Debbie’s Homeschool Day in the Life (with a 14- and 15-year-old) ~
Written by Debbie Douse of An Adventurous Education
A note from Jamie: Debbie, I have always admired the heartfelt way you pour yourself into your children as a homeschool mum. I feel so blessed to have gotten to meet you three in person – a gift I’ll always treasure! Thank you for sharing one final day in the life with us as we wrap up this series.
xo, Jamie
Morning
I wake to the sounds of the birds singing and sunlight peeping through the cracks in the curtains. It’s 7:45am, late for me. I’m still recovering from a bad chest infection so I’m gifting myself the grace of sleep.
Normally, I’d be up at 6:30 and out running or heading off to an early CrossFit class – my latest obsession!
Instead, I opt for a slow morning of prayer, writing down my morning thoughts, and a chance to chat to my husband with hands wrapped around a hot cup of tea. Neither teen will be up for a while. I’m eternally grateful that homeschooling provides this flexibility to shift our entire day to suit their new adolescent need to sleep in.
By 9am, they’re both up and after a quick brekkie and shower, they’re ready to go by 9:30.
Debbie’s Homeschool Day in the Life (with a 14- and 15-year-old)
To Work…
Harry and I start with his economics. He’s planning on taking an exam (a GCSE) in this subject, along with maths, in the summer. This week, he’s studying globalisation and multinationals.
Initially, we work through a Kenyan case study. He answers questions and we discuss the companies mentioned, such as Unilever, and the brands they own. Today, I can relate his work to a real-life situation as my husband James’ company has just bought part of a French data company in order to enter the French market.
After a while, I leave Harry to read and summarise the next section.
Meanwhile Rosie has started on her English, as this summer she’ll sit exams in both Literature and Language. Today, she’s working through a practice Language exam paper, but with no time pressure. Before she tackles each longer question, we read the extracts together and discuss her approach, weaving in the techniques she’s learned over the last few months.
By 10:30am, I have space to focus on prepping lunch, our main meal of the day. Today though, my heart sinks as I realise that I’d optimistically planned beef stew. This takes 3 hours to simmer, and the meat is frozen.
This infection has knocked me off my game! So, I make a quick dash to the supermarket to get ingredients for a speedy chicken stir fry.
The next part of my morning is somewhat frenetic as I juggle cooking and helping the children.
Stirring the wok with one hand, my other searches for the economics answers on my phone so I can work through another case study with Harry. Briefly we’re interrupted by Rosie asking a question and in the corner, James is getting cross with the printer!
Please tell me you can relate to the chaos…?!
Lunch
By 12:15 though, we’re all lunching, and peace is momentarily restored. I love this part of our day where it’s just the four of us chatting. Today we share fun facts and my favourite is that it’s illegal to own just one guinea pig in Switzerland as they’re social animals and would get lonely!
After lunch, as it’s such a beautiful spring day, we go for a walk around the village. We chat about our upcoming trip to India. I explain how the 1947 Partition caused the greatest forced human migration in history.
Millions of Hindus fled to Delhi – one of the cities we’ll visit. Muslims in turn left the city for safety in newly created Pakistan.
Learning through travel is a key part of our homeschool and understanding the history of a place before you visit makes the experience that much more impactful.
Afternoon
Once home, Harry switches to maths, working on circle theorems, pretty much independently, for the rest of the afternoon. Every so often he takes little breaks, for example to try to fix the old ride-on-lawnmower, tinkering away with the engine – sadly to no avail!
Rosie meanwhile puts her writing skills into practice. She starts to craft a letter to her local Member of Parliament (MP) about an issue close to our hearts. There’s a new schools bill currently being debated in parliament.
If passed, it would substantially affect the freedom of home education in the UK.
For example, the new law means that a child with any form of special educational needs would not automatically be permitted to home educate. Instead, special permission would be required, in essence discriminating against these children.
We’ve read so many books about the oppression of minority groups and courageous individuals prepared to push back. This is Rosie’s chance to stand up and be one of the brave young voices fighting for the rights of the UK homeschool community. It’s a hard task though.
She has to park the emotion sufficiently to write a persuasive letter to her MP about her homeschool journey, how it has benefitted her, the impact of the new bill and how it could be amended. It takes her the rest of the afternoon, but it’s one of the most important tasks she’s ever done!
By 4:30 pm, they’re both done with their work for the day.
Passions
Harry and I head straight out to his evening cricket session from 5-8pm, listening to the excellent podcast – No Such Thing as A Fish – en route.
We’re a passion-led homeschool, so any opportunities to develop their passions are prioritised above all else. Harry’s dream is to be a fast-bowling cricketer for England.
He’s just signed his first contract with Kent Cricket Club, to be part of their Emerging Players Pathway, the very first rung on the ladder to playing professional cricket (but there’s a very long way to go!).
This evening, he has individual sessions to practise his bowling, batting and fielding skills. It’s followed by a specialised programme in the gym.
Back home and Rosie is following her own passion: acting. She’s joined a Zoom call with the writer of the National Connections play she’s currently rehearsing, called No Regrets.
The author talks to them about his journey in becoming a playwright and performer, offering advice for their own careers and a chance to ask questions about the play.
Evening
Later, she grabs a quick dinner and jumps on another fun call with her best friend, to chat, play games and write poetry together. James collects Harry from cricket, which leaves me with a free evening for once. I take advantage with a hot bath and my new brilliant book: City of Djinns: A Year in Delhi. Bliss! (afflink)
Once the boys are home, Harry showers and eats. He then nips off to paint his Lord of the Rings figures for the Middle Earth Strategy Battle game with which he’s currently obsessed!
By 9:30pm, we’re all exhausted, and head up to bed for a reading wind down!
It’s a full-on life this homeschool world of ours, but I’m conscious it’s partly coming to an end, with Rosie possibly going to school in September.
I’m trying – in amongst the chaos – to savour every moment with these precious children.
My, how the days have changed:
What’s Your Homeschool Mom Personality? Take Jamie’s quiz now and receive a free personality report to help you organize your homeschool based on what your type needs most!
Jamie’s FINAL homeschool day in the life (with a 17-, 18-, & 19-year-old)