How do I have the patience to home educate?

At a friends house last evening, a really lovely friend of a friend asked me, "I'm in awe, how do you have the patience?" My response was honest, but having slept on it, I want to expand on my answer and get it out there on 'how I deal with being with my kids all day.' When I first started home educating after 6 weeks of summer holiday with T in sports camp, and 3 weeks of school, my first week of home educating was that of an impatient stampy feet shouty kind of mood. My immediate thought was what the hell have I done, I should've left him in school I can't deal with this! 

Hold up, they are my children, they couldn't cope being in school and I made the right decision, I needed time to unschool relax and get used to a change of routine, just like they did. We needed to get busy, I found out all the local home ed groups close by and I took cakes as an icebreaker :) 

My tolerance of my children has grown since then and our day flows very nicely now. Very little shouty mumma comes out and when it does it's alarm bells to me that I need a break. But 'how do you get a break from your children when they are around you all the time?' I get plenty of breaks, but I get them in different ways to people who don't home educate. In short bursts rather than long ones. The adventure playground group we go to for instance, it's enclosed fenced off and gated. They run around with their little mates, they are happy and I can get a cup of tea, get chatting to other parents. And sure I still have to watch them, but seeing their smiles is better than watching the tv. During the day at home when I cook. When I sit and write this blog for instance. When I do a face mask however they all want to join in! The children play and I can be a fly on the wall. Hovering over them when they need help or someone to play with them. It's not sitting at desks all day in this house :)

I have things in place that mean I get a break and time for me, it's important for me to have my needs met so that I can facilitate being a calm person for my children. On an extremely bad day I know that when my husband gets home I can go to the shopping centre for two hours because it doesn't shut until 8pm. 

What's more, I actually like my children, they make me laugh, they bring me joy. Sure they really push my buttons at times but that's children for you! We get over things quickly and move on. Does my brain ever stop? Truthfully? Probably not! But my brain has always been busy, I think I'd be bored doing nothing. When I need down time I crochet or sew. 

Don't be afraid to home educate because you're worried about time to yourself. It's best to lower your expectations, relax and time will find you.