jamie's homeschool day Archives - Simple Homeschool

Jamie’s FINAL homeschool day in the life (with a 17-, 18-, & 19-year-old)

Jamie C. Martin — Wed, 05 Feb 2025 15:36:32 +0000

Jamie’s (FINAL) homeschool day in the life (with a 17-, 18-, & 19-year-old) ~
Written by Jamie C. Martin in 2023, published in 2025

A note from Jamie: In January 2023 I wrote this draft, but never published it. That’s because my son Jonathan and I also recorded a homeschool day in the life podcast episode at the same time, and I didn’t have time to finish both.

Now, as a retired homeschool mom, I do! So enjoy this never-before-seen time capsule of Martin family homeschool history, a snapshot of our final year of official homeschool life from two years ago and my final homeschool day in the life post here on SH, having joined in all 15 years! xo, Jamie

Jamie’s FINAL homeschool day in the life (with a 17-, 18-, & 19-year-old)

My how the days have changed. Yet some things stay the same.

I can’t believe that I have two homeschool graduates and my “official” days of homeschooling are nearing their end. (2025 update: Um, they ended! )

I have found that having three kids so close in age brings a different pressure to this phase of life.

It comes from helping kids launch into their next season, even as I try to figure out what my next season might be. (2025 update: Still figuring that out lol!)

Our Current Morning Rhythm

In the morning, we gather around the breakfast table with whoever happens to be home.

Instead of reading Little House or Narnia, as we once did, I now read from a devotional or Guideposts magazine, which features short, inspirational stories.

We pray together, then whoever is at home has chores to do. Next I often find myself in the van driving someone to a part-time job or volunteer opportunity. (Our two special needs teens are unable to drive.)

Finding ways to create a meaningful life for all of us is my priority for this next phase. And in that regard, it’s not all that different from our homeschool days five or 10 years ago.

If Elijah (17) is at home, we will sit down to do lessons (reading & math) together. I have been teaching this child to read for ten years now and we have not reached fluency yet. To say this has been discouraging would be an understatement.

Now we’re beginning to focus on assistive technologies to help fill in the gaps, even as we also look into our public school transitions program, which would give him services until age 22. (2025 update: This has been the biggest blessing and best fit for his past two years!)

Our final official reading lesson before this amazing kiddo started our town’s public school transitions program

I continue to be grateful for the holistic view of education homeschooling gave us from the very beginning -even before having a clear picture of my kids’ special needs.

We always emphasized that each child should learn at his or her own pace. That each person has strengths and weaknesses. That life is about developing your potential while leaning on others’ support in areas where you need it.

Because of this approach, I know that all of my children are in a stronger position than they would have been in the traditional school system. Their self concept and their mental/emotional health has been as much a focus as their academic development.

I once assumed that after my kids had graduated, I would have hours of extra time. (Stop laughing!)

But the time I used to devote to homeschooling I now use to help kids research and fill out job applications, prep for interviews, apply to college, and fill out the piles of paperwork that result when you are the main educator of your children.

#truth

Time Out for Me

I’m so glad that no matter what stage my kids have been in, I have always taken daily time out to read, reflect, or journal. I’m grateful for the veteran homeschool moms who encouraged me to do this even when my kids were younger.

This often looks like sitting in front of the woodstove in the winter, having to remind a child or two that I want to talk to them…but not right now.

Sometimes, if all else fails, I still can be found closing myself in the bathroom or bedroom for a few moments of quiet. (One of the things that never seems to change!)

Guardian of the Books

I pride myself in being “guardian of the books,” even to my now young adults. I can often be found researching an engaging title while also encouraging them to find inspiring books for themselves.

Jonathan and I still do our Chapter a day Book Club, which gives us a connection point even when he is out of town as he has been on his gap year. He spent ten days solo in Los Angeles working on a lighting project and has another trip lined up.

Celebrating my boy home again after working on Team Lighting for the 2023 Super Bowl Half-Time Show! 2025 update: This is now the 3rd year he’ll be doing so!

It thrilled my heart around the Thanksgiving table when he shared that homeschooling has given him a unique perspective and the ability to develop his technical skills to a high level of expertise.

All three of my kids are currently employed! It’s been fun to see them find their way to first jobs that I know they will remember forever and to see them thriving and being challenged in their own unique ways.

It’s a thrill (and also stretching to my heart) to find new ways to support them as they take these steps of independence.

Elijah’s first job at Walgreens!

We continue to have expectations for those of us who spend a day at home, including helping around the house, cooking, reading, having some version of Bible/devotional time, as well as getting outside.

Taking walks with my older teens is a regular occurrence and also a lovely time to listen to their thoughts, ask questions, and hear their hearts.

As a family with one biological child, two internationally adopted children with special needs, and four nationalities represented among us, we’re definitely not the typical homeschool family.

Yet that’s part of the reason why we chose it. I am glad that at least so far, all three of the kids remain grateful for their education and feel that homeschooling has been the best fit for them. (2025 update: They still do!)

My only regret looking back: I wish I would not have worried quite so much.

Looking back to that mom I was 10 years ago, I wish I could wrap my arms around her and tell her that even though great challenges lie ahead, it’s going to be okay.

Today, it’s my role to believe that will also be true for the next 10 years.

I know with God’s faithfulness, it will be.

Check out ALL of Jamie’s Homeschool Days:

What’s Your Homeschool Mom Personality? Take Jamie’s quiz now and receive a free personality report to help you organize your homeschool based on what your personality type needs most!

UPDATED: Jamie’s homeschool day (with a 7-, 8-, & 9-year-old)

Jamie C. Martin — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 19:00:09 +0000

Jamie’s Homeschool Day UPDATED (with a 7-, 8-, & 9-year-old) ~
Written by Jamie C. Martin of Simple Homeschool and Introverted Moms

Welcome back to my latest Simple Homeschool series, in which I’m going back in time to share my thoughts as a now retired homeschool mom after 15 years of active duty LOL.

This month I decided to do this a little differently for you – I updated the post below throughout with my thoughts from NOW so you can compare them directly to my THEN. Look for my comments in red italics below as you read about our day!

I also recorded a companion podcast episode with even more reflections about this day in the life of our homeschool journey, and for the first time ever my amazing 20-year-old daughter Trishna (homeschool graduate, uber-creative, special needs) joins me as my special guest!

Look for Episode 126 of the Simple Homeschool podcast to stream or download!

THEN AND NOW: JAMIE’S HOMESCHOOL DAY

When my kids were younger, I needed a detailed schedule to infuse our home with a little peace. Life was CHAOTIC with a newly-adopted four-year-old on top of a three- and two-year-old, and many days my head swam dizzy with the busy-ness of it all. (#understatement!)

