I didn’t plan to home educate. Not at first. I didn’t set out to create a “method” or design a new philosophy. I just reached a breaking point - and then I listened to my gut. Because honestly? The pressure on kids these days is unreal. They’re expected to learn at the same pace, in the…

Because you didn’t sign up to be a teacher, chef, referee and emotional life coach before 9am every day. So, you’ve decided to educate your kids at home. Gold star. But now the chaos has arrived in a tiara, demanding toast cut into triangles, and reciting facts about volcanoes while you’re still trying to brush your…

Home Education in the UK (2025): What You Actually Need to Know Now Updated April 2025 If you’re reading this with a slightly panicked cuppa in one hand and Google search tabs open in the other — breathe. Home educating in the UK can feel like walking…

Because the eye rolls are real, the questions are deeper, and the snack demands never stop. The Tween Shift No One Prepares You For One day, you’re knee-deep in phonics and Play-Doh. The next, you’re navigating existential questions over toast and trying to explain algebra while your child stares at you like you’ve got three heads.…

This morning, one child built a cardboard ramp for a marble. The other used lipstick to write “NO ENTRY” on her bedroom door. Later they argued about whether Pluto is a planet, watched a documentary about volcanoes, and made 12 (slightly wonky) pancakes. At 4.30pm I stood in the kitchen and wondered: “Wait. Did we… learn…

When we first stepped into the world of home education, I imagined a smooth transition: swapping uniforms for pyjamas and rigid timetables for wild, joyful learning. But oh, the reality. Tears (mine and theirs), wobbles, and more than one sneaky Google of "Can I un-homeschool?". It turns out, what we really needed wasn’t a curriculum or…

I did not plan to become a home educator. I planned on school runs, packed lunches, a quiet cup of tea once the house emptied. But plans change when your children are not thriving. And when your gut tells you the system is not serving them, you listen. So I quit. My job. The traditional school…

Fun, flexible and fabulous for curious young minds (and tired mum brains) Home ed is a beautiful blend of freedom, frustration, and finding your groove. Some days it feels like an enchanted learning utopia. Other days… let’s just say cereal counts as a science experiment. When inspiration runs low, this list will lift you. These…

I used to do it all. Colour coded planners. Hour by hour schedules. Panic if we missed a day. And slowly, I realised I was rebuilding the very system I had chosen to leave. So I stopped. One thing at a time. This post is not just about home education. It is about choosing peace over…

Welcome to Darling Mellow, the internet’s cosiest corner for home education, parenting, and sanity-saving tips. If you've ever tried teaching fractions while mediating a biscuit dispute, you’re in the right place! Why Home Education? Home education isn’t just an alternative to school. It’s a lifestyle. A choice. And sometimes, a test of patience. But the…