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  • 12 Things I’ve Learned About Homeschool Moms: Self-Care Tips for Overwhelmed Homeschool Moms

    12 Things I’ve Learned About Homeschool Moms: Self-Care Tips for Overwhelmed Homeschool Moms
    Dec 10 2025
    If you’ve ever felt stretched too thin, this episode is for you. In Part 1 of my series, 12 Things I’ve Learned About Homeschool Moms, I share the first six insights I’ve gathered over my years as a homeschool mom, coach, and guide for women just like you. These self-care tips for overwhelmed homeschool moms aren’t rules or prescriptions—they’re real-life reflections from someone who’s walked this path, experienced the overwhelm, and learned how to reclaim herself without abandoning her homeschool dreams. Join the 12-Day Self-Care Challenge for Homeschool Moms What You’ll Learn: Self-Care Tips for Overwhelmed Homeschool Moms Every homeschool mom faces invisible challenges, even when things look “perfect” from the outside. In this episode, I dive into the first six things I’ve learned about the homeschool mom experience: You feel like you never get a moment to yourself – The constant “on” mode can leave you disconnected from your own body and needs.No one sees everything you do – From teaching to caregiving to emotional labor, the invisible load is real.You say yes because it feels easier than dealing with disappointment – Learning to say no is a radical act of self-care.You’re emotionally depleted – The overwhelm is rarely about homeschooling itself—it’s about carrying too much without space to reset.You feel guilty resting – Rest isn’t optional; it’s essential for your health, your energy, and your presence in your family.You don’t even know who you are anymore outside motherhood – Reconnecting with yourself is foundational to leading a confident, aligned homeschool life. Every one of these six things isn’t a sign that you’re doing homeschooling wrong—they’re signs that you’re human and have been carrying more than anyone was meant to carry alone. Why These Self-Care Tips for Overwhelmed Homeschool Moms Matter If any part of this episode made you exhale or think, “oh… that’s me,” consider this your gentle invitation to start tending to yourself with the same care you offer everyone else in your home. Emotional overfunctioning and people-pleasing can follow you into homeschooling, and slowly, you lose not just your energy, but your sense of self. Reclaiming yourself isn’t selfish—it’s foundational. Your kids feel safest when you feel safe. Join the 12-Day Homeschool Mom Self-Care Challenge This is exactly why I created the 12-Day Homeschool Mom Self-Care Challenge. It’s not another checklist or performance-based challenge. Instead, it’s twelve small, doable shifts designed to help you come back to yourself with compassion, not pressure. Daily Letters – Thoughtful reflections to help you see your needs clearly.Gentle Reflection Prompts – Uncover the stories you’ve been carrying.Tiny, Doable Practices – Small actions to create real emotional space. As one mom said: “Your work has ripple effects because you’re nurturing the nurturers.” You deserve that same nurture too. Click here to join the 12-Day Self-Care Challenge and start making your own 1% shifts away from overwhelm and toward a homeschool life that feels good from the inside out. What’s Next for Overwhelmed Homeschool Moms Next week, we’ll continue with Part 2 of this series, where I share six more things I’ve learned about homeschool moms. They go even deeper, and I think you’ll feel just as held, understood, and equipped to make your homeschool life feel lighter and more aligned. Until then, take one moment today just for you—not because it’s earned, but because you need it and you deserve it. Join the 12-Day Self-Care Challenge for Homeschool Moms To the Woman Reading This… If any part of this resonates — if you recognize your own patterns of over-functioning, self-forgetting, or carrying too much — please know you don’t have to walk this alone. Maybe safety felt conditional, or you learned to earn love by meeting everyone else’s needs.Or maybe you’re carrying grief or stories that were never yours to carry. I’ve walked this path too — from losing myself to returning to myself. If you’re ready to step into who you truly are, I’d be honoured to walk beside you. ➤ Learn more about coaching with Teresa here. Bolster Boundaries at the Holidays for Homeschool MomsIntroducing the ultimate guide for homeschool moms navigating the holiday whirlwind: the ‘Boundary Bolstering Journaling Workbook.’ Crafted to help you thrive amidst unique seasonal challenges, this 31-page gem offers strategies and thought-provoking journal prompts. Discover how to establish boundaries, clarify needs, and embrace your true self. Make this holiday a time of internal empowerment and joy on your terms! $9.99 Original price was: $9.99.$5.99Current price is: $5.99. Shop now People also ask: Create a Practical Plan for your Self-Care so you can Thrive in your Homeschool12-Day Homeschool Mom Self-Care Challenge to Come Back to ...
