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Wonder and Flourish, Adelaide (2025)

26/11/2023

Two main reasons have long guided my decision to home educate. One is the gift of time and togetherness that the home education lifestyle affords us, but the other is this - the preservation of childhood. The academic push down in the school system had concerned me even before I had children of my own and as a teacher I lamented frequently the lack of play, the decreased autonomy and the limited ‘pressure free’ time in our days in the classroom.

I wanted a different experience for my own children - a slower, more developmentally appropriate experience. An experience that valued the child’s right to be a child. Is it any wonder why we have so many adults who have trouble learning to just ‘be’ when their whole childhood was basically sold to them as a ‘training ground for adulthood’ - I believe it’s often why we are always striving for ‘the next thing’ instead of finding gratitude and fulfilment in the now - we were always taught that our time was spent the way it was because we were learning and working towards adulthood, careers, parenthood etc.

I truly believe we need to protect childhood. To value it for the magic and possibilities it holds just because of what it is.

If you have any questions about how to preserve childhood in your home through a life without school, today is the day! There is still time to book into our live zoom Q&A for tonight at 8pm ACST - we will close off bookings at 7pm. To book your spot and gain access to the replay, check out the bio at and we hope to chat to you there! 🍃

26/11/2023

I remember I had not been home educating long when my first (well meaning, no doubt) acquaintance asked if I was concerned about how my girls would go ‘in the real world’ if they did not attend school.

I remember thinking that, as a teacher, I knew better than most about how school is about as far away from ‘the real world’ as you can get.

I remember crafting a carefully worded response, gently asserting that I wasn’t worried because my girls would be spending every day in the real world - learning the skills that go along with being at the library, cooking a meal, playing team sports, attending workshops, visiting museums and galleries, talking with members of the community about all manner of things, taking care of nature, and ordering and paying for their own goods and services.

You see, it’s not that school cannot teach real world knowledge, it’s just that it primarily happens in a context totally removed from the real world. So for us, we opted for learning by immersion. By living life in that real world. And you can too, if you wish!

If you have questions about living a life without school, please join and I tomorrow for one of our live zoom Q&A’s. You can submit your questions in the private Facebook group beforehand.

🍃 When - Monday Nov 27
🍃 Time - 10am or 8pm ACST
🍃 Cost - $5 AUD

This is a worldwide accessible event and a replay will be emailed to you the following day. We can’t wait to connect with you! To book your spot - click the link in the bio of

01/11/2023

I’m baaaaack! With a fire in my belly and a message to share. So I’m starting off with my own quote. I was talking to a lady the other day about why I chose to homeschool and I said exactly that - “Because I believe that childhood should be less about ticking boxes and more about playing with boxes” and she said “Oooh you need to put that on a bumper sticker!”

I don’t have the know-how for bumper stickers, but I’ll knock up a Canva quote for sure! 🤣👍🏽

I mean it though. The longer I home educate, the longer I work with children in formal educational settings, the more I talk to parents and children, the more convinced I become that we are doing a great disservice to childhood by reducing it to a series of tick boxes and arbitrary outcomes. So much time is wasted, so much energy spent trying to formalise and institutionalise what comes so naturally to children - learning. And when we ‘do learning’ TO children…it’s rarely as helpful or joyful as we would like to believe it is.

So I’ll push aside the paper tickboxes in favour of the cardboard boxes any day of the week. Will you join me? ✨

28/09/2022

Ohhh it’s been a minute. A long time between posts. A long pause between updates. There’s so much to say. So much that continues to outwork itself behind the scenes and so much challenge, growth and discovery amongst it all.

There’s much that needs to ruminate before I feel ready to share the journey of the past few months. Much that I’m still processing, pondering and wrestling with.

But this much I know. I have done some hard things this year in order to live a life of integrity. Choosing to live your values - truly live them, is not for the faint of heart. But each day, as I look into the eyes of my three beautiful daughters, I am reminded of why it’s necessary. Because if I don’t model integrity, who will? Who will show them what courage over comfort looks like? Who will empower them to embody their own values? It’s hard. I’m no more comfortable with getting uncomfortable than I was a few months ago, but gosh it’s transformative when you do it anyway.