It was good crazy, but crazy it was. As it seemed my kids didn’t have much of an attention span (because they didn’t, ha!), no activity lasted longer than 15 minutes. So for a while, I planned accordingly.

Now that season feels incredibly far away–five whole years have passed! (Make that 16 WHOLE YEARS, wow.)

And I’ve finally discovered both the beauty and the flexibility of using long chunks of time to put our days together.

All times in this post are merely a guideline – we flex as much or as little as needed. Plenty of days we call the whole thing off.

Yes, my recommendation is still to choose rhythm over schedule. Your inner taskmaster might harass you a bit that day, but over the long-haul of homeschool life it will all work out, with less stress and fear for you and the kids.

The Mama’s Day

6:15 – My writing time (I get my most focused writing of the day done here)

7:15 – I shower, dress, eat breakfast, read my Bible, & make my to-do list

8:15 – My children dress themselves, have breakfast while I read (from our current chapter book or an Oak Meadow story – oh my, I miss both of these!!) then do chores and clean up (afflinks throughout this post)

this is one of my favorite pics of my Jonathan ever – sweetly illustrates childhood homeschooling!

9:15 – Then starts what I call our “learning sections.” It’s the time of our day set aside for academic/schoolish pursuits. The children play and work in different areas of the house, rotating after 30 or 45 minutes.

This gives me a chunk of time with each child alone, during which we work on whatever might excite them that day: creating handwriting books (our current project), taking turns reading aloud, a riveting chapter book, some sewing, etc. If one child starts a project during our time together, they may continue it when they rotate to another room.

I would choose this rhythm for this age again if I went back to do it over! It served me as an introvert because I didn’t have all three kids together all the time. It served them because they had me all to themselves for a while, and because often they had a say in what we spent our time doing.

I love that they all have fond memories of this stage of our homeschool!

Like most things, however, if I went back I would approach this with a little more grace and softness, and a little more flexibility to change things up based on what I sensed that day needed. I was pretty good back then at flexing for the kids’ needs, but if I could do it over I would remind myself that it is 100% legitimate to flex the day based on my own needs as well!

10:45 – A quick morning snack; I read from this children’s Bible or this kids’ devotional.

11:00 – Finish up our learning sections for the morning

11:45 – The kids have a short recess, inside or out, while I put away the laundry

Now I wish I would have just sat down with a cup of tea for 15 minutes and let the laundry piles stay where they are!! #hindsight

Noon – Jonathan helps me make lunch, then we eat and I read to the kids from our current chapter book.

12:45 – I call this Mommy’s work time. Most days I try to do light blogging work at this point in the day–like emails, formatting posts and photos, and so on. The kids watch a video.

1:45 – It’s outside time now, and we live in the loveliest area for outdoor play. I help get everyone bundled up, then send them out with a smile. Just to clarify, they weren’t always smiling, but I was LOL

They still joke about how I forced them to go outside no matter what the weather was. And I more or less still do the same with whichever young adults happen to be home these days!

If I’m lucky, I may even get to read a chapter from my own book while they play. Then I usually head out for a bit of playtime myself (Well, that and the settling of a few sibling squabbles. ;))

2:45 – Another snack (my babes can eat!!), maybe a quick story, and then kids head upstairs

3:15 – Rest Time (which used to be nap time, but now just means you can play, read, & work on whatever you’d like in your room)

This was my introvert survival tool that allowed me to keep homeschooling for 15 years! I wouldn’t have made it without this afternoon chunk of time.

During rest time I do a bit of resting myself, then use the second half for writing/blog work.

If I could go back, I would work less during this block. My brain is usually mush by this point in the afternoon, yet I forced myself to do more. It always felt like it “had to” get done, but looking back I know now that not all of it was as urgent as it felt. Learn from my mistakes! xo

4:45 – We regroup and the kids loudly bound down the stairs. After getting everyone settled with whatever they need for playing indoors or out, I start on dinner.

After an hour or so, I’ll put on one more short video episode (Intentional Screen Time for the win!) for the kids while I finish cooking and chat with Steve when he gets home from his day.

6:15 – Family dinner, then we all clean up (By “we all,” I mean one parent doing most of the real cleaning, while one parent does the work of attempting to include three young children in the cleaning process LOL)

6:45 – Our pre-bedtime routine begins here with any children who need baths or showers starting on that process. Those who don’t need showers may listen to one or two Sparkle Stories, our favorite calming pre-bedtime activity.

I would still use Sparkle Stories if I could go back – their Martin & Sylvia stories (about homeschooled siblings) were my favorite!

7:45 – Heading upstairs to tuck everyone in – I rotate spending time one-on-one with a child most evenings. Often this means I read a chapter aloud from a book that child has chosen.

(Right now I’m reading Pollyanna with Jonathan and Elijah, and Mr. Popper’s Penguins with Trishna.)

Okay, I have to admit that I would NOT do this again! Or if I did, I would surprise a child with it so that it was a special treat NOT an expectation. We phased this out pretty quickly after several months because my energy levels were just not there for it.

8:15 – I stumble downstairs sluggishly and give Steve a tired smile. I used to try to work a bit here, but my brain is generally too fried and Steve and I need time together too. I aim to be in bed by 10:30 so I can get up early again the next day for my early morning writing time.

Check out ALL of Jamie’s Homeschool Days:

Do you need a detailed routine during your season of life or a more open-ended one?

Originally posted Jan 8, 2013 ~ Updated April 2, 2024

What’s Your Homeschool Mom Personality? Take Jamie’s quiz now and receive a free personality report to help you organize your homeschool based on what your type needs most!

Jamie’s Homeschool Day (w/ a 6, 7, & 8-year-old) UPDATED!

Jamie C. Martin — Tue, 05 Mar 2024 16:15:26 +0000

Jamie’s Homeschool Day, Then & Now (with a 6-, 7-, & 8-year-old – UPDATED!) ~
Written by Jamie C. Martin of Simple Homeschool and Introverted Moms

NOW:

How have you enjoyed this year’s 14th Annual Homeschool Day in the Life series?! In case you’ve missed any of the posts, just head here to catch up!

Since I officially retired from homeschooling last summer, I’m approaching my homeschool day in the life differently – looking back on my 15 year homeschooling career and sharing what I’ve learned in monthly Then and Now Reflections!

In Episode 125 of the SH podcast, you’ll hear me and my son Jonathan (19-yrs-old, homeschool graduate) discuss:

The details of our homeschool routine back with a 6, 7, and 8-year-old, having just moved to a house in the countryside
Our experiment having “Yes” Day on Mondays
How having greater access to nature influenced the flow of our days
When homeschool moms manage to find time to eat (& why our kids never think about this! LOL)
How bloggers with three young kids have to make sure the photos in a post are “fair”
What made this one of my favorite years of homeschooling

To subscribe and listen in, head to your platform of choice: Spotify, Apple, Google, Audible, Amazon, or stream it right here on Simple Homeschool. And keep scrolling to read about this homeschool year in our life below!

