Little by Little Homeschool - Christian Homeschooling and Motherhood

What if I told you there is ONLY one thing you need to begin and to continue homeschooling? Nope. It's not curriculum. And no, it isn't a big budget or fancy manipulatives. Just one simple thing that will act as your foundation and anchor in all the years of homeschooling ahead. And it doesn't cost a thing. Sound too good to be true? I promise that it's not. Let's dive into tha...

I promise that I'm not adding "one more thing" to your to-do list. But, the summer typically means a bit of a break from academics for homeschool families. The curriculum is great, but if you child is not prepared for the world when they step out on their own, they'll have a lot of catching up to do, no matter what level of math they achieved, the science experiments you did, or th...

It's about that time, homeschool mom! Summer break! Did I see a little yipee from you? Or maybe a feeling of dread came over you because summer seems to be a free for all and at the end of it, you don't feel like you have anything good to show for it. What if, you took some purposeful time this summer and used it wisely to build and edify yourself as a homeschool mom? I'm breaking down...

There is such pressure in our society to create an over the top experience for every part of our children's lives. And that can feel overwhelming. The FOMO is real. But what if your children could have an amazing summer that filled them...and you...up? One that was reminiscent of an 80's and 90's childhood, but with a 21st century twist. Does that appeal to you? Or maybe you're jus...

Do you want to look back on this summer and feel good about how you and your homeschool children spent their time? Now, I'm not saying there isn't room for rest, refreshment, and even a lot of fun. But, what about all the time in between? Maybe it's the days you are just home. Or maybe it's the free time your kids will have in between activities. No matter if you like a jam-packed...

As a homeschool mom, you made that intentional decision to educate your children at home, which means, everyone is home with you...all the time. And when summer comes, it can be very easy to disengage a little bit. This usually happens because the curriculum is completed and you are mentally and emotionally drained. But, you've got that mom guilt hanging over your head too. "Everyone"...

You've got this "crazy" idea that you want your children to go screen-free this summer. And you're wondering if it's possible...or if you can even pull it off. Whether you rely heavily upon screens or it's sparingly used in your family, the tips in today's episode are applicable. Why? Because even though it may matter how much your child needs to detox, the suggestions...

Should our homeschool summer break be a free for all or should we continue with our normal lessons? Or maybe something in between? Today, I am sharing three lessons that I continued with my children every single summer. There are three intentional reasons behind each of these lessons and I'll share my whys with you. Let's not lose the ground and the breakthroughs we had during the school y...

Your homeschool summer break is right around the corner! But let’s not lose ground in establishing routines and living with some predictability. It is 100% possible to have a great summer, but also be intentional in how your days and weeks are carried out. I am so excited for you to hear these 3 options and get your mind going on figuring out the best routine for your homeschool family this summer...

Homeschooling is not just something we do, it's how we live. And we should honor that all the way through graduating our child from their formal education years. What does a homeschool graduation ceremony look like? Well, I have 10 simple tips to creating an amazing celebration that honors your graduate, your family, and the years you have been pouring into raising and educating them. Grab you...

Can you even believe that the end of the homeschool year is here? Where did the time go? Well, probably to lessons and meals and bedtime stories and on and on... When it comes to the end of a school year, moms usually have a sense of feeling ready to move on to the summer, but a lingering feeling of regret or uncertainty can hang overhead. What if, instead of focusing on the "if I only," y...

It's been a little while since we've done a Q&A and these were such great questions that I knew we needed to talk about them ASAP. As always, there is only so much that can be shared with each question and I inevitably think about something else I should have said after I'm done recording. But, my goal is to get you started in thinking through a concern or difficulty. Then it's...

Homeschooling your children is no small task. It takes hard work, determination, and a willingness to adjust when needed. Most parents don't think about the years ahead of them on day one. But at some point you wonder how long you're willing to do this. It's no secret that I am a huge advocate for homeschooling long-term and helping moms wrap their minds around this goal. Today, as I p...

Most homeschool moms are reassessing education and what that looks like in their homeschool. We want to prepare our children for their futures, but don't want to destroy their natural inclination towards curiosity. Can it actually be done? Let's explore this possibility and what it can look like in all of the various ages of our homeschool children. ♥ Leigh DESIGN YOUR FAMILY'S UNIQUE...

In the homeschool world, there are so many opinions about everything. And every mom has them, along with a list of reasons to back up those convictions. As I close in on my final homeschool graduate, I can look back and see that there were times I planted a flag so firmly in the ground that it blinded me to other possibilities. Even just this year, I had to rethink a decision. There are definitely...

I really wish that I didn't have to do this episode. But, it felt necessary with all the stories I have heard from many homeschool moms over the years. Disagreements and different opinions are just a part of living life in relationship with other people. And you probably went into your co-op with happy thoughts of everything being perfect. But then, the bumpy road started showing through. My g...

As homeschool parents, we've heard all the one-liners about our choice to home educate our children. Maybe this is a new one for you though: "You are selfish for homeschooling your children." Instantly, that comment can put us on the defense. And possibly curb our enthusiasm for homeschool now that it is considered "selfish." Well, what do you think? Are you selfish or not? Let...

The first thing most homeschool moms want to talk about is curriculum. And a big age range for that question is with preschool and kindergarten. How should you introduce learning? What resources are best suited for young children? Do you even need a curriculum? And if so, what should it include? Today, I am sharing with you my top suggestions for preschool and kindergarten homeschool curriculum. Y...

As the homeschool year winds down, you are probably starting to run out of steam. You didn't need much to keep you going at the beginning of the school year, but right now, it feels like an uphill battle. You want to look back and confidently say that you gave this homeschool year your all, but your emotions want to flake out and call it good enough. When you began the year, you were determine...

I've been spending more time lately looking back and looking around. I am no longer overwhelmed with homeschooling young children and wondering if what I was doing would help my husband and I to reach our vision and goals. Plus, I have the privilege of seeing so many other homeschool graduates successfully take their place in the world. So many years of worry and meeting the needs of children...

Hands down, this is the number one concern among homeschool moms. And it's a valid one at that. But what if the things you fear have you so focused that you miss out on what is more important during the homeschool years? After seeing the success of countless homeschool families and having first-hand experience of seeing what post-homeschool can look like, I feel very confident in my list of wh...

This school year is not quite over, but I know that all the shiny new curriculum is catching your eye. And I can see why. There are so many amazing options out there. Before you start researching and have 150 tabs open at once, give this episode a listen. We're going to talk about the essential foundation that will make choosing curriculum so much easier, whether this is your first or fifteent...

The struggle is all too real and familiar for homeschool moms... Distraction. Whether it's from outside you or from your own mind, there are various ways you are being pulled away physically and mentally from your homeschool. And it's frustrating to have goals and purpose for the home education of your children, only to find that those are not being met. First, you are not alone. This happ...

As a Christian homeschool mom, Jesus needs to be your anchor. What you have said yes to when it comes to raising your children needs to be grounded and tethered to your Savior. Over the years of homeschooling, I've had my shares of ups and downs and whether it's a high or low time, God's Word has kept me afloat. It's been a lifeline. As I look back upon homeschooling children from...

You know how it goes...the homeschool mom puts in so much time and effort only for that to be met with a child who stares off into space, all the while with a very unfinished math worksheet in front of them. This scenario is played out every day in homeschool homes all over. And even though you know that you are not alone in this plight, a little bit of help would be nice. This episode is meant to...