I don’t know what this grid will look like in the coming weeks and months. I don’t know what the future holds at all really. But I do know, that I’ll be here, choosing integrity. Choosing to grasp those values and practise them, daily. And I’d love to encourage you to join me in stepping off the path of least resistance and meeting each other, and loving each other, in the mess of it all. Xx

04/05/2022

“Learning is boring. All we do is sit at our desks. I want to go outside. And mum, I’ve had ENOUGH of cutting and gluing. I hate school.”

As I looked into the listless eyes of my then 5 year old, I felt sick. Physically sick. After years of me cultivating an environment of play and autonomy and revelling in the joy my daughter found in learning, I was now watching the joy fade. The interest wane. The apathy settle in. I remember vividly feeling like I was watching a light dim in my child.

Now it seems so obvious. She couldn’t reconcile the two environments. She had gone from an environment where her education was drawn OUT of her, to one where it was put ON to her. From a place of autonomy to a place of compliance. And she was struggling. I mean, who wouldn’t? As adults, we would struggle too, if we were told what we would be learning, when we would be learning it and how, whether we were interested or not.

Putting choice back at the centre of my girls lives has been essential. Allowing them to discover more of themselves through a self driven pursuit of passions and interests, life changing.

And boring? Well that’s just not a word you’d hear that child use to describe learning anymore. You see, when we truly adopt an approach of child centred education, we light a spark. And the drive, curiosity and passion brought by the child, fans the flame. ✨

02/05/2022

I’ve tried. I’ve tried to come up with a neat and tidy name for what it is that I am. Just what sort of ‘homeschooler’ am I? But honestly? I can’t narrow it down to a word or two. Not without then also being prepared to take on a lot of the assumptions from people about what that name means.

Homeschooler, unschooler, Charlotte Mason, Montessori, Reggio inspired, Steiner Waldorf, classical….the list goes on. And while I certainly glean inspiration from so many of those approaches, what walking away from the school system has done for me has been to truly enable my family to live according to our core beliefs around education. And that is - learning should be joyful.

I believe that joyful learning occurs when we find meaning and purpose in what we are doing. When we direct our own education and have time, space and autonomy to explore our passions and interests. When we are in the company of people who encourage us, assist us and resource us. When our education comes out of us, rather than being put on to us. When our own unique gifts and talents can take priority. When we have freedom and opportunity to dive deep, revisit and preserve through challenges. When we are not being constantly graded, ranked or compared to anyone else.

So there’s not a neat name, but we don’t really need one. The name is not the goal. ✨

27/04/2022

Recently, we toured an apple orchard and had a fabulous time learning more about our food and where it comes from. But truthfully? My biggest lesson came from of the owners themselves. Two young ICU nurses, who had a dream of a different lifestyle for their children and themselves. Who bought an orchard and began a journey of learning and unlearning and were finding happiness and fulfilment along the way. It’s an inspiring story and I look forward to watching their journey continue to unfold.

But it caused me to reflect. By societal standards, these two people were ‘successful’ already in their chosen careers. Why risk that for an orchard? I wonder if, as parents, we are so conscious of the fact that we are judged by society on our children’s successes and failures that we form a really skewed view of what success actually is. I wonder if, part of the reason we allow our children to become over scheduled and pressured is because we think it is necessary for their future success.

Perhaps this was me once. A subscriber to society’s arbitrary definition of success - a good education, which would lead to a good job, which would lead to financial wealth or stability, which would lead to a good family etc. Truthfully, as parents, indeed as humans, we know nothing is guaranteed. Yet so often we still project these ideals onto our children, thinking that the pressure it causes is harmless or even required. There’s nothing wrong with wanting good things for our children. But the longer I write my own story, the more I realise that my idea of success has changed to be not something that I need to accomplish, but rather something I choose to embody. And these days success looks to me more like intrinsic fulfilment, joy, purpose and service. And less like extrinsic accolades, titles, material possessions and lists of things to achieve.

