Help us minimalize the house and spend time with my gifted 7-year old son in Giethoorn, Netherlands

Details

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  Description

  Hello WorkAway Team! I can't change the title for my listing?
  We want to make a new and second listing for another function in our family system.
  How can I do this?
  
  
  
  We're an unconventional but loving pantheistic family in need of support. We live very isolated, don't have a large network and have trouble achieving our new missions, which are:
  
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  ABOUT JAKE
  
  Jake is a sweet, caring and energetic boy who has the heart of an explorer. He is interested in a lot of things, currently mostly occupied with Legos and Minecraft, but Dinosaurs & Monsters are his absolute favourite subject.
  I homeschool Jake on the side, currently busy with working through the geological timescale, and ofcourse reading is something we often do together [We just started Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban :D].
  Jake does not do well with people who have vague boundaries. Therefor it is very important that you can say no, are able to negotiate your way out of sticky situations and can express yourself assertively, yet emotionally neutral.
  
  We are looking for someone who can challenge him. It would be awesome if he could draw and paint more, or do other arts and crafts (supplies are already in the house available). We also have a workshop attached to the house where you could fix up bicycles, or teach him woodworking (tools are also already here). Other options could be to finally learn to play the guitar, or the keyboard that he got for his birthday, teach him a skill ÝOU are good at, or for instance, just play badminton outside.
  
  Jake is able to speak English and Dutch, thanks to our awesome first WorkAwayer Rudy! English is his second language, and we would love for you to speak English with him as much as you can. Other language practise is welcome too, anything to keep him challenged, but it is important to have one solid language to connect with, because he WILL manipulate the 'I do not understand what you are saying' in his own advantage if you're not careful.
  
  He is also very interested in combat sports (read; wants to become a ninja), and we do talk a lot about respecting nature, climate change, and other moral issues such as refugee crisis and white privilege. If you have any skills, stories or fun thoughts about 'How to challenge a SmartyPants' feel free to try :) The general idea you should get is, that he just needs an emotional steady friend who can challenge him with patience and humor.
  
  ABOUT ME
  
  I am a 31 year old single Mother, on a mission to pack up our things and move abroad. I am currently in the researching phase of preparing an online start-up and I work from home. I am also attempting to become a zero-waster, and vegan (but I could really use some help with this!!).
  I am also a bit of a nerd, a major bookwurm and I love puns, talking about ideas, philosophies, history, cultures, emotional intelligence & family patterns.
  Digital communication and small talk are not my strong suits. I also love spending time in Nature <3 Currently I am celibate and embracing the freedom of time for myself. The only new relationships I make are friendships, because I know a lot of traveling & moving is in our future. We live in a cute little town on the countryside, the Nature here is stunning, but the locals are a bit closed, so we do live very isolated. I do tend to need loads of time for my work and thoughts, so even though I am a lot at home, you'll have enough time for yourself

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Charity Work

  Babysitting and creative play

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  Help with Computers/ Internet
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  I am no 'real' teacher, but as an aspiring writer, I have learned how to be a good listener and bring an open mind to any story or problem. In case you want to start a company I can logically explain the double entry bookkeeping system, but personal finance in general is also a field I understand well. Wherever you are on your path of life, I am sure I can help you with something as well.
  
  We have a lot of warmth to give, and hope you feel like home in no-time. We value authenticity and new perspectives and opinions. Don't worry about being a guest and not allowed to grab things out of the kitchen, you're an immediate family member as soon as you walk in the house. We practise Mi Casa Su Casa, if you want to keep something for yourself you'll have to hide it in your room haha ;)
  
  We have a keyboard and guitar in the house if you're musical, and a shed full of tools in case you need to repair anything.
  Oh, and before I forget, if you like reading, I have quite an excessive library of English/Dutch books, (and even more e-books if you're into that) mostly non-fiction and classical literature. But I also have a small international library, with some French, German, Spanish and Portuguese books.
  
  You can watch some of my downloads, listen to audiobooks on your own laptop upstairs if you don't want to hang out, use your own bike to cycle around the National Parks or attend something fun you found on MeetUp (also, traveling with a bike in the train cost only € 7.50, and you can make way more of your citytrips if you're on a bike) or hang out with us in the library/lounge, kitchen or garden.
  
