We are the epitome of imperfection.
One might say, that we do everything the wrong way, if the right way is the way other people do it...
Something that is rather strange, we aren't affected by other people's fears, trends, agendas, and live under our own rules.
It comes with its perks, and its moment of solitude. Here in France, the government is trying to ban homeschooling, and we of course have to respect the law, these laws are put in place to "combat radicalism", and homeschooling will probably be banned in the next few years, but as always, there is a way when you're allowing yourself to find it.
We currently have the kids enrolled in a school program online, so technically they are at school, it's just a long distance one.
They have a curriculum, teachers, classmates, and it's for them a way to learn social cues, but at our own rhythm, in a controlled environment.
The government might be right, if wanting my children to listen to their intuitions, feel free, not conform to the current absurdity while sharpening their common sense and critical thinking, is extremism, so be it.
The day always starts with the same routine, a quick bath, food in their stomach, and the classes start at 10am.
Today my son started his day with Basic Technology, which is his favorite subject, and my daughter had Home Economics.
It's sometimes hard to get them focus for a long time, but their teachers are amazing, and know how to speak to them. Most of their teachers come from African countries and also from the US, I didn't have the chance to ask every time, there is a rotation of teachers, depending on their availability.
I enjoy the fact that we still have a piece of African culture with us at home through their education by the way it's delivered to them by their teachers, it comforts the kids, the program is pretty much the same as the UK program.
It didn't work well for them when confronted to the French public education, which also has its own perks, but just not really our cup of tea.
Of course, this life is only possible because we decided to live fully off of crypto, it's by choice, and it was a ballsy move, for now it's paying off.
Anyway I digress, after 2 hours and a half, they have a break at 1240pm, and then go back to school for 2 more hours in the afternoon.
It doesn't always go well haha, and of course everyday comes with its lots of dramas, fights, and moments of excellence.
One might ask, "but when do you have time to take a break from your children, and vice versa?"
They of course have "me time", when they are allowed to do whatever they want, but in general, we aren't the type that need that space away from their children.
Their proudest moment: Finishing Mario Galaxy 😄
I understand why some do it, I understand their need for freedom, and the desire to let children make their own mistakes, I personally want to spend as much time as possible with my kids, and my wife.
I actually don't find anything as interesting as watching them live, and that's maybe one of the reason why we are homeschooling them.
Out there, we have very little control on the input, the environment provided to our children, and no one will have the passion that we have when we teach our kids.
I left home when I was young. I don't speak too much to my brother and sister, nor my father or mum. Am I trying to make up for what I didn't have? Maybe. We weren't really a fragmented family, just the byproduct of divorce, like many others.
I think 10 years in Africa, changed me so much, that I am not the boy they knew, and I don't understand most of their decisions, ideologies, and they probably don't get ours neither.
How about sport?
That's a tough one, because they don't have many opportunities to learn about team sports, or play with other kids even. That's probably what I have to work on now, of course the laws are changing in France about who can or cannot do sports outside, for now we are still allowed, so we will make the best of it, but soon these activities will be restricted for the 6 to 11 years old, unless...Unless, you know the rest...That's not the question for today, let's leave the politics aside, and just focus on the educational aspect.
Nothing is perfect, there are good and bad outcomes, it's all about weighting in if at the end of the day, they are improving by having school at home.
For us, it's not even a question.
We saw the difference, with our very own eyes, and we also ask them constantly what they want to do.
The day they tell me, "I want to go back to school with other kids", we will listen to their wishes.
Anyway this afternoon, it was time to move our butts, so we followed a HIIT (High Intensive Interval Training) with fun jumping jacks, jumping rope, push-ups, burpees, and plenty more!
They asked me if tomorrow we can play soccer outside, and I don't see why not, we're free to do so 😁