Richa - Melbourne, VIC / Bunurong Country

“Don’t let fear guide you. You’ve chosen this path, lead it with love.”

Richa and her husband, who were both born and educated in India, now live in Melbourne and home educate their two children, aged 7 and 2. We cover a variety of topics in this episode including Montessori, minimalism, community building, sibling dynamics and fostering a love of reading, nature and kindness.

SUMMARY:

• When Richa and her husband were house hunting in Melbourne they were ironically drawn to Bayside for the schools, but it was the solace and peace of being next to water that solidified their choice to call this area home.
• Early on people would point out that her child had a lot of anxiety and that she was so attached, but isn’t that how humans are designed to be? We are supposed to be close to our caregivers. 
• They migrated to Melbourne without any support system, all their family live in India. Finding other friends who homeschool has been an incredible help and given their family both mental and physical support.
• There is chaos in bringing a younger sibling into the mix of homeschooling but it is also enriching for the sibling connections and bonding - if her daughter were in school right now, her son would hardly see her.
• Open your house up to welcome friends in, share a meal together, do a craft together. It can be hard finding the people with whom you can connect with on a deeper level.
• Intentionally not over-scheduling their week. Letting them be, giving them free time to tinker around - she values that more.
• Homeschooling minimally means not having more things and more materials. Not overwhelming yourself with the multitude of curriculum choices out there. It’s very easy to bring overwhelm into your space. It’s about prioritising less. 
• She is looking forward to seeing the beautiful people her children turn out to be and the joy they bring to others
• Read more, talk to people who have been doing this for a long time. It’s easier and less daunting than it seems.

INSPIRATION

Simplicity Parenting - Kim John Payne (book)

Unconditional Parenting - Alfie Kohn (book)

The Secret of Childhood - Maria Montessori (book)

Good Inside Podcast - Dr Becky Kennedy

@bigmothering (instagram) 

@mainly.montesorri.homeschool (instagram) 

@wonderled.life (instagram)


RESOURCES

Blossom & Root - Nature based, secular homeschooling curriculum 

CONNECT

Instagram - @waliaricha

NOTE: This is an abridged version of the show notes.

Follow the link below to find quotes and read aloud recommendations Richa shares in this episode:

FULL SHOW NOTES HERE


Connect with us:
Instagram - @australianhomeschoolstories
Substack - Australian Homeschool Stories

This podcast is recorded on the lands of the Bunurong people of the Kulin nation. I pay my respects to elders past, present and emerging and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded. This always was, always will be aboriginal land.

Original Music by Daniel Garrood @garroodcomposer
Listen on Spotify here