Start Homeschooling

Hello! Welcome to homeschooling. Here you will find the 9 part podcast series on how to start homeschooling. It was recorded in the fall of 2020 when many people found themselves homeschooling for the first time but the advice from homeschoolers contained here is timeless and gives you a lot off good jumping off points to get your started. Go in order or start where with what you need most.

The Hatching Curiosity Podcast Presents

Your guide to starting homeschool in 2020

If you haven’t discovered already its quite the topic to cover with philosophies, learning styles, curriculum, overcoming fears, and other obstacles. We really could talk for days on the topic. With how overwhelming it can be we wanted to address some of the FAQ of new homeschoolers in a short series of podcasts to give you a jumping-off point for your new journey.

The podcast is hosted by Christina Hatch, owner and designer at Hatching Curiosity and Cami Parks owner and designer at Cambria Rose Design. Between the two of us, we homeschool 8 kids and are excited to share what we know with those just getting started.

The series breaks down how to get started with homeschooling with the following episodes:

Episode 1: Getting Started

Bonus Episode: Homeschooling Jr. High and High School

Episode 2: Choosing Curriculum Part 1

Episode 3: Choosing Curriculum Part 2

Bonus List here in the Blog: Curriculum we use and love

Episode 4: Organization and Scheduling

Bonus here in the blog: A day in the life schedule

Episode 5: You CAN do this (Overcoming obstacles)

Episode 6: The Joy and beauty of homeschooling

To get you started I’ve created a little worksheet you can use as you listen along to help organize your thoughts. (Just click the button or image to download it).

Episode 1: Getting Started

In this episode we go over finding your why, how to keep up with state standards so your child doesn’t fall behind, funding programs, and school choice options you have available. Some of the websites mentioned are:

HSLDA For homeschool legal advice and what is required in your state to homeschool

K-12 and Connections Academy Online Public School Programs

Tech Trep (Idaho) or My Tech High (Utah) 2nd Teir programs that offer funding, support, and minimal reporting while keeping you on track with your state standards and testing. There are many other great programs out there that vary from state to state. Try searching terms like “online charter school” or “Funding for homeschoolers in _______”.

Bonus Episode: Homeschooling Jr. High & High School

Once we got started the conversation continued in a bonus episode all about homeschooling Jr. High and Highschool students. Covering topics like diplomas, GEDs, getting into college, concurrent enrollment and when it is best to just go with your district vs online private school or homeschooling.

Choosing Curriculum Part 1

Once you have a vision for your homeschool, know the laws, and have decided on subjects you want to teach this year- you are ready to start! The first thing you’ll do is to shop for curriculum. In this episode, we go over key terms to know when shopping for a homeschool curriculum. (Like Secular vs Religious or Spiral vs Mastery) Then we do a readers digest version of homeschool philosophies and common teaching methods. Listen to the full episode in the link to the right or catch some of the highlights below.

Key terms from the Episode:

Secular: Non-religious. This especially pertains to the science curriculum where religious and secular worldviews differ. The secular curriculum will follow what is taught in public schools

Religious: Just as it says. The religious curriculum teaches from the worldview of the religion of the writer. Once again it is especially pertinent to the science curriculum as many Christians believe in a different geologic time scale than is taught secularly.

Spiral: When the subject is taught in a circular way. Touching on a concept, moving on to the next, then circling back to cover it in more depth. After the subject is covered in more depth it will be circled back to for review throughout the school year.

Mastery: Staying on one subject until it is mastered then moving on to the next. These two terms are used the most when shopping for a math curriculum but can be used in any curriculum search.

Chronological: In order of the time it occurred. Used especially in history. Some curriculums are taught in chronological order others are taught by unit study, subject, or interest touching on different times in history throughout the year.

Literature-based: Curriculum that is heavy in books- particularly high-quality classic books using them as a jumping-off point for learning.

Overview of Philosophies:

* Disclaimer * This is a very surface overview of the philosophies. I don’t even cover all of the basic tenents of the school of thought here. It is just to give you an idea/feel for what these philosophies are so you can know which ones you will want to look more into and you can know somewhat of what will be entailed when you buy a curriculum that follows the philosophy.

