not official home-edders, but our week is becoming a lovely mixture of two mornings at Forest School, a drop-in home ed social group, our local toddler group (which I help run so he helps me!) and lots of fun and laughter at home. Today we read tons of books - Evie is addicted to reading right now and won't go anywhere without a stack of books under her arm! And we made a rocket, inspired by the Charlie and Lola story in which the little sister breaks her brother's beautiful rocket...and the little sister tried that today! The little two are getting on so well at the moment - she cried all the time he was at school and they just keep hugging and laughing together now. And both are delighted when our biggest girl gets home on the school bus. She just started secondary and absolutely loves it :-)

In other news, I've decided to train as a childminder and start my training next month but in the meantime, I've set up an etsy shop for my jewellery, which I'm really enjoying getting into again. It's called Jenner's Jewellery if anyone fancies a peek!

 So I'm a self-employed, home-edding mama this week, which is quite exciting!