Jamie’s Homeschool Day in the Life – THEN, 2012:

When I wrote about my homeschool day last year, I had no idea that by January 2012 we would have moved to our dream house in the country.

My–how one year can change everything. I now find my children, inching ever so slowly, through the phases of learning–moving gradually from Core Phase into Love of Learning.

We have plenty of days when everything seems to fall apart. You know the ones.

But we also have golden moments, when magic happens, connections are made, and my heart swells as I think, “It’s working! It’s really working!”

This is the joy and wonder of the homeschooling lifestyle.

What follows are the nuts and bolts of how that joy and wonder play out in our home.

An Overview of Our Day

These times are all approximate–the day generally flows from one activity to another and things happen when they happen, usually around the following times:

6:15 – I’m up to do blogging work and prepare for the day
8:20 – Kids come out of their rooms, get dressed, & have breakfast while I read to them
9:00 – Learning time–I spend some one-on-one time with each child
10:30 – Snack and stories
11:00 – Kids watch video while I write
12:00 – Prepare lunch, eat, I read from our current chapter book
1:00 – Free play, outside time, more learning time as needed
2:30 – Snack and prepare for rest time; Rest time in rooms for kids/I read, study, and write (& rest!)
4:00 – Rest time finished; all head downstairs for a snack
4:30 – Free play time and begin to prepare dinner
5:20 – Kids listen to Sparkle Stories while I continue dinner prep and chat with Steve (They used to watch another video here, and I’m thrilled to have found such a wonderful alternative!)
6:00 – Dinner as a family
6:30 – Dinner clean-up, begin baths, family time, kids go completely crazy time, and so on
7:30 – Bedtime story
8:00 – Kids to bed, Steve and I congratulate ourselves for making it through another day

Weekly Rhythms

Mondays – Yes Day
Tuesdays – Baking Day
Wednesdays – Class Day (The kids take a class at a local Waldorf school.)
Thursdays – Cleaning Day (more on this soon)
Fridays – Nature Day (We try to take a hike or go to a park after lunch.)

Each item on our list is there for a reason, and fits within a few guiding principles upon which we build our educational philosophy.

Here is a snapshot of those principles:

1. Learning can happen anywhere and anytime…if we don’t stifle it.

I am always on the lookout for an opportunity to inspire, and though you don’t see it on my schedule, inspiration is the glue that holds our homeschool day together.

School time doesn’t only happen at one time in the day–school time is the day. Whenever the desire to learn appears, we roll with it, following where it leads.

2. Nature inspires learning and curiosity.

A year ago my kids spent time outside every day, but not as much as they do now. A year ago, we lived in the suburbs.

Today our backyard looks like this:

Time spent outside is not time wasted. Every moment spent there inspires, encourages, and builds a foundation for learning.

Some life lessons, perhaps the most important ones, can best be discovered under open sky.

3. Read, read, read.

Chewing mouths provide a captive audience. I take advantage of that fact by reading aloud to the children at breakfast, morning snack, and lunch times.

We get through a lot of books this way, which builds attention span, increases vocabulary, and contributes toward a love of learning.

4. Me, not them.

This is one of the seven keys of great teaching in leadership education, and I take it to heart. My kids often see me with book in hand, and as they get older, I try to share more and more of what I’m personally learning. I want to serve as a model, a mentor.

Within every aspect of our day, I keep in mind that relationships matter most. They open the door to the mind…or slam doors shut.

I am the key to nurturing these bonds in ways that strengthen instead of tear apart. As I make that my focus, I find that all the pieces of our day line up…with a little dose of magic sprinkled in to add joy and wonder.

Check out ALL of Jamie’s Homeschool Days:

Any questions about Jamie’s homeschool day or why we do what we do? Ask away!

Originally published January 9, 2012 ~ Updated March 5, 2024

What’s Your Homeschool Mom Personality? Take Jamie’s quiz now and receive a free personality report to help you organize your homeschool based on what your personality type needs most!

Then & Now: Jamie’s Homeschool Day (with a 5-, 6-, & 7-year-old – UPDATED!)

Jamie C. Martin — Mon, 05 Feb 2024 14:50:25 +0000

Jamie’s Homeschool Day, Then & Now (with a 5-, 6-, & 7-year-old – UPDATED!) ~
Written by Jamie C. Martin of Simple Homeschool and Introverted Moms

NOW:

How often do you wish you could have a homeschool do-over? Well, now you can, and in the easiest way possible – without having to make mistakes of your own! Learn from mine, instead.

As I promised in January I plan to do monthly “Then and Now” reflections this year, looking back over my 15 years of homeschooling. I’ll be revisiting posts I’ve written in this space since 2010 and letting you in on what I’d do differently if I could.

When I originally wrote the post below I was nearly 35; now I’m nearly 48. To say life has changed around here would be a massive understatement!

Join me and my son Jonathan (currently 19, but six-years-old when I wrote the below!) on Episode 124 of the Simple Homeschool podcast as we go back in time together.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

I welcome Jonathan back to the podcast after he’s been away touring with the Jonas Brothers
my initial homeschooling philosophy of focusing on relationships rather than academics as top priority, and what I think about that now looking back
our daily homeschool rhythm from 2011 including morning routines, books, a few structured activities, “sections” time, and what Jonathan remembers fondly (or not!)
we reminisce about highlights of their 2011 days: walks, circle time, and the library
how we used screens, quiet time, and outings to make it through the days
what Jonathan thinks now about how our homeschool style has influenced him as a young adult

To subscribe and listen in, head to your platform of choice: Spotify, Apple, Google, etc, or stream it right here on Simple Homeschool! And keep scrolling to read the initial article I wrote in 2011.

Jamie’s Homeschool Day in the Life – THEN, 2011:

Are you enjoying this series on homeschool days as much as I am? There’s something quite vulnerable about getting to peek behind the curtain of another mom’s living room and see how she keeps all her plates spinning.

One word of caution, however: Don’t you dare leave any of these posts in a comparison mode, thinking, “She does so much more than me–now I know I’m screwing my kids up!” Do what you know is right for your own children–that is all they need.

You won’t feel the need to worry about “more” when it comes to my family’s rhythm–I don’t do it all, I purposefully take it slow, and I focus my days on enjoying my children.

My family is unique in that there are only 22 months separating all three of my kids in age, and even less separating them developmentally. I also work 15 hours a week blogging both here and at Steady Mom, so our rhythm takes into account Mommy’s writing time.

