As an Off-grid parent of four homeschooled children, we can find challenges in our everyday life, these challenges are no more or less than the average parent just different but in a good way.
Off-grid living is a way of life that doesn’t always resonate with everyone yet adding the homeschooling dimension to it makes the whole thing different, exciting, and a challenge that is worth rising for. I have been working and living off the grid for 13+ years now and with 5 children, 1 of which is 20 now, and four younger ones aged 11 down to 6 homeschooling in this isolated and off-grid, dirt road environment was given.
Growing up Green Earth child is a path that I started with my eldest son (not successfully) when he was a child but I lived in Newcastle NSW so it was complicated with all the traffic, cement, and pollution and also being the single mother/father/teacher got a little complicated as where did I draw the line between each designated job. I took him fishing, and I can tell you now it was okay until the fish was on the hook then I had NO idea what to do, my father never took us fishing or camping I also unschooled him which was successful for him until we moved into the middle of nowhere at which point I sent him to public school and regretted it every time he came home.
Now though I have four more children which are happily growing up within the off-grid, bush environment, and two are homeschooled (with a curriculum base) they are happy, well-adjusted, and polite and the ever-present question about socialisation can be answered with they are forever with others a few times a week be it, adult,, or other children,.
Bringing them up in this environment with no mobile service, satellite classes, and the freedom to explore, use their imagination, and become well-adjusted expressive little souls is rewarding with them growing up learning to grow their own chemical-free meat, veggies, fruit eggs, etc, learning the art of communication as well as socialisation all of which is becoming a lost art within the steel and concrete jungle of the city dwellers.
But is it a challenge to teach children in this way, have a successful relationship with both them and your partner, and work… absolutely, as long as you embrace the art of communication and patience allowing everyone to be heard and let them hear others this does work ( not always) life isn’t always a bed of roses but it sure smells sweet when you realize that the grass is just fine in your paddock and doesn’t green up any better across the fence. So next time you think that your child needs to move schools due to bullying, P and C issues or just you need a chance to think of homeschooling your child even if the thought of off-grid living doesn’t appeal to you…❤
As an “off-grid parent” of four homeschooled children, we can find challenges in our everyday life. These challenges are no more or less than the average parent, just different – but in a good way.
Off-grid living is a way of life that doesn’t always resonate with everyone, yet adding the homeschooling dimension to it makes the whole thing different, exciting, and a challenge that is worth rising for. I have been working and living off the grid for 10+ years now and with five children – one of whom is 20 now and with four younger ones, aged seven down to two – homeschooling in this isolated, off-grid, dirt road environment was given.
Growing green, earth child is a path that I started with my eldest son (not successfully) when he was a child. But I lived in Newcastle, NSW, Australia, so it was complicated with all the traffic, cement, and pollution. Also, being a single mother/father/teacher got a little complicated; where did I draw the line between each designated job? I took him fishing, and I can tell you now it was OK until the fish was on the hook, then I had NO idea what to do! My father never took us fishing or camping. I also unschooled my son, which was successful for him until we moved into the middle of nowhere, at which point I sent him to public school and regretted it every time he came home.
Now though, I have four more children who are happily growing up within the off-grid, bush environment, and two are homeschooled (with a curriculum base). They are happy, well-adjusted, and polite and the ever-present question about socialisation can be answered by saying they are with others a few times a week, whether adults or children.
Bringing them up in this environment, with no mobile service; satellite classes; and the freedom to explore, use their imagination, and become well-adjusted, expressive little souls; is so rewarding.
Bringing them up in this environment, with no mobile service; satellite classes; and the freedom to explore, use their imagination, and become well-adjusted, expressive little souls; is so rewarding.
They are growing up learning to grow their own chemical-free meat, veggies, fruit, and eggs, etc. They are learning the art of communication as well as socialisation, all of which is becoming a lost art within the steel and concrete jungle of the city dwellers.
But is it a challenge to teach children this way, to have a successful relationship with both them and your partner and work?
Absolutely, as long as you embrace the art of communication and patience, allowing everyone to be heard and letting them hear others – this does work. Life isn’t always a bed of roses but it sure smells sweet when you realise that the grass is just fine in your paddock and doesn’t green up any better across the fence.
So next time you’re thinking that your child needs to move schools due to bullying or other issues, or they need a change, think of homeschooling your child – even if the thought of off-grid living doesn’t appeal to you…
The article was published in the Green Parenting Magazine a while ago, but now I can share it was all those that love homeschooling or just want a little extra advice, knowledge or support…
YoZenQi Holistic - Megen Hibbins 