Reconnecting

With the loosening up of restrictions in Auckland it’s been lovely to reconnect with friends and family more in the last few weeks. This period has really shown how important social contact is for mental wellbeing!

Party time

We finally managed to have our son Alex’s party for his 10th birthday. I kept an eye on the weather forecast, and picked one of the first fine days after the outdoor gathering limit increased to 25. It was great! In fact, having all the kids restricted to the backyard meant there were no kids rushing in and out of the house constantly and getting underfoot – I had the kitchen to myself! They enjoyed lots of outdoor games and any food crumbs remained outside for the birds to clean up.

We’ve managed quite a few other catch ups and get togethers including beach trips, barbecues and park outings. I feel like we have been making the most of the newfound freedoms!

Making friends

Relationships are so important – we really are designed to be with other human beings. If you’re new to homeschooling, it is so important to make those connections with other homeschoolers. But it does take time, so start looking for ways to connect with others as soon as you can! Many of our friendships have come about because of mutual friends introducing us. Some have started because of a shared activity. Although many official homeschool activities still aren’t happening, chances are there are people in your local homeschooling Facebook groups who are keen to meet others and begin new friendships. Have a look at the resources section of this blog for some Auckland groups or check out this page which also lists some groups. Failing that, join Home Education in New Zealand and ask about local groups for your area on there.

I hope you’re all enjoying socialising as much as we are!