Amber’s Homeschool Day in the Life (with a 9-,11-, 13-, and 15-year-old) ~ 
Written by Amber O’Neal Johnston from Heritage Mom

Two years ago, I was recuperating from a life-threatening illness.

Last year, I was caretaking for my sister as she bravely battled breast cancer.

This year, I intended to write about the bountiful and beautiful homeschool days we’d finally reclaimed.

Before I could even begin, my mom was diagnosed with kidney cancer.

Thankfully, we’d just moved her across the country to be near us—what providence! Still, this week alone, I’ve spent at least four hours each day in doctors’ offices or hospitals for her outpatient procedures. I find myself constantly torn between being fully present as a homeschooling mom to my four children (ages 9 to 15) and a daughter determined to surround her mother with love and care.

I don’t claim to have figured out the balancing act, but I’m living both roles—messily, but faithfully.

Here’s a glimpse into a recent day when I happened to be home all day.

Amber’s Homeschool Day in the Life (with a 9-, 11-, 13- and 15-year-old)

5:30 AM: A Healthy Start

The alarm goes off early, and I head to the gym with my husband and our oldest. Recently, she’s developed a strong interest in health and wellness, and I couldn’t be more excited to share this passion with her. These early morning car rides provide rare, uninterrupted time for the three of us to connect.

After our workout, we return home around 7:00 AM, eat breakfast together, and she heads upstairs to shower and dive into her schoolwork. Many of her lessons are now online as she pursues dual enrollment credits, so my role is less hands-on teacher and more guidance counselor and cheerleader—a transition I’m savoring.

8:00 AM: Morning Hustle

The rest of the kids start waking up, drawn by the smell of piping hot oatmeal topped with bananas, strawberries, and cinnamon, plus scrambled eggs and toast. As they settle in, I read the Bible, lead a prayer, and dive into our morning time routine: hymn, poetry, picture study, and two read-alouds.

Morning time is the heart of our homeschool, anchoring us before the inevitable interruptions.

9:00 AM: Independent Lessons

After morning time, I go over math lessons with my 11- and 13-year-olds, who then work through their independent subjects. They pop in and out of the kitchen to ask questions or (more likely) pester each other. Meanwhile, I stay at the table with my 9-year-old.

Though he can now read his schoolbooks on his own—a huge milestone—he still likes me to be close by. With everything going on, he’s been clamoring for extra attention, and I’m happy to give it to him.

Midday: The Gift of Community

By late morning, my youngest two wrap up lessons, and they head outside to play with friends—three similarly-aged boys who recently moved in across the street. Homeschool recess is alive and well, no matter the weather!

Watching their friendships blossom has been a reminder of the beauty of community and “neighborly relations,” as old folks used to say.

While the boys are outside and the girls are immersed in personal projects—journaling, reading, sewing, or painting their nails—I grab a couple of hours to work on launch materials for my upcoming book, Soul School.

With its release just weeks away, this season is busier than usual, but it’s fulfilling to know this project will soon reach families everywhere.

4:00 PM: Dinner Prep

By late afternoon, as the kids wind down from their activities, I shift gears to focus on preparing dinner. I love cooking when I’m not rushed, so I’ve learned to start prepping dinner early. While chopping vegetables and gathering ingredients, I listen to gospel music. My husband eventually joins me in the kitchen after wrapping up in his home office.

I relish these moments of casual chatting as I transition to my evening chill mode.

Dinner is a simple but hearty meal—sweet potato and peanut soup and arugula salad. I’ve learned that food doesn’t have to be fancy to bring everyone to the table, and in our home, the dinner table is sacred.

6:00 PM: Family Dinner

We all gather around the table, sharing stories from the day. I listen as the kids talk about their lessons, the latest escapades in the neighborhood, or random musings about life. It’s my favorite part of the day—a chance to connect and laugh together.

After dinner, the kids rotate through their kitchen duties. Tonight, my 13-year-old is in charge of cleaning up. She’s blasting her favorite musical soundtrack, loudly singing along while scrubbing dishes.

It’s chaotic, and the volume is a bit overwhelming, but I love that she brings so much joy to even the most mundane tasks.

Evening Wind-Down

With the kitchen clean and the day winding down, the kids scatter to their own spaces. My younger two are playing Forbidden Island (afflink), my 13-year-old is sketching in her notebook, and my oldest is re-decorating her room. I sneak away to tidy my room, reset for tomorrow, and squeeze in a little planning for the week ahead.

Around 9:00 PM, I tuck in my youngest, curled up with his Kindle, and tell the older three goodnight. I used to be the one tucking everyone into bed, but now I’m often the first to call it a night.

Reflections Before Bed

As I climb into bed, my thoughts drift to the week’s challenges. Caring for my mom, homeschooling my kids, and keeping up with work as an author and speaker sometimes feels like juggling flaming swords. But as I look back on this day, I’m reminded that “normal” doesn’t mean easy or without trial.

Homeschooling isn’t an Instagram reel or a perfectly curated highlight.