I believe my main goal should be to nurture the relationships in our home. When relationships flourish, I find that the academic side of learning naturally springs forth in an unforced way.

Here’s what that looks like practically.

I typically wake up at 6:45 am on a weekday. I’ve written extensively on Steady Mom about my morning routine and what we do before our day officially begins, so head over to read that if you’re interested.

At 8:20, my kids come out of their rooms to get dressed. Does 8:20 sound specific enough for you? No, I’m not a scheduling nazi–but my six-year-old has a clock in his room and takes it upon himself to announce dramatically at 8:20 – “It’s TIME!!!!” That’s how I know it happens at 8:20, you see.

Early Morning

The kids play while I tidy upstairs, then I help everyone get dressed. We head downstairs, where we have our circle time, then it’s on to the breakfast table. After a quick meal the kids clean up with me.

It’s been too cold lately to do our usual morning walk, so we typically meet again in the living room for a few minutes of music and movement.

Learning Time

By now it’s 9am, and we begin what I consider our “learning time.”

The kids pick out a few books they want me to read, or sometimes I’ll have a selection chosen beforehand. We sit on the couch and read together, then move to the dining table where we do one or two of our Oak Meadow Kindergarten activities. (I intentionally start academics later and follow a better late than early philosophy, which has enabled me to more or less keep all the kids at the same level.)

After this it’s time for what my kids call sections–I can’t really remember how it got this name, but don’t try to call it anything else in our house or the kids will come after you! This time is loosely based on the idea of “centers” in a preschool–my kids rotate spending 15-20 minutes playing in different areas of our house.

The idea, from my point of view, is to follow the leadership education philosophy of structuring time, not content. It gives me the chance to make the most of one-on-one learning opportunities.

Often my older two will work on a story or project and need help spelling words. Sometimes my six-year-old son gives me a math lesson. (Yes, you read that right.) There’s also plenty of Legos, artwork, playing, and drumming that happens as well. During this time I work on laundry, meal prep, or other house organization/cleaning I can do while still being available to the kids.

Early Afternoon

After sections, it’s usually close to noon–time for lunch, then the frigid outdoors for a quick walk and playing in the backyard.

When we come inside, I put on a DVD for the kids while I work and write upstairs (for about 45 minutes). When the video is over, it’s rest time–where the kids play quietly (at least it’s supposed to be quietly!), read, draw, and rest for an hour and a half.

During this time in our day I’ll do more computer work and also try to rest or read for 30 minutes myself (Mama recharge time).

Late Afternoon

When rest time ends, it’s already 4 or 4:30 pm. Trishna, Jonathan, and Elijah play while I put away the laundry I folded in the morning. We head back downstairs where I give the kids a quick snack and we read a chapter of our current read-aloud. (Right now, it’s The Burgess Bird Book for Children–highly recommended!)

Then it’s around 5pm–time to start dinner. One of Trishna’s current household duties is dinner helper, so she comes to the kitchen with me while the boys play for a while (until they start arguing–yes, this is a real home I’m talking about!).

At that point I put on another short DVD for them while I finish dinner.

Evening

After dinner comes the usual: clean up, family time, baths, and bedtime for the kids (around 8 pm).

I usually tidy the downstairs quickly, work a bit more online, and try to unplug around 8:30 (emphasis on the try). Then I spend time with my husband, take a shower, and happily head to bed (I aim for 10 pm, but it’s been more like 10:30 lately).

Variations on the Day

This routine varies on certain days. At least once a week we go on some type of outing–to the library, a museum, or maybe for a walk in the woods.

One day a week I have a sitter in the mornings, so she follows our general rhythm with the kids at home while I head out to write. And of course we also enjoy the flexibility to change things up, so we can meet with friends or ditch the plan for the unexpected.

The Secret of a Good Day

If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s that the secret of a good day is … me. I try to keep in mind this quote by German writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe:

“I have come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element. It is my personal approach that creates the climate. It is my daily mood that makes the weather. I possess tremendous power to make life miserable or joyous.

I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration, I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis is escalated or de-escalated, and a person is humanized or de-humanized.

If we treat people as they are, we make them worse. If we treat people as they ought to be, we help them become what they are capable of becoming.”

Check out ALL of Jamie’s Homeschool Days:

Have any questions about our day? Ask away in the comments and I’ll do my best to answer.

Originally published January 10, 2011 ~ Updated Feb 6, 2024

What’s Your Homeschool Mom Personality? Take Jamie’s quiz now and receive a free personality report to help you organize your homeschool based on what your personality type needs most!

Then and Now: Lessons from a Veteran Homeschool Mom

Jamie C. Martin — Tue, 09 Jan 2024 19:25:55 +0000

Then and Now: Lessons from a Veteran Homeschool Mom ~
Written by Jamie C. Martin of Simple Homeschool and Introverted Moms

Fifteen years ago as a new, insecure homeschooler, one thing comforted me like no other: Clinging to the words of a few veteran homeschool mothers who I followed online.

They had somehow graduated kids through this method of learning at home and lived to tell the tale.

Unlike what my mind constantly predicted, their children were not in jail or on the streets or holed up playing video games every day while living long-term in the basement. Instead, they appeared to be functional members of society.

I needed these veteran homeschool moms’ encouragement and experience to battle my fears as I undertook our own home education journey with my three small kids.

Then and Now: Lessons from a Veteran Homeschool Mom

When I started Simple Homeschool back in 2010 I was privileged to be one of a handful of homeschooling voices online, along with a small, beautiful tribe of others.

It was a different atmosphere than the overloaded digital world we live in today, 14 years later.

I felt completely out of my league attempting to share any “words of wisdom” because I had none! Not an expert, I was simply a parent beginning a pilgrimage toward an invisible destination I had heard about yet never seen.

I did not know what it would look like to arrive there, and neither did the others in that small tribe. We weren’t the homeschool parents of the 70s or 80s, who could have risked jail or faced punitive action for teaching their kids.

But at the same time we were not the new homeschoolers of today, where information overload is as much of a problem as not having enough information.

We were in the middle: moms and dads before social media took over the world, desperate to find like-minded others who also dared to imagine education differently.

At the time, I never thought my family would continue homeschooling our three kids all the way through their childhoods. Honestly, I’m kind of glad I did not know!

The best I could give back then to my children was to show up each day and offer my loaves and fish. Somehow that daily offering over fifteen years eventually turned into homeschool retirement and three young adults who still like me.

Now I AM the veteran homeschool parent, having somehow finished this gig! With a lot more experience and insight – in fact some of my opinions and thoughts have naturally evolved since the time I first wrote about them.

Few of the homeschool parents who shared their thoughts about education online when I began still do so today. Their path after homeschool retirement naturally led them to other beautiful life endeavors.

