Millie Mackintosh Considers Homeschooling Path for Daughters
Former Made In Chelsea television personality Millie Mackintosh has openly discussed her serious consideration of homeschooling for her two young daughters, Sienna, aged five, and Aurelia, aged four. The 36-year-old mother revealed this educational contemplation during a recent appearance on the Mum's The Word podcast, hosted by Georgia Jones and Kelsey Parker, where she explained her daughters' persistent questioning about school attendance has prompted her research into alternative education methods.
Questioning Traditional Schooling
Millie Mackintosh expressed deep empathy for her daughters' reluctance to attend school, admitting she herself disliked the experience intensely. "My daughter - both of them - are just like, 'Why do I have to go to school, Mummy? Why?'" Millie shared. "I'm like, I get it. I hated going too. So I feel bad sometimes. I'm like, why do you have to go to school? And then suddenly I'm Googling homeschooling."
The reality television star turned wellness advocate confessed she would "actually love to homeschool them if it was what they wanted," though she acknowledged the significant practical challenges this would present. Millie described a recent trial period where her youngest daughter's nursery remained closed following the Christmas holidays, forcing her to attempt educational activities at home.
Practical Challenges and Neurodivergence Considerations
Despite her enthusiasm for the concept, Millie was candid about the difficulties of balancing homeschooling with her professional responsibilities. "I was like, it's fine, I'll just homeschool her. Whatever they're doing at nursery, we'll just do it at home. Then I was like, I can't do that because I also need to work," she explained, adding that there had been "a lot of iPad, not going to lie, while mummy gets work done."
The mother-of-two further admitted that patience required for teaching exceeds her current capacity, stating: "Parenting is teaching me patience, but I definitely do not have enough patience to teach children."
During the podcast conversation, Millie also suggested both her daughters might be "on the neurodivergent spectrum," citing specific behavioral patterns as potential indicators. Having spoken publicly about her own Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder diagnosis, Millie noted: "We don't have a diagnosis, but I think Sienna maybe is [ADHD]. Sienna is me."
Specific Behavioral Observations
Regarding her younger daughter Aurelia, Millie described particular characteristics that have led her to consider neurodivergence:
- Extreme food selectivity: Aurelia reportedly eats primarily pesto pasta, which Millie described as "her safe food" and "the only green thing that she eats."
- Attachment to specific clothing: The four-year-old becomes fixated on particular outfits, wearing the same one "every day for like a month."
- Difficulty transitioning from buggy: Millie explained Aurelia becomes extremely distressed when attempts are made to phase out the buggy, to the point of "literally lying on the floor and crying and crying until you give in."
"My youngest, Aurelia, is so fussy in particular about things," Millie explained. "And then I don't know where that falls, but somewhere on a spectrum for sure."
Personal Educational History and Recent Life Changes
Millie reflected on her own challenging school experiences at the £26,300-per-year Hanford Boarding School in Dorset, where she believes undiagnosed ADHD contributed to her difficulties. "I found school quite difficult, so I was kind of wanting to rebel against anything I could," she recalled, adding that she believes her condition made her "the difficult one" compared to her younger sister Alice during their upbringing.
The former Made In Chelsea star has previously disclosed being severely bullied during her school years, reaching a point where she "wouldn't go to school" due to cruel taunts about her appearance. In a 2013 interview, she described being called names like "Sparrow Legs" because of her "long, gangly limbs" and struggling with acne, glasses, and braces.
These revelations about homeschooling considerations and neurodivergence observations emerge amid reports of Millie's separation from husband Hugo Taylor, 39, after seven years of marriage. The couple, who first met as teenagers and co-starred in Made In Chelsea, now co-parent their two daughters following what insiders describe as diverging life paths.
Transformative Personal Journey
Sources close to the couple suggest Millie's significant personal transformation in recent years, including her decision to quit drinking in 2022, has contributed to the relationship changes. "The last couple of years have been completely transformative for Millie," a source told The Sun. "She's really come to understand who she is as a person - not a mother, not a wife but actually as herself."
Millie has been increasingly open about her wellness journey, recently traveling to India for a solo retreat designed to "heal" the nervous system. In her forthcoming 2025 book Bad Drunk, she details her struggles with alcohol beginning in her teens as a coping mechanism for bullying, a sexual assault, and social anxiety. She has also admitted to secretly using anti-anxiety medication Xanax during her marriage to manage hangovers and enable further drinking.
The television personality described reaching a "burnout moment" two years ago that she characterized as potentially "a breakdown," where she would "lie on the floor crying" immediately upon returning home. Since embracing sobriety, Millie has developed a deep commitment to health and wellness practices that sources indicate Hugo did not fully share, ultimately contributing to their separation as they found themselves "on very different paths."
