Lilla Rose- The Perfect Solution for Busy Moms

As a busy mom of many, my days of spending hours on my hair are long gone. For me, this is a problem because I refuse to cut it short. In my opinion, long tresses are a mark of femininity I’m just not willing to part with. With that being said, I simply don’t have time to deal with it, so day after day you’ll find my hair up in a messy bun. It’s almost become my “Mom trademark.” 

How to Homeschool Simply (The Middle Years)

Over the past two weeks, I’ve spent some time sharing how to homeschool preschool and the early years in a relaxed, yet effective manner. This laid back approach to learning at home doesn’t stop being beneficial once children begin to achieve more advanced skills. The core foundation of simplicity remains the same, although some additional activities will make their way into the routine as your children’s interests grow.  

Is Compulsory Schooling to Blame for the Breakdown of the Family?

A few weeks ago I addressed some issues I have with compulsory attendance laws, namely the governmental role in education and truancy laws. While wrapping my brain around the entire matter, I also delved into what life might be like if there were no such thing as compulsory schooling.

I never know what I’m getting myself into when diving into sensitive discussions like that, but one of my passions as a writer is to engage and inform people about serious problems within the public education system so that they are no longer content simply accepting the status quo.

Hence this new post today. 

How to Homeschool Simply (The Early Years)

After eight years of homeschooling and trying just about every major method there is, I’ve settled on, and become quite an advocate for, simple homeschooling. From our experience with school-at-home all the way to unschooling, one thing I’ve discovered is that children learn best when they are not pressured, rushed, or forced to do things they’re not developmentally ready for. Additionally, the luxury of a substantial amount of time to play is not really as much of a luxury as it is a necessity. Children- especially early elementary-aged children- need unstructured play time in order to explore and understand the world around them. 

How to Homeschool for Free (Or Close Enough to It!)

Are you dissatisfied with the educational system but feel unable to do anything about it because you’re on a tight budget?

Have you ever considered homeschooling? I know what you may be thinking, but hear me out on this…

One of the most popular misconceptions about homeschooling is that it is extremely expensive and, therefore, not very practical for those who may not have much disposable income. While there are certainly some pricey curriculums and homeschooling tools, the fact is that many, many people homeschool on a tight budget, and it is possible to homeschool practically for free. 

10 of My All-Time Favorite Christmas Memories

I had originally planned on writing another homeschooling post today, but earlier this evening I finished reading a book gifted to me by a very dear friend. One of the characters in this story begins to talk about how certain sights, sounds, and smells can powerfully evoke childhood Christmas memories. As I pondered this, a flood of recollections of Christmases past entered my mind, and I’ve not been able to think about much else since.

What strikes me the most about these memories is the fact that not one of them is materialistic in any way. Our culture has become so obsessive about consumption and always wanting the next best thing that I find that many adults are passing these ideals onto their children. Lining up outside of toy stores at 3 am on Thanksgiving, spending hundreds of dollars on technology for children as young as 2, and getting into arguments with fellow shoppers over the last Hatchimal have become the norm for the modern holiday season. 

The Fir Tree by Hans Christian Anderson- Review

Christmastime often brings tales of faith and merriment. Hans Christian Anderson had a different take on the tradition of the Christmas tree, however.

In The Fir Tree, translated by Tiina Nunnally, he tells the tale of a charming little fir tree which, in its constant quest for happiness, overlooks all the fine things about its life until it’s too late. Unhappy with its present state in the forest, it jealously looks on as other trees in the forest are cut down and taken out into the wide world, and wonders when its turn for glory will come. 

How to Homeschool Preschool- And Is It Even Necessary?

Being a parent is an exciting thing. There’s just something about watching the little wonders we’ve doted on, fed, and nurtured grow up to be little explorers that just can’t seem to stop getting into things.

Once these little scientists-and that is what they are- reach the age of 3 or 4, we often begin to think about school. The current groupthink of the educational establishment is getting kids started in school as quickly as possible. Hearing the terms “early childhood education” and “early literacy” has become almost as common as hearing the sound of our own names.

Because of this, the use of preschools and pre-kindergarten classes is soaring. But for those of us who have chosen to homeschool, we often begin to think about how we should start homeschooling these little bundles of energy. 

10 of the Most Frustrating Homeschooling Comments I’ve Ever Heard

A few months ago I was at a family function chatting with a very sweet member of the family I don’t see very often. She was very curious about homeschooling, which made me happy because it’s obviously my favorite thing to talk about. After conversing for close to thirty minutes, she asked me a series of questions that I’m sure other homeschoolers have heard often, but still surprised me and, frankly, frustrated me. I didn’t let on, of course, and answered as politely and honestly as possible, but that one conversation really made me aware of all the false notions circulating about this educational choice that just don’t seem to go away- even when the answers are right in front of you.

While I’ve heard dozens of homeschooling myths, today I’m sharing my list of the: 

5 Exciting Ways to Reduce Holiday Stress in Your Homeschool

To a great many homeschool moms, using the word exciting in the same sentence as holiday and homeschool may be a bit of a stretch. Christmas time can be a bit frantic and stressful without adding homeschooling to the mix, so it’s no great wonder that the combination causes some anxiety.

After eight years of homeschooling, however, I’ve finally reached a point where I am genuinely excited about this time of year. After years of “trying to do it all” over the holiday season, experience has taught me that it just isn’t happening- and if it does, it isn’t happening without a fight. Since I don’t want to be miserable at this “most wonderful time of the year,” and I’m sure my kids don’t want to be, either, I’ve tweaked and experimented with our holiday homeschool routine and have come up with five excellent alternatives to continuing on with the same old, same old.