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    32 min
  • 12-Day Homeschool Mom Self-Care Challenge to Come Back to Yourself

    12-Day Homeschool Mom Self-Care Challenge to Come Back to Yourself
    Dec 2 2025
    Join Me for the 12-Day Homeschool Mom Self-Care Challenge A homeschool mom self-care challenge that honours you. Homeschool mama, I see you. December is here, and it feels like an avalanche of ALL the things.Every month as a homeschool mom is full, but December? It’s a whole new level. You’re trying to finish things up, or you’re moving into a unit study on Christmas, you’re purchasing, prepping, planning, and playing—and you just added a part time-job to your full-time job. But as a homeschool mama, when December rolls around, mama ain’t looking after herself, she’s looking, after ALL the things. And though ALL the things are a whole lot of things EVERY other month, December’s ALL the things is an exponential set of things. Though you’re trying to do all the things, fulfill the expectations, and make it magical for your kids, you can’t do a little bit more if you didn’t already incorporate an approach to maintain margins and pursue purposeful living. That’s why I’m inviting you to join me for the 12-Day Self-Care Challenge for Homeschool Moms. This isn’t another TO DO list. It’s a TO GIVE list—a way to give back to yourself. Join the 12 Day Self-Care Challenge Why Self-Care Matters As homeschool moms, we have a unique calling. We’re deeply present with our kids, invested in their well-being, and working hard to create meaningful memories and learning experiences. We savor moments of: Watching our kids harmoniously play together (sometimes).Cheering them on as they tackle new challenges.Seeing their excitement as they pursue new interests.Building lifelong memories as a family. But there’s another side to this season: The constant stream of emotions (theirs and ours).Sibling squabbles.Complaints and meltdowns.And, of course, the never-ending mundane tasks—laundry, dishes, meals, and errands. Even when we handle these challenges with grace, the emotional and mental investment is enormous. Add the holidays to the mix, and it’s no wonder we feel stretched thin. The Secret Ingredient to a (more) Peaceful Holiday Season Here’s the thing: you matter too. Your well-being is not just an afterthought—it’s the foundation of a happy family life and a peaceful holiday season. Self-care: Refills your energy so you can approach the holidays with calm and joy.Models healthy balance and boundaries for your children.Helps you manage stress and let go of perfection.Strengthens your emotional resilience to handle challenges with patience and grace.Creates space for joy and presence, helping you savor the small, magical moments. When you care for yourself, you’re giving your family the best gift of all—a peaceful, grounded, and joyful mama. What You’ll Get in the 12-Day Challenge In just fifteen minutes a day—maybe even five—you’ll explore simple, practical self-care strategies that fit into your busy December. These strategies aren’t just for the holidays; they’re tools to carry into the new year, helping you nurture yourself and your family with greater ease and satisfaction. By the end of these 12 days, you’ll feel: More energized.More connected to yourself.And more at peace as you move through this beautiful, busy season. And so we must take care of ourselves. Join the 12 Days of Homeschool Mom Self-Care Challenge Join Me—You Deserve This So, homeschool mama, this is your invitation to take a breath, step back, and remember that you are worth nurturing. Let’s do this together. This December, give yourself the gift of care, calm, and connection. Join the 12-Day Self-Care Challenge for Homeschool Moms and rediscover the joy of the season—not just for your family, but for you too. Just fifteen minutes a day. You’ve got this. Bolster Boundaries at the Holidays for Homeschool MomsIntroducing the ultimate guide for homeschool moms navigating the holiday whirlwind: the ‘Boundary Bolstering Journaling Workbook.’ Crafted to help you thrive amidst unique seasonal challenges, this 31-page gem offers strategies and thought-provoking journal prompts. Discover how to establish boundaries, clarify needs, and embrace your true self. Make this holiday a time of internal empowerment and joy on your terms! $9.99 Original price was: $9.99.$5.99Current price is: $5.99. Shop now People also ask: Create a Practical Plan for your Self-Care so you can Thrive in your HomeschoolHow to Incorporate Ten Basic Self-Care Tips for the Homeschool MamaCheck out the Homeschool Mama Self-Care: Nurturing the Nurturer bookHow do I get a virtual homeschool mama retreat?a simple guide to unschooling your holiday homeschoolAccess the Toolbox for Big Emotions Journaling WorkbookJoin the 2024 Homeschool Challenge for Clarity, Confidence & VisionHomeschool Mom’s Guide to Holiday Boundaries in 5 StepsAntidote for Holiday Homeschool Overwhelm & ExpectationsA Vulnerable Story of an Overwhelmed Homeschool Mom JourneyIntroducing the 12 Day Self-Care Strategies for Homeschool ...
