Welcome! I'm Amy, a New Zealand based Homeschooling Mum who alongside my husband has chosen to Homeschool our children. Join me here as I share our experiences with you, alongside my thoughts on Homeschooling, some tips tricks we've picked up along the way and the challenges we face.
My aim with this channel is to document our journey into Homeschooling and share our experiences along the way. In many of the videos, I'll have my Mums clothes on, (active wear) and little to no make-up applied. I wanted to keep these videos as real as possible and capture my life in real-time as a Homeschooling Mum of two.
Thanks for stopping by, if you like what you see please subscribe to my channel, we would really appreciate the support
Our homeschooling journey started 4 months ago too! And I totally agree with the bullying thing. I was bullied and it didn’t make me "harder" my mental health has been not the best even 20+years later! I'm so glad to find a kiwi homeschooling youtuber!
I still love this and use it daily, even just for basic colouring pages, word searches and dot to dots. Hands down, the best money I spent.....apart from my laminator 😉
I think it’s so awesome that you are able to see the need to homeschool your kids. Bullying and put in a box are some of the reasons why we don’t send our kids to school either. Great video. Just subscribed. I also have a channel and would love to be friends and connect. Looking forward to watching more of your videos.
My daughter is going into high school and I am closing my business to homeschool her full-time. I've worked the whole time I've homeschooled her and know she has not received my best or my attention. She's done well but that's only because of God's grace and mercy. We used an umbrella this year and when they asked if she had done any field trips, I thought to myself, how can I do field trips when I barely have time to grade her work. Needless to say, I work from home, so even working from home wasn't much help... to me. So, I discussed it with my husband and he is fine with me giving up my business and I can not feel better or be more excited to do it. I don't think there's an age where kids don't need your presence, at least for me.
Thanks so much for your comments. I have continued to struggle with this, it's a constant battle getting the balance right. I know my children get more of me than they would if they were at school, but sometimes the stresses of work pour over into our time together and I really hate the guilt that comes with that. I just have to stay focused on the fact that I love my children and am doing everything I can to give them what I can. Some days are greater than others 💗
Thanks so much for starting your channel! I've always wanted to home school and my kids are now 9 and 11 and struggling so much in the school system. It's really hard to go "against the grain" even when you think its the right thing for your kids.
It does feel overwhelming at the start....but I promise it does get easier. You eventually find your tribe of wonderful families doing the same thing and it falls into place.
I really want to homeschool my son, but finances is holding me back. My son gets bullied daily and he's now getting to the point of being scared to going to school.
Hi Maureen. I am so sorry that's happening to your son. It is such a tough space to be in and for many, it becomes the main reason Homeschooling becomes a favoured option. Many of the families I know in the Homeschool community are on a single income, it's not easy, but it is doable and sometimes it means making some tough decisions for the future. I hope you can find a solution for you and your son x
The Laws are simple. You have to apply for an exemption from the government. But as long as you can show that you can school to the same level or better they will approve it.
I am from Canada and just started using it. I like it lots so far. I like the Plan it option and Phonics so great! I also like you can assign games for them to play
I have a brain tickle that there may be a developmental leap that can look like anxiety/fear period around 7? Not to mention the scary state of the world, even if she isn't exposed, they feel what we feel ❤ Hug your darlings, Mama, you are doing a fantastic job!
A 'brain tickle' I love this 💕 I agree, the world is a scary place and she is a smart girl, so she is probably just starting to patch some things together. Thank you so much for your kind words, it's always lovely to hear 👍
Greetings from California. My husband is Kiwi. We homeschool our three children (11, 10 and 6 yo). They've never attended public school. Your video was really interesting to watch just as we dont hear a lot about Kiwis homeschooling. We will be moving to NZ sometime in the next 5-7 years, and i dont know if we'll continue only as our family members there haven't shared as many negatives as what we see here in the States. Depending on where you live in the US, homeschooling can be very "normalized". I have been fortunate to live in an area with lots of other homeschoolers. We have a great community, but I know it can be isolating. Thanks for the video, and your perspective!
Amazing! Homeschooling is becoming more normalised here, but definitely harder in the smaller regions of NZ to find a tribe of homeschoolers. We are slowly building up our community here 💖 Kiwi husband, they are the best right!! 😀 NZ is a pretty special place to live 😀
I love and agree with everything you said!!! Im in my 3rd year homeschooling and I absolutely love it. I came into it thinking Id give it a try, it was so successful that now I see it being a permanent thing. We also love co-op, my kids get the best of both worlds and its what makes them happiest. We have tons of friends of all different ages and its so fun! It changes them in all the best ways! The bullying is B.S. and I agree with you that it is NOT necessary 😢
Yay! 3 years in is an amazing achievement. We are one and a half years here and I could never imagine not getting to do the day to day life with my children. We are all so lucky to have it available as an option in the countries we live in x
Kiwi Mom here and I dearly wish to start homeschooling my youngest (11yrs) next year. Their are lots of reasons I have for this but one is that he has recently been diagnosed with epilepsy and had complications on his meds so that solidified the reason to me even more. I would really appreciate any comments on the process/applications to Ministry of education and how you formulated your homeschooling criteria, lessons, etc for them. Any help would be appreciated. Love your video and subscribed.