It’s messy, imperfect, and real. It’s sitting down to math lessons while your heart is heavy with worry for your mom. It’s saying yes to extra cuddles from a child who needs your attention. It’s showing your kids how to sacrifice and love when life feels overwhelming.

I know I’ll look back on this season and see the lessons my kids learned about resilience, service, and the beauty of doing life together, no matter how chaotic it feels. So, I “count it all joy” and embrace this season for what it is—a chance to live out love and learning, one imperfect day at a time.

Encouragement for You

To the moms who feel like they’re at the frayed end of the rope, I see you. You’re not alone, and you’re doing an incredible job. We’ve got this, together.

Tomorrow’s another day, and we’ll rise to meet it—mess and all.

My, how the days have changed:

• 2023: Amber’s Homeschool Day in the Life (with a 7, 9, 11, & 13-year-old)
• 2024: Amber’s Homeschool Day in the Life (with a 8-, 10-, 12- and 14-year-old)

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!

Growing up, I often felt like an only child, even though I had siblings. The age gap between us meant that while they were navigating adulthood, I was still a child, left to entertain myself and experience life in my own bubble.

I vividly remember watching other families where siblings played together, bickered, and then made up—just like on TV.

The camaraderie and companionship they shared filled me with longing, and I promised myself that when I became a mother, I would have a big family of kids who would be each other’s best friends.

But then reality hit. As my kids grew, they began bickering over the most trivial things—who got the orange popsicle, who got to sit in the front seat, who touched whose toy, who creased the pages of a book, who breathed too loudly. It was not the picture-perfect sibling bond I had imagined.

Instead, it often felt like I was refereeing a never-ending match of tiny disputes. Where was the loving, harmonious family I had envisioned and more importantly, what was I doing wrong?

I quickly learned that I wasn’t alone. Many moms feel disillusioned when their children fight. After all, we rarely post the squabbles and tantrums—the constant back-and-forth that’s inevitable in family life.

Instead, the world often sees sweet pictures of siblings hugging, smiling, and playing peacefully. But those snapshots are only a moment in time, not a complete story. The truth is, sibling rivalry is a normal, and even necessary, part of family dynamics.

If you’re feeling dismayed by your children’s frequent arguments, take heart. You’re not failing as parents. In fact, by guiding your kids through these tough moments, you’re giving them invaluable tools they’ll carry into adulthood.

The key isn’t to eliminate conflict but to teach them how to navigate sibling rivalry in healthy, constructive ways.

Things are by no means perfect in our home – we’re still growing, and some days are better than others – but here are some things that I have learned along the way that have helped foster stronger sibling bonds despite the squabbles.

Navigating Sibling Rivalry While Homeschooling

Give Them Space to Work Things Out

As much as we want to step in and mediate every disagreement, it’s crucial to give siblings space to resolve conflicts on their own. Not only does this teach them valuable communication skills, but it also fosters independence. Of course, there are times when you’ll need to intervene, but for smaller disputes, try stepping back and letting them work through the problem.

When you do intervene, avoid taking sides. Instead, focus on helping both parties express their feelings and find a solution they can agree on.

This neutral stance encourages empathy and understanding, rather than escalating the conflict.

I admit, this can be incredibly challenging. There are moments when I need to step away to clear my head—or calm down—before returning to help.

Sibling rivalry happens in all families, but homeschooling families experience it in a unique way.

Homeschooled children, especially when they’re young, spend nearly all of their waking hours together, which intensify these dynamics.

Celebrate Their Differences

It’s easy to fall into the trap of expecting siblings to be similar, especially when they share so much of their environment. But just because they’re raised in the same home doesn’t mean they’ll have the same personalities, interests, or needs.

Some children are naturally more sensitive, while others are more independent.

Some love to talk about their feelings, while others prefer to work through things internally. Help your children understand that it’s okay to be different and that those differences can actually strengthen their relationship. Encourage them to respect each other’s unique qualities, and remind them that they don’t have to be the same to love and support one another.

Model Healthy Relationships

Our children learn how to navigate relationships by watching us. If we model healthy conflict resolution, patience, and empathy in our interactions—whether with our spouse, friends, or even with them—they’ll be more likely to adopt those same behaviors. It’s not about being perfect, but about showing them that even in the midst of disagreement, love and respect can prevail.

If you, like me, imagined a harmonious, conflict-free family life with siblings who always get along, it’s easy to feel disheartened when reality doesn’t match the dream. But rest assured: sibling conflict is not a sign of failure, nor does it mean your children won’t grow up to be close.

Instead, it’s an opportunity for growth—for them and for you.

Over time, with guidance, patience, and a lot of love, those small, daily interactions (both the good and the bad) will weave together to create lasting bonds. And one day, we’ll look back and realize that even in the midst of the chaos, we were building something beautiful.

* Read more from Amber on Simple Homeschool here.

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!

Navigating Election Season as Homeschoolers: Finding Peace in the Chaos ~ 
Written by Amber O’Neal Johnston from Heritage Mom

As a homeschooling mom, election season can be uncomfortable and tension-filled.