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    26 min
  • What is the Reimagine Your Homeschool Group Coaching?

    What is the Reimagine Your Homeschool Group Coaching?
    Nov 18 2025
    Introducing the Reimagine Your Homeschool Group Coaching Program… What if your homeschool didn’t feel heavy, confusing, or lonely anymore? What if you had clarity, confidence, and a grounded sense of direction — not just for your children’s education, but for your wellbeing too? Welcome to the Reimagine Your Homeschool Group Coaching Program — an 8-week guided experience designed to help you shift from overwhelm, self-doubt, and constant second-guessing…to a homeschool life that feels aligned, calm, and deeply satisfying. Whether you’re craving more peace, seeking structure that actually supports you, or wanting to feel like yourself again, this program was created with you in mind. This isn’t about doing more. This is about doing what actually works — for you, for your kids, and for the season you’re in. Grab your free Homeschool Transformation Mini-Course Who This Program Is For? This program is for the homeschool mom who finds herself wondering: “Am I doing enough?”“Is this even working?”“Why am I so overwhelmed when I’m trying so hard?”“Why do I lose my patience more than I want to?”“What is the problem with my relationship with one child feel tense?”“Why does it feel like everyone else is thriving except me?”“And why does it feel like everyone else is thriving except me?” It’s also for the mom who is: carrying the mental load of everyone’s needsexhausted by sibling conflict, pushback, or lack of motivationfeeling disconnected from one child — or all of themjuggling toddlers, teens, or bothtired of doing everything for everyone (and feeling guilty for even thinking that)comparing herself to other homeschoolers onlinethinking, “Maybe school would be easier…” If any of this sounds like you, you’re not failing — you’re just carrying too much without the support you deserve. That’s where this program comes in. Learn more about the Reimagine Your Homeschool Group Coaching Program… What You’ll Gain Through This Reimagine your Homeschool Group Coaching Program Over 8 weeks, you’ll experience a complete homeschool reset that helps you: clarify your purpose so your days feel meaningful, not chaoticunderstand why overwhelm keeps showing up and how to interrupt itcreate emotional capacity so you aren’t reacting from exhaustionstop second-guessing yourself and trust your decisionsunderstand each child’s needs, learning style, and rhythmbuild routines that support your energy and your kids’ growthreduce conflict, power struggles, and frustrationbring more joy, curiosity, and connection back into your home You’ll feel more grounded. Your home will feel lighter. Your relationships will soften and strengthen. And you’ll finally feel like the mom you meant to be. What We’ll Do Together in Each Coaching Session SESSION 1 — Root Yourself in Your Vision (R) We begin by uncovering your vision for a calm, connected homeschool — not the one you inherited from school culture or Instagram expectations. You’ll define what success looks like for your family, identify your core values, and build your Homeschool North Star so the second-guessing begins to dissolve. You’ll walk away with:• a clear vision• a values map• a grounded sense of direction you can trust SESSION 2 — Establish Emotional Regulation Tools (E) Overwhelm usually comes from emotional overload. In this session, we build your personalized emotional regulation toolkit so you can respond instead of react. You’ll learn:• practical nervous system resets• what to do in the middle of “big emotional moments”• how to create emotional capacity instead of burnout SESSION 3 — Individualize Your Child’s Education (I) Here we break free from the “school mindset.” We’ll identify your child’s real learning style, their natural interests, and the ways they learn best. You’ll clarify:• what learning actually looks like for your child• what you can drop (without guilt!)• how to build a child-inspired learning plan SESSION 4 — Minimize What Drains You (M) This is the week we lighten your invisible load. We get brutally honest about the shoulds, expectations, and obligations draining your energy — and we prune them. You’ll create:• your “To-Live List” (the opposite of a crushing to-do list)• boundaries that free you• a home + homeschool that feels sustainable instead of suffocating Join the Reimagine your Homeschool Group Coaching Program NOW! SESSION 5 — Acknowledge You Are Already Enough (A) This session is where the “not enough” story starts to lose its power. We uncover the internal pressure, perfectionism, and comparison loops that quietly run your homeschool. You’ll practice:• self-compassion• reframing the inner critic• parenting and homeschooling from wholeness, not performance SESSION 6 — Grow Yourself First (G) Your homeschool rises or falls on your energy. This session helps you make space ...
