At Home Education | What it was and how it is now

(This is a personal account of my life, it is by no means intended to convert the reader to home education. If it does...then YAY!!!)

Our choice to Home Educate our kids started in 2009.

Although in all honesty, it was part of my fairytale that I wanted when I was a young 'un.

Right in the beginning of our marriage we got rid of our TV and filled our time with books, games, dogs and movies. Then we graduated to babies, books, games, dogs, toys, laundry, paint, puzzles, poop and the best...LEGO! A life saver!

I've never really had my mind set on specific curriculums and activities.

Neither did I want to fill my boys lives with stuff, I also knew that I did not want them to live out Jacques or I's perfect childhood.

Our pre marriage counselor told us to forget what we know from our growing up and make our own new ways, even if its a different way of cooking rice. So like all good couples we put that into practice and we applied it to  e v e r y t h i n g, well at least when we could. 

But the key was to NOT say, "this is the way my Dad did it," or "in my family..."

Ages 0 - 3

With our Kids we played and we let them play.

We didn't care about a mess, things got cleaned up at night before bath time and still do.

Paint, books, toys, making stuff and walks were made available to them.

We created an environment for them to discover.

2008

We are very blessed to live on our family's self storage business plot.

It is a few acres and in between the units are gardens, veld and open spaces for the boys to have a childhood that is less restrictive as kids living in a complex. 

2008

2008

As a family we read a lot, we have read aloud to both our boys since they were in my womb. I am not sure what research shows, but our kids have a love for books like I never did. 

2008

2008

We moved to South Korea at the end of July of 2009.

Joshy was going to turn 4 that October, and the one day he said to me "I want to read books like you and daddy!" (he sounded way cuter than you can imagine). So I jumped on that bandwagon and started making up my own sheets for him and encouraging forcing him to read and to really do well at it.

He started reading before his 5th Birthday.

2009

It was good, but the process was  n o t!

I didn't realise what I was doing to him, and most importantly, what I was do to our relationship.

He had completed his Pr K at the end of 2010. 

(South African school years run January to Decemeber)

I had pushed him so hard that when we assessed him at the end of 2010, he was ready for Grade 1!!!

I was so excited and so PROUD of him myself!

When I look back, 2010 to 2012 was horrible school years for us, his mind was brilliant, but I sucked as a mommy!

My boy was struggling emotionally and I had no idea how to go back and  j u s t  be his mommy.

Elijah was still little and he was still on Playdough and puzzles. 

I carried on like this until 2012ish.

2010

I prayed about it and didn't know what to do, eventually I just gave up in the middle of 2012.

PLEASE NOTE: The schooling was horrible, not life, so I threw my hands and beat my chest about SCHOOL! 

Life was good beautiful. You can read about it here, here, and here.

I am a perfectionist and had the same expectations from my children.

2012

In the December of 2012 I read this book, For The Children's Sake by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay. 

We were also in the process of converting, so everything became spiritual and related to God. 

This book really changed my heart and I thought it was going to change the way I homeschool.

Instead homeschooling became unschooling.

I wrote down my reasons for not sending the Boys to school:

• To have Love

• To love God

• To have a genuine Love of learning

I prayed over these and stuck them under a picture of Mary cradling The Infant Jesus.

I handed them to Christ and asked Him to guide my heart as He guides my children. I asked, and continue to ask, for the obedient heart of Mary.

2014

There's Joy again, there's laughing at mistakes.

There's hair pulling.

Joshy got his spark back, that spark that was so often in his eye before we started structured learning.

He was confident again!!!

He was my brave boy once again!

2014

My boys are self learners.

Two years ago Lijie, who is now 8, couldn't make sense of words, now he is on Book 2 of Harry Potter (formal reading) and has read a minimum of 100 books. ALL BY HIMSELF!!!

not me just HIM!

The stuff they know is all them! 

2015

Our type of schooling is comfortable at the moment.

It isn't stressful, until someone asks, "what grade are they in?"

Or, "what do you do to socialise them?" 

To which I'd like to answer, "Nothing, they're raised in captivity!" 

But that's rude.

2015

Sometimes they're bored, sometimes they're not, sometimes they have to have a good go at each other and sometimes we allow that!

I can only be happy to be their mommy now, every now and then I mess up and expect things to run my way and in my time, but I remember how I hated being that person.

I want them to know LOVE and JOY unspeakable!

For now they are At Home Kids, who believe they have the capacity and potential to be anything and do everything. If they like they could start a career tomorrow or whenever. Life has the potential to surprise us, so I want my boys to embrace that. There's opportunity for them and for their hearts. I want them to do things that matter and help in making a better world. 

Learning has no boundaries for them, even if its high school math, or planting a veggie patch.

To more FUN!

to patience

to guidance

to locking myself in the bathroom

to prolonged grocery shopping trips

to screaming like a banshie

to long drawn out confessions 

to wanting to swing a belt or breaking a mug

to LOVE and letting it Win!!!