It’s hard enough to deal with adults bickering over politics, often letting their strongly held beliefs overshadow grace, respect, or even basic civility. But what really wears on me is how my kids, who are still figuring out their values and learning how to engage with the world, are being affected.

They come home from playgrounds or social gatherings repeating opinions they’ve heard—sometimes parroting the harsh, divisive words their friends hear at home. And suddenly, a place that should be an oasis of learning and growth turns into a battleground of opposing political views.

I find myself wishing it would just stop.

In her book Mother to Son, Jasmine L. Holmes writes about guiding her son to be “the one who speaks calm into chaos. The one who pursues peace. The one who asks clarifying questions and seeks understanding. The one who will not rest until you can state your opponent’s argument in terms so compassionate that you finally understand where they’re coming from.”

I want that for my kids. Heck, I want that for myself!

What if instead of adding to the noise and tension, we could be the voices of reason, the ones who value peace over winning, and understanding over conflict?

I think back to my own childhood and the lessons my family unknowingly taught me about political discourse. Growing up, both of my grandfathers lived on the same street. One was a die-hard Democrat, and the other was an equally passionate Republican.

But they got along—truly, deeply. Their disagreements were never ugly. They took friendly jabs at each other, sure, but it was always with a smile, a handshake, and an underlying sense of respect.

As a child, I never felt that one of them was somehow more “right” or more lovable than the other.

I never felt that one of them was a fool for voting the way he did, or that he couldn’t walk with God because of his political leanings. That kind of respect feels rare today and I wonder sometimes if those days are gone forever.

I’m someone who loves to build bridges. I relish casting a wide social net, connecting with people of all backgrounds and beliefs, learning from their perspectives. But during election season, I find myself retreating.

I nest at home more, gathering my little birds around me to protect them from the vitriol, the anger, and the hatred that spews so freely.

And although I love the warmth, the support, and the sense of shared values and goals within the homeschooling community, during election season, that warmth can feel like a fairy tale.

I’m reminded that we, too, are smack in the middle of every battle happening in this world, including politics. Our children are right there with us, witnessing it all.

United we stand, divided we fall.

So what can we do? How can we make a difference and model better behavior for our children?

I’ve been asking myself these questions lately, and while I don’t have all the answers, I’ve been reflecting on a few practical steps we can take as families:

5 Tips for Navigating Election Season as Homeschoolers

1. Model Calm and Compassion

As parents, we are constantly modeling behavior for our children, whether we realize it or not. When we engage in political discussions, let’s do so calmly. Let’s show our kids that we can disagree with others without losing our temper or demeaning the person we disagree with.

Teach them to ask thoughtful questions rather than resorting to quick judgments. When someone expresses a political view that’s different from ours, we can practice listening first—really listening—before responding.

2. Foster Critical Thinking

Encourage your kids to think for themselves rather than simply absorbing the opinions of others. Instead of reacting to what they hear on the playground or in social settings, challenge them to ask questions and do their own research.

Guide them in understanding that it’s okay to disagree with their friends or family members, but it’s essential to be kind and considerate in those disagreements.

I recommend Julie Bogart’s book, Raising Critical Thinkers, for help in this area.

3. Emphasize Common Ground

During election season, it’s easy to focus on what divides us. But let’s help our kids find common ground with others, even in the midst of political differences.

Remind them that everyone wants what’s best for their community, their country, and their families, even if they have different ideas about how to achieve that.

Finding shared values can reduce the intensity of disagreements and pave the way for more constructive conversations.

4. Protect Their Innocence

While it’s important for kids to learn about the world, it’s also okay to shield them from the full intensity of political debates, especially when those debates become hostile.

Keep an eye on their interactions and help guide them through situations where they might feel overwhelmed or confused. Home should be a refuge, a place where your children feel safe to ask questions and express their own thoughts without fear of judgment.

5. Encourage Grace and Humility

Teach your children that being “right” isn’t the most important thing. What matters more is how they treat people in the process of discussing ideas. Encourage them to have the humility to admit when they don’t know something and the grace to respectfully disagree when they do.

Navigating election season as homeschoolers doesn’t have to mean division and discomfort. With intention, we can use this time as an opportunity to teach our children valuable lessons about kindness, respect, and the importance of peaceful dialogue.

After all, the way we conduct ourselves during challenging times is often what sticks with them the most.

Ultimately, the legacy we leave our children won’t be in the sides we took, but in how we taught them to hold onto their values while honoring the humanity in everyone they meet.

* Find more of Amber’s writing on Simple Homeschool here!

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!

Seasons of Homeschooling: A Mother’s Journey ~ 
Written by Amber O’Neal Johnston from Heritage Mom

Homeschooling is a unique and transformative journey, filled with distinct seasons that each bring their own challenges and rewards. As mothers, we often experience these seasons in waves—moving from survival to maintenance to growth—each demanding different aspects of our energy, creativity, and patience.

Embracing these seasons of homeschooling fully can transform our homeschooling experience from one of mere endurance to one of fulfillment and joy:

Seasons of Survival

Every homeschooling mother knows the season of survival. This is when simply getting through the day feels like an achievement. With toddlers underfoot and babies in tow, the goal is to keep everyone fed, dry, and safe.

