Let’s start here: You do not have to teach Latin to be a classical educator. You don’t have to teach Latin to follow the Charlotte Mason method. You don’t have to teach it to be a “serious” homeschooler or to prove your commitment to tradition. The truth is far more gracious than that, and far more freeing.
Read MoreAt some point in nearly every Gentle + Classical Teacher’s Guide, I include a small but important reminder:
This curriculum is written from my worldview, for my family, based on my current convictions, beliefs, knowledge, and abilities. But it will not be without fault—nor will it always perfectly reflect your convictions, beliefs, knowledge, or abilities.
I include that reminder not as a disclaimer but as a loving acknowledgment of what curriculum is—and what it isn’t. As homeschool parents, we all long for resources that affirm our values, align with our convictions, and point our children toward what is good, true, and beautiful. We want books that don't require a theological tightrope walk or constant pre-screening. That desire is valid. It’s not just reasonable—it’s deeply responsible.
But in the pursuit of that “perfect fit,” it’s easy to forget what the curriculum was designed to do. When we’re not careful, we can begin asking a curriculum to do more than it was ever meant to.
Read MoreOne of the most common questions I get asked is this:
“How do you actually use morning menus?”
Closely followed by:
“How do you do morning time in your family?”
And honestly? The answer shifts depending on the season we’re in.
Morning time at our house isn’t a fixed ritual. It bends with our energy levels, what we’re eating for breakfast (let’s be honest), the curriculum we’re using, and even the needs of each child. But no matter how it flexes, morning time has always remained a grounding rhythm—a gentle way to start our day with beauty, Truth, and togetherness.
Read MoreLet me clarify right up front: No, I’m not talking about your college degree, certifications, or whether you finished high school with honors. That’s not what matters here.
What I’m talking about is your education right now—as a homeschooling mother.
It’s so easy to think we’ve “finished” our education.
We earned the diploma, the degree, the life experience—and now it’s our kids’ turn, right?
But what if I told you that one of the most impactful things you can do for your homeschool is to keep learning about education itself?
Read MoreHomeschooling is full of beautiful moments—but let’s be honest, it’s also full of so many moving parts. Books, lessons, projects, field trips, music practice, life skills… sometimes it can feel like you’re juggling a dozen plates while making lunch and explaining fractions at the same time.
One of my favorite simple tools for bringing a little more peace (and a lot more order) into our days is the humble weekly checklist.
Read MoreBefore we dive in, I want to say this upfront:
If you’ve never considered what I’m about to share—or if you realize you’ve made a misstep in the past—this is not a message of condemnation. Truly.
We’ve all made decisions at some point with limited knowledge. The goal of this post isn’t to shame or call anyone out. It’s to offer clarity, compassion, and an invitation to use homeschool resources in a way that honors God, each other, and the hard work behind small businesses like ours.
Read MoreSome of the most common fears I hear from homeschool moms sound a lot like this:
“What if I miss something?”
“What if my child falls behind?”
“What if I don’t give them everything they need?”
Let’s just say it out loud: We live in an Amazon Prime world.
Two-day shipping. Instant streaming. One-click ordering. Everything is designed to get us from “I think I need this” to “It’s already on my doorstep” in 48 hours or less. And if we’re being honest? That way of thinking doesn’t stop at shopping.
It’s seeped into how we approach everything—including homeschooling.
Read MoreI don’t know if anyone’s ever said this to you before, but let me be the one to say it loud and clear:
You don’t have to know everything about homeschooling—or classical education, or Charlotte Mason, or anything else—to start well.
There’s just something magical about rainbow snacks—bright colors, fresh flavors, and the joy they bring to little ones! I searched for the most fun and easy rainbow-inspired treats that kids will love, from healthy options to sweet treats perfect for special occasions. Whether you’re celebrating a rainbow theme, St. Patrick’s Day, or just want to add a little color to snack time, this list has something for everyone. Get ready to taste the rainbow!
Read MoreFull Disclosure: Some links on this website may generate a commission that helps to maintain and market Life, Abundantly. All Amazon links are affiliate links (this does not impact the price you pay). See my full disclosure here.
