Nature

My husband love nature as he was raise in the village. Unlike me. Although I was raise in the smallest state in Malaysia with tiny town, but I was in the middle of that tiny town. So, it was less nature to me as I wasn't allow much to play with mud compare to hubby. I was always try hard to avoid things like camping, praying just about anywhere clean when ever we need and things like that. But, marriage to one of sort of 'born survivor' made me turn like one although not fully one. I remember one of the sister I know in Malaysia since I was 12, make a remark to me before we came to UK that if me and hubby get thrown in out in the sea, we will grow as an island compare to other people. What she think is we will survive when ever we go although we handed with nothing.

Kids I reckon had inherit some of hubby nature genes. Although in hubby eyes, they are still far from it compare to what he used to at the same age. Plus of watching 'Bear Grylls born survivor' give them lots of knowledge they love and learn from time to time. But, of course knowledge ONLY is not enough if there are just left as a knowledge. But, to learn practically usually harder than we learn or we think off.

MS and AS always asking me if they can make a shelter at the back garden using stick and left over grass or dry leaves from the garden. MS and PS experience making this when they are in school. They will had to go out on school trip and learn practically to make a shelter in the wood and their shelter will be tested against water and the strength. I told them, they can do it if they want. But, first MS get carried away by making archery from the tree stick. It was quiet good to see how kids can go out and find what ever they can to create and design something and tested against it.

Mind you, PS fingers in the video is actually trying to make some fun out of the video at the time which I didn't know that they are making a video of testing the archery.

For me, homeschool for me is all about thinking out of the box. Is about thinking differently and having idea and creative not just in learning but surviving. At the end of the day, it's not worth having all sort of certificate, if we can't even survive when the time come. Especially being a muslim, we do face hardship at some point and it's very important for me, to create the strong mind and the way of thinking. Honestly I do not know what is my homeschool or how will it end. I do not have big target for. Degree, getting a good job wasn't in my target at all. May be because I am not any of it.

Making money? I might good in business, but in the situation of holding the need that we need, I can used what I can to help my family. It was far from luxury. if we got extra, it was always go on kids education. Never a sofa, dining table and neither luxury clothes. I never bought any abaya since years ago. But, of course the important changing clothes now on kids especially they grow pretty quick. Working professionally in UK mean we can only cover the basic need such as house rent, bill, food and car. We cannot actually go beyond that. What I got from my business, can only cover the need for their things such clothes, shoes and education. Living in UK is far from rich and luxury. Not when one working professionally with 4 dependent. Unfortunately. But, I love my privacy life we got here and to be able to tuck in with my own value and perspective without having to argue much with others especially relatives and close friends. It wasn't nice when you had to break a relation because of you had different opinion than what the rest of people want to hear!. But, at the moment, this is what typical Malaysian had in their mind.

I know all my kids including the youngest 7 year old AS had already in their mind what they want to be when their big. It's not a job that they only dream off, but something they focusing on as well in their own point of view. I didn't put off any of their dream as it wasn't go beyond the limit of Islam at all, but I wasn't actually focus it in my mind and plan for their target formally. I do have several plan informally in my dream, but was I really focus is actually their deen, the strength and the weakness they might had along the way with their deen, also for the girls what important is for them to focus on having confident and firm as girls had a big challenge in brought up their family. So, importantly for me is cleaning, organising their own room from time to time, spring cleaning, helping around and think sharp and sensibly as what I think needed for a girl who will one day become a wife and a mum. Their role will be more challenge in the future. So, from time to time, when we talk about their dream especially PS as a girl, I will try to put some input in simple word about the bestest job for a muslim woman is to be a better wife and mum and that is the important focus in our life.

When S said that she confuse sometimes because she think she had couple of ambition and not sure which one to choose, I do said that being a fulltime wife and mum will fulfill all your ambition and also enable you to do all other related task as well. But, of course it's required lots of courage. For me , it wasn't easy to be a mum or wife. It was on going challenge.

Boys, I wasn't worried much as well. My sibling history and hubby sibling history shows that when you choose islamic education on top of everything, the life after they finish study is more successful than the one who choose secular education in term of duniya. It was amazing which make me no worried at all even if my kids cannot even make a good essay or doing a good maths. Because I seen it as a real history in front of my eyes, Subahna Allah. And this is also become a conversation and motivation from time to time. So, thanks to my brother and one of my brother in law who had been successful in the future they might not even dream before will be that easy. Without any secular examination AT ALL. How their success had made others with the real secular education had to listen to them. They never learn how to do a project, how to do an essay, far than knowing algebra, geography, history, but their sacrifice along the way had been refund by Allah s.w.t. with the greatest dream they never even bother to dream off. Seeing that and more day to day in their life, make me more strong in what I believe I want for my kids especially boy. But of course all this had to give credit to parent who had make sacrifice financially and emotionally. I am actually learning to make sacrifice emotionally and I think I will be worst than the boys. The boys had been motivated as they had the input since small, but me my self is actually not so sure although I had ease a lots because the boys seen so sure. How can I ask how will they be, if they actually had full confident to go for it, but now me? Still I am half way to sacrifice my self emotionally. When the time come, I know I had to.