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    15 min
  • Not Just a Homeschool Mom — Why You’re Disappearing (And How to Come Back)

    Not Just a Homeschool Mom — Why You’re Disappearing (And How to Come Back)
    Nov 11 2025
    You’re not just a homeschool mom — but, wow, is it easy to lose your sense of self in the demanding rhythms of this homeschool life. Somewhere between math lessons, snack requests, and all the invisible emotional labour, you might quietly wonder: “Who even am I anymore? Is this what I signed up for? I love spending time with my kids, I love introducing my kids to the world, but I also feel a niggling underneath it all that tells me there is more.” If you’ve ever felt like the title “homeschool mom” swallowed all the other parts of you… you are not the only one. We don’t want to speak about it because we know we should be grateful for the chance to do this alongside our kids. We don’t have to sign up to join the ranks of the busy outside world that requires us to feel splintered and scattered in the productivity hamster wheel. And we get to play with our kids in the middle of the day and enjoy the comforts of our homes. But maybe, if we’re being honest, we know something is missing. It’s acceptable to acknowledge that your voice, your needs, your passions — they still matter. They might change over the years. And rediscovering them doesn’t require a major life overhaul. It might not even mean you send the kids back to school. It can simply begin with a pause, a pen, and a little bit of space to breathe. Not Just a Homeschool Mom — Finding Yourself Again If you’ve ever felt like the title “homeschool mom” swallowed all the other parts of you, the You Be You Checklist is here to help. This gentle tool guides you to pause, reflect, and reconnect with your values, passions, and priorities—so you can show up fully for your kids while honouring you. Grab your copy now and start your journey back to yourself. Get to Know You with the You Be You Checklist Karen’s Story: Not Just a Homeschool Mom Karen came to me wanting a conversation about what was going well in her homeschool life and how to keep her foundational values at the forefront. She wasn’t looking for long-term coaching—she wanted reflective questions, supportive feedback, and a fresh perspective. Her goals included: Reviewing her values and prioritiesSeeing what was working from an external perspectiveCreating a mini-roadmap for challenges aheadWriting down her intentions and gaining clarity on why she was doing what she was doing Over the last few years, Karen had hit a breaking point. She spent all of her time homeschooling and supporting her family. While she loved learning alongside her sons, she felt she had completely lost touch with herself. Karen wanted to explore: How to continue growing as a homeschool mom without losing herselfHow to prioritize relationships and still invest in personal passionsHow to create space for writing, art, and other creative pursuits She admitted feeling nervous, even selfish, for wanting to invest energy in herself. But the process revealed something profound: when Karen came alive, her kids came alive too. The Shift: Karen’s Reflections and Insights Through our sessions, we explored: Why certain expectations—being the “good mother” or “good daughter”—had taken holdWhat needed to shift now, and what she could let go ofHow to write down her priorities and see them clearly Karen reflected on the importance of journaling, pausing, and reflecting. She appreciated the gentle, supportive feedback, the words of affirmation, and the authenticity of having someone who truly understood the homeschool journey. She valued short, flexible sessions over longer commitments, emphasizing that authentic, meaningful conversations can be more powerful than extensive coaching programs. After our coaching, Karen said: “Having feedback, clarifying questions, and someone to reflect with really helped me see things from a new perspective. Clarifying my priorities and asking why they matter for the other things on my list was transformative. The goal I set has been met—and I continue to live it in my daily life.”Karen, Homeschool Mom of 2 boys Your Turn: Book an Aligned Homeschool Reset Session If Karen’s story resonates with you, maybe it’s time for your own reset.Because here’s the truth: you don’t need to overhaul your entire homeschool to feel aligned again. Sometimes, what you need most is a pause, a fresh perspective, and a safe space to sort through what really matters to you. That’s what the Aligned Homeschool Reset Session is designed for. In this one-on-one coaching session, you’ll: Reconnect with your why for homeschoolingGet clarity on what’s working (and what’s not)Explore reflective questions that uncover your next right stepCreate a mini-roadmap rooted in your valuesWalk away encouraged, lighter, and more aligned with yourself This isn’t about being told what to do. It’s about having a guide beside you—someone who understands the homeschool life and can help you see yourself (and your homeschool) with fresh eyes. Book your ...
