Now that I’m no longer ‘schooling’ my own children I’m out in the big, wide workplace again. It’s a scary place to be when you haven’t worked for a long time. I’ve kept my skills up doing some paid and voluntary work but it’s still scary to be facing the workforce again at nearly 40.

As far as moving on from homeschooling is concerned though, I’m actually getting some work tutoring primary school children. I’m using the skills I’ve developed so far in life and homeschooling my children to earn some income.

I’ve got two students at the moment one is 5 and the others is 8. I get to design lesson plans and individual lessons again! Yay!! I’m dividing the lessons up into 10 minute segments to keep the interest and attention up. It’s lots of fun working with these young ones again, I enjoy the one to one work and seeing them making progress!!

How does a homeschooling Mum move on from homeschooling? I wonder does one at all? I’m in the position where both my children are in the workforce and only one lives at home now. I grieve the loss of this close relationship with my children but also celebrate their moving on into a new realm of their lives. They are both still learning and I can still have a part in that albeit a very small one for Doug who isn’t living at home any more. Jess is navigating the full time work environment and all the challenges that brings and doesn’t mind some input from Mum from time to time.

However back to me. Don’t get me wrong I’m not sitting at home moping (although I’ve done that). I’m moving on with my life now – studying and preparing to do some teaching in the future as well as doing some voluntary work but I just read Beverley Paine’s homeschooling newsletter and that got me thinking about what I miss from homeschooling and wondering how does one move on?

So I’m posing the question and would really like your feedback!!

Over Easter I went to a bbq with friends and afterwards we had a singalong. A guitar was passed around, several people played and we all sang along. I sang like I’ve never sung before!! I was sooo confident I amazed myself. I turned my hearing aid up and sang away to my hearts content! I could hear myself and judge when I was in our out of tune and adjust. I even sang on my own. It was so much fun, we laughed, sang and mucked around for a couple of hours. I sang all the way home and went to bed very happy.

More water is flowing through here than I’ve seen before. Not much further along though it’s become dark and murky looking. I wonder if there’s algae growing.

This is the hand embroidery I’ve done so far. It’s turning out really well, I’m pleased with it. I’ve got more hand embroidery to do on the straps and on the ribbon around the bodice. If I’ve got time I’ll do my black shirt/jacket too. I want to do bright couching in reds and oranges on the cuffs and down the front. It should look terrific.

Earth Hour has just taken place here in South Australia! Because there are times when I use a lot of electricity I want to participate in these “turn off” nights to help remind me to conserve electricity.

I was using my xo during earth hour being a laptop with a great battery it uses the least amount of electricity! I’ve just updated it and now it connects to my wireless network at home! Yay! I took this photo with the xo and uploaded it to facebook too.