Classical: Follows children through the stages of learning called the Trivium: Grammar, Logic, and Rhetoric. In the grammar stage kids learn the facts, all about the world around them, especially focused on history and literature. There is a lot of memorization through song and repetition. In the logic stage, kids learn how to reason and apply what they have learned in the grammar stage. In the rhetoric stage students join “the great conversation” as they form their own opinions based on knowledge, logic, and articulating their own ideas. They dive into the big ideas, current events, issues of our time as they become scholars wrestling with philosophy and moving towards a more specific area of study and expertise.

Thomas Jefferson Education (TJED): Also follows children through stages but focuses more on inspiring wonder/ a love of learning during the elementary years, helping children discover their passions/talents in the jr. high years, and having them direct their own education as they become scholars in high school. It is very much about raising leaders who can self direct their time and education towards what they are passionate about. In some ways it echos a classical model with the stages of learning, scholarly pursuits, and desire to create leaders. In otherways it echos unschooling that we will get to below.

Charlotte Mason: A classical model following the trivium but more focused on “living books” (which will be defined in the next episode). Charlotte Mason puts a lot of weight into reading and following the “masters” of art and literature. She uses copy work and narration as tools to instill the beauty of literature into our children. She also puts a special emphasis on the outdoor life of children and is well known for advocating nature study and the keeping of a nature journal. Handicrafts, family school, read alouds, this is probably one of the most “homey” philosophies out there but can be just as rigorous as other classical models. “Education is an atmosphere, a discipline, a life”- Charlotte Mason

Montessori: Founded by Maria Montessori in Italy this philosophy focuses on self-discovery by the child. All of the hands-on materials are designed to be self-directed and self-correcting so that the child discovers the ideas presented when they are ready to know them. It is known for its beautiful wood manipulatives and prepared environment. She brings everyday items down to the size and level of the child so that they can grow in confidence and ability and they learn practical skills, manners, and academics through play and storytelling.

Waldorf: Similar to Montessori in many ways this philosophy focuses more on the rhythms of the day, and seasons. Nature, fantasy, and storytelling. It is creative and exploratory.

Unschool: Or passion-driven education is student-led learning. Learning from the world around us day by day and following passion projects. This philosophy shys away from traditional curriculums in favor of meeting the child where they are at. Teaching them to read when they want to read, and studying sea shells for example until they lose interest. It takes being very aware and intuitive with your children, being able to switch gears quickly, and having a prepared environment and culture of learning in the home.

Common Methods:

Online: Games, Webinars, pre-recorded lessons, youtube channels, live classes, technically it can look like a lot of things. Just be aware of how much time your kids spend in front of a screen and what they are doing on it. They are a great tool to delegate some of the subjects to others or independent work but follow up on their work for accountability and use online learning intentionally.

Independent: Work that the child does on their own then reports back to you. Another great delegation tool that works great with follow up and review.

Teacher-led: Lessons you teach or subjects you direct.

Student-led: Subjects students choose or sometimes even direct or “teach” you.

Family School: Subjects you cover together as a family (Works great for history, science, art, etc. A little harder for math, grammar, reading, etc.)

Unit study: Deep dive into a subject you love and incorporate all learning in that theme. For example, an Ocean unit could cover the biography of Jacques Cousteau for history, the layers of the ocean and sea life for biology, an art project, a sea food recipe for home ec, and math.

Go School: Getting out of the classroom for hands-on learning. Finding a mentor, going on field trips, fieldwork, etc.

Choosing Curriculum Part 2

Moving forward with a base of key terms, an overview of philosophies and methods this episode tackles some of the other considerations when choosing a homeschool curriculum.

A curriculum is a tool, not a master

The main point we make at the beginning is learning to see the curriculum as a tool. It is not your master. You do not owe it anything. It is there for you to use as a tool for educating your children. You choose it based on meeting your kids where they are at on THEIR level- not necessarily the grade level they are assigned to. You do it according to the schedule that works for you (though many of them do provide suggested schedules). It’s okay not to “finish” the curriculum or switch partway through the year if it isn’t working for you- even if everyone else you know loves it. You can use it as an outline or break it up into smaller chunks teaching your kids only as long as they are engaged. The point is- Use the outline, lessons, worksheets, and other tools provided with the boxed curriculum in the way that best serves your family and let go of all the “shoulds” that go along with it.

Choosing GOOD books ( and defining living books)

After we discussed ways to use the curriculum we hit on a subject that can make or break a homeschool. Choosing good literature. The task can be daunting but we give you tips on what to look for when choosing a good book and tips on how to find good books. We then loosely define living books because it is a term you hear A LOT when looking into homeschool.

