We are actually doing it!

The last few months (Well, really it’s been years!) we have been planning for this moment… To keep the children home, and out of the system. Technically, they are in the system, but we hope that this way they have a fighting chance at retaining their humour, creativity, curiosities and very unique sense of self.

I am madly prepping for the “interview” on Wednesday. Yes, I am nervous. Yes, I am overly prepared.  I have a gorgeous proposal, all of the curriculum guidlines met, and now organizing the childrens workspaces. 

The best part about this trip so far has been this morning, when my children announced their excitement and eagerness for our adventure to begin when they begged us to start “Right away!” and not in January, the new school year. Of course, this will happen. Learning should not have a start and end date!

We will have all our news posted here, the process and the time required to get things done.

Break it down:

Application: 1 hour, emailed

http://www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/parents/home-schooling.html

Reply by phone: 3 days later

Phone call to arrange interview: 30 mins (while food shopping)

Proposal Document:  2-5 days

Curriculum Purchasing: $100 and an hour of digging to find “fun” books

 So, What do we call this? I really don’t like any of the conventional names for home schooling. I guess we will call it… The YuuMii School!

We are super excited, and yet slightly scared - to be adding another little human into our crazy lives. This is the way we are. We have had no less than 7 relocations (from coast to coast and in between), 2 births (both natural child birth & water births, one at sage femme in San Francisco’s gorgeous mission district, and the other in our home bathtub, in Michigan), one marriage (In Northern Ontario, Canada), yet another pregnancy, 2 start-ups, and now a moment to breath… BUT only for this weekend. AND only between the unpacking and the brunch we are throwing. This is the way we are. You know, we kinda like it. 

Dragan, our son, our first born (as his father likes to call him yuumii1.0) is in pre school, and settling in to this new world of rules, well. That is all I can say for now.

Avanyu (yuumii2.0) is LOVING her new found independence, freedom of life without big brother, and SO much mummy time!!

Yuumii3.0 is Due May 9th, 2009. HE is wonderfully active, and has made me only want to eat chocolate, and pasta. He - we hope - will continue the tradition of The McDowell Bathtub birth!

We, as a family are extremely happy in our last minute decision to settle down here in San Francisco. We have been welcomed with open hearts and arms. This city has always been home. 

Julija