Structured lessons might take a backseat to impromptu learning moments, and that’s perfectly okay. Survival mode is marked by flexibility and resilience.

It’s about recognizing that homeschooling, especially with very young children, isn’t about perfection—it’s about presence.

When I was in this season, I always felt like I wasn’t doing enough. If the dishes were clean and the laundry folded, I wasn’t reading aloud enough. If I was killing it with the school lessons and the field trips were stellar, the house was a wreck.

When the kids had abundant energy, I was exhausted. When I was itching to get out and explore, the kids were napping. But when I look back at that time, I see now just how precious and foundational it was.

The point of that season wasn’t to have it all together; it was a time for me to fall in love with my children and the life we were building, and it was so good.

Seasons of Maintenance

As children grow and routines become more established, homeschooling can enter a season of maintenance. This is a time when we begin to execute well-laid plans more carefully. We start to understand our children’s unique learning styles and our own capacities for teaching and homemaking.

The balance between being a mom and a teacher starts to feel more attainable.

This season is also about fine-tuning our approach. It’s a period of gradual improvement and increased confidence. Here, the focus is on sustainability—creating a homeschooling environment that is both nurturing and effective without exhausting our resources or energy.

Most of my homeschooling journey has been spent in this season. A sense of calm alternated with a frenetic scramble as my learning curve perpetually shifted. It was spent finding my groove just in time to lose it again as my kids got older, we moved homes, or the families in our homeschool group changed.

There were hard moments, but they were part of a fascinating and glorious ride.

Seasons of Growth

Eventually, many homeschooling mothers find themselves in a season of growth. This is a time of profound personal development and reflection. As our children grow more independent in their studies, we might discover that we have more time to pursue our own interests and passions.

This realization can be both liberating and exhilarating. In this season of growth, we can adopt habits that enrich our lives and, by extension, our family’s homeschooling experience. Reading widely, engaging in creative hobbies, and pursuing personal goals are all part of this growth.

Embracing rest also becomes crucial during this season. Understanding that a well-rested mother can provide a better educational environment for her children is key. Shedding the guilt associated with taking time for ourselves allows us to return to our families with renewed energy and enthusiasm.

This period is about realizing that we don’t have to be martyrs to be effective and loving homeschool parents.

I find myself in this season today, and daily, I’m learning how to embrace moments of personal reflection. I’m noticing the expansion in my thoughts and ideas, and I crave the stimulation found in conversations with my children and husband, the books I read, and my circle of mama friends. This is an unexpected season, one I didn’t know was coming, and its arrival has felt like a found treasure.

Embracing the Seasons of Homeschooling

Each season of homeschooling has its unique challenges and beauty. The key is to fully engage with the season you’re in, knowing that it will soon morph into something different.

Cherish the simplicity and closeness that come with survival mode. Strive for balance and effectiveness in times of maintenance. In growth, celebrate the new interests and rest that allow you to be the best version of yourself for your family.

Homeschooling without being a martyr means embracing each season with an open heart, recognizing that each phase contributes to the richness of the journey.

By doing so, we not only nurture our children’s education but also our own personal development and well-being. The journey of homeschooling is a dynamic, evolving experience that shapes both parent and child in beautiful and unexpected ways.

* Find more of Amber’s writing on Simple Homeschool here!

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!

Homeschooling on an Empty Tank ~ 
Written by Amber O’Neal Johnston from Heritage Mom

Having a relaxed family schedule with plenty of time to rest and recharge is one of the many reasons my husband and I wanted to educate our children at home. We try to foster a healthy, balanced, and enriching environment, and for the most part, I think we do that well.

However, amid my efforts to protect the margin and downtime in my kids’ lives, there are seasons when I find myself ever-so-close to homeschooling on an empty tank.

Recently, I attended a talk by a naturalist who shared a fascinating fact: Cheetahs can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in less than three seconds. However, they can only maintain that speed for short distances before needing to rest.

Her presentation was about animals, but it struck a deep chord with me because it mirrors the reality of homeschooling.

Like cheetahs, we can go full throttle, tackling lessons, extracurriculars, and household responsibilities. But without adequate rest, we, too, face burnout. I wish I didn’t have much experience with exhaustion, but the truth is that I’ve homeschooled on an empty tank more times than I care to admit.

For me, the issue is two-fold. Sometimes, I’m simply not getting enough daily sleep. At other times, I’m in a season of feeling rushed and overcommitted, so I never seem to have time to be still and rest.

Homeschooling on an Empty Tank

When parents begin homeschooling, they often ask me questions about how to teach math and which science curriculum to use. Those questions are important, but I haven’t found sourcing academic resources to be the most challenging issue to tackle in home education. Knowing what to do isn’t nearly as difficult as doing it consistently through the days, weeks, and years.

The key to being consistent has been prioritizing balance in my schedule. I’m perpetually striving to value sleep and rest for myself as I treasure those things for my kids.