  The front garden is just big enough to sit and read, but always has sun and people walking by. The backyard has a small fruit garden and lots of birds, and lots of shade for the hotter days, and lots of privacy. The gardens are also a good place to smoke in case you have that need.

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  Projects involving children

  This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.

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  Help

  WHAT WE WOULD ASK FROM YOU
  
  WEEKDAYS MON-FRI
  - Challenge Jake with activities (helping hours are 14.00 - 19.00, and include cooking dinner)
  - Take care of the garbage if necesary
  - Take Jake to swimminglessons on Thursdays
  This day to town includes groceries, library visit and other stops to prepare the rest of the week
  
  I would like you to be able to work these weekhours independently, as this timeframe should be for me to do my own work. Ofcourse at the start I will guide you, but as soon as you're able, you can take initiative about how to spend the afternoons with Jake. Our current goal is to reduce Jakes screentime to weekends.
  
  We will have regular 'check-ins / family meetings' with and without Jake, to make sure we all get what we want.
  The morning & bedtime routine, the laundry, gardeing, dog-walking and house-cleaning are my job.
  You only need to take care of your own room.
  
  Note: Minimalizing the house is no longer necesary. (Thank you Rudy & Alex!!!)

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  Languages spoken

  English: Fluent
  Dutch: Fluent

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  Accommodation

  WHAT OUR ACCOMMODATION HAS TO OFFER YOU
  
  Our house is very comfortable, it has large rooms and should (hopefully) feel as a home to anyone who enters. Mi Casa Su Casa is very important to us, because we're lucky to be born into a rich country, and being aware of it, we love to share it with as many cultures and friendly travelers as possible. Our most favourite 'hobby', but ofcourse this will only continue if you're comfortable with it. Laundry and dishes are done by machines :)
  
  Downstairs is I live (and work), but as long as you return objects back in it's original place and leave everything tidy as it is, there aren't a lot of houserules to learn there. Don't worry, upstairs is for you to decide how you want to live :)
  Upstairs we have two bed-rooms; Jakes bedroom & the guestroom.
  
  Days in the house (especially in the winter) are usually spend behind screens. Jake spends lots of hours behind the PlayStation, and I a lot behind my work-desk. If you are judgemental of this, our place is not the right environment xD
  We do like to play boardgames, or watch something together, and in spring/summer we could do some fun activities. Winter and fall however, is time inside, mostly behind screens or inside of a book.
  
  You can use your own bike to get yourself around, and since we're in the middle of the Netherlands nothing is 'really far away' so a lot for you to explore in your free time. We live inbetween two National Parks and love to cycle there ourselves as well. If you like campingtrips, we might have some spare gear for you to make your weekends off extra special with.

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  What else ...

  - Visit the cultural capital of Europe; Leeuwarden,
  - Explore student-city Groningen,
  - Walk & cycle through the many National Parks in the neighbourhood,
  - Visit Hanzesteden Zwolle, Hattem, Zuthpen et cetera.
  
  Don't forget to walk often in the magical Giethoorn, it has a special vibe if you get up early and walk 'Het Binnenpad' when there aren't any tourists yet. Go to Amsterdam! See Europes biggest harbor in Rotterdam, or cross the borders into our neighbouring countries like Germany, Britain, Scotland, Belgium, and also, not very far away by train or Flixbus: France, Spain, Luxembourg, well, you know the map ...

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  Can host digital nomads

  Upstairs you will have your own room, with a 2p bed, a large desk and your own fridge, waterboiler and coffeemaker. Even though your room is set up for working there as much as you can without having to walk down, water access and a bathroom are downstairs and shared. Internet is good and 24/7 available.

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  Space for parking camper vans

  There are two large parking area, one in front of the house, and one on the side of the house. Parking is free :)

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  Can possibly accept pets

  Our dog Pepper is already 13 years old, but he's still fit, curious and in a good mood. (He also ALWAYS begs for either food, playtime or a walk and is good with cats) - Jake would love to have more animals in the house, but since I am focused on world-travel as soon as we can, I don't want to adopt any more pets. They are always welcome though ;)

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  One

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  Hours expected

  Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week

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