Love and Light

SQT | Blogging and La Vida Loca

I've been rethinking blogging and all the reasons why I haven't written in like a year.
I have often thought about deleting it because, honestly, there are so many better blogs out there.
Also, so many more fun bloggers.
Oh and those really sweet down to earth ones.
What about the ones that know what they're talking about.
SO  M A N Y

I want to start all over again.
This time I want to share me and the way I am.
Why?
Catholic Mommy Bloggers have such a wonderful community that I hope to encourage other moms in South Africa the same way and with eyes facing the heavens, hope to find encouragement close to home and that is coffee date worthy.

1. Happy Indie People?!?!?

Well its the name for my very small clothing label that I work on in between a few other things.
I really don't have time to manage one social media platform, so I thought I would try and do all in one cute little place. (Cute is for the future. watch this space.)

2. A Lady
I like to laugh and do things right. I also like wine and talking. I am an introvert who is sometimes painful. I frown when I listen, it's not because I'm mad. I like to be healthy (and stay clear of doctors rooms)  so I  t r y to eat healthy (plus I'm an adult with Acne prone skin). I like camping. Scratch that, I LOVE camping!!!

3. A Wife
I really love my husband; we studied Theology together, married young, contracepted, traveled, had 2 kids, stopped contracepting, converted to catholicism and are now living our ever after. (And waiting for more babies.)

Me and him

4. A Mom
I used to be a working mom, then we made some adjustments and some sacrifices and now I stay at home and drink tea...
Hahahahaaaa
I wish.
Basically I wash dishes and clean the toilet and Unschool the Boys.
We also chat all day long and sometimes we don't say a word for...5mins. Sometimes.
I haven't really showered or brushed my teeth without interruptions for the past 10 years.
Also
I simply cannot live  a n y  other way.

My Boys Joshua and Elijah

5. Christian and Catholic
I love Jesus and I love to worship Him. AND my life would be so UNBEARABLE if I didn't have God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Why did I specifically say 'and Catholic'?
Well because I believe in Transubstantiation, The Communion of Saints. I believe we are meant to be Prolife and The Catholic Church is one of the few Churches that teaches the Ban on Contraception as Doctrine.  As a mother, I ask for the Prayers of Mary almost  e v e r y  millisecond, I wasn't allowed to do that as a Baptist, in fact I don't remember much of Mary as a Baptist, only during Christmas.
I teach my Boys an "old earth" creation. In fact I tell them that it's a  m y s t e r y  and that word is so Catholic! Ok this list could go on!

6. Simple and Frugal

As a family we try to be simple and approachable so that we can have more time and space for corporal and spiritual works of mercy kinda stuff. Its not easy because I think people who choose this way of life are sometimes lonely and I think its hard for people to imagine life without a TV.

7. Makers
I  l o v e  handmaking stuff!
EEEEEEK!!!
I love handmade stuff!
Even if its not the best looking thing, I just do.
Sometimes its hardwork but it is worth it.
Sometimes I just chuck my stuff ups in the bin and sometimes I pull them out and unpick the stitches and TRY again.
As unschoolers we try to encourage our kids to make things all the time.
So lucky you if you get a gift from us!
Sometimes they roll their eyes and sometimes they end up with
the coolest stuff on the block.

So this is me in Seven Quick Takes, I may be more, hey, I may be less.

I may even add on to my MEness.

But before I do, head on over to Kelly at This Ain't the Lyceum for more quick takes!!!!!

Love and Light!

SQT | Spring, Sew, Kitchene and Seven

Joining up with Conversion Diary for a very random (I guess it is always random) Seven Quick Takes!

One

Over the past two years, I've been o b s e s s e d with learning how to sew.

And I DID it!

So excited about it.

So in October, I m i g h t, launch a new concept instagram store.

Only to keep up my bad habit of sewing and funding my material stash.

The concept is to design ONE item and put it up for sale. 

The item will be available to order in various sizes, but only ONE of each size...

to maintain the idea of bespoke, indie clothing.

I also have a thing for mass production...bleh!

The item that is up for sale will be available for immediate shipping, however the various sizes will have a 2 week waiting period before shipping, as they are made to order.

In order to get your bespoke item you will have to comment with your size, and if you are the first with your size, then the item will be up for sale, to you.

follow @happyindiepeople for pretty things.

my personal account is @nicolarothmann.

Two

Spring is here and its beautiful.

But because South Africa is where it is on the globe, beautiful weather hails all year round.

Be sure to have the next next next next Edel here.

Three

Staples clearly was not writing a blog when he came up with this...

Just kidding. 

T H E  M O S T  I  M P O R T A N T.

Four

I love that my boys LOVE building lego and all kinds of other stuff.

