Morning in the flat always kicked off with that dreaded drag out of bed. Blythe, still halfasleep, could hear the muffled sounds from the kitchen: Mum quietly filling the kettle, Dad rummaging for his keys. The light outside was weak the winter grey clung on longer than usual, and only by eight oclock did the frost melt off the windowsill. In the hallway, a puddle of water soaked the boots yesterdays snow had melted straight onto the floor.
She swung her legs over the side of the bed and sat there, motionless, for a long while. Her notebook lay open on the headboard, the maths problems shed been wrestling with for two weeks staring back at her. She knew today was another test; the teacher would be strict, and Grandmother would pester her later about every single formula.
Mum popped her head in:
Bly, love, its time to get up. Breakfast is getting cold.
The girl dawdled, pulling on a robe. A flicker of worry crossed Mums face Bly had been complaining of headaches and exhaustion after school lately, but the habit of rushing never seemed to quit.
The kitchen smelled of porridge and fresh bread. Grandma was already at the table.
Looking pale again? You should’ve gone to bed earlier instead of fiddling with your phone! Schools are stricter now miss one day and youll never catch up!
Mum set a plate in front of her and gave her shoulder a gentle pat.
Dad emerged from the bathroom with a glass of water.
Got everything? Dont forget your textbooks
Bly gave a distracted nod. Her bag felt heavier than herself; thoughts were a jumble of homework and the upcoming dictation.
Later, when Dad walked her to school, Mum lingered by the window. A smudge from her palm lingered on the glass as she watched Bly join the other kids in the playground, all bundled in almost identical puffer jackets, hurrying past each other without a word.
That day Bly got home early, exhausted theyd been let out after the regional spelling bee.
Grandma met her with a question:
How was it? What did they set?
Bly shrugged.
Loads I dont get the new topic at all
Grandma frowned.
Youve got to try! These days good grades are everything!
Mum listened from the next room, hearing Blys voice thin and muted, as if someone had turned the volume down inside her.
In the evening Mum and Dad sat at the kitchen table, a vase of apples sending off a sharp scent.
Im getting more worried about her Look, shes barely laughing at home now, Mum whispered.
Dad shook his head.
Maybe its just a phase?
But hed noticed it too Bly had become withdrawn, even with him. Books sat untouched for weeks, her favourite games no longer sparked joy.
The weekend only tightened the knot. Grandma kept reminding them to drill the multiplication tables ahead of time, citing families like the Thompsons:
Little Emma over there is a star pupil! Shes racking up competition wins!
Bly listened halfheartedly, sometimes thinking itd be easier just to agree to anything, as long as she got an hour or two without worksheets and checks.
Mum tried again that night, talking to Dad about home schooling.
Ive been reading up on familybased learning maybe we should give it a go?
He thought seriously.
What if it gets worse? How does it even work?
She showed him a few parent reviews many families talked about similar struggles, then saw a turnaround in a month or two once they switched to home learning: flexible pacing, a calmer home vibe, kids actually enjoying study again.
In the days that followed they dug into how family education is set up what paperwork you need, how final assessments are handled, where to find a decent online academy. Mum phoned friends, read testimonials; Dad compared timetables and platforms. The more they learned, the clearer it became: Blys school load was just too heavy. Shed fall asleep over her textbooks, miss dinner, and wake up with throbbing heads worrying about the next test.
One evening, when it had gotten dark early and the radiators were drying out knitted gloves, the family sitdown turned sharp. Grandma was adamant:
I cant see how learning at home works! Shell get lazy, have no friends, and never get into anything later!
Mum replied calmly but firmly:
Our priority is Blys health. Its clear shes struggling. There are virtual academies now, teachers still mark the work, and well be right there to support her.
Dad added:
We dont want to wait for things to get worse. Lets try, at least for a while.
Grandma sat silent for a long spell, spoon clenched in her hand, fearing Bly would lose interest and shut herself away. But when she saw Blys eyes light up at the idea of studying at home, something inside her shifted.
In early March Mum and Dad submitted a request to the school to switch to family learning. The paperwork took less than a week just passports and a birth certificate, exactly as the website said. Bly stayed at home and logged into her lessons on a laptop in the living room.
The first few days were odd. She hesitated at the screen, but by the end of the week she was answering teachers questions confidently, handing in assignments on time, even helping Mum with new topics. At lunch she chatted about a project on the environment, argued with Dad over a maths problem, and laughed. Grandma watched from the doorway, surprised at how Bly was becoming herself again.
Evening settled slowly. Outside, the March snow was almost gone, and only a few pedestrians hurried by. The flat held a new quiet not the tense silence after a rough school day, but a soft, comforting hush. Bly was at the laptop, a literature task on screen, a neat notebook beside her. She explained a new concept to Mum, her voice lively, eyes sparkling.
Grandma edged closer, pretending to be casual, and peeked at the screen.
Show me your work? she asked after a pause.
Bly turned it toward her:
Here we have to pick a hero from the story and imagine what happens next
Grandma listened, curiosity mixing with bewilderment. She remembered her own school days no computers, no online lessons yet now her granddaughter was handling it with ease.
Dinner that night was a family affair. Mum brought a salad with fresh spring lettuce from the balcony jars; the house already smelled of budding green. Dad shared a work update; Bly chimed in about her environmental project, describing a model cell shed build from scrap.
Grandma, after a quiet moment, asked:
How do you do the tests now? Who checks them?
Mum answered calmly:
We upload everything to the platform, teachers mark it and give feedback right away. We see the grades instantly.
Dad added:
What matters most is that Blys calmer now and actually enjoys learning again.
The next day Grandma offered to help Bly with a maths task. They sat together by the window, where a thin patch of frost still clung. Grandma took a little longer to grasp the online lessons layout buttons instead of pages, teacher comments popping up on the side but when Bly walked her through the solution, Grandmas face broke into a proud smile.
Right, you figured it out yourself? she said.
Bly nodded proudly.
Gradually, Grandma noticed the change all over the house: Bly no longer jumped at the sound of the front door, didnt hide her eyes when school came up. Shed bring out drawings for her new project, laugh at Dads jokes without forcing a smile.
Now the three of them would chat about school topics in the evenings or just flip through old family photo albums. Grandma even set up a login to peek at the virtual academy, just to see how it worked.
By midApril the days grew longer, the balcony sprouted the first tomato seedlings and lettuce for salads. The flat felt lighter, the air fresher, and everyone sensed something new on the horizon.
One night, after everyone had cleared the table, Grandma lingered a bit longer, looking at Mum across the wood.
I used to think without school a child learns nothing but now I see its the wellbeing at home and the desire to learn that count most.
Mum smiled gratefully, Dad gave a short nod.
Bly lifted her head from the laptop:
I want to start a big project! Maybe this summer we could visit a real science lab?
Dad laughed.
Thats a plan! Well figure it out together!
No one rushed off to their rooms; they talked about future trips and summer activities under the fading light streaming through the livingroom window.
Bly was the first to head to bed, wishing everyone a good night without any lingering worry or fatigue.
Spring was finally taking hold, strong and steady. New changes were on the way, but now the whole family would face them side by side.
