This week has been peppered with bad days and illness and very little has been achieved. I was going to write yesterday about new thoughts I had concerning our unschooling weeks but to be honest I really didn’t think it would be a fair reflection. However, I will say this – leaving the children completely to their own devises is not really working. I always felt we would have to find our own way into the unschooling weeks but when my two twin daughters came to me and said they felt overwhelmed by the choices and freedoms and that they wanted me to step up my parenting I knew I had to pay attention. When everyone is completely back to themselves we will be chatting about some middle ground we can reach. I know that I personally am happier and live a much more satisfying life if I am kept busy, not frenetically so but busy enough to have meaningful purpose. I rather feel my children are made of similar stuff. I will post all our thoughts and any changes sometime next week. For now though, here are a few pictures of our fairly unproductive week.
The four girls had much fun playing hospitals with K11 and their little sisters. They turned the dining table into a bed and themselves into doctors with the little ones being patients. I really love to see pretend play as the whole of the older one’s childhood was taken up pretend playing all day long. It brings back lovely memories:
On Saturday the little ones were invited to a pajama party. The older girls offered to go along to help. They thought wearing their matching Christmas Panda onsies from the Christmas before last would be kind of fun:
Each day, at around 9 my mum listens to A6 read and reads to her. They both really enjoy their times together. B3 takes this opportunity to play with Lego. Her interest in Lego has just suddenly taken off over the past few weeks and there are always some bricks out somewhere in the house. She makes up elaborate stories which is lovely to see:
We found some old clay which with a bit of added water was usable. The four girls had fun making models, with the older girls focusing on presents for their Daddy for Valentine Day and A6 making a seal:
The girls are very excited about their date with Gary on Saturday and have made him the most loveliest present. They said I could share it with you all, but not before Gary sees it as he reads my blog faithfully and would see his present if I posted it before.
Whilst L was recovering (and yes, I know, she’s not looking very ill in this photo!), C painted the faces of her little sisters, much to their delight:
C had been practicing some songs and asked if she could sing them to us. Of course I agreed, and the little ones joined in by dancing along with her singing:
Other bits and bobs included many bike rides, some sewing on the machine and some collage making from the little ones:
Next week we are back to a normal school week and we are all looking forward to it. B3 turns into B4 on Tuesday and has allotted to go to the beach to celebrate. As Gary always takes birthdays off from work we will be spending the whole day together as a family which is always something to look forward to! Also, next week is the British half term and we will be meeting up with friends we don’t usually see. It should be a good week, although how we will fit in school work I just don’t know!
I hope you all have a wonderful weekend filled with lots of fun, and people you love!