Weekly Wisdoms #8
The first full week of the year comes to an end today! David and I were back at our desks this week but extra muruals and regular therapy sessions etc only start next week. Keeping to my word of the year CALM – I had a calm start.
Glimmers
(Glimmers are micro-moments of joy that make us feel happy, hopeful, and safe.)
- We managed to squeeze 2 scrabble games in. Currently David is 2 games ahead 🤪
- We had a gorgeous rainy day yesterday and it was actually cool as well.
- I had a lovely coffee date with a friend. There were some tears but also lots of support.
- Emma started karate, she is in a new, later, tougher class. It was hard but it is one of her happy places.
- I made nachos and they were sooooo yummy.
- I started a bullet journal and I am really loving it. Mindfulness was something we focused on in the clinic and journalling is one of those things.
- Emma and I started school this week and so far it is going well. We started slowly but she seems more receptive this year.
- It is our friends twins birthday party tomorrow. They wanted arts and crafts, so I put together a little box for each of them and it was so much fun. Getting creative definitely helps me full my cup.
My Weekly Wisdom
Every Friday Eve and I meet for coffee, her son also homeschools and while we chat, he plays xBox with Jack. Every week we catch up on what the kids are doing in school and every week, without fail we say, “They are doing fine.” I think we do it more to reassure ourselves than the kids.
Regardless of how you choose to educate your children, you always worry about whether or not you are doing the right thing. It is the nature of being a parent. While I know that homeschooling is the right decision for us, it hasn’t been stress or worry free, especially with the younger two but this year it is all coming together so nicely.
My decision to unschool Emma last year was probably the best decision I have made. It took me a while to reach that decision because I had to completely let go of all my ideas about school and education, I had to trust a process I knew very little about. It had to trust her and I had to trust myself.
Late last year we started talking about what we wanted to do this year, do we carry on unschooling? Jack starts highschool so has to sort of start thinking about whether or not he wants to study after school. We spent a lot of time talking about it, throwing out ideas etc.
Emma and I decided to try a more formal set up this year – she has a timetable, all the subjects and we follow a curriculum exactly. We started this week and for the first time in the 6 years we have been homeschooling she did 4 days of school, she even came to me to ask could she finish some of the stuff she didn’t get to in the day. It is early days but the clear structure seems to be working for her now. (We have tried it previously and she hated it).
Jack has spent a lot of time this year with David’s uncle who is a chef and loves to cook. During December that made a lot of different dishes together and Jack loved it, so I suggested maybe be study to become a chef. He loved the idea and so we start with Impaq this year so he can get a matric and then study further. It is a big step for him and will mean a lot of work this year to adjust but he is excited!
Despite our worrying, it does all come together. When you give in to the process and let everyone follow the path they were meant to, instead of the path you want for them, it all works out. And they are fine.
Cool Things I Found on the Internet
I am not sure if this is cool or not but Mark Zuckerberg came out with a video about some changes to Meta. Generally these things cause a buzz and then nothing actually changes much but it is a little concerning for me that now politics are so blatantly a part of these big social channels. I know they have always been a part of them but its been politely behind the scenes, now it is very much in our faces. But we will see how it plays out.
This video sums up where I am at the moment. I am not 100% unapologetically there but my focus is on me and my healing.
If you are keen on bullet journalling but, like me, need a little guidance, check out this blog, she has some great templates and ideas.
Cape Town friends, The Cake Canteen is offering FREE cake on your birthday. I think you need to just sign up to their newsletter to qualify. Who doesn’t want free cake on their birthday? Such a clever idea.
Picture of the Week
Wise Words of the Week
“You never know which people, places, and experiences are going to shift your perspective until after you’ve left them behind and had some time to look back.” ― Quinta Brunson
I love the giraffe! Obvious 😂