Last week we spoke about structure, and how a wise man built his upon a rock!

We also spoke about triangles and rigidity and then they built this cutie with skewers.

Five

Joshy had to set some goals for himself.

And I'm pretty proud that he managed ALL but the one where he helps in the "Kitchene"

Any idea on how I can help him get MORE ready for his first confession?

Six

JOBURG DAY!

I was there with Melissa, my cousin.

And it rocked.

We were allllll the way in the front!

Like there were 20 000 people behind us!

So let me emphasise that we are not your average 33 year olds!

Seven

The Bump aka Elijah Daniel, turned 7.

Yay!

BEEN WAITING FOR THAT CAKE ALLLL DAY!

Go on over back to Jen for way more fun and exciting Seven Quick Takes
I think I saw someone write about Budgeting...hmmm.


Love and Light
Nicky

PS... a little quote text from my husband this morning -
"O consuming Fire, Spirit of Love, overshadow me, that the Word may become, as it were, incarnate within my soul; that I may be to Him and extension of His humanity so that in me He may work all His mystery anew." - Elizabeth of the Trinity

Unschooled and Homeschooled Kids Equal Socially AWARE Human Beings

Kids are playing, running around and squealing with joy.

Mommies are chatting and sipping on tea and having a good old time.

(you notice from the corner of your eye, YOUR kids are HIGH in a tree, encouraging the smaller folk to join...you quickly pretend to be..er.. otherwise, shake your head and sip sip sip sip)

Mommies are chatting about...darn it...schools!

Here goes.

"So where do yours go?"

Of course you're ALWAYS the last to answer.

"My Kids? Oh, we homeschool."

And then you brace yourself for 

The Ultimate Question...

"What about Socialising Your Kids?" (hand to mouth)

ahem...

M Y  K I D S  A R E  P L A Y I N G   W I T H  Y O U R  K I D S  !!!

And aren't I here?

At the same play date that you are at??

(ok thats what I say in my head)

But really?

Redundant question right?!?

I answer in the polite way and then

Problem solved...right?!?

No, its not.

Then they continue to ask...

"So, what about extra curricular...? they can make friends there, right?"

Socialising during a Jiu Jitsu lesson?!?

That's not going to happen!

I think the coach will make them drop and give him 50.

When there are other kids around my "at home" children play, chat...ahh, socialise with them.

I don't have an issue with the question, or rather, the assumption, that "at home" children are

less socialised - because let's face it, I question and assume a whole lot of stuff.

But in the mean time.

My "at home" boys are in fact awesome, and I might be biased, but ...

I'm going to go with it.

I watch them everyday share a part of themselves and that is beautiful.

These boys have helped plant a veggie garden to feed people less fortunate than us.

They've also been helping at a shelter for the past 3 years.

They might not speak a second language...(yet).

But the language of their hearts inspires me to give more of ME.
In the end its about the quality of relationships that you have with others that form you.
In the very beginning it was just CS Lewis and his brother.
Thomas Merton often had only his Dad.
Missionary kids, back in the day, had local villagers.
Frederick Buechner.
Leonardo da Vinci.
EE Cummings and I am sure you'll be able to add to that list.

I believe a deepness exists in all children.

This, I feel, is just the beginning of, GOD WILLING, awesome adults.

Love and Light

ps. I know that there are beautiful schools in South Africa sharing with local communities giving of themselves. This blog is NOT intended to discredit Schools, but only to credit that which must be credited.

Tuesday, is our day at the Shelter, and Teacher Kim did long and short!

Life | In Two Minds...well maybe more

So I'm a Protestant to Catholic Convert now and I have written somewhat about it here, here, here and here. I know I said that the last one was the last one on this blog and thought that maybe Jacques and I would start a conversion blog sometime. Which I hope to happen soon.

The thing that I am in two minds about is whether to continue my Catholic blogs on this site or not.
See Im not even sure what my readership and I don't even know who stumbles upon my not so widely read blog. In fact I'm not even sure what this blog is about.

The thing is I don't blog much.
But I want to.
My life is SO integrated with my Catholicism at the moment and I cannot see it being any other way in the near or far future.
That I feel that to not include it on here would be....
uhhh weird.
And empty and a kind of denial that I am not who I am.

So I think for now.
Its going to be crafting...the much that I can and know.
My Catholic Journey.
My Boys.
Our Transition from Homeschooling to Unschooling.
My Man.
Well, my stuff I guess.

I really feel inspired to write more about ALL my journeys.
Even if i whittle my readership to just my husband!

These blogs are just awesome:

Living without School
Unschooling Catholics
Atheist to Catholic Conversion
This Ain't the Lyceum

The Princess and The Goblin - George Macdonald 

Elijah considering a tree - talk abouts

Rhino - Stone Art

Living & Loving

Joshy Butt boarding with his brother to help Lijie conquer a fear for the skateboard

Love & Light