My revolutionary 1st year as a homeschooling dad



I have learned so many things

I have had to unlearn many more

Unschooling is not just for the children. After more than 20 years of working in digital and marketing making the change to a homeschooler was just like starting a whole new career. It has been frustrating, challenging, and sometimes slow. There has been a lot of change needed, mentally and emotionally. Routines have changed, and attitudes have changed. How I view life, work, productivity, love, relationships and what is important.


I have watched my children grow into fearless, confident, outspoken (erm...), opinionated young people with attitude, personality, energy and enthusiasm. One of the greatest achievements I feel is that they are happy. Every day, they are happy. Of course, this level of happiness is a challenge for me because their energy levels are off the chart and it needs to be channelled into creativity and exercise. 


This has been challenging through the winter months when it is not as easy to go outdoors. With e arrival of spring and warmer weather, it is much easier for them to get out and run and play. Which is all children really want to do. Play.


Play is everything to children, as an adult we forget about play and fun. Most adults I speak to find this a challenging concept. Adults like to think they are fun and are fun but children are the masters of play and fun. Adults have forgotten and it takes children to remind them.


The key takeaway for me is that my son went from feeling like he was bullied, ignored, unheard and powerless. Too powerful, heard, challenging and confident. That's not to say we don't have more work to do or challenges to face. We do, daily.


It's not all love and light, we have arguments and fallout and reconciliations. We challenge each other every day. We get bored and frustrated and upset when we can't fit everything we want into the day. We end every signal day exhausted but fulfilled.


I have never had a period in my life anything like this and I am grateful for it. It has taught me how to reconnect with what is important, to them and me. I have had more fulfilment in this last year than in the last decade in my ‘job’. There has been an unprecedented level of change needed and accepted.


It has been worth it. For them and me. We are happier. More complete and fulfilled.


Would I do it differently if I could do it all over again? The answer is no. I have had to strip myself back and down to a simpler, better version of myself. I have had to learn to listen and be flexible. I have faced many of my trauma issues and grown into a more patient, loving and listening parent. I have had to show them boundaries, self-knowledge, self-worth, self-discipline and self-love. I show them how to manage their emotions and develop mental frameworks so they understand the difference between self-destruction and growth. I have had to learn all of these things for myself too.


I'd say the whole academic side of things has not been my focus. It has importance but learning about who and what they are is more important. Discover of self outward academics. Once they have the foundations of who and what they are they can then learn how to communicate this with the works in a way that actualises their dreams based on knowledge of self. Knowledge of self is all they need to then go out into the world. Their decision will be based on what is good for them and not what is expected of them.


My goal is to support and nurture the growth of individuals who know who and what they are and how to use that to create the life of their dreams. To have a foundation and create a platform to find and live their purpose. They have come here for their reason, my job is to make the navigation of this life successful for them. Whatever or whoever they choose to be.


#dads #fathers #homeschool #children #lifehacks


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