Teaching at home takes some getting used to. We’ve now been on the move for six weeks and we follow the Dutch curriculum with the guidance of teacher Tes from Les van Tes. She provides us with weekly programmes so we always know what to do for reading and maths. We add writing ourselves, which covers the basics of the Dutch group three (1st grade). Tes supports us with video lessons, fun assignments and live calls when we need them. She’s our lifeline and the real head teacher, while papa and mama are the assistants. It’s actually quite nice, because it allows us to apply a little more pressure too when needed.

And how does it go? Well, some days are better than others. We’re lucky that Philou seems to learn easily, the real challenge lies more in her concentration, which sometimes leads to frustration. On average we spend about one and a half to three hours a day on lessons, which adds a certain pressure to our daily rhythm. We can shift things around when necessary, but keeping some structure really helps. Yesterday, for example, was a sailing day. We arrived at three in the afternoon and still started school afterwards. If it doesn’t fit on the day itself, we move it to the weekend, but we try to stick to five days a week, starting around ten. That rhythm really suits Philou.

It’s surprisingly fun to teach your own child. I didn’t expect that. It’s fascinating to watch how she learns, how she absorbs knowledge and how different the methods are compared to when we were at school. After just six weeks she can already read most four-letter words, which I find impressive. She’s curious, eager to learn and remembers so much. The difference between b and d is still tricky, but she’s doing beautifully. I’m proud of her… and of us.

For me, it adds a layer of pressure too. I work early in the morning between seven and nine and then prepare the lessons, because having everything ready makes the flow much smoother, something Tes has taught us. After breakfast we dive right in. Sometimes I also have morning calls, so we plan those carefully to keep the afternoons free for exploring, swimming or simply resting. It doesn’t always go perfectly, sometimes Ed takes over and some days it works better with papa than mama, or the other way around, but slowly we’ve found our rhythm.

What makes this journey so special is watching Philou grow in every possible way. She’s almost fluent in English now, understands everything, and mixes the two languages without hesitation. She learns through experience, from cleaning beaches to meeting new people, discovering cultures, languages and emotions. It’s incredible to witness how her world keeps expanding.

We feel grateful to be able to give her this start in life, free, curious, and connected with the world around her. I truly believe we’re showing that there are beautiful alternatives to crowded classrooms. Time will tell how this chapter unfolds, but I have every confidence it will shape her in the best way possible.

Written by: Mirjam