Yet I keep thinking back to that insecure homeschooler I was, so desperate for any ray of light shone my way from someone further down the path.

Now I want to be that voice for you.

No longer the mom writing from the trenches, but retired from homeschooling and wanting to reflect on my successes and failures in the hopes that it will be a help to all of you.

And so in a new Simple Homeschool series starting this year I plan to occasionally reshare posts I wrote 14 or 12 or 10 or eight or five years ago, and use my voice on the Simple Homeschool podcast to add more to it: To give you a deeper perspective and the inside scoop about what was going on behind the scenes back then, and also what I’d advise about the same subject now.

I’m immensely grateful for everything the online home education community has given me and the insight that each veteran homeschool mom offered me years ago.

Let me pay it forward by gifting my own experience, hope, and courage to all of you who are waking up, offering your own daily loaves and fish.

I will start my “then and now” reflections with our 2024 Annual Homeschool Day in the Life series, which will kick off its 14th year next week!

Since I do not have a current homeschool day to share with you (and yes, that still feels absurd and surreal to say!), I plan to revisit and talk through some of our past homeschool days, sharing what I think about them now and what I might do differently if I could go back.

I’m excited about pursuing this direction in my content this year and I hope you are too! I invite you to join in, if it interests you, by subscribing to my podcast via Apple or Spotify (or wherever you listen to them) so you’ll be the first to know when each episode is released.

Still with you on the journey, Jamie xo

What’s Your Homeschool Mom Personality? Take Jamie’s quiz now and receive a free personality report to help you organize your homeschool based on what your type needs most!

Jamie’s Homeschool Day in the Life Podcast (w/ special co-host!)

Jamie C. Martin — Mon, 09 Jan 2023 16:37:38 +0000

Announcing my new Simple Homeschool Podcast Co-Host ~
Written by Jamie C. Martin of Simple Homeschool and Introverted Moms

Remember how I mentioned that I had an exciting new announcement for you? Check it out ->

I have a new co-host joining me on the Simple Homeschool Podcast: my 18-year-old son, Jonathan!

Jonathan was homeschooled his entire life, Preschool through 12th grade, and graduated in May 2022. He has a LOT to share and I know as a fellow homeschool parent in the trenches you will get so much out of hearing his insights – some of them surprised me too.

We’re doing a special series of podcast episodes together, reflecting on his experience of being homeschooled and answering some of your questions!

In honor of Simple Homeschool’s 13th Annual Homeschool Day in the Life series kicking off soon, the first episode Jonathan and I recorded looks back on our typical homeschool days.

In Episode 103, you’ll hear:

What words would 10-year-old Jonathan use to describe our typical homeschool day to a stranger?
What was his LEAST favorite part of our homeschool days?
What did he love most about our days?
I also share my favorite and least favorite parts, too, ’cause homeschooling ain’t all flowers and rainbows, ahem

Click here to listen to Episode 103! Find it wherever you listen to podcasts and subscribe so you’ll be notified when we release another episode later this month.

Links and Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

Listen to more episodes of the Simple Homeschool podcast here.

Check out ALL of Jamie’s Homeschool Days:

What’s Your Homeschool Mom Personality? Take Jamie’s quiz now and receive a free personality report to help you organize your homeschool based on what your personality type needs most!

Jamie’s homeschool day in the life (with a 16-, 17-, & 18-year-old)

Jamie C. Martin — Tue, 15 Feb 2022 11:00:14 +0000

Jamie’s homeschool day in the life (with a 16-, 17-, & 18-year-old) ~
Written by Jamie C. Martin of Simple Homeschool and Introverted Moms

Welcome to my 12th day in the life shared here on Simple Homeschool! Check out the links at the bottom of this post if you’d like to read any past years.

With older teens it’s tough to pin a homeschool day down with everyone actually at home.

I always loved the idea of homeschooling the teen years because of the extra freedom I imagined it could offer students – a chance to dive deeply into their interests and take advantage of opportunities that might not be possible when tied to the public system. I’m pleased to report that’s exactly what’s happened!

Prefer to listen instead?

My kiddos currently have daytime volunteer roles, part-time jobs, nature school, and homeschool co-op. But one day each week tends to be a little calmer than the rest, Wednesdays.

So here’s a peek at our Wednesday Homeschool Day in the Life with Trishna (18, graduated last year), Jonathan (17, graduates this year), and Elijah (16, 11th grade):

Jamie’s Homeschool Day in the Life

7:00 am – My first move is always heading downstairs for tea. I hug 17-year-old Jonathan, currently in the kitchen making toast for what we’ve nicknamed “Toast with the Trinity” – AKA his quiet/devotional/Bible time.

On the way back upstairs I notice my other two teens are still sleeping, which I don’t mind at all. Another perk of homeschooling teens – they can actually get enough sleep!

7:15 am – I sit down at my bedroom writing desk to prep new episodes of the Simple Homeschool podcast, which has been downloaded in over 50 countries since I began it two years ago:

8:15 am – I pause to go get ready and pass my computer over to Jonathan who currently manages my social media.

9:15 am – All three kids and I gather at the dining table to watch CNN10 with our breakfast, a routine we continue to love (see top pic).

Then I read aloud for a few minutes from our current book (afflinks throughout this post) and say a quick prayer for our day before everyone leaves the table.

(Note that even Trishna, our homeschool graduate, joins in. We have an informal expectation that certain routines continue for whoever happens to be home, since lifelong learning has always been the goal around here!)

10:00 am – Then everyone begins their next task or project. For Elijah, that’s vacuuming the upstairs. For Jonathan, who cleaned earlier, it’s his Senior Year writing project. And for Trishna, it’s prep for our evening meal.

One of the BEST decisions I made this school year was to research meal subscription boxes, looking for a hands-on cooking class for Trishna, now that she has a bit more time on her hands as a homeschool graduate.

We tried a couple of options, but in the end our favorite has been Every Plate. We get three meals a week and it has been perfect for trying new recipes, not having to meal plan (hallelujah!), as well as giving T tons of culinary experience. She’s learned so much!

(If you’d like to try it out, you can use my link here to get $20 off your family’s first box! – afflink)

As they all get busy, I sit down with the daily office. It’s a way I’m attempting to slow down and remind myself that I can’t make it through this day in my own strength.

10:45 am – Trishna keeps cooking, Jonathan continues to work on his writing, and I call Elijah down to get started with his spelling, math, and phonograms.

11:45 am – After sitting down to eat lunch alone (yay!), I tidy up the kitchen. Then I answer a few of T’s questions about the job application she is filling out and preparing to send.

12:15 pm – Jonathan and I get cozy in front of our wood stove with blankets and books – our winter happy place!

