the end of full time homeschooling all three kids in London?

This is where I commend all those of you who homeschool, all your children, full-time.  I am in awe of you - really!  

I began this blog to journal my experience homeschooling ONE child, for one year (maybe more - I was hoping to do 2 - 3 years during middle school, depending on how things were going).  Mid-way through this academic year, I found our family thrown across the Atlantic Ocean unexpectedly as my husband needed to take an ex-pat position in London with his company.  Schools in London are packed, jammed, bursting....parents sign their babies up when they are newborns, for schools to attend when they're 3 years old!! 

Therefore, arriving in London at the end of March, there were literally NO school options for my children.  Which meant that home education became the best option - for all of them.

I've enjoyed having the children, and to be honest, I believe it has not only brought them closer together but also has perhaps helped ease the transition to life here.  But if I am truly honest with myself, I can say that there were many days when I lost my temper, lost my patience, and lost my head!!  Trying to launch our life here AND school them was tricky.  I regret the days that I have yelled too much.  I regret not figuring out a way to enlist help earlier on (babysitters, tutors, etc.).  I regret the times I lost my patience!

We're ending this mode now.   10 year old daughter will begin a school around the corner tomorrow (sniff, sniff).  I'll have the boys to homeschool for the rest of the academic year...while their sister experiencing the British school system!

As I age, I understand that my life is built up of stages, each very different, unique experiences at a certain point in time.  Particularly as a mother this is true, because these kids, they are always changing - and it's hard to keep up!!   I appreciate this stage I had, here in London, with all three of my children, all the time, despite my shortcomings.  Looking back, I'm sure I'll have the rosy glasses on and remember the beautiful moments....