Hello to another Kiwi Mama 😀 Welcome and thanks for subscribing. With regards to writing the exemption, I highly recommend getting Cynthia Hancox guide to writing the exemption. It provides a template and examples for about $20-$30. It made me feel so much more confident in creating my application. She is a whizz at this and at least by using her template you know you have the best shot and ticking the box with the MOE.
I've not even watched the video but girl.. of course that wouldn't work! The time math ain't mathing. Idk if you heard but traditionally the homeschool mom is supposed to be the stay at home mom while the dad works. I couldn't imagine doing both at the same time
I was afraid to homeschool! Two years into it, now and I cannot imagine NOT doing it! I have fallen in love with being their mother and having them with me the majority of the time!
I couldn’t agree with you more on EVERYTHING you said. Being bullied as a child can still effect you as a 30 year old and I didn’t learn anything from that, just got anxiety around people and I became such a introvert who doesn’t like groups of people without feeling nervous and uncomfortable.
I am so sorry you had to experience this. But your child/ren will have a wonderful Mum who will not see bullying as a right of passage into Adulthood 💖 I wish you nothing but the best for your journey 👍
I saw a mum in America who sits down with her kids of all ages and teaches them about budget. She teaches them what an average wage is and what each bill on average costs. They then have to budget it all and work out how much they have left (which is obviously very little). Then she taught them how to choose and buy a car that you can afford, how you can easily get into debt but how to stay out of it. I thought it was amazing.
It's okay that things feel hard 💖 Everything is hard eventually, I think often about the phrase "Choose your hard." Because it would be hard NOT homeschooling too. I really admire your authenticity and I am grateful already for the value I've received from your videos!
Thankyou. I love the "choose your hard" . I think that's why I felt like I needed to do this video. Because I just wanted everyone to know that I love this way of life, but it is tough sometimes too ❤️ I am so happy to hear you have received some value from my videos. I appreciate it sooooo much. Thank you 👍 💛
I’m enjoying your videos! We’re a homeschooling family as well in Texas. My oldest is 12, and I have two Littles around the same age as yours, 3 and almost 5. I hear ya, Mama! Sounds like your an introvert like me 😆. You’re doing great though! 👏🏻❤️
Thanks. Yes I often refer to myself as an introverted, extrovert! 😉 I do enjoy company, but I also need my own company often to feel balanced. It's wonderful to hear you are enjoying the videos. Thanks for commenting, and the kind words of encouragement. They are greatly appreciated 😀
I see from this video where you could be based.(playground) Is there much of a homeschool comunity here ? -- actually scratch that I see you travel a decent amount with your kids. Another awesome thing !!!!!!
Thanks for the comment. The actual town we live in is very small, but there are a few groups about a 25 minute drive from here, that we go to a few times a week. It's not ideal, but we make it work, so the kids have that social interaction with other homeschooled children 👍
Mum of a 4 year old with all the new cirruculum changes its pushed us more to want to home school. Definitely worries about the social and or my ability to actually help them learn
I see you've also checked out my video and commented on "How smart do you have to be to homeschool your children?" I hope this made you realise that you will be and there are options 👍 Also socialisation takes some effort. But you only need to find a couple of other families that you click with and you are away! As important as friendships are for your children. They are equally important for you, otherwise motherhood / homeschooling can feel lonely. All that being said. I am so happy we made this choice. There is NEVER a day I regret my choice. Instead I feel so thankful to have the opportunity to spend it with my children. Good luck with your decision. If you have any more questions, please feel free to ask 💛
I think I am at the far end of the structure spectrum! I base lessons around the Startright or RIC workbooks and mark off learning outcomes in the NZ Curriculum as we cover them. Works for me 😊
Thanks so much for your comment 💛 I am sure there will be others that feel and operate the same way. And as I always say, it's about finding out what works best for you and your family ⭐
Your soo right! I just started homeschooling my kids too- and we are looked at as different. But it's been great!!! The kids r growing so well and having learned so much already at age 3 and 5. I love how u said ur kids get to spend times with the 'elders' too. That's so important.
