Manic Mondays

Just another "manic Monday" I chortle ironically. Another Monday with our nature walk group meant: many sun and sand filled hours at the beach with a handful of home schooling families.

Frida spent a full four hours digging holes, mainly with her fingers. I'm not sure she noticed anyone else was at the beach! She was totally consumed with her hole digging. In jest we call her our "little fezza" (feral) because she delights in this sort of play: where she gets grubby and comes home with miscellaneous black caked beneath her fingernails.

Yemaya ran around with the other kids for a while, but the outdoors, the people, it all got a bit much.  She buried herself beneath our towels with a my little pony and managed to keep herself content until everyone else was ready to leave (we were very grateful!). I checked on her regularly and she was happy so long as the towels covered her and she was left alone with the pony.

Gaia was a non-stop socialising machine. Sports on the sand, story telling behind the surrounding bush land, a lot of running, building and burying with sand, some splashing in the sea, she was all over it. After everyone left and we climbed into our car she devoured the contents of her lunch box, confessing between mouthfuls: "I was having so much fun I forgot to eat" (again!)

And why wasn't Mum making sure she ate? Too lost in her own conversation with another home ed mum. There's nothing quite like starting your week with occupied children, sunshine, while discussing religion, politics and health on the beach.

I don't envy our parallel universe selves who spent the day indoors working at desks, on tasks set by others. (On that note: thanks Eale for making today possible by working a thankless job so that one day the kids might not! xoxo)

Beach Therapy

We needed today quite badly. We have been having a challenging time this past...year, but especially the last six months. Today we managed to shake some of the stress, exhaustion, hurt & worry off with a day at the beach. For a really wonderful change, we had Ealesy with us on a Monday, so the whole family went to the beach, where we met up with a few other home ed families.

The six of us scaled the rocks and sand for every shell we could find (which will be used to fashion mermaid crowns in the near future). Watching Yemaya & Frida get lost in the task was especially wonderful. Children are so divine when they're deep in their private universe, focused and determine. It's a personal and very love-filled form of meditation to quietly stand by and watch them at the work. They somehow simultaneously bring you back down to earth while carrying you away to another world.  

In a rather epic role reversal: Yemaya didn't want to leave, and Gaia was the first to ask for home! This was a testament to how engrossing the sea shell collecting caper was to our dear May.

We inspected a rock face that was a little cave-like, strolled through rock pools and played on the sand with buckets, shovels & a ball. There were hand stands and laughter and lots of conversation. There was also a great mix of home schooled kids and parents of many ages (and they worry about socialisation!)

In addition to all the great folks at the beach, we also met this little fellow, who completely delighted the children:

 

'twas another #blessedasfuck day;)

Bird, Baby, Beach & Basketball

We've an eventful start to the week. The day started with a magpie in the kitchen. She did not want to leave and our cat was too scared to shoo her away! We ended up leaving the back door open for her and dashing off to the many things we had planned, hoping that by the time we returned she would have seen herself off. 

We had an appointment with the maternal child health nurse to track Lenus' progress, followed by a few hours on a beach with a bunch of home ed families. Finally Gaia had basketball training.

The beach featured a massive rock pile the kids loved. I believe it had been assembled to protect the life saving club from rising tides. But as far as the children were concerned it was a mountain to be climbed, a series of caves to hide within, and a place to find hidden treasures. 

We also enjoyed the natural bubbles the sea had washed assure, taking a long stroll through them. It was a perfect afternoon catching up with some of our home ed friends in the community and making the most of the sea, sand and sun. 

Before heading home, I overheard Gaia discussing her day with one of the parents. The mother told Gaia she was very lucky to get to spend a school day at the beach. I could not agree more! We really are blessed to live this quirky school free life.

 

PS. We were relieved to discover Maggie had departed, when we finally made it back home at 6PM. Alas, the girls are now nursing some bird fear and have taken to not only closing the back door but also bolting it shut, lest a magpie should figure out the door handle!