We are The Whittam Family.
We live and breath for our children
and since they were born they have never been without their Mother.
And for the last 6 years I, their Father, have only worked 6 months
a year so that I can spend as much time as possible with my family.
and since they were born they have never been without their Mother.
And for the last 6 years I, their Father, have only worked 6 months
a year so that I can spend as much time as possible with my family.
We even sold our house and went travelling through the winter months in our tinyhouse on wheels, this brought us even closer than ever before and made us realise that there was much more to life.
Another reason we wanted to have a house on wheels
was because it was illegal to home-school in Sweden.
was because it was illegal to home-school in Sweden.
We knew the day would come when the
state would demand we stopped being free and hand
over our children to be turned into competitive consumer sheep.
state would demand we stopped being free and hand
over our children to be turned into competitive consumer sheep.
Goodbye Sweden!
That dreaded day came, and seven months ago we were forced to leave Sweden with our four children after receiving numerous threats from the state, we were fully prepared for this event and quickly packed up our tinyhouse and headed for calmer seas.
It was heart breaking, especially for Louise who was born and bred in Sweden and knew that she might never again get to celebrate mid-summer with her family in the land she knew and loved so much.
Family is everything.
We refuse to have our children judged by a general standard that we know will dampen their spirit and make them feel like they constantly have to fit in to a society that's broken at the best of times. We want our children to blossom and realise their true potential which can only happen when they are free to explore THEIR own interests and beliefs, coupled with an individual education that’s tailored to fit their style of learning (if they so choose), which in my eye's can only be taught by their parents.
Knock Back, after Knock Back, after Knock Back!
We feel as though we are constantly being pushed back, whenever we find a place we want to be, we than find out that it won't work due to the obstacles that are put in place by the various states in Europe. We found our little piece of paradise in a beautiful part of Spain where we have been coming for the last four years. You wouldn't believe our luck when we found out that this is the only district in the WHOLE of Spain that has completely outlawed home-schooling. Hmmmm! I suspect that might have something to do with the amount of people that moved here who have an alternative lifestyle just like we do.
A Light At The End Of The Tunnel.
Whilst in Portugal we met a Swedish teacher who informed us that if we joined an international (Montessori) school in Sweden, then it would be possible to continue living and travelling the way we have been, this meant we could go back to Sweden in the summers to visit our family and continue being free. Suddenly we thought that all our dreams would come true, but this was short lived. A week ago the Montessori school we had contacted informed us that this was no longer an option and even they had to abide by the new laws that are popping up all over Europe.
The End Of The Line!
We are really starting to feel like there is no option left for us. With every passing day we feel like all the doors are being slammed in our face and the only option is to keep our children hidden and off the radar, like all the other homeschoolers in this region. Is there no other way, must we hide like criminals and live in constant fear?
Bye Bye Europe!
We are starting to think that we've been looking in the wrong places and that maybe, we should broaden our horizons and start looking elsewhere for the chance to live a life of true freedom. There must be somewhere that will except us for who we are, there must be a way, and if there is, I WILL find it, and we WILL go to the end of the earth for our children.
We would like to thank everyone
who supports and believes in our vision
We know we are on the right path
and that one day, we will find home.
who supports and believes in our vision
We know we are on the right path
and that one day, we will find home.
We hope that you continue to follow our journey
Wherever it may take take us.
Wherever it may take take us.
