FIVETRIBE

It seems I only get to update a couple of times a month - not ideal but better than nothing. Once upon a time I enjoyed writing my blog and spent time actually formulating a readable post but nowadays I throw thought-bombs onto a page in the vain hope that I will remember all the details one day in the future. Rachel is now being schooled at home alongside Faith. While I had envisaged this all along the gravity of the decision is still weighing on me. There are nights I lie awake wondering exactly what the hell I am doing. Ultimately I know it will all be okay - I have many women ahead of me who are schooling high school kids and they keep me grounded in times when my panic can overwhelm me. I also know that I can do this - I am passionate about teaching and learning and opening up the world to them. Both girls love structure, which I have learnt can be a swear word in homeschool circles,  then again we are not the norm in this culture. I do feel that structure serves us well a...

Honey is home. Today is her first official day. I have given much thought to how to play out this last term and due to her nature I have decided to spend most of it 'unschooling' her. Her idea of homeschool is  School At Home . She wants us to emulate school traditions and processes at home. We have had a few discussions about how it is going to be NOTHING like that and I do think she has some anxiety about how this new life will play out. She is extremely academic and has thrived at school. Leaving for her was not a quick, knee-jerk response. It was a journey which I will ask her to share with you at some stage. Needless to say she has to learn to trust the process and  trust me . Trust that I will get her where she needs to go (and further) and this may take some time. Today we make collages and beginning a 'visioning' exercise. In these boards they place anything that resonates with them around homeschool. A little window for me into their dreams, fea...

Yesterday was my eldest daughters last day of formal schooling. Yes, it has finally come to pass. I had no intention of ever schooling my other kids when I took Lulu out in May. I had specific reasons for taking her out that did not apply to my other two kids however as time has gone by my thoughts have changed drastically about home education. I am now in a place (and have been for about 2 months) where I really would like ALL my kids at home. The thought of taking them through their entire school career no longer daunts me. While I have fears and insecurities, like any parent, I am confident that I can provide a home  education of a very high standard. I have had to WAIT for the right timing. I did not want to take Honey (Grade 6) out of school until she was ready. Initially the thought of homeschool was abhorrent to her; she could think of nothing worse. Slowly but surely little things have changed - I do believe it has been a journey for her - and she is so ready to try...

While our holiday in Mykonos was lovely I have to say our little stay-cation at my folks this weekend proved to be equally appealing! An impromptu sleepover on Friday night turned into a lovely long weekend at the 'House with a View' and it was just what my tired, ailing family needed.  Granny and Oupa offered lots of TLC to the little outjie who was still suffering and by the time we returned home on the Monday he was well on his way to his usual sprightly self. This here Mom (ie me) also received some serious TLC in ways only another mother would understand - Thanks Ma! Levi's poker chips provided HOURS of quiet, indoor entertainment. All kinds of games were invented. Oupa teaching Levi some poker plays Sick lad and tired, worried mommy. On Sunday the sun came out and we lapped it up - our long lost friend! Seeing Levi climbing and excited made me very happy! Ice-creams of the catwalk and sun on our skins Love these people ...

It has been a very lazy few weeks partly due to shocking weather and the partly due to winter sniffles doing the rounds in our home. Undeterred we snapped up a Groupon offer and headed up the West Coast for 3 nights. We made the most of our time at Club Mykonos despite less than ideal circumstances.  The girls had their first mani/pedi which was fun for them - and kind of milestone-ish for me. For the most part we spent our mornings out and about on the resort - there is so much to do! We played table-tennis, pool, foosball, mini-golf and spent a fun hour in the arcade playing token games. In the afternoons we arbed around as 2/3 kids were not 100's so rest was required. Thankfully we had plenty of quiet things to do with series, books and games. On our last day we drove into Langebaan for some tourist shopping - the kids each had a substantial amount of money to spend as they have all been saving. We transfer their pocket money directly into their Capite...

Sometimes there is so much to say that it is just overwhelming. Day after day I open my blog and sit staring at the blank page. Where to start? How much to share (bearing in mind my kids will read this one day, probably sooner than later!) In some cases I truly believe less is more. At least when it comes to blogging. Not when it comes to clothing. ;-) I will share in broad strokes aka bullets: The man's business is doing well but not without significant time constraints and some serious adversity. He is working harder now that he has in his life; those that know him will realise just how big that statement is. The difference is that now he is ploughing into his own business - something meaningful but that still doesnt negate the pressure and stress that a new business venture entails. I have come to face some of my deepest fears, look them squarely in the eye and realise that in this life nothing is certain and  one has to decide how to make your best play. In doing ...

This August has to rank right up there with one of the least pleasant months in my life to date. It's over - and not a moment to soon for me. Not only was at least one member, at times all 4 members, of my family ill with sinus/headcolds/croup for the ENTIRE month but I also faced some of my own health challenges. And it wasn't a cold.  Suffice to say that in the aftermath I am grateful all over again for the simple things. I am trying to move forward armed with what I have learnt and attempting to shed the fear that could come to claw at me should I allow any space in my thoughts for 'what could have been'. Right now I want to step outside in the bright sunshine and GO FOR A RUN. But that will have to wait for a few more days; instead I will be content watching Faith grapple with a new math concept and later join an old friend for a well-overdue catch-up coffee.