This is our first ‘proper’ holiday with a child in school, if by holiday you mean ‘getting your child back to actually spend time with rather than sending out all day, chivvying her through homework and evening activities and trying to make sure she washes her shirts’. I’ve loved having her about. In fact, so nostalgic am I for our old home ed days that today, when we made ‘breakfast lunch’ together, I had to run off and cry, remembering how we used to have it once a week after private gym sessions.
However, we’ve not had them with us much at all this week as I reluctantly relinquished them all into the hands of Miss Nic for a musical theatre week. This time it was Happy Feet – and it was probably one of the best shows I’ve seen them do. I’ve watched a few now, 2 a year mostly for 6-7 years. The girls were thrilled to have good parts; Fran was the teacher and Gloria, Maddy was Memphis and Amelie was an amigo (she was very funny). Maddy was her usual fabulous self while Fran danced and sung two solos. She was fab, though endlessly critical of herself afterwards 🙄 She spoke so clearly I didn’t realise it was her talking at first, which given her speech has a very particular signature was amazing, and her dance and song was great. She said she was flat, but its hard to be perfect on 3 days practise and a loud backing track to sing to. Maddy’s Elvis was hilarious and Amelie was born to be a groupie. Josie was too shy to have a part but was very cute.
Ben and I went to work while they were there. To be honest, much as I wouldn’t want to give up our life, having one in school alters it and I no longer enjoy home ed in quite the same way. I miss Fran and I feel more tied to home. I do need to change that. But if they all drift into school now I could enjoy life with a tiny one and some days with Max in work. It was fun and I like working with him. If things change again, it will be something I’d be happier to consider now.
