So happy I found the home ed side.....

[Megancleo]

Thankful and inspired again-yes really! As a lone mother of 3dc that lives in Germany (not entirely chooses to) I've been having a bit of a mid-life crisis lately wondering what I have done with my life and why I gave up the "norm" way of working when dc came along. The gut feeling was always I wanted to home teach my dc and as each child started school here at 7 I did spend the first years with each child doing that. Then, as another thread mentions, I tried the German answer of Walldorf (Rudolph Steiner) school but eventually decided to place dc in state schools. At least here all are home by 12noon and so still lots of time left to spend together. Many times I have considered (for financial reasons) placing them in all-day schools and going back to non-freelance work but my heart and gut feeling has always won. Now ten years later I find myself still depending on freelance employment for a low income and have been wondering if I made the wrong decisions. This side helped to give me the inspiration to look at what I've acheived (3 super, freethinking dc!) and of all the fun and learning we've had along the way-I'm happy with my choices I've made.
Sorry this thread is long, any feedback or anyone interested in eventual house swap (UK/Germany) for cheap travel alternatives are wellcome!

It's good to hear that you feel happy - I think as parents we always tend to think "what if I'm making the wrong decision?" whatever we do. It's good to take stock sometimes and look at everything you've achieved along the way. We're on a pretty low income too - certainly I could be earning more if I wasn't home educating - but I wouldn't change it, even so.

I know German schooling is compulsory but at least, like you say, the days are not so drawn out as here in the UK where we have long days and long terms as well.

A house swap for a holiday sounds a good idea! We are studying German at the moment - hoping to do GCSE in it. We went to Austria last year and stopped over in Germany on the way there and back. It was such a boost in terms of learning the language - I did German at school and was amazed at how much came back to me! People also seemed genuinely pleased that we spoke German - even if it was a bit stilted! So we were hoping to go to Germany sometime over the next year but are very restricted by finances.

We live in the South of England in the country at the foot of the South Downs - our house is modest but it is beautiful here.

We have animals, though, which might be a problem...

Nice to hear from you Musicposy. I think realitically that I'm only going to be able to manage a house swap in 2011 too but that will soon come round quickly. Animals would certainly not be a problem (I presume you mean as in "house-swapper" feeding/taking care of them rather than travelling with them..) we have a rabbit and a dog but friend could help me here.
Our appartment is modest, much more modest than when I say it has 4 bedrooms! Somewhat crumbling and more like a train in that two children rooms are go-through rooms leading to the next..as for expensive furnishings I think our piano is the only worry here!
We live in Heidelberg which is a wonderful area if you like the outdoors.We bike everywhere but public tranport, even to go up to the mountains for hikes etc, is excellent. Lots to do with dc of all ages (how old are your dc?)and whatever time of the year it is I can alway give you a "list of things to do on a shoetring", local Walldorf school also arranges interesting events etc. It would certainly be the best way to learn German and likewise, I would be happy for my dc to have another chance to be immersed in speaking English. Sorry for silly question but where is the "foot of the South Downs" I originally come from Northants (23 year ago!) but whenever posible the dc and I have been camping in Cornwall which is where my sister lives.
A little long I'm afraid but hope this is helpful.