Respecting the rhythms of daily sleep and seasonal rest is directly correlated to my emotional and physical health and, therefore, the atmosphere of my home. My husband is fantastic, but our homeschooling days reflect my mood and energy level as our kids take their cues from me. I’m the hub of our home, so it impacts everyone when things are off with me.

One of my most significant issues stems from relishing quiet time. When everyone has gone to bed and the house is dark and peaceful, I should wind down and sleep, but I usually long to do the opposite. I crave those late-night hours.

The uninterrupted time to catch up on things left undone during the day, work on projects, or dig into a good book is often too good to give up. The issue is that staying up late leaves me with a grumpy sleep deficit that’s difficult to overcome.

When I get adequate sleep, I naturally wake up early (before my kids) and start the day feeling fresh. I have plenty of time to prepare for our day, enjoy a cup of tea, and serve a yummy breakfast. My children wake to a pleasant and patient mama, and they effortlessly match my vibe.

This tension between relishing my quiet late nights and needing adequate sleep is ever-present, alongside the risks of overcommitting while wanting to help my community. There are busy seasons when I may be getting enough daily sleep, but the relentless demands of outside commitments I’ve made threaten to topple any balance I’ve worked for.

I haven’t cracked the code to avoiding an empty tank, but I’ve spent time analyzing how and why I end up in cycles of exhaustion. Paying attention to my habits and simply noticing has helped immensely. I’ve learned that good sleep and adequate rest will never fall into my lap.

Those are things that I’ll constantly strive to get and keep, and it’s not easy. For today, I’ve decided that I need quiet late nights as much as I need my sleep, so our school day starts later than ever before.

Ironically, this later schedule has been incredible for my older kids as their natural sleep rhythms align well with the later start times.

Regarding outside commitments, I’ve found it easier to use “not right now” instead of “no” when asked to take on even small efforts. This season, I’m sticking with what I’ve already agreed to do and not replacing those projects as they naturally end.

Is this a perfect plan? Definitely not. It’s messy and haphazard at times, but it’s working.

The move from striving for idealized perfection to embracing realistic work-in-progress strategies has felt like a warm hug, and perhaps it can be the same for you.

(This post contains affiliate links, which means Simple Homeschool receives a small commission from some of the links on this page.)

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!

When Homeschoolers Change Their Minds ~ 
Written by Amber O’Neal Johnston from Heritage Mom

My husband and I excitedly jumped in with our preschooler when we began homeschooling. Part of our reason for keeping her home was the opportunity for acceleration; we wanted her to start school earlier than our local school district would allow.

With a stack of read-alouds, a box of colorful math manipulatives, and a zoo membership in hand, we were off to the races.

I had no clue what I was doing, so I spent a lot of time studying early childhood education philosophies online. The more I researched, the more convinced I became that our initial acceleration goal was no longer a wise position. Instead, we decided to put on the brakes and slow down.

That decision didn’t stop our forward movement, but we lingered longer and prioritized expansive, broad learning over going farther, faster.

The more committed we became to meandering, the surer we were that we’d made the right choice. Until it was no longer serving our daughter.

When Homeschoolers Change Their Minds

Last summer, our oldest came to me requesting to begin high school a year sooner than planned. I wasn’t receptive to the idea as I assumed she was trying to keep up with her besties, and I didn’t see that as a valid reason to change anything. But she immediately teared up, which was so unlike her, and I could tell she was in distress.

She proceeded to perfectly articulate the reasons that she felt ready for high school. And to my surprise, it had nothing to do with her friends.

Because of our initial slow schooling vibe, she had always been the oldest in her “grade.” As the years went on, our “move at your own pace” mantra resulted in a quickened pace, making her ready for higher-level learning earlier than I anticipated.

She wanted to be challenged and to feel like the hard work she was putting in would be acknowledged for what it was.

I explained that we could count some of her eighth-grade work toward high school credit, but she found that idea entirely unsatisfying:

“I’ve done everything you’ve ever asked of me and genuinely enjoy learning. I don’t receive letter grades, compete with other students, get awards in assemblies, or anything similar. My motivation has always come from within, and getting the school grade designation that matches the work I’m doing motivates me right now, even if you don’t understand it.”

Who could argue with that? So, I threw out my eighth-grade plans and quickly adjusted, but it was a struggle. I felt like I was reneging on my philosophy of not rushing through school.

My unpreparedness flustered me because I normally research thoroughly and enter the school year very organized. Most of all, I was scared.

By allowing my daughter to start high school sooner, I felt like I was signing up to lose a year with her in our home, and the mere thought of it made me terribly sad. I shared my honest thoughts with a dear friend, and what she said changed everything.

“You don’t want her to remain in the nest simply because you clipped her wings.”

Such wisdom! I don’t ever want to hold my children back. With that in mind, I shook off the yoke of fear, rolled up my sleeves, and planned as beautiful a ninth-grade year as I could, and boy, has it been magnificent.

My daughter was absolutely right. She was ready for the next level in every way. Her lessons have flourished, her social life has blossomed, and she is more confident and self-assured than ever.

