Celebrating ten years of home education!

Wow! Today we celebrate ten years of home educating! 

*sets off fireworks and raises a glass*

And I thought a really good way to celebrate would be by entering the blogosphere! As it says in the little ‘About Me’ section over there on the right, it does feel a bit self-indulgent and I do feel a little uncomfortable about the whole thing. I’m not altogether sure that anyone will be in the slightest bit interested in what I have to say, and I’m not naturally one to enjoy the limelight (unless I’ve had a bit too much to drink, then it’s a totally different story!!).

BUT, I am just so fascinated by the social networking revolution that’s happening all around us and changing the way we interact and I want a piece of it! Also, I have been helped so much through our decade of home education by so many people that it’s about time I gave some back.

The internet has probably, no, definitely, been the single most valuable resource to me throughout these home ed years. And I don’t just mean that we can find out the gestation period of a guinea pig, how many moons Saturn has, or which King George was The Mad One at a few mouse clicks BECAUSE I HAVE TO KNOW RIGHT NOW MUM!!!! How you even more seasoned home edders managed back in the good ol’ days of ‘let’s look that up when we’re next at the library’ fills me with the utmost respect.

No, I’m thinking about the fantabulous online home education network that is there to support, encourage, discuss, help, make suggestions or just hold virtual hands.

Whilst I have never once regretted home educating, I have on occasion had questions, self-doubt and some pretty tough times and there you’ve all been, thousands of you. Even if there was no quick answer to the problem I was facing, simply knowing that there were others that had been there, or were there with me, helped me keep my head above water until the rapids calmed. And they always did :)

So, that’s where I’m gonna be. One of those on the bank shouting encouragement. Or, as is just as likely I suspect, up to my neck in the wet stuff too!

I’ve been at this a pretty long while now and, with four of the little blighters wonderful children, I have come across quite a range of different, ummm, shall we say ‘challenges’!! But that’s life, right, whether you’re home educating or not? And right alongside those challenges, and sometimes because of them, there have been many, many moments of success, joy and laughter.

So, now I’d like to share our continuing journey as well as memories of the path we’ve travelled. I hope you enjoy your time here. I might even dare to hope that from time to time it’s useful! Please, feel free to join in, comment and add your own thoughts, but let’s keep it positive. I’m all up for discussion and disagreement and I want to hear about different viewpoints that challenge the way I’ve been doing things, but I’m planning for this space here to be  as supportive as all those I’ve visited over the years!

Right, back to the celebrations!

Cheers!