3 years ago I never dreamed I’d be marking this little milestone, at the end of the month we need to apply or not for Edwards school place. 

We have taken the decision not to apply, it’s been an easy decision. I know this is right for Edward right now, he isn’t ready to spend 80% of his day with strangers. Teachers who have no idea what he’s asking for when he tells you he wants to ‘carry you’ or that when he has a nap he likes to have his ‘belly rub’

We spend nine months carrying our children eagerly waiting their arrival, then once they arrive we spend years ‘training’ them to become detached from us, forcing our newborns from the warmth and safety into cold cots and prams, telling our toddlers not to cry and to sit still and be quiet, pushing our young children into a chair and expecting them to learn.

Edward learns by doing, by getting his hands dirty and running through the house shouting. He learns by listening to Brett and myself, by watching us live our lives and asking us what things are, taking things apart to see how they work and singing songs. Dancing and marching to the beat of his own drum.  

He likes to help me knit and push buttons on my sewing machine, he makes a good crumble mix and loves feeding our chickens. 

He’s my boy, so why should someone else get the pleasure of his company and get to enjoy watching him grow?