Full Disclosure: Some links on this website may generate a commission that help to maintain and market Life, Abundantly. All Amazon links are affiliate links (however, they do not impact the price you pay). Click here for full disclosure.
I mentioned the other day that I was working on a talk about joy—or more specifically, joyful early learning. Praise God, I finished it! Now I'm rehearsing it over and over again (lol). As tedious as that can be, the reason I wanted to give this talk is because… well… I need it, or at least parts of it.
Honestly, based on the emails I receive from time to time, I have a feeling some of you might need it too. About 97.5% of the "struggle" emails I receive are emails I absolutely could have written myself at some point, so there is ZERO shade here. BTDT, for real.
Many of the emails I receive that are related to behavioral and attitude struggles in children are also reflected in the emotional dysregulation the parent is displaying in the email. Sometimes, their language makes it clear that they are genuinely on the struggle bus with keeping it together, feeling overwhelmed, and overstimulated. Even more often, they simply admit it themselves. Whether it's an issue with self-control, anger, or diligence, it's usually confessed before they begin expressing their frustration over their child's struggles with… you guessed it… self-control, anger, or diligence.
One of my biggest parenting and education regrets?
It’s not that I wish I had been more rigorous. It’s that I wish I had been more diligent.
Diligence, self-control, and consistency were not virtues that were well developed when I entered motherhood. In fact, because I did not have Christ, I think I barely had any virtue at all. There’s not much that pains my heart more than remembering how unfaithful I often was with my sweet girls.
Praise God that He captured my heart and began a great work in me. Because of that—and because of home education—I began to grow in virtue alongside my daughters. Part of that growth was realizing the wisdom of diligence in home education. There is no growth without consistency.
I’ve now seen both sides of the coin: the struggle that came from delaying academics and leaning too heavily into child-led learning, and the fruit that comes from a diligent, consistent education. They are incomparable.
Lately, I’ve noticed another word making the rounds in homeschooling circles: rigor. I think it’s worth slowing down to ask whether that’s really what we’re looking for.
Education is about formation, not just information.
If your educational experience was anything like mine (public schoolers, raise your hand!), when you picture “education,” you primarily think “information.”
From a traditional schooling perspective, the daily goals look a lot like:
facts to learn
chapters to finish
standards to cover
tests to pass
And if we're honest, these expectations follow many of us into homeschooling. We assume our job is to deliver as much knowledge as possible, as efficiently as possible. Then, we probably need to do a test of some sort so we can SEE that our kids learned and maybe also show others that they're learning too.
Last week, on social media, I shared a post about discernment vs. control for homeschooling parents. It struck a nerve with many parents, so I wanted to share more here, plus the book list I created.
Here’s the gist:
In the early years of parenting, our job is control.
We control:
what they eat
what they watch
where they go
who they spend time with
how and what they learn
I'm afraid my kids think I'm losing it.
I've had a hard time getting through studies, hymns, and readings lately without getting weepy. Whether it's singing Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing or reciting The Lamb by William Blake or even repeating our catechisms about the just wrath of God, I just end up in a big puddle at the end.
It's a hard pill to swallow … to imagine the suffering of my perfect, sinless, loving, compassionate Savior … all because of my sin. That, even knowing what He endured, I still pick up the nails and hammer every day. My stomach turns to think that on a normal Thursday afternoon, my flesh weaves a new crown of thorns to plunge into His scalp. When I am angry, inconvenienced, or honestly just uncomfortable, it is horrifying how often I choose to whip His back with the lashes of my tongue instead of humbling myself at the foot of His Cross.
My sweet Savior, tortured and murdered for my sins. I readily confess it with my lips, I rely on it for the salvation of my soul, and still, in my flesh, I crucify Him again and again.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
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We are officially gearing up for another homeschool year! Honestly, in full transparency, I'm not super excited about it. I think it's because we've had such a busy summer that I don't feel like it's REAL that it's already August. But alas, here we are, whether I like it or not.
I'm being a total slacker on actually getting ready, but I have completed all of my planning, so I thought you might like to see what we have on our plate for the 2026–2027 school year for 4th and 5th grade boys :). I think talking about it will get my heart moving in that direction.
Here's our plan!