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    24 min
  • Teaching World War to a Homeschooled Eight Year Old

    Teaching World War to a Homeschooled Eight Year Old
    Nov 10 2025
    How do you know you’re no longer young? Your child refers to your wedding year as the olden days. When I grew up, World War 2 certainly seemed like the olden days. It was long before I was born. Actually, now that I think about it, World War 2 was only forty years before I was born. One Saturday afternoon, while teaching World War to my homeschooled eight-year-old, I had the chance to listen to my son’s barber come alive as he shared his stories from the war. This man was seven when they took the ship from Dvorstadt to Canada. He’d fallen on the ship in turbulent water and broken bones so his trip was painful. When he’d arrived in Canada, he’d started school not understanding the dynamics of the war. He had simply understood that Hitler and his socialist party built the autostrada and successfully turned the German economy around. He was a powerhouse benefiting his local and national economy. “Mom, can you tell me about the olden days?” Rachel asked as she brought her books to my desk.“Sure, honey, what part of the olden days do you want me to tell you about?”“1999”. Arriving in Canada as a German boy, he was surprised to discover people’s reaction to him. The other school kids blamed him for his part in the World War, which was nothing, of course. That’s a heavy burden for a grade 2 kid. This is a part of World War 2 history I rarely hear. I haven’t lived through the war so I have no experience outside the war of anger, hurt, and fear in my own soul against injustices when I was a child. Teaching World War to Your Homeschooled Child Through Stories, Books, and Travel So I turn to books where I can gently introduce my children to experiences through other children’s eyes. (Oh, and travel. Traveling to World War sites is the best way to learn.) When teaching World War to a homeschooled eight-year-old, I want stories that connect emotion and understanding—not just facts. That’s why I love The Dear Canada series and Our Canadian Girl. The Dear Canada series is written from the perspective of a girl. This is not ideal prose for my third 8-year-old daughter as she finds it challenging (that wasn’t the case with my other girls, though). Written in diary style, though, I can read it to her and she can easily understand it. Our Canadian Girl has a series on a character named Margit that my oldest daughter loves. There are four books in this series and they are easily read by an eight-year-old. My oldest has read every book of the Canadian Girl collection, which includes many other historical Canadian topics. Usborne books make for easy reading and easy understanding, no matter their topic. Usborne knows how to explain in-depth topics to age-specific readers with loads of engaging photos. My eight-year-old daughter reads this one to her five-year-old brother. (And these books always get reread.) The Kids Book of Canadian History includes many topics, but shares a few pages of World War 2 history from the perspective of Canada’s engagement. The Kids Book of Canada at War also provides overviews of Canada’s involvement in wars across its history. These last two books provide overviews, which can be helpful as a basic introduction for most kids pre-high school. By far, the best stories about any period of history come from real life stories. Nothing quite compares to the unabridged version of The Diary of Anne Frank. We actually purchased the unabridged version in Amsterdam’s Jewish Ghetto when we visited. My eldest daughter was surprised how preoccupied Anne was with boys, and not preoccupied with the war raging outside her window or how occupied she was with the drama of living with her housemates. Anne doesn’t betray a constant state of fear as I may have thought. (PS We got to visit her home when we were in Amsterdam and I share about it here.) We only learn what life was really like during war when we talk with people who’ve been there or shared their stories in print. And as I’ve discovered while teaching World War 2 to my homeschooled eight-year-old, those stories shape not only our understanding of history but our capacity for empathy and peace. As we remember during this Remembrance season, let us consider that we have a contribution to peace in the world, for if we want peace on earth, it must begin with us. Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with us. “The human race has one really effective weapon, and that is laughter.” Mark Twain Deschool your Homeschool Coaching CourseTransform your homeschooling experience with our ‘Deschool Your Homeschool’ course. Tailored for homeschool mamas seeking freedom and purpose, this self-directed journey breaks free from traditional constraints, fostering confidence and delivering a personalized, enjoyable education. For just $77, enroll now and reimagine your homeschool life with this transformative and empowering course. $97.00 Original price was: $97.00.$77.00Current price...