Changing my mind hurt, but it was one of the best decisions of our homeschooling journey.

The big picture is now held loosely in my palm as I acknowledge that what is right in a particular season will continue to shift as my kids grow and mature—and, truthfully, as I grow and mature.

As homeschoolers, we chart a course, navigate the seas, and do our best to keep the ship sailing toward shore. But sometimes, there’s an island so beautiful that we must stop and visit. At other times, we drop anchor to rest or recover from an unexpected storm.

And then again, there are moments when we realize that we misread the compass or are headed to the wrong port. As captains of our family’s homeschooling journey, we have the privilege of changing our minds, especially when the health of our beloved crew is at stake.

Take the wheel and steer confidently, dear parent, knowing that you’re doing your best with the information and tools you have right now. Tomorrow, you may change your mind, and new adventures await you at every turn.

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!

Amber’s Homeschool Day in the Life (with a 8-,10-, 12-, and 14-year-old) ~ 
Written by Amber O’Neal Johnston from Heritage Mom

The longer I homeschool, the more I realize that a typical homeschool day in my family changes from year to year and sometimes even each season. A year ago, I was tethered to the house while recovering from a catastrophic illness. I’m happy to say that my health is much improved, but just as we started to get into a fresh, more active routine, I became caretaker for my sister, who is bravely battling breast cancer.

This season, our schedules dance around her doctor’s appointments, surgeries, and treatments, and we’re back to many homebound days as we do what families do best: lovingly care for one another.

Amber’s Homeschool Day in the Life (with an 8-, 10-, 12- and 14-year-old)

Today, I woke around 6:00 AM for a shower and a bite to eat. I listened to an audiobook while braiding my hair and sipped my daily cinnamon-spiced hot tea while waiting for my sister to join me in the kitchen. We briefly lingered around the breakfast table before visiting her oncologist at 7:30 AM.

Before we reached the office, my youngest (age 8) woke and called me from the kitchen Alexa to say he was hungry. I told him breakfast was in the microwave, and Daddy was downstairs in his home office if he needed help. I reminded him to unload the dishwasher and start working on the checklist I left for him on the kitchen counter.

At this stage, he can do almost half of his work independently, though the experience is not nearly as rich as when I’m home and fully attentive. The older kids wake at staggered times and make their way downstairs to eat, each one calling me to say good morning and ask me something about the day.

I appreciate the check-ins because it allows me to remain tuned into what’s happening in my absence, but it also means that the phone rings incessantly while I’m away.

My sister and I stop at a bagel cafe on the way home from the hospital. Though I’m anxious to get home, I’ve found that spending one-on-one time with her does much for her emotional health, and it’s absolutely worth the sacrifice.

When we’re done eating, we head home, and I immediately assess where everyone is in their day.

I answer a few questions for the older kids, slip into my sweats, and slide in next to my 8-year-old to review his work. I’m happy to see that, with some help from an older sister, he’s much further along than I anticipated. We work together to finish his lessons – reading practice, math, and history – and wrap up just before lunch.

After my little guy heads off to play, I check in with my hubby to see how his day is going. We make plans for him to run to the store for a few dinner ingredients. After that break, I spend about thirty minutes with each of my older kids to teach a lesson or review work they completed earlier in the day.

This midday one-on-one time is a critical time of our day because it shows each child that I care about what they’re working on, and I’m fully engaged in their activities, even when we miss our beloved morning routine. By mid-afternoon, everyone completes their work and scatters.

My teen spends her time painting in her room while listening to music. The 12-year-old hangs outside with a neighbor kid after the school bus drops her off, while my boys play darts and argue much of the afternoon if I’m being honest.

Scott and I work side-by-side in the kitchen to prepare dinner. He’s recently shared that he’d like our family to eat earlier to cut down on the snacking our kids do late in the day. This is a big adjustment because our last meal of the day has always skewed later, so he’s pitching in more than usual to help make miracles happen.

During dinner, we laugh over the conversation starters in The Hygge Game (afflink) that we love to use while eating. When everyone is done, my oldest son clears the table and loads the dishwasher while I begin our evening read-aloud.

I used to read closer to bedtime, but these days, I’ve found it easier to do it right after dinner when I already have everyone’s attention and their bellies are full.

We all do our own thing on the main floor for the next couple of hours. I catch up on emails while the boys play a board game, and the girls FaceTime my mom. Each night is different, and the kids have quite a bit of autonomy during these hours. Tonight, I spent an hour or so in the basement apartment with my sister, which is typical.

It’s lights out for the boys at 9:00, but the girls are just starting the next part of their day. They’re night owls and stay up late reading, listening to music, and laughing too loudly (I can often hear them through the vents). I wish they’d skip the nightly “sorority” meetup because I’d prefer to kick off our morning routine earlier, but I wouldn’t dare interfere with their late-night sister sessions.

I lay out our books for the next day and cue up videos I want the kids to watch before retiring to chat with Scott and read. Sometimes, I go to bed with him, but tonight, I listened to an audiobook in my earbuds after he was ready to turn out the lights. Reading is one of my favorite things to do, and I’ve become very reliant on audiobooks in this season of limited alone time.

