Sometimes I’m hard on myself for failing to live up to the picture-perfect version of home ed that lives in wholesome homeschool magazines and unschooling literature.

And then there are days when my intrinsic pleasure at the lovely things we do increases exponentially when I realise that – in this moment, at least – we could be that happy family on the pages of Home Education Magazine.

I wonder when I’ll stop viewing our lives through the lens of an imaginary magazine article and embrace, instead, each moment when I feel the genuine thrill of living the kind of life I’ve long dreamed of.

Today’s wholesome highlight  was C (7) deciding to learn to sew. I am not known for my handicrafts, so this involved us both learning how to thread the sewing machine my mum kindly gifted C for Christmas, and C creating a beautiful “waiter’s pinny” from an old tea towel. Her pinny included a pocket that she hemmed, pinned, tacked, and machine attached, plus two decorative buttons that she attached herself (thanks YouTube).

I felt so much appreciation. For C’s joyful inspiration, enthusiastic action and wonderful creativity. And for myself, for overcoming a 28 year old fear of threading a sewing machine, and 40 years of perfectionism.  And I like to think of my grandmother, who passed away a few months ago, enjoying her old sofa antimacassars being upcycled into apron pockets by her great-granddaughter.