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    21 min
  • Reimagine Your Homeschool: Feel Free, Inspire Curiosity and Do What Works

    Reimagine Your Homeschool: Feel Free, Inspire Curiosity and Do What Works
    Nov 5 2025
    It’s that time of year when the autumnal colours dazzle us on our nature walks, we begin to lose our lackluster for our homeschool routines, others declare themselves as bored, and some declare the white flag of homeschool mama overwhelm. Let’s explore how to reimagine your homeschool, lean into child-inspired learning, and create meaningful connections—because your unique homeschooling journey can begin now. Yes! I’m Ready to Reimagine my Homeschool! Let’s reimagine your homeschool… Understanding your “why” in homeschooling is necessary (In the first few homeschool years, I didn’t think I had time to dig deep into that, but I learned I didn’t have time NOT to ask myself why). Homeschooling isn’t just about formal learning activities– you want to choose an intentional, purposeful life for your family. So begin by asking yourself “why” are you homeschooling?Then ask yourself what you value in an education? Finally, ask yourself how your personal values and family values align with those educational values. Homeschooling allows you to: Create meaningful experiences and adventures togetherTailor education to your family’s values and interestsFoster deeper family connectionsEngage in personal growth alongside your childrenBreak free from conventional expectations This was my story… It was one week of reading one book that convinced me that homeschooling was the right option for my family. But I hadn’t consciously written my reasons in that journal. I simply did my requisite research (for 2 years), then pulled my girls from the private school, and determined to build our homeschool family life. I quickly learned that constructing a homeschool without the firm scaffolding of a strong WHY would translate to hitting the wall of overwhelm by year 3. By exploring your motivations, you’re not just choosing an educational path – you’re crafting a lifestyle that aligns with your authentic self and family vision and values. What aspects of traditional schooling felt misaligned with your family’s values or lifestyle?Describe your ideal day of learning with your children. What does it look like, and why does this vision appeal to you?How do you hope homeschooling will impact your family relationships in the long term?What personal growth do you hope to achieve through your homeschooling journey?In what ways do you want your children’s education to differ from your experiences in school?What fears or doubts do you have about homeschooling, and how do these relate to your core motivations?How does homeschooling align with your broader life goals and values?What unique opportunities or experiences do you hope to provide your children through homeschooling?How do you envision homeschooling contributing to your children’s character development and life skills?If you could sum up your homeschool philosophy in one sentence, what would it be? Remember, there are no right or wrong answers. The goal is to gain clarity on your motivations and values for homeschooling. Deschooling your Unhelpful Mindsets As homeschoolers, we often find ourselves unlearning traditional school methods – a process we call “deschooling.” We might not even be familiar with this word till years into our homeschool and discover that we’d been doing it all along. We intuitively know that our conventional education didn’t dot every I and didn’t cross every t. There were gaps—gasp! When we homeschool, we notice that our kids learn despite a conventional approach. But what exactly are we deschooling and what conventional approach do we need to leave behind? Many of us carry misconceptions about education that we’ve absorbed from conventional schooling: We assume learning only happens at certain times, in certain ways.We believe children need constant busyness and exposure to new things.We think learning must be organized into subjects and grade levels.We assume certified teachers are necessary for learning.We believe education must follow a pre-planned, sequential curriculum. But as we homeschool, we discover that real learning is different. We learn that: Children can learn anytime, anywhere.Emotional connections and attachment are crucial for learning.Each child’s learning journey is unique.Parents can be effective educators without formal teaching credentials.Learning can be organic, interest-driven, and non-linear. Unlearning these misconceptions allows us to reimagine your homeschool. We can create learning environments that truly serve our children’s needs and nurture their innate curiosity and potential. Remember, as Einstein said, “Everybody is a genius, but if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” Child-Inspired Learning: What It Means This is my story… One year, I was intent on my kids learning to spend more time in formal writing. I wanted them to learn to communicate their thoughts, learn to ...