(Continued in comments)

27/04/2022

Recently, we toured an apple orchard and had a fabulous time learning more about our food and where it comes from. But truthfully? My biggest lesson came from of the owners themselves. Two young ICU nurses, who had a dream of a different lifestyle for their children and themselves. Who bought an orchard and began a journey of learning and unlearning and were finding happiness and fulfilment along the way. It’s an inspiring story and I look forward to watching their journey continue to unfold.

But it caused me to reflect. By societal standards, these two people were ‘successful’ already in their chosen careers. Why risk that for an orchard? I wonder if, as parents, we are so conscious of the fact that we are judged by society on our children’s successes and failures that we form a really skewed view of what success actually is. I wonder if, part of the reason we allow our children to become over scheduled and pressured is because we think it is necessary for their future success.

Perhaps this was me once. A subscriber to society’s arbitrary definition of success - a good education, which would lead to a good job, which would lead to financial wealth or stability, which would lead to a good family etc. Truthfully, as parents, indeed as humans, we know nothing is guaranteed. Yet so often we still project these ideals onto our children, thinking that the pressure it causes is harmless or even required. There’s nothing wrong with wanting good things for our children. But the longer I write my own story, the more I realise that my idea of success has changed to be not something that I need to accomplish, but rather something I choose to embody. And these days success looks to me more like intrinsic fulfilment, joy, purpose and service. And less like extrinsic accolades, titles, material possessions and lists of things to achieve. Am I afraid of hard work? No - indeed feeling fulfilled and striving to live a life of purpose is often hard work! Am I idealistic? Perhaps at times, but honestly - I’m more tired. Tired of trying to live up to what other people expect me to be - especially when that takes me away from who I actually am and what brings me joy and fulfilment. And if I’m tired of that, I can only imagine our children would be too. Perhaps, alongside reimagining childhood, it’s time we reimagined success.

25/04/2022

Ooof. This quote got me like a sucker punch to the stomach yesterday, as I watched a sobering and important documentary called ‘Chasing Childhood’ (highly recommend you give it a watch if you are a parent!)

Our children are suffering. Over managed, over worked, over scheduled - there is less and less freedom and less and less time for free play with each passing year it seems. Often parents, with the very best of intentions, contribute to this by projecting their high hopes and desires for their children onto childhood - signing their kids up for endless extra curricular activities, clubs, and classes. There is a price to this that goes way beyond the financial.

As I watched, two things resounded within me - first, a deep gratitude for our homeschool lifestyle. A sincere thankfulness that most children’s ‘extra-curricular’ is my children’s ‘curricula’. There is no extra. No need to schedule extra time for things they genuinely love or are interested in, because it is those things that form the foundation of our experiences. Those things that underpin our approach and drive our time together. And those things that allow ample opportunity throughout the week for our children to immerse themselves in free play and childhood pursuits. (Yet I was still challenged through this documentary about how to develop that even more!)

The other thing that stood out to me was the fact that, whether we homeschool or not (and this documentary has nothing to do with homeschooling) - we ALL have a responsibility to reimagine and indeed, retain or reclaim, childhood for our children. There are things we can all do to ensure that children can be fully present in childhood and not always striving ‘for the future’. I look forward to exploring some of these things here in this space over the coming weeks and months. It’s never been more important to do that. ✨

14/12/2019

We paired our Christmas sensory tray with our beautiful Christmas memory game from for some search and find fun! 🎁

13/12/2019

After a hectic (and oftentimes emotional) few weeks we are desperately in need of some slow and intentional time together at home.

Tonight I popped together a Christmas sensory play tray for the girls for the morning. I simply added some cinnamon to our plain rice to scent and lightly colour it and placed in some Christmas loose parts. Touch, sight, smell and sound are all catered for in this tray and I can’t wait to see how they explore it. We have been talking about what Christmas means to them in incidental conversation lately and I love hearing their reflections on this season. The tray is filled with many symbols of Christmas and I’m looking forward to listening to what they represent to the girls as they play. 🌟🌲

12/12/2019

🌲 ADELAIDE FAMILIES! 🌲

Who would like to win a family pass to ✨

Running until Christmas Eve, Santa’s Wonderland is a festive smorgasboard of decorations, rides, activities and shows. Enjoy a tobaggan ride or go ice skating as a family! Ride the dodgems or have a photo with one of the colourful characters. You can even ride a reindeer!