He’s currently reading titles for his British Literature course; this week it’s The Importance of Being Earnest and he looks up frequently to share a quote or a chuckle, and to ask if we can watch a movie version of it soon.

1:00 pm – One of my big projects for 2022 is to find a neuropsychologist who can do full diagnostic evaluations for Elijah and Trishna. As homeschoolers, we’ve naturally made accommodations for their special needs over the years and haven’t really needed official labels.

But as they’ve gotten older, official diagnoses would be very useful at times. So I sit down to research and email a few options to get more information and figure out our next step.

1:30 pm – Now Jonathan and I sit together on the couch, my laptop between us (still near the wood stove!), to do a “co-writing session,” one of my favorite ways to teach writing and editing.

It’s the same way you might pass on other skills – like making Grandma’s famous spaghetti sauce: the child watches you make it, participates where they can, then slowly takes over until they’re a pro and can teach someone else.

We take turns reading aloud one paragraph at a time from his draft, then stop to edit as we go. Reading passages slowly aloud is how I have edited for years – you begin to hear what needs to change and it jogs new ideas.

I have to remind myself during our co-writing that my goal isn’t to get through the entire draft, but to build relationship and writing skills at the same time! So when Jonathan leans over and says, “This is so fun!” – it means more than any other success of the day, especially coming from this boy who used to say he didn’t like writing at all.

2:30 pm – After nearly an hour, my brain is ready for recharging. I light a candle, pick up my Kindle, and am happily visiting Mitford (afflinks) in no time.

Elijah finishes listening to his audiobook for the day, and heads down to our pond to see if it’s still frozen. Jonathan goes upstairs to take a shower before leaving for his part-time job, and Trishna continues to work on her job application.

And that wraps up this 12th homeschool day in the life – thanks for tagging along!

standing on our frozen pond!

Check out ALL of Jamie’s Homeschool Days:

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Jamie’s Homeschool Day in the Life (with a 15-, 16-, and 17-year-old)

Jamie C. Martin — Tue, 02 Mar 2021 11:00:53 +0000

Jamie’s Homeschool Day in the Life (and a few tips on connecting with your kids) ~
Written by Jamie C. Martin of Simple Homeschool

Hello and good morning, fellow Simple Homeschoolers – Welcome to my 11th day in the life!

Some of you have read every single one, watching my kiddos grow since they were mere babes. Now they are somehow fully-fledged young people, all of us trying to make our way in the world together.

It is glorious and beautiful AND challenging and tough–kind of like life!

Prefer to listen instead?

So here’s your peek behind the curtain of today:

Jamie’s Homeschool Day in the Life

6:45am – I am up (no little ones waking me anymore) and head downstairs, where my first move (always) is to turn on the kettle for tea.

Note: Last week I had a shoulder injury and was not up this early, though I prefer it when possible so I have quiet work time before the house steams into full motion.

I say hi to 16-year-old Jonathan, who tells me he’s currently working on an article for our homeschool co-op newspaper before he begins Geometry. He says he has been up since 5:30am. Yep, crazily enough it is possible to have an early to bed, early to rise teenager, and I have one–through absolutely no effort of my own!

7:00am – I sit down in the living room to do an hour of Creative Work for my Introverted Moms Community.

This year we’re choosing Habits of the Month to work on. I make notes for the new video I will record soon to announce our next habit to members.

7:20am – Elijah (15) runs down and asks me to turn on his audiobook, The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich (afflinks) – it’s his second time through this 57 hour audio! He is fascinated by military history.

A little later I say hi to my daughter Trishna (17) who comes in to fold the laundry, one of her main family responsibilities.

8:00am – Jonathan’s Geometry lesson hasn’t gone well, so I attempt to cheer him up with a few memes, and when we are both laughing I head upstairs to get dressed.

I listen to my audio Bible while in the shower, bathing myself in the word of God and hot water to prepare for the day, then follow that with an anti-anxiety meditation as I get dressed.

When I come out of the bathroom, I put away our newly-folded laundry, even if it means we won’t start the homeschool day exactly at 9am. I’ve found this is the only time of day I have energy to do it!

9:10am – We sit down at the table to enjoy CNN10 as part of our “Breakfast School,” then move on to our current read-aloud, The Dream Giver (highly recommended to read with your teens!).

Because of our schedules we only do these short read-aloud sessions twice a week! I can’t give it up altogether though, not after all these years.

We finish a little early today, so we reach into the “prayer bowl” at the center of the table. We’ve filled it with people, organizations, countries, and causes on our hearts, and each of us choose one slip.

Amazingly enough, today Jonathan has randomly chosen the one that says “Simple Homeschool readers.”

He says a prayer for all of you, friends, that you would find encouragement and perseverance on your path as you teach your children today.

9:45am – I dismiss the kids to their cleaning jobs, and sit down with my prayer book for a moment before starting my own decluttering job.

I find that without these small, sacred pauses I am prone to rushing, which leads to worry and anxiety.

10:15am – My job these days, as a homeschool mom to three teens, has a lot to do with getting resources for everyone.

I check to see what books Trishna and Jonathan need this week for TJED High, and I put Trishna’s new Bible study for teen girls on her Kindle.

All of us have started a meditation practice this year, using the app Calm, so Trishna comes in after finishing her cleaning to ask me which meditation she should do today.

(I will also mention that this practice hasn’t been popular among a couple of family members, but we have called it one of our homeschooling essentials. I’ve found it to be worth it!)

10:30am – I sit down to do reading and math with 15-year-old Elijah.

Because of his learning disabilities, we continue to work hard to grasp the basics – like we’ve been doing for the past seven years or so!

This means that lessons can be tiresome and exhausting for BOTH of us, which leads me to:

Connecting with Kids Tip#1: Pray before challenging lessons.

I find that praying before a lesson, reminds us both to have patience with each other, to be grateful for this opportunity to learn, and to remind us that we aren’t just trying to get through it, but to keep our relationship the focus and goal.

11:05am – Afterwards, I head upstairs to sit in quiet for my own 10 minute meditation, getting distracted and bringing my thoughts back approximately 100 times, which they say is the point!

11:25am – Then I leave with my daughter to drop her off at her piano teacher’s house nearby.

On the way we listen to a few songs from her Amazon Music playlist.

Connecting with Kids Tip#2: When relationships feel strained, try music (or another interest).

It’s amazing how much showing a little interest in the music a child enjoys begins to tear down walls that have formed between you!

11:50am – When I return I sit down with a few tortilla chips, carrots, and hummus – my current lunch of choice.

Soon I leave to pick Trishna up again, and as I wait for her to come out I read for a few minutes. #selfcareonthego

12:25pm – After we’ve returned and settled in, I sit down with Jonathan for the first half of his All About Spelling lesson. (This program has been an absolute answer to prayer!)

