I am so full of emotions tonight. It’s been tough letting go of my first born to a system where, due to numbers, children are molded to doing ‘x, y and z’ when told – how else would it be possible to contain so many free spirits within one room!
The end term heralds in the end of being told when to eat, when to line up, when to sit, when to dance, when to write, when to read, when to listen, when to talk, when to be silent. In the real world we have choices. We either accept and surrender to a situation or we find a way out and a new path forward. Children in the school system have very little freedom to move. I feel the pain of my daughter, because I can remember it so well myself. I had so many questions to ask, but so little time to say them, or for them to be truly listened to in school (though thankfully I had the good fortune of the most amazing parents that always gave me every minute they could to listen to my endless thoughts and philosophies!).
I have spent the past two terms compromising between encouraging my daughter to push past some of her emotions and find a way of coping within the bounds that she’s been placed and also encouraging her to stand her ground and voice her opinions. I have found myself being her advocate at times and supporting her in opinions that go against the grain of the system and letting her know that though we don’t always agree or feel comfortable in a situation, there are times when we have to simply do our best.
We are all so relieved the summer holidays are here. We are free to learn about our world without confines. We can eat together when we are hungry, not when we are told to do so. We can dance, sing and jump when our bodies yearn for creative movement and expression. We can write and read for hours on end, until out hearts and minds feel at peace, with no bell to tell us to ‘stop’ – what mind can feel comfortable with that?! We can wonder for hours on the beach and the bush, taking in every perfect detail with no crowds and pressures to disturb our oneness with the paradise of nature.
Two sisters are free to be creative once more. No forced separation at 9am. They will be free to continue their beautiful creativity and build on their special bond that will hopefully live long in both emotional and physical health.
Two parents able to embrace the parenthood they signed up for on their children’s conception and while away hours in simple pleasures.
Hurray for the holidays! We’ve been so hanging out for them for many weeks and are so relieved they are finally here!
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Whow….what absolutely beautiful pictures….just wonderful !! We are off to Wisley gardens in a minute to meet up with Ellen and John to do a parcel swap. We will have a walk around and feed the body and mind with nature.The new glasshouse there is amazing and will have some beautiful flowers in there in the warm ! It is dry and sunny here so a good day for it and we need it right now. Enjoy the holidays loves and we know you will.
Thinking of you and love you so much, Sarah
Ack, doesn’t it sound so ghastly. I read something once that children entering school asked up to 40 questions an hour. By their second year, they asked three, because they always go unanswered, there is no time!
Yay for the holidays, enjoy every second!!
Yep, wonder if I’ll still be loving the holidays six week’s from now? Tee hee! Might have to get in the car up to you for a play on the beach! Sarah x
Oh dear, I do hope that school is not such a negative experience for all children. I’ve been thinking of the benefits/enjoyment that children get from being in school. Especially for children who come from households where parents have little involvement with the children other than buying them computer games and sticking them in front of a tv. Socialisation is a major benefit for all the children and as well as the basics of learning how to share objects as well as attention there are far more important life skills to be gained ie empathising with others, respecting other children’s feelings and learning how to cope with negative feelings – loneliness/sorrow/fear, in themselves and others. The children who start school with major behavioural problems are often those who have had little or no pre-school experience. I feel that even those children who have had a ‘good’ start in life benefit from mixing with such a large peer group and more adults, they gain an understanding of why society has rules,(class rules are set by the children) and hopefully they understand the reason behind school rules(fairness/safety), and tolerance of others. I think very few of our children would have mixed with children who have special needs outside of school yet it is just wonderful to see the care they take of the 2 children in our class even when they are having their hair pulled or their work torn up. And this tolerance extends to those who have less obvious needs. I can sense from you that Charli does not always enjoy the restrictions of school but I think that you are giving her and Sophie a wonderful home life full of creativity and mental and physical stimulation. Only you can decide on the best course to take for Charli’s education and how to balance out the ‘negative’ aspects of school. Enjoy a wonderful summer holiday and savour every precious moment.
Thanks Ruta, everything you say is so true. Charli is just quite an independent, loner in many ways, preferring her own company, or that of a few, to a larger, busy, noisy, group situation – and so she’s taking a little while to adjust. I know that Sophie, on the other hand, will love the social aspects of school. It’s not that Charli is shy, as she happily orders her own food when she’s out, takes out her own books from the library, chats to old and young alike at the bus stop, shows great care and empathy for those with special needs or physically disabled when we’re out and about in the community, converses comfortably with other adults in the doctor’s office or in Dan’s office etc.
She’ll soon find her comfort zone and ways of handling busy, group situations, but in the meantime, it’s been an emotional challenge for her and me. On a school trip last week, which Sophie and I joined her on, she hated every moment, but she survived! Sophie loved it though! I have to say, it wasn’t my cup of tea either! We were in the most beautiful bush setting – with around sixty other children – and Charlotte and I would have much rather been off walking in the bush with nature.
Thanks for your words of support. I have been so thankful to Charli’s teacher for ‘breaking us in’ (feel like a pair of young foals!) gently. Next year, we have a whole new class and teacher and for now I’m not thinking about it! Just really going to enjoy making the most beautiful memories over the holidays. Sarah x
Yay, schools out for summer. Hope you all make some lovely memories!
Oh yes, I too am jubilant about the end of the scholastic year, finally the kids can learn something and I don’t have to rush everyone out the door to something that sometimes does not feel worth it. Have a great christmas, new year and a fantastic summer, all too soon the weeks will have disappeared and it will start all over again.
Hugs
K
sarah –
lol – you are sounding like an unschooler!!!!!
i love both – homeschooling and classrooms – and you are right – different children respond to each setting.
my littlest two lads are total extroverts – they’ll love the instant friends.
wishing you and charli (especially) a beautifully peaceful summer X