Card making and progress

I should had put picture in here but never got chance to actually snap it.

PS had finish her 10 weeks card making course and now on the advance course for it. She had im[rove quiet a lots and had become nearly a profesional on card making by looking at it. Of course the material can be very expensive, but she had been told by her tutor where to go for cheap material for card making. Actually it wasn't just for card making, but also other cake decorating and art and craft. It's three store near to each other and had recently be our favourate place although it was about 20 minutes ride from our house. Alhamdulillah the material is very cheap and not just PS, but all her other sibling also start making the card under her supervision. AS really eager to get some stuff for his eid card as well.

Yesterday homeschool as usual. Conquer maths had made my job much more easier. And I am now looking for somethings else as well. PS as usual, as an independent learner, is better learn with online tools without my help. And I had found something interesting for her which I will post up sometimes by early next month when we on trial for it. At the moment, we only concentrate on three core or compulsory subject which is Maths, English and Science for IGCSE. Other optional subject wasn't that bad and she be able to start next year such as Design and technology, ICT, art and design and Child Development. I am not so sure for Art and Design as it seem need a course work but know someone who already tok it as a homeschooler. Also I know someone wo took child development as a homeschooler, so that is not a problem. ICT, she will be fine with it, Insya Allah. Design and Techonoly is the only subject that wil required me and hubby attention. I am looking to see if she can do Diploma as she is now 14+. But, not so sure yet as a homeschooler. Also the subject offer at the moment is not that interesting yet. I will sometimes post a website where parents can get all this information.

MS also had gone pretty well with conquer math. I am very please. Other subject now using workbook only. Plus our on going project. AS who had been play a lots still since we get back on homeschool schedule, now seem to get back on track bit by bit. I guess kids need a bit of a time to settle back down as adult as well and less pressure can easily speed up the process, alhamdulillah. It was good to see how less pressure on kids make things better. Although there are some point that I put pressure on. For example, PS and MS had certain topic of Maths with conquear maths they needed to finish in a day. So, it's up to them if they do one topic and rest or do all together or do half and play outside and come back later to finish it. If they don't for some reason, the next day they will have to recover the loss. So, it was a bit of flexibility and choice but under their own responsibility. Work will pile up if the don't follow the schedule and at some point they had to finish it off and be on track.

But, of course this is not really had been the case for the other small two although S will had certain amount of work to do that needed to be done. Especially as weather getting warmer, outside had bring so much attraction for them with neighbourhood friends.

Another day

Alhamdulillah another day of homeschooling. Not much as Friday always a busy day because I had to send MS and AS to Friday prayer while hubby will straight there after work and they will come back home with him. Still they need to do gusl and get ready and make sure they had something to eat first.

We are not doing too much at the moment. We take it nice and easy. Today I manage to put some schedule up for PS Maths until end of this month. So, she can see where she need to be by end of this month. She need to finish all Key stage 3 syllybus at least by September and get on Key Stage 4. She had decided that she wanted to wait a bit longer than early next year for her Maths GCSE. She still had 2 years to go for actual age to take it before she do her A level. But, she confident that she can take English, Science, ICT, Art and child development next year, probably seperate them in two set of exam some subject had twice a year exam. I will need to sit and do roughly syllybus plan to see when she need to finish the syllybus and revision. I am not so sure about child development as it will have 6/7 months observation to do for course work. I know she will be ablet o go through the syllybus quiet easy as it was her nature strength working with kids. She had a stong and sharp observation and learn informally quiet a lots from parenting skill program. So, not much worry on it.

We had plan spare for MS before end of the year. So, I might have to work on him more to help him to achieve the plan. He is looking forward to it, only I am not so sure if his plan will break up in the middle if we plan to move in next year or two. Allah know best.

S as usual can learn on her own with her workbook. So do AS. I will need sometime to sit with them with a project we plan to do. I am trying to get things back in place, Insya Allah.

I can feel the challenge when the kids grow in all sort of things. Big meal, big laundry. May Allah make it easy.

Back to school

Just couple of back to school picture.

On Wednesday, I aim to at least try to organise kids homeschool table to get kids into the environment of studying back again. Alhamdulillah I manage and kids just get on straight away with their study. We had 4 table with 4 different colour. For some reason Ms table with green colour not in the picture which I had left it in the camera still. We had red, green, blue and yellow. I am still due to visit ikea for storage purpose and hopefully I be able to organise our homeschool better to suit my busy life now.

PS and MS getting on with their conquer maths online. They both did 5 lesson each yesterday and today MS done with 3 lessona nd PS done with 5 lesson. I am trying to get them to go through as much as they can especially PS and seems like they done quiet well. I am also subscribe it for S also although she's only 10 years old and in year 5. She should be able to manage it from time to time on top og her workbook.

We start nice and easy. Not much work but steady. We will increase work soon without feeling the stress. Today I had put some task for PS and MS with geography project to start with. I need some time to sit down with S and AS for their project.

PS, S and MS had done game board project with library club last Tuesday. They had abour 3 weeks to do the task and without my help at all, MS also get involved as he had left the club ages ago and decide to join back in as it's look interesting to design and make a game board. They had working hard for it. And manage to finish it for inspection by inspector whose came to visit their work at the library.