Still discouraged by his Geometry struggles in the day, he suddenly says, “Why did you read Anne of Green Gables to us when we were younger? Now I’m just like Anne when it comes to Geometry!”

“But if I’m like Anne…,” he goes on, “…you’re like my Miss Stacy.”

In a few seconds he adds, “Make sure you put that in your post.”

You never know the unexpected moments of delight that might appear in your day as a homeschool mom!

12:50pm – Trishna is currently doing Duolingo Spanish, Elijah has returned to military history on audio in his room, and Jonathan has gone upstairs to study in uninterrupted quiet.

I pause to tidy up bookshelves and the kitchen, then sit down to peek through some of the kids’ work.

1:30pm – Jonathan comes to finish his spelling lesson, and after 20 minutes of writing dictated sentences I can tell he needs a brain break.

I send him out in the frigid air to “take a couple of turns,” a Jane Austen term we’ve adopted, referring to walking around our 5-acre property.

While he’s out I write captions on our “Best of 2020” photo album. Amazingly, 2020 looks pretty good when you’re only viewing the highlight reel!

2:05pm – Trishna is now working on PreAlgebra, Elijah has moved on to The Tempest on audio, and Jonathan and I are in front of the wood stove for what we call our 2pm “reading hour.”

Connecting with Kids Tip #3: Try the Chapter a Day Book Club

As your kids get older and begin doing more of their homeschool work independently, it’s easy to feel disconnected. Enter the Chapter a Day Book Club.

It’s simple: Choose a title together and agree to read one chapter a day.

This way you are always at the same part of the book, and can discuss it easily. We’re currently on our third title since we began doing this, and it has been such fun.

3:00pm – And this homeschool day is a wrap!

The kids make sure to update their individual checklists (see more details in last year’s post), so I can easily see what has been done throughout the day–good for my peace of mind and their sense of accomplishment as well.

Afternoon and evening involve fresh air, a friend over to hang outside, a nap (for me), dinner making and eating, and the Amazing Race!

Thanks for stopping by!

A lot of snow has come our way this season, including the kind where you can’t even keep your eyes open!

Check out ALL of Jamie’s Homeschool Days:

What’s Your Homeschool Mom Personality? Take Jamie’s quiz now and receive a free personality report to help you organize your homeschool based on what your personality type needs most!

Jamie’s homeschool day in the life (with a 14-, 15-, and 16-year-old)

Jamie C. Martin — Tue, 04 Feb 2020 11:00:49 +0000

Written by Jamie C. Martin of Simple Homeschool and Introverted Moms

If I had to choose a word of the year based on the way I often feel on a typical day, it might be this: RUSHING

I often have a low-grade, gnawing level of discomfort at any given moment, thinking of all that needs to be done, knowing I’ll never get around to it all today, or any day.

There’s some kind of inner hamster on a wheel inside me, trying to get me to go quicker, hurry, do more.

I bet on some level you can relate.

So how do I handle that sense that no matter what I accomplish, it isn’t enough?

We’ll come back to that.

For now, here’s a peek at the structure of our typical homeschool week:

Mondays – Homeschool Day with Mom
Tuesdays – Homeschool Day with Jennifer (Mom’s work day)
Wednesdays – Homeschool Day with Mom
Thursdays – Kids’ Internships or Wilderness School (Mom’s work day)
Fridays – Alternates between: Half Homeschool Day with Jennifer/Half with Mom OR Homeschool co-op, followed by Homeschool Afternoon with Jennifer (Mom has a half work day)

I wanted you to see straight away that I do not do it all, and that I have help–a beautiful friend and “substitute mom,” who has been working for us almost four years now.

She’s even better than Mary Poppins because she tutors the kids in Spanish!

Her help is what enables me to work 15-20 hours a week for you all here and over at Introverted Moms.

My recent fireside research as I create a Bronte Sisters/Victorian England Unit Study for Introverted Moms Community Members!

Now that you have a sense of our typical week, here’s a peek at our typical day:

(most times, except for starting 9am & ending 3pm our homeschool day, are approximate!)

6:45am – As long as I have slept well, I get up to do 45min-1 hour of work, followed by a shower (Please note I did NOT do this when my kiddos were younger!)
9am – Breakfast School around the table
9:30am – Kids do chores, then begin their independent study routines; I do whatever home/school tasks seem most important
10:45am-ish – I take a 20 min Introverted Mom break to sit by the fire and read
11:15am – Reading lesson with Elijah, who is still working on reading fluency
11:45am – Kids begin to make their own lunches when hungry
1pm – Spelling lesson with Jonathan
1:30ish – Another 20 min mama break is in order!
2pm – Help Trishna with Math and/or check her other work
2:30pm – Math with Elijah
3pm – Homeschool day ends

So many books, so little time (& arm space)

So what’s keeping me sane this year when it comes to measuring and determining enough?

The Checklists

Now that my kids are doing more of their homeschool days independently, having checklists to show me what has been accomplished is a lifesaver.

When they were younger, we followed mainly interest-led learning, but now all of us are ready for a bit more structure (though much of it is still interest-led), so they enjoy their checklists as much as I do.

Jonathan (15; 10th grade) keeps track of his learning on his phone via the app Productive:

It shows us both what he hopes to accomplish in any given day, and allows him to check off or skip items.

The hardest part has been getting into the habit of remembering to update the app, which we solved by having an alarm go off on his phone as a reminder at 2:45pm.

It also includes reminders for things like chores, putting the recycling out, etc.

Highlights of Jonathan’s current homeschool day include: College Prep Genius, a SAT prep e-course that he just began in January, Sonlight (for Bible, History, and Literature), Teaching Textbooks for math, TJEd High, All About Spelling, and he is a Tech Arts Intern at our church one day a week.

Jonathan has an official “Scholar Contract” now, which outlines both when and how much he will study each week, as well as the privileges and freedoms (like having a phone) that come with this extra level of accountability.

We had a special time where both he and my husband and I signed it and we all prayed together.

SAT Prep in action

Trishna (age 16; 11th grade w/ SN) has two checklists–one for school and one for self-care:

Her homeschool checklist reminds her of what she can do throughout the day–it isn’t an assignment list of have-to’s, but a list of options.

She knows she’s expected to work on something productive/educational from 9am-3pm, but within those boundaries she can choose, which still leaves her with a sense of freedom.

Highlights of Trishna’s current homeschool day include: TJEd High, Teaching Textbooks, Duolingo (she has a real gift for languages), Sonlight Science, the Couch to 5K app for PE, and an internship at our church one day a week in the church cafe.

Her self-care checklist evolved after noticing that she would forget routines like drinking enough water, eating regularly, and getting outside.