Eventually, my family will resume our days of more active outdoor romps and community involvement. But for now, I’m thankful for the opportunity to serve my sister as a family while growing together.

Our days are full and our homeschool keeps humming when we’re in valleys or on mountaintops. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

My, how the days have changed:

• 2023: Amber’s Homeschool Day in the Life (with a 7, 9, 11, & 13-year-old)

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!

I’ve experienced so many ups and downs throughout our home education journey, it’s impossible to count them all. I know I’m not alone! Most of the trials and joys of homeschooling are ones we share in common.

Still some issues each of us face are unique, and at times may lead us to create what our family needs. Here’s our family’s story of doing exactly that:

Creating the Homeschooling Community You Crave

As an African American homeschooling family, one major hurdle we’ve faced is the lack of representation in the broader homeschool community.

The face of home education in America has traditionally been derived from who presents at/attends large homeschooling conferences, who writes for and reads popular home education publications, blogs, and social media accounts, and who authors mainstream books appealing to homeschooling parents.

Historically, these spaces have been relatively homogenous, as Black homeschoolers and others have struggled to be recognized as experts and included in opportunities to share, learn, and grow.

Sadly this has led some potential Black homeschoolers to feel dissuaded from teaching their children at home. It has also left many who take the plunge feeling disconnected.

The lack of culturally representative curricula is also a challenge. Though availability is slowly increasing, things like literature guides covering books featuring Black characters and history or science lessons that include the contributions of Black people are difficult to come by.

When books and lessons do mention Black Americans, they often focus solely on trials and oppression rather than expressions of Black joy: family bonds, community ties, cultural arts, and everyday friendships.

The tragedies of enslavement, the struggle for civil rights, and the difficulties of impoverished urban life are crucial areas for students to explore, but focusing on these alone can negatively impact both hearts and minds.

Black kids enjoy reading adventures, mysteries, coming-of-age novels, fantasies, historical fiction, biographies, and compelling nonfiction books as much as other children. The lack of convenient resources to help parents navigate these stories when they pursue them independently is a roadblock for those lacking the time or experience to develop lessons from scratch.

I’ve tried to help in this area by sharing African American book recommendations and easy-to-follow Black history lesson plans on my website, and others like Stories of Color are doing the same. But the homeschooling community still has a long way to go.

Another common challenge of homeschooling Black children is the lack of diversity in many communities. While some young people can navigate being the only Black child in their local support group, co-op, or extracurricular activities, it can be difficult for most, particularly as they get older.

In many areas, parents have seen an unmet need for homeschooling spaces where their Black children feel included, accepted, and known.

In major metropolitan markets, long-standing diverse groups often exist, but for some Black parents, meeting this need requires working with others to create a new environment. This was certainly the case for us.

In 2016, I launched a local homeschool support group to help families with Black children (not all the parents are Black) easily find a community of other homeschoolers with whom to learn and socialize.

Our group meets regularly for enrichment activities, service projects, field trips, nature-based activities, family events, educational road trips, parent webinars, moms’ or dads’ nights out, and more. The group is member-led, so activities are determined based on the needs and desires of the group, with each family having opportunities to plan events.

Our children still participate in plenty of other programming across our area, so the group is not meant to be a road to separation but another tool for successfully helping Black families homeschool.

This community, initially born out of disappointment with what was available, has now blossomed into one of the most joyful aspects of our homeschooling journey.

Of course, belonging is something families of all backgrounds crave. So whether your children are looking for friends with similar cultural experiences, differing abilities, or simply peers who enjoy the same activities (nature walks, board games, book clubs, sports, etc.), creating the community your family craves may be a perfect first step to fulfilling your family’s unmet need.

What you offer will likely be an answered prayer for other families, making the effort more fruitful and worthwhile.

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!

Home and family are where differences are celebrated, and books are often the best or only avenue available for kids to see inside the homes of others and begin to fill in the soft outlines of their understanding of how other people see the world.

Providing books as literary windows gives honest and varied views of different people’s lives and is like pulling back the curtains of a darkened room, allowing light to pour in. Literary windows provide a realistic view of how others live while simultaneously situating children within the context of a wider world.

An intentional home library (or public library haul) of windows is a first step to bringing balance to any curriculum, and it’s a creative way to raise children who operate with humility and confidence.

There’s no strict prescription for what constitutes a window because priorities and perspectives vary across households and backgrounds. But generally, I’ve found that many of the best selections of books as literary windows fall into the following categories:

How to Select Books as Literary Windows

A Day in the Life

Books that show how children in other countries, regions of our own country, and even our neighbors who look different live their daily lives today are invaluable. It’s easy for this category of books to become trite, so seek authentic voices when possible and choose dignity over tokenism and stereotypes in every case.

Family Is Everything

Family-focused stories offer ample opportunity for children to see the many similarities between their loved ones and others. This dynamic is just as important as embracing differences.

Family-centered books are also where we can most easily witness joy expressed through food, music, clothing, rhythms, and traditions, giving children a vivid sense of our common humanity and shared values.