Last week, kids had found pigeon stuck in the bushes in our garden. PS had coming in screaming while me and hubby busy arrange my stock mess as someone is coming over. Hubby went out to help taking the pigeon out from the bush and his hand cover with blood form the bird. PS had call RSPCA and they had advise her what to do. She put the bird in the boxes as advise and put some blanket around and we bring it in the house.

The next morning, PS was still worried even she cannot go to sleep and had brign the bird into her room. I ask her to call RSPCA again and they told her to give some drink to the bird and tols her how to do it. She put a bowl of water and splash her finger into the water to make a noise of the water. The pigeon turn around and manage to dip the water! RSPCA came not long after that. And of course that incident had teach kids a lots about nature on top of loads of information they already digest from time to time.

Alhamdulillah, I am looking forward to be more organise and plan to enable me to juggle between housewife, home educator and running home base business. I am quiet nervous as seems that I had big demand on my business and it's will get bigger and bigger. But at the same time of course wanted to maintain my housework and homeedu. I am thinking if any way I can get a maid or at least get part time cleaner to help around.

Homeschool hide and seek

Homeschool hide and seek. That is what our homeschool like, at the moment I think. We not really in proper homeschool for ages. We get on our workbook on and off, but not as much as I would love to. I am not proper organising at the moment with so much going on. But, alhamdulillah one thing that I found out inside my self, is I don't ever feel horrible about homeschooling or if the kids actully learn anything and actualy achieve and gain anything these days.

I guess, I had my own reason for homeschool. To take the responsibility on what I should and will be ask for. Neither kids can read, write, learn, is not that important to me, BUT weather they pray or not, when they non behave, when they encounter with any question they face from watching tv, browsing internet, from friends around the house, I am there to talk to them, to answer them, to whinge to them and to be there for them. And for me, at the end of the day, that is what matter.

They are not perfect, far than that. My kids watch tv, play wii, play game on internet, go to youth centre and mix with other non muslim. They do behave badly, they mess their room. They forget to help around sometimes. I had to shout at them, scream at them, telling them off, BUT, I know that they know I am there for them. Certainly, it was never been easy when they grown up. Teenage hormone of course wasn't easy to confront. I was smiling when I read about new research suggest that terrible twos is no longer the hard time for parents, but now it's terrible 14!

So, it was constant nagging..too much until I lost word. But, PS sometimes forgot that I am her mum, and think I am her friend! So, we do get along as a best friend at some point, arguing, debating and laughing to each other. And I do had to remind her at some point that I am her mum!. But, at the end of the day I know that teenage period at this time and centuries wasn't easy. it was trickly and full fo challenge. Trust me, if you really think your kids is important, you can easily get burn out at some point. I got that time to time and I had reach the time where the burn out had really burn out and I forgot how giving up feel like. I think I just enjoy the challenge.

So, if you think that having small kids with not much different age from each other is a challange to feed them, entertain them, teach them and you feel like you got too much on you...Brace for impact soon. Under 7 especially was as easy as A B C. And having teenage girl top up the pressure. But, of course there are so much benefit of having big kids. You got help around.

PS take over totally on the garden. Lawn mowing, seeding , feeding and weeding the grass. Sort out last year plant and get them back in order. Sorting out her bedroom and help around the house on other things of course such as laundry, washing up, tidy around and on top of that help me with my business stock which she wil test the toys, clean and sort them in order ready for me to do the next step. But, of course it had to come with shouting her around and giving command after another. Wich do make me feel on top of my breath sometimes, but I am also had to think about how much she had done around and when ever I ask her to do things, although it come with question and reason, she will do the task.

And of course it's so much different with boy. MS don't question, argue or reason much or sometimes not at all. He will just get on with whatever task been ask to. But, of course as a boy, he will take time to digest things sometimes. Compare to PS which at some point, especially when I desperate for help, she just know what to do and pick whatever needed. It was quiet a challange to confront with teo different teenage gender. And to see a big different and to treat them with different way and approach as well. Which make me so tired at the end of the day!

Well, our homeschool table and chairs I order three weeks ago had arrived from South Wales. far a way. I am about to give a visit to ikea for storage as well. Actually wit my business that is growing, I am in need to organise my homeschool and therefore need to find storage and homeschool solution. The school table is good as they can stack on each other and save space. Just what I need. We also got them in four different colour and also four different colour for the chair. Untill I go and get the storage, it will still be a mess and unorganise. Hopefully after that I can sort out the paperwork and make our homeschool easy workable and simple. As I know where to go, it was much more easy. But I still had plenty paperwork and article and worksheey I had print out and curriculum since nearly 3 years ago since I start our homeschool. All these will need to sort out soon. Especially my mum and dad will come for a visit on July and after they go back to Malaysia , it will be ramadhan. And than winter will approach later after eid and we probably going for a long holiday.

Too many thing to do but I do take things easy these days even with homeschool. I don't know how far kids had achieve but will track their progress in proper soon..Hopefully I wasn't up in the shock!