No doubts

Today has been an ordinary day. Really. Quite ordinary! Just like any other Monday really. After having breakfast, showering, getting the children organised, and tidying away beds, we started school. Handwriting was the first job, then diaries from yesterday. Maya's was really good, and helped confirm the fact that whilst it may appear that we are on holiday/messing about each day, we are in fact enhancing our children's life experiences, whether it be socially, culturally, historically, or occasionally just educationally!

If there have been any doubts in our minds about what we are doing, and believe me there have been times along the way when we have met people who have quizzed us to the n'th degree about the morals of taking children out of school, and frowns about how we can afford this lifestyle etc, then we have simply asked Jasper and Maya if they are OK, if they feel happy, if they are having a good day, what they have enjoyed so far, what we can do to make it better. They always respond honestly and positively! And the finances of it all are nobody's business but our own! 

After a short break, we worked hard on some maths. Both children are really focused on what we are currently working on, and they are confident in what we are asking of them regarding number value up to five digits and recognising number patterns such as odds/evens, twos, fives, tens. Jasper even spotted a palindromic number pattern, so to satisfy his curiosity we told him what it was. And he loved it!

After lunch, which was delicious fresh rolls from the local baker who visited the site this morning, Jasper and Maya had a long playtime in the sun. And whilst that was happening, I did the housework, sorted the washing out, cleaned the kitchen area, composed some emails, looked at the route for the next few days and Ed went for a bike ride. As I said, today has been an ordinary day really! As I looked out if the window, I saw and heard lots of laughing and giggling. A den had been made, sticks were being used as swords, acorns and leaves were being left as a trail for fairies to follow. All of their own accord, all imagined, all simple play, the thing that sadly formal education doesn't allow for in the age of targets and age related expectations. 

Now an art lesson is taking place with Ed teaching the children how to draw a person, so they can draw and label one of the characters from yesterday's festival.

We have already written a list of questions to ask Daniella and Lydia (on the site) so that we can find out more information about the festival, such as "why the man was wearing a straw suit?", "what do the different dances mean?", and "how often do they practice dancing?" The last question is high in importance on Maya's list!!! 

So if there are ever any doubts, they soon vanish when you look around and see what is happening. We are living an ordinary life, it's just that we are privileged to have the time to do it slowly, and to see the world from the eyes of our children.  

Clare

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