Contribute for Connection

I love mornings when I can read something on the internet and it makes me feel inspired to write. Today is one of those mornings. The post in essence was about creating a village for ourselves as mothers when our children are young, the key word for me in the post was Contribution. I remember …

Grounding myself in Joy – Holding space in times of change

Holding space for times of adjustment in our lives.

Breathing in, Breathing out; Nature Prepares us.

I feel like this week we have been thrust into the middle of winter with a Southerly cold snap, the kids both have colds and after our beautiful long weekend away at Motutere Bay where it was so warm that I went for a proper swim without a wetsuit, I feel slightly deflated. Along with …

Five and a half years in a blink.

Five and a half years feels like it has gone in a blink of an eye. Frankie was off to school this week with her big brother and so far she is going great. One of the things I was the most worried about was her lacking a little confidence in group and unknown situations, …

Culture Shock – From City Life to Small Town Rural New Zealand

I never really thought moving from the city back to rural New Zealand would be that much of a change. I had always spent quite a bit of time on the farm so it never really occurred to me that it would be a big change, apart from the fact some things would not be …

Should the question be….. School Ready? or Life Ready!

Preface: This is Alex's journey and the skills he has learned in an environment where he was allowed to be a "Free and Equal Human Being". All children at The Nest are on their journey, and free to practice the skills that make them who They Are. I believe with all my heart that this …

Minimum Standards -Are they good enough?

Usually, I would write an article that I hope would be uplifting for some, today though I want you to feel enraged, I want you to feel this rage in every part of your being because it matters, it matters a lot. A few weeks ago now there was an interesting opinion piece in the …

Six months and beyond – Being five without school.

It's June (Winter) here in New Zealand and we are halfway through our year without school. I have to say it really has been the most extraordinary journey and best decision we have made for Alex and our family. It definitely wasn't without a lot of worries in the beginning, wondering if we had done …

Fruit Fingers, a Sugar Bowl and the Kitchen Table

One of my early childhood memories is sitting at the kitchen table in my Nana's house having morning tea or 'smoko' was what we called it then. We would have scones with jam, a homemade biscuit or if we were lucky, a store bought biscuit, my favourites being fruit fingers which looked like little pillows …

“Hey Mum, they thought I was the Big Bad Wolf”

A little while ago Alex and I were at a local bike track, this track is near the river, overgrown and wild.   There are two bike tracks next to each other, and this day Alex had decided to ride on the overgrown one.     I was sitting on one of the jumps so I could …