This checklist has helped so much, and it has taken me out of the seat of having to nag or remind about these things, while still allowing me to see what has and hasn’t been done.

Elijah (age 14; 9th grade w/ SN) just began a checklist since 2020 started:

Elijah has never been one for much structure, so it surprised me when I suggested this and he was up for it!

Highlights of Elijah’s current homeschool day include: All About Reading lessons, a math app, copywork (currently a Winston Churchill speech that he’ll recite to the family after he’s done), a ton of audiobooks on different subjects, and wilderness school on Thursdays.

No, my word for the year is not RUSHING, something I must remind myself every single day.

I actually chose two words for this year: SLOW and ENOUGH.

So when I find my heart racing at the thought of all that must be done and all that will never be, I say these to myself and even put them together: Slow IS enough.

I remind myself that I’m not called to be a miracle worker in our homeschool.

I’m called to simply offer my imperfect best to whatever today brings, then release all of it into the true Miracle Worker’s hands.

It’s much easier to hug my kids when I’m off the hamster wheel, after all.

This is officially my 10th annual homeschool day in the life post, wow!!!

Check out ALL of Jamie’s Homeschool Days:

What’s Your Homeschool Mom Personality? Take Jamie’s quiz now and receive a free personality report to help you organize your homeschool based on what your personality type needs most!

Jamie’s “introverted mom” day in the life (with a 13-, 14-, & 15-year-old)

Jamie C. Martin — Wed, 20 Feb 2019 11:00:29 +0000

Written by Jamie C. Martin of Simple Homeschool

Catch snippets of my introverted mom day in the life in real time today on Instagram!
Watch here–just look for the highlight area on my profile.

Hello, my name is Jamie and I am an introverted homeschool mom to three teens: Trishna (age 15), Jonathan (age 14), and Elijah (age 13).

In honor of my upcoming book, Introverted Mom, I wanted to share a post this year that focuses on how being an introverted mom shapes our homeschool days, and how I use that awareness to guide what we do and how we do it.

Early Morning:

I aim to be at my bedroom desk by 7am, so I can get in 45 min-1 hour of writing time.

I usually lock my door, because interruptions make me cranky. The interruptions still come, but with a locked door I have a few seconds to calm myself before responding. It helps!

I then head to the shower to get ready for my day. During this time my teens might be sleeping, getting themselves dressed, reading, playing, doing their morning copywork, or using approved screens.

Morning:

For years now, a key to my introverted mama sanity has been to read during mealtimes. This tames unnecessary chatter as well as providing a focal point for our learning!

Currently this has morphed into what we call Breakfast School (9am), and at the moment it includes: CNN10 (a new fave with my teens, plus I love that I can eat while we watch!), reading from a devotional or Christian biography (afflink), phonogram review with the Logic of English app, and then our current read-aloud.

This takes us between an hour to an hour and a half.

Afterwards I assign my oldest and youngest their chores, and my 14-year-old heads off to work on math (we LOVE Teaching Textbooks, especially now that it’s all online!) and other studies.

Currently we have a system where if a child chooses extra study time, he or she gets excused from certain household chores.

By this point (11am), I usually feel like I have earned a mini-introverted mom break! If it’s warm enough I might grab my current audiobook and earbuds and go out for a 20 minute walk. If it’s too cold, I might stay huddled under a blanket with a cup of tea and my e-reader.

Depending on the day, I can definitely get busy, start rushing, and skip this break. It’s a discipline to keep it, but I find I’m a better mom when I do.

And for those of you with littles? Check all the links at the bottom of this post to see how I fit in breaks when my kids were younger.

What are my kids doing while I’m out? It varies depending on the child, but often includes audiobooks, creative writing, Apologia Biology, assigned Sonlight readings, TJEd High, Film School for Teens, making dinner if it’s their turn, and a beautiful array of books, books, books.

One new morning activity is Elijah’s AVE/CES training, which is something we’re trying (under the guidance of a professional). It makes him look like a super-cool Star Trek superstar.

After my break I might make dinner, do a tiny bit of online work, or help a child with a project, assignment, or lesson. Recently Jonathan and I have been doing some writing coaching together, and he’s been taking several practice CLT tests–a new college entrance exam.

Drop Everything & Eat/Read:

Someone is assigned to make lunch each day and around 12:30pm we sit down to eat.

For years now we’ve done a quiet lunch where everyone reads something of their own (including me, another ideal introverted pause, yay!)

Afternoon:

After lunch (1:15pm) we tend to focus on lessons where the kids need help.

Trishna does math on the computer and then comes to get me when she’s done with her lesson. I sit with her and together we look through the problems she missed.

I also make time for an All About Reading lesson with Elijah, who is still working toward reading fluency.

We are nearly done with Level One, preparing to begin Level Two (in color) and All About Spelling soon. We both enjoy this curriculum (no small thing since we’ve tried so many!), and it has proven successful with other kids who struggle too. We also have a math app we work on a few times a week.

Jonathan might need me in the afternoon to help with a Biology experiment, to discuss something he learned during the day, or to review his weekly checklist:

Around 3pm we officially call it quits (though learning keeps happening, of course). Unless the weather is very bad, I send the kids outside. This equals another introverted mom break for me (I aim for a 20-30 minute nap), and they need the fresh air!

Afternoons and evenings feature more of the same: walks, reading, approved computer usage, showers, dinner, and typically watching a show together in the evenings. We also fit church activities, youth group, piano lessons, and homeschool co-op into our days and weeks.

No, I don’t do it all

This is my personal routine with the kids 2-3 days a week, but no, I don’t do it all!

For the past three years we’ve had a wonderful “substitute mom” who takes my place twice a week while I head out to work and write. She makes dinner, helps with cleaning, teaches the kids Spanish, and follows our general learning routine like I would. (Yes, I know how blessed we are!)

My boys also continue to attend wilderness school one day a week, during the school year. Check out the links at the bottom of this post to see how I made life work before we had this type of help.

Why It Works as an Introverted Mom

Our schedule works well for me as an introverted mom because I find I need at least a little downtime every couple of hours. Knowing this (and accepting it) has made our days happier, especially now that the kids are older and it’s not as difficult to fit in the breaks I need.

I wish I would have come to this awareness earlier–even if I had to use screen time, I think my early years as a mother could have been easier if I could have acknowledged this truth and taken better care of myself.

And that’s why I wrote Introverted Mom–to help other fellow introverted moms take my advice and figure out how to do the same:

Any other questions about our days? Ask away and I’ll do my best to answer!

Check out ALL of Jamie’s Homeschool Days:

What’s Your Homeschool Mom Personality? Take Jamie’s quiz now and receive a free personality report to help you organize your homeschool based on what your personality type needs most!

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