Why lockdown is a little like childbirth

The birth of my first child was much harder than I'd expected it to be. I was ready for pain, but was also pretty confident that I'd be able to deal with it. What I hadn't realised was that my mind and my body would be so resistant to the process. I fought every step … Continue reading Why lockdown is a little like childbirth

Learning to read #3

It's been just a couple of months since my first post about C learning to read by herself. Just like with our sons, I am in awe of her capacity to learn. In a couple of months she has gone from feeling like this would be really hard to being quite a fluent reader. She … Continue reading Learning to read #3

Learning is quiet and inevitable

As I wander ever deeper into life without school, certain ideas are becoming more and more alien to me, to the point that I can no longer grasp the questions, never mind come up with a reasonable answer. "How do you know that they are learning?" people sometimes ask. In the beginning, I would give … Continue reading Learning is quiet and inevitable

Learning to read #2

This series of posts follows my seven-year-old daughter as she learns to read. C has created a beautiful world in Minecraft with a pet shop, swarming with different animals, and a sweet shop with all sorts of colourful delicacies. This morning, I helped her put signs in her shops. These signs mostly say, 'Cats for … Continue reading Learning to read #2