NBTS Blog Hop - A Day In Our Life

This is the week we share A Day In Our Life for the Not Back To School Blog Hop.

That's a hard one. Since we are deschooling we have little structure. So I'll will describe both what we would have done and what we are currently doing.

BEFORE :

6am - we would have woken and started the 3 -5 hour least stressful path to the completion of morning jobs which includes teeth, supplements, breakfast, clothes, make bed....in whatever order I remembered them. During this time I am growling, waiting, watching, waiting, asking, growling again and waiting some more. During this time E is playing, avoiding, playing, unfocused, getting angry with me, unfocused, playing and getting unfocused yet again.

9am to 11am - we sit down to our morning of lessons (we spent an hour planning our week together on Monday) with a grumpy child, who is non-compliant and a Mum who is trying to be patient and positive and encouraging. We might complete daily exercises, meditation, feeding the dogs and fish, collecting the eggs, some online spelling exercises, try some reading (could take 10mins to 30mins for one book), complete a math/science worksheet together...and that's about it besides little breaks to have something to eat and a little play/de-stress and bring back the focus. This finishes around 12pm to 2pm.

We sit down to lunch where we are both exhausted and quiet.

Then, depending on whether electronics are banned at the time or not...Ethan will watch a movie or animal documentary, play with lego, jump on the trampoline or we might have a swim together. Some days we do the groceries, visit friends and family and other jobs out of the house.

I cook, garden, clean, etc. I am resigned to my domestic mayhem because I'd rather be outside than in.

At around 5pm I order shower and PJ's while I am cooking (most of our meals have a long prep time as everything is cooked fresh...or maybe I'm just slow in the kitchen).

7.30pm is bed most nights. I then clean the kitchen and veg in front of the TV, surf (WWW), or read a book. It's been sad watching my son hate learning in an environment that is 100 times better than school was, unrewarding because there were no breakthroughs, tiring because I have to cook so much (I hate cooking) and stressful because I don't feel like I achieved anything today.

NOW :

7am - is closer to waking time now for E. His rule is that he needs to complete his morning jobs before playing or watching TV. So, consequently the jobs are completed before 8am...and sometimes before 7am. He will grab a piece of fruit if he is hungry and I am not up yet.

I get up and shower then make an organic espresso (can't stand instant coffee). I sit down at the computer and read my email and sooooo enjoy my coffee. Then I make breakfast...which usually consists of some sort of eggs (quiche, scrambled, poached with salsa....etc).

E goes about his daily business and I go about mine. His business is mostly playing lego, watching something (youtube lego reviews, documentaries, movies, etc), jumping on the trampoline, hounding me for food and a swim (he won't go in by himself yet) all day.

He's happy, more mature and more ready to listen when I need something to change. He shows a little (very little) more interest in wanting to read, will stay and watch a science video if he sees me watching one on the computer and join in if I am drawing or colouring. Bedtime is whatever time I think he is ready. Usually between 8pm and 9pm.

My business consists of cleaning, cooking, feeding the menagerie (chooks, chicks, and obviously those &%#*! March flies..etc), gardening, avoiding the areas I haven't cleaned by putting my virtual blinkers on, maybe a bit of crochet (why not? when do I get a holiday anyway?....I might as well play when I want). I am more accepting of my role in our family (used to be slave...now it's more like nurturer, facilitator or operations manager - with a bit of slave thrown in if I want to keep the peace).

If all goes to plan (which it never does) 5 years of formal lessons means we have approx 5mths of deschooling. This is month 2. I will just keep telling myself that I'm not going to let him get to 21 without being able to read!!... So don't stress about today!

It seems that Unstructured but with Rules is the go for us.

Maybe we've found our rhythm...at least a more balanced rhythm than before.