Hats!

I was reading a post yesterday on Handmade Homeschool which set me thinking about learning again. A while ago, I posted about my experiences of learning to knit, which were not wholly successful. However, I went back to visit Jane, in the wool shop, who is becoming something of a friend. In fact, we all went together: not so much Home Education as Wool Shop Education that morning. While my daughter played with some soft toys and my eldest son admired the interesting shades of wool and fancy buttons, Jane patiently taught my middle son to cast-off and sew in ends, admired his scarves and rescued me from the mess that was my hat. She advised me to buy different wool and different needles, provided a much easier pattern and sent me on my way with hope in my heart that I, too, might one day be a knitter. Since then, my son has knitted two more scarves and I have knitted two hats, of which I am very proud!

I also tried to learn to play "Skid" yesterday. This is a computer game on the Children's BBC website that my middle son would play all day if I allowed him. He has got very good at it and can complete all three levels without losing a life. It is part of the Bravewriter philosophy to let your children teach you things, so, much to his delight, I asked my son to teach me to play "Skid". Suffice it to say, it is much harder than it looks. However, I am sure there was much value in the children seeing that I am not necessarily better at everything than they are just because I am older. I also had to bite back a number of times the words, "I'm rubbish" which I encourage the children not to say; instead, I declare, "You're not rubbish, you're learning." It is also a humbling experience to be in the position of learner, of not being able to do something as well as the people around me, to know what I want to do and not quite be able to do it. As a Home Educating mother I think it is vital to keep learning. It doesn't matter what, just to keep that awareness fresh in my mind, how close learning feels to being rubbish, how vulnerable I am when I don't feel confident and how much of the time my learning children must feel like this. Once I've made my eldest a hat, I think it will be time to advance my knitting ability one step further and learn the next technique.

P.S. Check out Julie's blog: I'm thrilled to be featured!