Hello,
Welcome to Roots and Wings. I’m so happy you’ve found your way here! My name is Maddie, and I’m writing to you as a fellow home-educating parent from Hampshire, UK.
Our family has been on this beautiful, sometimes bumpy, but always rewarding journey of home education for over 11 years. It’s been a path filled with discovery, growth, and plenty of moments where we’ve learned right alongside our children.
I know that home education can feel like a leap into the unknown—and trust me, we’ve been there too. When we first started, I wasn’t sure where we’d end up or if we were “doing it right.” But, what I’ve come to realise is that there’s no single “right” way to educate at home. It’s about finding what works for your family, what lights up your children’s curiosity, and how you can nurture their growth in both big and small ways.
Our Family’s Journey
Our journey has been a mix of everything—structured lessons, spontaneous projects, messy art days, nature walks, and, yes, those tricky days when nothing seems to go as planned. We’ve experimented with different approaches, from more formal styles to relaxed, interest-led learning. Each of our children has had their own path, and it’s been amazing (and sometimes humbling!) to watch them flourish in their own time.
We’ve also navigated the more formal side of things—private exam centres, IGCSEs, and all the learning curves that come with them. Our eldest is now studying programming at college, and it’s been so fulfilling to see him follow his passions. Every stage of this journey has taught me that the flexibility and freedom of home education allows us to truly meet our children where they are.
A Space for Us to Share
One of the reasons I started Roots and Wings is because I wanted to share what we’ve learned along the way—the good, the challenging, and everything in between. I don’t have all the answers, and I’m definitely not perfect (no one is!). But I do believe that when we come together as a community, we can offer each other support, encouragement, and practical advice that makes this journey a little easier.
Let’s Build a Community
More than anything, I want Roots and Wings to be a place where you feel welcome, understood, and supported. Home education can sometimes feel like you’re walking a less-travelled path, but I believe it’s a path filled with connection. We may all be on different parts of this journey, but we can walk alongside each other, sharing our successes, our struggles, and our dreams for our children.
Thank you for being here with us. I hope you find something here that helps, inspires, or simply makes you feel less alone. Let’s create a space where we can lift each other up, celebrate the big and small moments, and remember why we chose this path in the first place—to give our children the strong roots they need to grow and the wings to soar.
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