The first thing you’ll want to check out is this video by Jenny Phillips:

you may find this book lists helpful:

The Good and the Beautiful Book List (updated yearly)

Well Trained Mind living history list

Classical Academic Press book list by year. Truly the classics for each grade.

Ambleside Charlotte Mason Curriculum (Literature-Based) Book Lists by Year

A Living Book is a book that is written by someone who is passionate about the subject, has relevant experience if it is non-fiction, or uses rich imagery, literary devices, and deep themes with ponderable problems when it is fiction.

Some keywords to look for if you want to find good book lists on Pinterest or other blogs are: “Classic books for…”, “Living books”, “Newberry award-winning books”, “Books every child should read in ___ grade”. Pay attention to book descriptions and look for themes in reviews. If at all possible read a section to check reading level and that the qualities of the book match what you want on your bookshelf. Also, don’t be afraid to ask librarians and homeschooling Facebook groups for recommendations.

Cami also recommended Thrift Books to get inexpensive books.

Other Considerations

Cost

You don’t have to spend money to homeschool! You can do it for free with the resources available online and through the library. (There are also funding programs available as mentioned in the first episode in this series) It will take a lot more work on your end but you can make it happen. That being said, generally the more money you spend on the curriculum the less prep work on your end. There are of course exceptions but spending money on curriculum has the advantage of taking the guesswork out of planning that subject, the lessons are planned and ready to be executed. You are paying for the convenience of not having to plan your own lessons as well as the course materials when you buy a curriculum.

Open & Go vs Outline & Prep

That being said some curriculums are “Open and go” meaning you can pull the book off your shelf and teach the lesson with no prep work at all and others are only an outline or very hands-on and require some planning and prep work on your end. So pay attention to that when you are shopping.

Pacing

Some curriculums move quickly through the subject and others tend to linger. Find the pacing that is right for your child by either matching the right curriculum or moving through (sometimes skipping or lingering on) lessons at their pace. The two curriculums mentioned here were Teaching Textbooks as a solid but slow-moving curriculum and Beast Academy as a more accelerated math course.

Screen time

Just pay attention to how much screen time they are getting between schoolwork and recreation. It can be hard on the back, eyes, or soul. That being said there are PHENOMENAL curriculums available that are primarily online like Williamsburg Academy that I am just EXCITED to get my kids into as they reach Jr. High and High School.

Reviews

If you are looking for reviews of curriculum check out the homeschooling groups on Facebook and Cathy Duffy Reviews for a great overview of most large curriculum companies.

Don’t forget to look at other places if you can’t quite find what you are looking for in a curriculum and decide to create your own. Places like Teachers Pay Teachers offer individual lessons, printables, and activities for reasonable rates. Etsy has amazing hands-on learning tools. Instagram has inspiring homeschoolers and teachers to follow and Pinterest is a wealth of ideas.

Lastly don’t worry about gaps in your child’s education. Everyone has “gaps”! (This is where specialists come from.) Give them the tools of learning with reading, writing, math, being able to construct a good argument, research, and love of learning and their learning potential is unlimited!

Main Takeaway

For first-year homeschoolers, I recommend choosing minimal subjects (English & Math for pre-k through first grade, add science and history for older) and open and go curriculum with minimal planning on your part. Less is better. Once you have your basics covered and you feel comfortable with that I would add one subject that either your family is passionate about or will bring calm and beauty into your home (discussed more in a later episode). Make the curriculum work for you and trust your instincts.

Right now I cannot say enough good things about Beast Academy. My son LOVES this math program. It is a bit accelerated but what I love about it is that it teaches the kids to THINK mathematically. How to really see the world in a new way and become problem solvers. With critical thinking as one of my core values, it’s no surprise that we are going to be sticking with this program for the long haul. The parent side of it is really helpful too for following up on assignments and making sure he is getting it as he goes.

For learning Italian we have really enjoyed Talkbox.mom where you learn the language organically as a family through conversational speaking. It reminds me of the pilsner method mentioned in Charlotte Mason curriculums and I personally like the free app Duolingo to help with my own language skills.

If you have the money to spend and you like beautiful heirloom quality things also check out Waseca Biomes for BEAUTIFUL Montessori Geography and Natural History resources, Mirus Toys and Treasures From Jennifer.

