as we learn and grow together in the bigger story
An Important Question What’s your homeschool WHY? Why have you chosen (and continue to choose) to tread a path less traveled? Reflecting often on the answer to this question is important because simply put, homeschooling is no joke! As ideal as it may seem to …
“A rock pile ceases to be a rock pile the moment a single man contemplates it, bearing within him the image of a cathedral.” Antoine De Saint-Exupery What kind of “cathedral” do you hope to build with your homeschool? Have you even considered the idea …
You know that sweet sound of silence and the overwhelming peace that comes when the little people you have been caring for all day have gone to bed? It was one of those nights, when I first learned about homeschool compasses. At the time, my …
If you’ve been homeschooling for any length of time, you’ve walked this road: And somehow … everyone still ended up frustrated and exhausted. Kids resisting. You feeling behind. And homeschooling starting to feel like a daily battle, one that riddles you with doubt over why …
This is the first year I am documenting WITHOUT Big Bro! He’s 19 now and is living his own young adult life – diligently working while he simultaneously invests his free time on his different business ventures. And, since our rhythm this year is so …
One of the most essential skills our kids need for adulthood isn’t more academics. It’s ADAPTABILITY. WHY IS TEACHING KIDS ADAPTABILITY IMPORTANT? Because life is unpredictable – and faithfulness, wisdom, and even “success” depend on knowing how to navigate changing circumstances. Life doesn’t give us a …
“Don’t forget to say, ‘Thank you’!” That’s probably come out of your mouth many times as a parent in the attempt to help teach your kids how to show gratitude to others. I’ve done this myself! But this is exactly where the problem lies. Although …
Most parents teach their kids things like tying their shoes, riding a bike, making food, cleaning up after themselves, and managing money. But one of the greatest real-life skills parents need to impart to their kiddos is how to forgive. This is probably one of …
I can’t believe I’m writing this post. We finally arrived at the day where our family got to celebrate our very first homeschool graduate! And with it being a pretty significant milestone, we decided to mark the occasion with a special commencement ceremony followed by …
Guys. This is Big Bro’s SENIOR year (stay tuned for a post I’m working on for his homeschool graduation!). Technically and legally, he’s been done homeschooling here in WA state when he turned 18 in the fall. And he opted to enroll in our church’s …
Have you ever come up with the perfect homeschool schedule … only to abandon it by Wednesday? Maybe you printed out a color-coded chart or followed someone else’s routine, hoping it would bring peace and productivity – but instead, it left you feeling behind, stressed, …
Almost all homeschool families plan and prep for the school year. As a Christian unschooling/lifeschooling family, we do as well, but instead of doing so based on what I think my children should be learning or what a curriculum dictates, I do it primarily on …
One major concern for parents considering an unschooling life is if their unschooled kids will be able to get into college. Now, I’ll be transparent, at the time of this writing none of my kids are college-bound. However, I also had this concern and spent …
One of the main reasons why our family chose to ditch rigid curriculum and schedules in favor for unschooling – or lifeschooling – is because we wanted more time and space to equip our kids to thrive in a world beyond academics. And now, with …
Books to Read for Reframing Your Thinking About Education This post contains affiliate links and we may earn compensation when you click on the links, at no additional cost to you. Dumbing Us Down: The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling by John Taylor Gatto critiques …
Once upon a time, there was a young woman who dreamed of an ever after that comprised of a successful career, an inventory of material luxuries, and the flexibility & time to globe-trot the world. In this dream, she would later set down roots in a tidy, suburban, cookie-cutter home; get married (only after independently establishing herself & satisfying her wanderlust); and eventually, have kids – just two: one boy, one girl. Maybe there would be a dog, because that would perfectly round out the annual Christmas card.
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