homeschooling

“Do What You Love”… because minimalist homeschooling is so much more than purging books. How to Love Homeschooling.

Do What You Love…
because minimalist homeschooling is
so much more than purging books.

We all want to love homeschooling, and the first mindset hack in the book Minimalist Homeschooling is: Do what you love; use what you love.

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This isn’t named first because it is novel (hello there, cliché), nor because it is especially profound advice.  “Do what you love” is named first because it is the basis of the minimalist mindset.

Minimalism has become synonymous with purging, decluttering, simplifying, and non-consumerism.  However, it is really important to me that we are clear: the purging and simplifying are the means to the end.  In reality, the whole point of minimalism is to fill your space with those things that are most valuable – either because they are truly necessary, or because they are truly loved.

Minimalists want to fill their space with only the most important things.  In order to do so, they purge and declutter.  In the process their space (and routines) are simplified, and they cease to buy so many things.  Minimalists live with less because they have the perfect amount of what they love and need.

We must be careful to understand therefore, that the rule of minimalism is NOT simply “Live with less,” but rather “Live with the perfect amount of what you need and love.”  It just so happensRead More »“Do What You Love”… because minimalist homeschooling is so much more than purging books. How to Love Homeschooling.

What is Minimalist Homeschooling?

What is Minimalist Homeschooling anyway?

You can listen to this post here:

 

Are you familiar with minimalism?  It’s the hot trend sweeping the world, where people live happier, more content lives with less.  So, what is minimalist homeschooling?

Minimalism embraces a simplified, uncluttered life.  Minimalist Homeschooling embraces a simplified, uncluttered education.

Minimalism is all about ignoring mass consumerism in our “have it all” society.  Minimalist Homeschooling is all about ignoring the “do it all” mentality rampant in homeschooling communities.

Minimalism encourages people to evaluate what is most important – what is truly necessary or sparks joy.  Minimalist homeschooling encourages educators to evaluate what is necessary and sparks joy in their child’s education.

It sounds simple enough, right?  In fact, it sounds a lot like what we all want for our children: We want to teach them everything they need to know, and nurture a love of learning and a love for specific subjects.

If it’s that simple, why is it so HARD to do it?

Read More »What is Minimalist Homeschooling?

Life balance is a sham – How to stop trying to please everyone

 

Warning: What follows is a stream-of-consciousness rant about life balance that is important for all moms.

I saw a friend a couple weeks ago.  And before I get too far, I want to say that she’s a quality gal.  I love talking with her, and we have a lot of common plights in business ownership, homeschooling, and life.  She’s no whiner.

When I saw her, she was dragging, so I asked how she was doing.  With a huge sigh, she says: “I just need balance.  I am really praying for balance.”

How many times have you heard people (usually women, and almost always moms) craving “balance?”

Everyone.  All the time.Read More »Life balance is a sham – How to stop trying to please everyone

Homeschooling without Guilt – A Post for Over-Achievers

Here’s the thing: most homeschoolers don’t use a standard curriculum as their end all and be all.  Raise your hand if that’s you.  I admit that I don’t use one set of lessons.  I practically can’t.  Our family uses a Catholic classical curriculum.  Many people (very successfully) use a classical curriculum as a complete curriculum for their elementary-aged children just by adding math and language arts.

I don’t.

I always feel compelled to add science, history, religion, literature, writing, and foreign language above and beyond the grammar memory work, math and language arts.  In fact, I usually try to meld the classical curriculum with a full-on Charlotte Mason curriculum.  I want to spread the feast.  For 2 years I challenged myself to pick and choose and coordinate (did I mention we also did a separate second coop one semester?).Read More »Homeschooling without Guilt – A Post for Over-Achievers

My List of Educational Shows for Homeschooling – Educational Shows and Websites for Learning at Home

Often parents, but especially moms are worn-out, stressed, and busy.  Add homeschooling, and it can spin out of control with each minute adding more stress, more obligation, more guilt, more sense of urgency, more needs, more wants, more decisions, more noise… This is where educational shows for homeschooling come in.

Sometimes life happens, and keeps happening, and I need the kids appropriately occupied so I can batten down the hatches and prevent the ship from sinking.  #momtruth.  Read More »My List of Educational Shows for Homeschooling – Educational Shows and Websites for Learning at Home