In 2020 I sat in my car, hands trembling, tears flowing freely. I’d just handed in the de registration letter to remove my children from school. It was a huge decision and I felt like I was jumping off a cliff with no safety net.

Society tells us that “good mothers” colour within the lines. Following the rules and not making a fuss is praised and often rewarded. And I’d played that part perfectly, until that day.

But here’s the thing about those vulnerable moments that break us open, they reveal what we’re truly made of. That terrifying step of choosing a different path for my family? It showed me I was so much stronger than I imagined. In that moment l felt alive and ready for anything.

The real surprise? The sky didn’t fall. The world didn’t end (that really was one of my irrational fears). Instead, something extraordinary happened…

I found my fire 

Not the loud, destructive kind that tears everything down. But a quiet flame that awakens something deep within. One where we can forge our own path with wisdom, lead our families with purpose, and create positive change.

That day in the car wasn’t just about education choices.

• It was about stepping into who I was meant to be.
• It was about listening to my instincts
• It was about finally trusting my own knowing and embracing my purpose.
• It was about listening to what my children needed

Finding your fire isn’t the end of the journey, it’s actually just the beginning. That moment in the car was my starting point, when I realized there was no going back. Suddenly, I could see clearly what mattered.

What followed was an unravelling, a questioning of everything I knew. All the rules I had followed so studiously up until this point were up for examination. This quiet rebellion meant removing the noise, stepping away from the “shoulds” and societal expectations, choosing instead to create space for reflection.

Some days were tough, but that flame kept me going. I was doing what I instinctively knew was right for my children, even when the path wasn’t always clear.

Through this journey, I discovered that motherhood wasn’t limiting me at all, it was in fact my greatest source of strength.

My children and I grew together. We hunted joy together. We got curious together, learning alongside each other and discovering what was possible when we believed in ourselves. They became my greatest teachers, showing me how to:

• Question everything with genuine curiosity
• Embrace each day with wonder and openness
• See possibilities where others saw only limitations
• Reconnect with my authentic self through their eyes
• Value deep connection over superficial achievement

I wouldn’t change our journey for anything. In this path of home education, I learned that when we trust ourselves enough to forge our own path, we don’t just create a different life for our children, we rediscover ourselves.

To every mother feeling that pull toward something different, please remember fear will tell you to stay small, stay safe and stay in line. But on the other side of that fear? That’s where you’ll find yourself.

Note from the Streams team: you can follow Claire on Instagram: @clairegillespie__ https://www.clairegillespie.co.uk