Juggling hospital, home and education

How did I juggle home education when we were living in a world of hospitals, chemo and transfusions? 

I used my village. My support network, my family. 

I'm only one person, but together we pulled it off in fine Morris style as usual. 

I worked incredibly hard teaching the girls, covering so much ground to prime them for my absence. 

I set up their education plan to be carried on with their Dad, Aunty and Grandmothers who were caring for them in my absence (note it took four to replace me 😂). 

I was updated daily via video call of their progress. They went out daily and socialised frequently. 

They still enjoyed and embraced the full learning life experience despite Mummy not being there, because of our supportive network around us. 

It truly makes a massive difference having that support network. The family are regularly updated on the children's progress and will have a chat with them about what they've learnt in the time since they last seen them. 

In the meanwhile our baby boy who was battling chemo and radiation also worked. 

He left that isolation room, having caught up on a number of specific motor skills which needed developing, due to him being a very early premmie and being ill his entire life thus far. 

He could also read, at just turned three years old (he had his birthday in isolation away from his sisters and Dad), and was competently learning from educational apps on his ipad. 

I specifically sat down with the play specialist team who would be involved in his daily life, and talked to them about what I wanted to focus on with him during those seven weeks in terms of his progression and catching up on his weaknesses. 

They were surprised (no parent had ever asked them to do this before), however they rose to the challenge. They were so amazing and accommodating. He learnt new skills, had fun and made new friends amongst the staff. 

The team were delighted with him once they realised how to reach him (basically engage him through education), and they all said how social he was. His communication skills really blossomed during that period of time.

All three children excelled brilliantly academically and progressed beyond their peer levels. Even the little boy who was fighting to stay alive.

Home educated children do not get any free passes. 

This is the high level I needed to maintain, for the protection of our chosen lifestyle for our children. 

I did not feel safe to allow them to have a seven week break from schooling (despite the fact school children get their summer holidays). That was a risk I was not willing to take. 

We took home education on board as a lifestyle choice... Not a 'when it suits us to teach them' choice. 

Our son was having a life saving procedure. I was under PTSD therapy. 

Our children still progressed in their academic studies and thrived in their life education. 

Their education and wellbeing will always be top priority to us. 

Learning is life, and life is learning.