Entry into this competition is simple - simply follow and and leave me a comment telling me your favourite Christmas tradition. Then tag some friends who would love to win too!

Competition closes Friday night at 9pm and winner will be announced in stories and in comments - not endorsed by Instagram and open to South Australian families only. 🎁

08/12/2019

Isaiah 9:6 - For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

This is Christmas. I love the trees, the mince pies, the gifts, the lights and the seasonal merriment and I delight in it all, but this - this is the heart of Christmas for me. A baby born so that I might live. A baby born so that in the devastating absence of my own son, I have assurance that I will be with him again. A baby born to demonstrate perfect, unconditional love.

And because of that baby, even in the heaviness of grief, I can sing - Joy to the world, the Lord is come. ✨

03/12/2019

Loose parts Christmas trees might be some of the most beautiful Christmas trees out! These boards from Kmart made a perfect base and I picked up a bunch of bells, beads, bows and wooden laser cuts up to pair with our felt wool balls. The girls had a lovely time creating various Christmas trees and I thoroughly enjoyed watching their creativity at work! 🌲

27/11/2019

It’s seems so surreal that after running my little store for 3 years, it will be gone come January.

There have many so many highs and a few lows in amongst this small business life and while I know without doubt that I have made the right decision to close this chapter, part of me will miss popping together sweet orders and choosing new products with thought and care.

In saying that though, I will be most grateful to have my house back and to have additional time for family. So in a current bid to clear my remaining stock please use the code ‘clear15’ for 15% off all purchases while stocks last. No end date - just until it’s all gone. There’s still some really sweet pieces that would be perfect as stocking fillers - but please allow a one week turnaround for shipping at this busy time of the year. Xx

27/11/2019

Hi Facebook friends! Head over to Instagram to join in this giveaway!

🍃GIVEAWAY 🍃

In celebration of their Cyber Week Sale, I’ve teamed up with to give away one of their Explorer Trays! With a whopping 56 compartments, your little explorers will finally have a place for all their treasures or craft supplies!

This gorgeous wooden tray is double layered, with removable trays at the top and closes with a beautiful hinged clasp. It’s 44cm wife, making it perfect for all those ‘collections’ we end up with!

To enter, like this post and follow both and and comment below telling us 4 items your child would store in this tray. Tag some friends for additional entries! Stories shares of this giveaway will earn an additional 5 entries also.

Giveaway closes Sunday 1st December at 8pm and is not endorsed by Instagram - open to Australian residents only. Accessories not included with tray. Good luck! 🍃

27/11/2019

After somewhat smugly avoiding sickness for a few months now, I have been struck down by the dreaded lurgy this week (not ideal timing as I have a full day first aid course in the city tomorrow and the idea of puffing into a mannequin is a bit beyond me right now - I could well be the one needing resuscitation after that! 🙈)

But I am thankful to have on hand some natural ways to support my system in its recovery. So here’s part of today’s tool kit! Epsom salts for the bath to help relieve the aches and pains - I pop some essential oils in those too - ones like Tea Tree and RC to help with the congestion. Essential oil roller bottles allll over the throat and feet and spine. Then Thieves in my beautiful aroma pod from - this is sitting right next to me on my bedside table as I write! These little natural diffusers are so beautiful and functional and the lovely crew at have offered my followers a 15% discount with the code PLAY15. They’d make gorgeous Christmas presents!

Special shout out to my long suffering friend Mel for being my go-to oils girl - if you want more info on how essential oils can support your family’s health and wellbeing - she’s got the knowledge!

So the girls are having a day-bath (bless those day baths!) and I’m going to continue resting for now. Think of me and that poor mannequin tomorrow - not sure who needs your prayers more! 😝

Wonder and Flourish

26/11/2023

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28/09/2022

04/05/2022

02/05/2022

27/04/2022

27/04/2022

25/04/2022

14/12/2019

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