Can we talk for a quick second about the difference between a New Years resolution and a goal? I love the idea behind New Years resolutions, but let’s be honest. They’re a joke. They are the (often) drunken promises we make to ourselves when we look in the mirror at midnight. They represent what we…
My kids are better with electronics that me. How did this happen? Don’t get me wrong, I knew this day would come, just not that it would come so soon. I consider myself fairly up to date on technology! But they know more. So when Baloo wanted to learn to code I didn’t even know…
We live in a world where nearly everyone would say we need a little more kindness in our daily lives. And we’re finally recognizing that little acts of kindness can make a huge difference. Yet, it can be difficult to get everyone on board. Kids and teens don’t always come to kindness naturally. Sometimes it…
Everyone has concerns when they start homeschooling or think about starting homeschooling. Some concerns are covering all the material, keeping them engaging, socialization, etc. My biggest concern is independence and responsibility. I grew up in public schools and my parents education philosophy was fairly hands off. Don’t get me wrong – they cared immensely about…
Did you know studies show that clutter actually had an affect on our brain chemistry? That sounds crazy, doesn’t it? Yet, when people adopt a minimalist attitude, they have overwhelmingly positive reports. More time with family, less stress, more money, etc. We’ve been working on minimizing for a few months and oh my gosh, it…
Baloo and I have read aloud together every single night since he was about 11 months old. Back then it was a tool to calm down before bedtime but now it is a time for just the two of us to share. Nine years of reading nightly has given us much more than the gift…
We’ve probably all had that moment where you’re perusing Pinterest and drooling over the gorgeous homeschool rooms that some people have set up. And while those rooms are amazing and I still oogle them from time to time, I don’t need that. Our homeschool room is the dining room table that we never actually sit…
Homeschooling isn’t cheap…but it doesn’t have to be expensive. I know there are a lot of fancy schmancy curricula, unit studies, books, etc. But you really don’t need all of that. In fact, when the boys were younger, we got by with a lot less. So what do you do if you have kids to…
For people transitioning from a school outside the home to a school inside the home, it can mean a major transition from having ‘me time’ to not having ‘me time’. Even if you never had the house all to yourself, there is a difference in your personal time when you have all your kids home…
Finding and Choosing the right secular homeschool curriculum is the most exciting and the most exhausting part of homeschooling. Sorry to say but finding great curriculum is even more tough when you’re a secular homeschooler. But it is possible to find curriculum, and we’re going to do a quick walk through as to just how…
When I first pictured us homeschooling I had this idyllic view of three children sitting peacefully at their desks. One would raise their hand and say “Mother dearest, what makes the world go round?”. At this point we would all pour over books and the internet finding the answers. That’s never happened. Not once. Not…
As homeschooling becomes more and more popular people are finding it easier to find and develop homeschooling support and relationships. But easier doesn’t mean easy. In fact, one of the biggest complaints I hear is that people are having a really hard time finding decent homeschool support networks. I don’t know if I’ve been lucky…