....and we crashed into a wall smashing our utter existence into tiny pieces.
OK that might be a touch exaggerated. But the reality is, the way we educated stopped working overnight. It felt like our whole being fell apart. Nothing was working, nothing. Every day was a battle with everything.
So what did I do. Well I panicked I yelled and screamed. I tried to quietly whisper. I presented work each day. I made him sit and not get up till his work was done. I withheld lunch till work was complete. I did everything I could think of to enforce my authority over him. I tried to be a teacher rather than his mother.
What did this achieve. The broken pieces of our education being thrown at me. It resulted in meltdowns, horrible attitudes and broken relationships.
So then I simply did nothing. I just let be what was. We lived our life, we visited the library, we got work done in the yard. I just tried to make sure there were things to do. I made sure I spent time with them. We started reading. Lots and lots of reading. Read alouds and quiet reading. We read fiction and non fiction.
Where did this all lead. It lead to repaired relationships. To a new found excitement to learn. To a remarkable improvement in reading. To fun, smiles, happiness and a hugely more stable family life.
I am still forging my way through this new jungle. Having nothing planned each day is not working. There seems to be a need for some structured activities and some suggested learning. But the kids and I together will pave our new path, one brick at a time together choosing what ones to use. This is OUR journey not MY journey.