In Addition to those listed above here is an email I sent to my sister who is looking into homeschooling. You know that if I am going to send it to my sister that it has to be the good stuff right?!

Jessica-

You could listen to my new to homeschooling podcast series here. It has all the low down on getting started then if you have questions you can call me or shoot me a text. That being said here are some of my curriculum suggestions. First of all I would recommending focusing on reading/math. Just a 20 minute lesson for each subject for each kid a day. Then adding extras on top of that base. Below are the curriculums I recommend but there are many more out there to explore too. If you need me to send you a Marco Polo of any of the curriculums I own I’d be happy to do that too.

Open and go reading/grammar:

I love LOGIC of English but it a more analytical approach to learning to read and can take longer before they are reading. With Dodge he was reading about a semester behind Public School kids but understood the WHY so well that when he did start reading he just took off. We didn’t even finish book D. This is the program I started this year with both the younger boys too.

All About Reading is another phonics program that follows the same philosophy of learning and all my friends that use it LOVE it. Some of my friends even switched from Logic of English over to it and then reading finally clicked for their kid when nothing else would work. I kind of love the look of it but am already invested in Logic of English and it works great so I never tried it.

 Lastly, for a more traditional approach to teaching reading there is “Teach your kid to read in 100 easy lessons” some people love it, some people hate it. Its just a different approach incase the phonetic approach above doesn’t jive with their way of thinking.

Open and go Math:

We are using The Good and the Beautiful Math and I LOVE it because it takes elements from all of the leading math programs and combines it into a beautiful and fun program for the kids. There are hands on manipulatives and games, living stories that connect math to the real world, and daily review/repetition to keep their skills sharp.

Before that I used Right Start Math which was great in many of the same ways. Very hands on, very little worksheets, and the method and science behind the way she teaches math is so well researched and solid. It really lays a solid foundation of math. This is what Dodge used before moving on to his online accelerated program.

Teaching Textbooks is the online program for math that Alaina uses. It is a slow, gentle mastery based math program that the kids can do on their own on the computer.

An add on math just for practice that Dodge loves is Prodigy. It’s a free computer game and it is really great for practicing math but doesn’t actually teach it.

Add on subjects:

                So once you have the basics covered with a curriculum that will keep you on track you can add on extras like:

- Music or sport lessons out of the home

- I also like to do a family read aloud. We do ours at night right before bed because that is when the boys listen best. I have several book recommendations if you’d like.

- Nature study, but you knew I was going to say that lol. Just go out on a hike once a week and have them bring their nature journals, you can journal outside or inside after but it is basically choosing something they noticed and then writing or drawing about it. There are tons of benefits to this which you can listen about on my podcast but some of them are improving their observation skills, hand/mind connection, patience, temperance, and love of God and the Outdoors. It acts as a handwriting helper whether they write or draw, teaches them basic biology principles, and helps them in all other areas of study so I view it as a triple hitter. I can totally hook you up with some nature journals too 😉.

- Unit studies. Where you basically just explore a subject together like the solar system, body systems, dinosaurs, etc. You read books about it, do experiments, art projects, etc. You can find a lot of ideas on Pinterest. I start by deciding what we want to study then break it down by how I want to cover it before searching out hands on projects to do for each of those sub-subjects. For example: if I was doing body systems I would do a week each on the muscular, cardiovascular, skeletal, etc. systems. When planning the unit study I’d decide which order I want to go in then start planning activities for each system and finding books at the library (and lets be honest, on Amazon). The Good and the Beautiful offers several science units that are open and go and exactly the way I plan my unit studies. I’ve done several and they are a lot of fun.

- Focus on beauty. You can pray/read the scriptures and sing together when you start your day. You could start showing them art by famous painters or play a little bit of classical music while they play or draw.

- If they start getting bored or destructive in the afternoons I put on a documentary, magic school bus, brain child or other educational TV or I will pull out the lego and put on Story of the World for history. (We do the audio books only)

- Another great place to listen is in the car when you are going to town or even play different audio books pausing to talk about the story or have them repeat what they heard back to you to help with reading comprehension.

- Lastly field trips are SO fun. To this day I remember the day I took the kids out to the tide pools in Homer or built toy boats then took them to Hawkins to see if they would float. You guys also have the Sea Life center to go to or fun house projects they can work on with Dad on his days off.