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    10 min
  • the role of imagination in a home education

    the role of imagination in a home education
    Nov 4 2025
    The role of imagination in education is underrated. Everything that can be learned or understood hasn’t been learned or understood. If all we do for our kids’ education is to encourage our kids to memorize what the world has already learned, then are we really allowing our kids a meaningful education. Let’s get out of our kids’ way and allow them to co-create in this world. “Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.”Albert Einstein Yes! I’m Ready to Reimagine my Homeschool! What is the role of imagination in education? I share two thoughts to consider so you can get out of the way and allow for the role of imagination in education in your homeschool. First, observe your child to engage your child. Who is this child right before me? And how is she showing her interests, revealing her curiosities, and displaying her imagination? I’ve seen my oldest daughter make mud patties and clay bricks in the backyard for days. She spent hours painting and repainting her nails. She spent hours wandering the backyard with a picnic blanket, dragging her siblings from one end to the next. Then she told me they were traveling from Australia to Paris. This gal would rather be doing, well, anything other than math. She was least likely to catch on to the rules of a new game or read the directions of a map. Yet, when she decided she wanted to sew, she began cutting and pinning, with no patterns. When she cooked, she left the recipe books unopened and just played. After she finished her prescribed creative writing time in her morning studies, she disappeared into her room to write her stories or read other people’s stories. Her pages were filled with clever, realistic dialogue. And her plot lines were as a Hollywood film. My oldest daughter was the kiddo that everyone followed in the playground because she made up clever stories to act out. She play-acted since, well, forever...switching from British to German to French accents unprompted and untaught. She lived most happily in her quiet world, her made-up world, her dream world. And she was the dreamer and embodied the imaginative life. Secondly, be clear that there’s an art and science in an education. If one could type symptoms into the Google bar and spit out a diagnosis, would medical doctors be required? There’s a certain experience and constant exposure that surrounds the assessment and diagnoses in medicine that can’t be captured in the Google bar. The same is true for the idea of an education: there’s an art and science to an education too. We could try to jam a bunch of facts into the minds of our children and hope they spit out the requested knowledge later. But I believe that education would merely be judged inadequate, adequate, above average, or excellent. What value is that? Isn’t an education more than cramming knowledge bits into our brains? What is an education anyways? And most importantly, what is the role of imagination in education An education begins and ends with imagination. An imagination sparked and fueled by the one that initiated it.Teresa Wiedrick, author of Homeschool Mama Self-Care: Nurturing the Nurturer Reimagine your Homeschool WorkbookIntroducing the Reimagine Your Homeschool Workbook! Reflect on the past year, assess what worked and what didn’t, and build the homeschool you truly want. Evaluate curriculum, routine, philosophy, and plan for the future. Get renewed inspiration and fresh ideas. $9.99 Original price was: $9.99.$5.99Current price is: $5.99. Shop now People also ask… curiosity and education: how to facilitate itJohn Taylor Gatto Informs your Homeschool in 7 Freedom-Loving WaysDeveloping YOU Beyond the Homeschool Mama RoleReimagine your Homeschool Coaching Serviceshow to choose the best curriculum for your homeschoolHow do you handle homeschool overwhelm?Do you do one-on-one homeschooling coaching?John Holt & Pat Farenga Teach Homeschoolers How to LearnEncouraging Homeschool Moms: You’re Smarter Than You ThinkListen to the Reimagine your Homeschool Podcast Season How Do I Unschool My Child? 5 Simple Steps to Spark Natural Learningimagination is more important than knowledgeBuilding a Telescope: Child-Led AstronomyEmbracing the Project-Based Learning SeasonWhat do homeschoolers want to deschool from: let’s get specificHow do I deschool 101: 7 lessons I’ve learned that propelled my homeschool into freedom? Teresa Wiedrick I help homeschool mamas shed what’s not working in their homeschool & life, so they can show up authentically, purposefully, and confidently in their homeschool & life. Book your FREE Aligned Homeschool Reset session The post the role of imagination in a home education appeared first on Capturing the Charmed Life.
