“How many of us are in our 40s now only just learning how to be artists again because we were told we weren't any good at it?”

Bel is raising her two boys (aged 8 and 5) alongside her sister and daughter (aged 6) with the loving support of their parents. They all live & learn together on four acres overlooking the beautiful Derwent River in the Central Highlands of Tasmania. This multigenerational family are an inspiring example of folk who have dared to do things a little differently. They are all reaping the benefits of living life without school, with plenty of love and support.

SUMMARY

• Born and bred Tassie girl Bel attended a tiny primary school (42 kids in total) and aside from two difficult years, she mostly loved school. She had a great memory, was an early effortless reader and eager to please - a teacher’s dream!
• Bel always knew she wanted to be a mum, but was unlucky in love. After a few nudges from others, she woke up one morning and thought, I’m just going to do it myself. It felt like the right thing to do and it was a straight forward IVF experience.
• Bel recalls how one property sparked all their imaginations and brought three generations of the one family together, six years ago.
• Her eldest son enjoyed his kindergarten experience so it came as a shock to Bel when his teacher suggested he would be labelled a naughty kid at school for being a bit of dreamer and that maybe she should consider homeschooling.
• When Tassie borders re-opened post covid lockdown, Bel’s hand was forced into giving homeschooling a chance so to keep her family healthy in order to keep her business running.
• They began with a play based pre-school curriculum at home and were learning & deschooling on the fly with their choice to homeschool being a last minute decision.
• "And then by the time I’d really read into homeschooling, I was like, well, this is it. I can't go back now.”
• How Bel is able to run her business, unschool her kids and take care of herself and her family
• Bel outlines how each member of the family has a different role to play in the larger dynamic of this multigenerational household and how these have naturally fallen into place over the years.
• Despite easily deschooling, Bel still gets the reading wobbles! Don’t we all?
• Freedom and time together are her favourite aspects of homeschooling.
• Homeschooling kids deserve to have interests that aren't an educational topic.

CONNECT
Instagram - @bel.birds

NOTE: This is an abridged version of the show notes.
Follow the link below to find quotes, links and references to all resources, books and inspiration Bel shares in this episode:

FULL SHOW NOTES HERE

Connect with us:
Instagram - @australianhomeschoolstories
Substack - Australian Homeschool Stories

This podcast is recorded on the lands of the Bunurong people of the Kulin nation. I pay my respects to elders past, present and emerging and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded. This always was, always will be aboriginal land.