The main thing is that you DO NOT NEED TO DO ALL THE THINGS!! Seriously. Just choose one or two of the things above that sound the best to you and do that to add a little fun into your homeschool.

 -Christina

Cami’s Personal Reccomendations Coming Soon!

Getting Organized Part 1

In this episode, we talk about what you want your homeschool day to look like and how to get there. We start with the ultimate fantasy in homeschooling- whatever that looks like to you then pull elements from that to discover what you value most.

After making time for what matters most we fill in the rest of the educational plan with core subjects first followed by other subjects and electives. (During the podcast Camin mentions the book “Essentialism: The disciplined pursuit of less” which is linked here.)

If you need to cut back on your homeschool subjects for whatever reason life throws at you you will simply reverse order this. First, take off subjects that take more time than they are worth, then non-essential subjects, finally in cases of emergency nurturing just what adds life and strength to your family.

We then break down options for the yearly schedule like sticking with the school district (traditional school year), doing 6 weeks on and 1 week off, or going year-round and how each of these schedules can work for and against you.

We talk about weekly scheduling ( 4 days on 3 days off, traditional 5-day schedule, or doubled up 3-day schedules) and the miracle of loop schedules on all levels of homeschooling.

Finally, we start with the daily schedule. Setting up boundaries on your time to protect it from outside disruptions, getting littles settled for the day, rotating independent work, and connecting with each child. Family school is another great tool for conquering subjects efficiently and the many things that “count” for schooling outside of the traditional school day. (Raddish subscription boxes were mentioned briefly and are linked here.)

Getting Organized Part 2

Now that we have an outline of our year, week, and the day we get down into the nitty-gritty parts of executing this plan.

We talk about attention spans and how long lessons should be for each age. Generally speaking it’s about 10-20 minutes for a kindergartener or first grader than an additional 5 minutes for each school year after that.

We discuss which subjects need to be covered for which grades and how long a school day typically takes. (About 2-3 hours in elementary school, 4-6 for Jr. High, and 4-8 for Highschool depending on their course load).

There are SO many benefits for homeschooling vs public schooling and we address some of the time benefits today. How you save all of the transition times spent in public school and can pace the lessons with your kid’s attention spans and interests.

We give tips on organizing your time/curriculum for smooth days and what kinds of space you need to homeschool (hint: you don’t need a schoolroom!). As well as general homeschool organization tips we’ve picked up along the way.

Overcoming Obstacles to Homeschooling

This episode tackles the hard parts. What to do about overwhelm, falling behind, burn out, feeling inadequate, being judged, socialization, and the reality of covid schooling. Below is a summary of each section of the podcast.

Overwhelm

First of all, you can do this! Take a minute to step back and feed your soul, then ask why you are overwhelmed. Sometimes we just get too ambitious and need to take things off our plate to make room for stillness in our lives. LESS IS MORE. Free up your schedule for creativity and connection and enjoy the freedom of letting go.

What to do when they don’t want to learn

First, ask them why and really listen. Take the time to address and validate their concerns. If needed take a break and then come back to that subject later at a different time or with a different approach or location. Give them grace and get buy-in.

Falling Behind

Sometimes it takes falling behind in one area to get ahead in another. Outsource problem subjects or make agreements. Just start by pausing and make an action plan right away when you notice them slipping.

Burn Out

Go on an adventure, take a break, mix it up then get back to work!

Feeling Inadequate

You ABSOLUTELY can do it. No one is better equipped to take care of YOUR children than YOU. Full stop. When in doubt, follow the curriculum. You will build confidence with time and experience and are not alone in this journey. Get mentors/help when needed and celebrate small victories.

Fear of Being Judged

First of all other people’s opinions are not your business. If they make them your business remember your why. You are doing what is best for your family and take confidence in your convictions. Trust yourself. Also, find a tribe to back you up and support you to fight back feelings of isolation.

Spouse not on board

This one is a game stopper. Husbands and Wives are the foundation of a family if you are not on the same page you absolutely should not move forward until you are. If they are open but hesitant then support them by finding answers to their concerns. A great resource for this is Facebook groups where you can post questions about their specific concerns and get real-time answers.

Socialization

There are plenty of opportunities to socialize while homeschooling (under normal circumstances). Also, what are your real goals for your child’s education? Does the current system meet those needs? How high up on your list is interaction with peers only their age in the scheme of things?