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    Moins d'une minute
  • Helping Our Kids Live Their Lives on Purpose: A Practical Guide for Homeschool Moms

    Helping Our Kids Live Their Lives on Purpose: A Practical Guide for Homeschool Moms
    Oct 28 2025
    It’s 10 am on a Tuesday, and you have complete freedom to shape your children’s day. Museum visit? Nature walk? Cozy read-aloud on the couch? But instead of feeling excited about the possibilities, you wonder, Is this what we should be doing? Are we wasting this precious time? This is the homeschool paradox: we have unlimited freedom to design our days, but that freedom often brings worry about whether we’re using it wisely. We chose homeschooling because we wanted something different for our kids—but different how? And helping our kids live their lives on purpose can feel overwhelming when we’re not even sure what that looks like in practice. Here’s what I know for sure (& I know you’ve heard this on repeat, but you haven’t watched it happen like I have yet): parenting is short-lived. That statement doesn’t always feel true in the middle of sleepless nights, endless trips in the mini-van to another hockey, jujitsu, or soccer practice, and math lessons that seem to drag on forever around the kitchen table. But it is. Our time with our children at home is limited, and how we guide them to spend that time matters deeply. Let’s help our homeschool kids spend their time wisely so they have meaningful childhood memories and learn to live their lives on purpose. So how do we help our kids live their lives on purpose? Get the Live your Life on Purpose Checklist Helping Our Kids Live Their Lives on Purpose: What It Really Means Investing Our Kids’ Time, Not Just Spending It What do we want our kids to remember? What do we want them to learn? Their childhood doesn’t have to be filled with the cultural norms of online gaming, social media, or endless scrolling. But you can include that if you like. And it doesn’t have to be consumed by memorizing semi-useful facts just to regurgitate them for tests. You can also include that if you like. It can be entirely different or it can be a combination of activities. This homeschool life can be anything you want, and anything they want too. We can help our kids live life on purpose—exploring their interests, developing meaningful work habits, and making intentional memories. What Purposeful Living Actually Looks Like When we intentionally guide our children to live with purpose, we’re not adding more to their plates—we’re helping them focus on what truly matters. This kind of childhood produces: Self-direction: They learn to identify what they want and chart a path to get there, rather than waiting to be told what to do next. Real competence: Through completing meaningful projects (not just checking off educational boxes), they develop skills they can see and use in the real world. Genuine confidence: When they overcome actual challenges—building something, mastering a skill, solving a real problem—they discover what they’re capable of. A sense of purpose: They begin to understand their unique gifts and how they can contribute to their family and community. Your goal isn’t about raising perfect kids who never waste time or always make productive choices. Is a life well lived only and entirely a productive one every moment? I believe it’s about helping them discover who they’re meant to become—and giving them the tools to get there intentionally. Four Practical Ways to Teach Kids to Live with Purpose 1. Create a Family Mission Statement Kids thrive when they have a sense of direction, and a family mission statement can help. Sit down as a family and discuss: What values matter most to us?What kind of people do we want to be?How do we want to spend our time together? Write it down, post it somewhere visible, and use it as a guide for decisions—big and small. Example: A homeschooling friend of mine created a simple mission statement with her kids: “Learn deeply, love boldly, live fully.” Every time they planned their homeschool days, they asked: “Does this help us learn deeply? Love boldly? Live fully?” It became their compass. Watch the video on Creating your own Homeschool Vision Statement. Getting Started: Set aside 30 minutes. With younger kids, use simple questions: ‘What makes our family special?’ With teens, go deeper: ‘What do we want people to remember about our family?’ Don’t aim for perfect—aim for honest. 2. Teach Kids to Set Their Own Goals From a young age, kids can begin setting their own goals—whether it’s mastering a new skill, completing a creative project, or learning something that excites them. Encourage them to: Set a goal (small at first, like finishing a book or learning a song on the guitar).Break it down into steps.Reflect on what they learned and how they grew. Example: My son once decided he wanted to build a treehouse—completely on his own. I resisted the urge to jump in and do it for him. Instead, we brainstormed what he’d need, found books about simple structures, headed to YouTube to watch someone else build one, and let him problem-solve. It wasn’t ...
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    34 min