A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words

Photographs and illustrations communicate things that authors often leave unsaid. They can show the variety of dress, skin color, hairstyles, home decor, food, leisure, transportation, and more.

Books featuring quality pictures are perfect for strewing around the house for children to happen upon and flip through.

Folktales

Legends or myths passed down through generations of people within a culture or cross-culturally are unique ways to understand the core beliefs of a people’s ancestors. The storytelling traditions of many groups hold a rich heritage of experiences on which some of their modern views may rest.

Biographies, Autobiographies, and Memoirs

It’s nearly impossible to write about a person’s life without including details on the world around them. Biographies and autobiographies often shed light on how people lived and what they received and gave to those around them, providing day-in-the-life glimpses contextualized within a broader historical perspective.

They’re gold mines for learning about people and the spaces in which they operate.

Poetry

I’m not sure that any other art form so quickly and thoroughly communicates the beliefs, customs, and dreams of a person or group of people.

Thoughts shared in verse explore what the poet may find familiar, what she loves, the beauty or pain she sees in her world, and even her opinions on real-life occurrences. Poetry is a near-perfect window.

Primary Sources

Books containing copies of primary sources such as speeches, interviews, documents, and letters are often windows that speak entirely for themselves. Resources such as these can provide more truthful and accurate accounts of people’s perspectives during a particular time.

Historical Fiction

Rooted in reality but not hemmed in by factual occurrence, historical fiction often brings humanity to stories of triumph while credibly redeeming tragedies. Some of these books are a gentle way to introduce tough topics, while others spur children to emulate heroes and ensure that some parts of history don’t repeat themselves on their watch.

These categories are not the only types of books as literary windows to share with children, but they’re an ideal beginning for families looking to expand their reading lives as they learn more about their communities and the world.

To learn more check out my book, A Place to Belong: Celebrating Diversity and Kinship in the Home and Beyond (currently 60% off on audio!) and/or Jamie’s book, Give Your Child the World: Raising Globally Minded Kids One Book at a Time (afflinks)

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!

5 Ways to Make the Most of Morning Routines~ 
Written by Amber O’Neal Johnston from Heritage Mom

Almost everything about our homeschooling vibe has changed over the years. Some aspects of what we do and how we spend our time are radically different from the early days, and others have shifted only minimally.

But an enriching morning routine is one thing that remains unchanged for our family.

These days I easily wake before my children. But even in the years when I was roused only by tiny lip smacks, and pudgy fingers literally pried my eyes open, we connected around the kitchen table every morning. There’s just something about starting our day with a predictable and pleasant cadence that sets the tone for the rest of our lessons and casual family time.

What you do during your morning time routine doesn’t matter as much as who you’re doing it with.

Every family has different priorities and interests, but the rhythms that pull you and your children closer together are the ones that you want to savor and make space for. It is more important to make the most of morning routines that are meaningful to your family.

Here are five ways to make the most of morning routines:

1. Prioritize kitchen table connections.

It doesn’t literally have to be at the kitchen table; that’s just where my family lands because we start chatting while enjoying breakfast. The point is to decide that the first part of your school day is spent learning, sharing, and being together in an intentional way.

When homemaking, outside work, or other commitments are piled high and the to-do list feels overwhelming, the temptation always exists to ditch morning connection in favor of a math lesson.

The struggle is real, and I get it! But you’ll never regret choosing to linger longer with interesting ideas and your favorite people.

2. Have a plan, even if it’s loosey-goosey.

You don’t have to schedule your family’s mornings down to the minute, but having a general rhythm in place helps you prepare and get the most out of your time. Write down what you’d ideally like to do during your morning table (or sofa) time. You may want to touch on the same things daily or create an entirely different plan for each day.

In our home, we mix it up with a little of each. Devotional, singing, poetry, reading aloud, and current events daily. Other things get rotated weekly or even just sprinkled in here or there.

3. Include other people when the opportunity arises.

My husband is present for a bit of our table time many mornings, but we also love to have grandparents, other family members, or friends who are visiting pull up a chair and join in the fun. It’s definitely a case of the more, the merrier.

I think everyone who has had the opportunity to participate in our morning routine has walked away feeling uplifted and inspired, and my kids enjoy nothing more than sharing their lives and learning with others.

4. Involve your kids.

It would be so easy just to sit and talk at my kids for an hour each morning because I have so many things to share with them, but lectures don’t breed connection. By incorporating my kids’ ideas and preferences into our routine, we’ve created something special that consistently speaks to us all.

5. Remain flexible when real life interferes!

There are some seasons when gathering for a beautiful morning feast with tea flowing and children smiling just isn’t realistic. Thankfully, this is not an all-or-nothing proposition.

Do what you can, when you can, with the full understanding that another season will bring a fresh perspective and opportunities to expand on what you’ve started, even if only in your heart.

With these ideas in mind, we’ve enjoyed years of fulfilling mornings, and your family can too! Let this be an inspiration for you to make the most of morning routines in your homeschool.

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!