Covid Schooling

Covid is hard. Straight up. For everyone. This may not be the best year for socialization regardless of your child’s educational situation but it IS a great year to build and repair family relationships.

Bonus Episode: Step into your power

In this episode we talk about the power you have of setting the tone in your homes and how taking care of yourself and building a community can strengthen you in your efforts to create an atmosphere of learning in your home.

You Set the Tone

Parents are the single greatest influence in their children’s lives and we play a huge role in setting the tone in our homes. Our attitudes affect our children’s attitudes. Our moods can change the entire feel of our homes. Sometimes the responsibility of this power is daunting. It’s hard to set an atmosphere of calm when we are wound up in our own exhaustion and frustration.

Self-care vs Self-indulgence

This is why self-care is so important. We cannot fill their vessels if ours is empty. However, there is a difference between self-indulgence and self-care. Between escaping and restoring. The activities we do to care for our souls need to make us feel refreshed and inspired when we are done. Not guilty, or even more exhausted and run down.

When doing things that typically make you feel alive, refreshed, and inspired are not enough. It may mean that you need to dig a little deeper. Journal, meditate, pray. Do some introspection as to what is pulling you down and make adjustments to your life and routines. Sometimes, it even means getting outside help with therapy and there is no shame in that.

The better you can take care of yourself, the better you can show up for your kids.

Finding a Tribe

One HUGE help as you head into the endeavor of homeschooling is having a support system. Like-minded friends to help and encourage you along the way. As in all true relationships, the road goes both ways and as you serve your friends it breaks down walls and helps you learn that you can depend on each other in hard times. Sometimes it takes being BOLD to do this. We hesitate to show up because we don’t want to cross a line or make them feel worse when so many times the act of caring, of showing up is exactly what they need.

Be Bold

So we encourage you to be bold. Show up for your friends in a big way even when your nervous to do it. Carve out time for yourself, knowing the returns on this investment will bless your family 10 fold. Take the reigns on your day and purposefully set the tone in your home.

Finding Peace in Homeschool

In this episode, we talk about the value of TIME. Time spent with our children and time to let them explore their interests and quiet their souls.

Sometimes when you feel overwhelmed it’s not about taking off your plate but adding things on that help you feel calm, refreshed, and centered.

Some ways you can do this is to introduce a poetry tea time, study the masters, add music into your day, make a nature study habit, and include your spiritual practice as part of your school day.

One of the quotes that Julie Mentioned that I just absolutely love is:

“The joy in motherhood comes in moments. There will be hard times and frustrating times, but amid the challenges there are shining moments of joy and satisfaction.”

-M. Russel Ballard

Obviously, there was a lot more to this conversation we go into the science behind the way boys learn and communicate when stressed, about the benefits of classical music and nature study for developing brains. So I encourage you to have a listen :)

Finding Joy in Homeschool

We saved the best for last! In this episode, you will hear how to create moments of JOY in your homeschool journey. Starting with creating. We humans are creators and carving out time for creative pursuits whether it is art, handicrafts, music or other sensory experiences helps us with not only our hand-mind connection but our heart-mind connection as well. Creative time gives us a chance to express ourselves and can put us in a state of flow which is great at improving concentration and passion.

Subjects you can add that spark joy are Artist study, composer study, nature study, and poetry tea time as mentioned in the last episode. A good jumping-off point for those who have not done artist or composer study before are kits made especially for this at simplycharlottmason.com.

Another great way to find their “spark” is by trying different handicrafts like knot tying, twiddling, origami, engineering (with subscriptions like Kiwi crate), cooking (with subscriptions like Raddish), candle making, crocheting, etc.

Even the more formal arts like drawing, painting, and studying a musical instrument allow for creating.

Otherways to add joy are adding music into your day or picking up family hobbies like bird watching or geocaching.

Sometimes it just takes a deep dive with a unit study or learning a language together.

If you are wondering how to pull all these smaller subjects together a great idea is to look into a morning basket. You can hear all about them from Pam Barnhill on her morning basket podcast or website but we share some of the ways we use this concept here on this podcast as well.

We talk about the benefits of being bored for creativity and how field trips, travel, and fun traditions make all the difference in your homeschooling experience.

Lastly, I leave you with encouragement to empower you to CREATE the home you desire for your family and assure you that you are ABSOLUTELY capable of being the BEST mother for your kids.