There’s a little something floating around Pinterest that tells you all the magical ways to remove permanent (Sharpie) marker from different surfaces. It looked like just the thing for the Pinterest Busters to test. Removing Sharpie from clothing using hand sanitizer? One of our Pinterest Busters drew a llama on a shirt and attempted to …
Sometimes knowing how to handle allowances with kids is a struggle. There can be disagreement about kids helping out with work simply because they are part of the family versus paying kids to do things (because you realize as an adult, you can do it all faster—and for free.) We live on a farm. There …
How to Set Up an Extra Chores Extra Cash System for Your Kids Read More »
Mama friends, let’s have a chat about why you should get dad involved in your homeschool. Now, I want to give kudos to you, mama. You’re rockin’ this homeschooling thing in a hard core way. You’re totally slayin’ it. But let’s face it—sometimes it doesn’t matter what you say or how you say it, it …
Three Reasons to Get Dad Involved in Your Homeschool Read More »
Whether or not to pay kids an allowance is one of those parenting things that generally puts people on one side of a fence or the other. And trust me, I’ve seen both sides of the fence. I mean, it wasn’t so long ago that I was not going to regularly pay my kids to …
You all. I’m here to tell you about the best lunch ever: fried peanut butter and jelly. Fried peanut butter and jelly is the awesome lunch that I grew up on. I still love this lunchtime treat, and my kids do, too. It’s like peanut butter and jelly made even better. You’re basically fancying up …
Awhile back, I wrote a piece called Dear Homeschoolers, Please Stop. It detailed seven things we should stop doing as homeschoolers in order to have an easier, more awesome experience. Well. I’m still homeschooling and I’m still taking notes. So, for your entertainment and enlightenment, here are seven more things we should stop doing if …
Dear Homeschoolers, Please Stop. I’m serious this time. Read More »
This whole following your interests thing has almost become a buzz phrase. “Homeschooling is so great because it’s all about following your interests!” And it’s true, as homeschooling families, we have time to follow our interests. Because we have such freedom and flexibility with our hours, we have the ability to pour ourselves into the …
Rumor has it that you can cut glass with yarn by soaking a piece of yarn in nail polish remover, tying it around a glass bottle, and lighting the yarn on fire. Let’s just see about that. Materials Needed to Cut Glass With Yarn: – Glass bottle – Yarn – the rougher, the better (acrylic …
When that time of year comes when stuffy noses start to creep in, it’s time to recall when we did a little congestion experiment and tested the popular Vicks in a wax tart warmer suggestion that can be found plastered all over Pinterest. My kids are, and always have been, crazy for Vicks. According to …
Vicks in a Wax Tart Warmer Congestion Experiment Read More »
While the decision to homeschool might affect your child in many ways, it never ceases to amaze me the amount of people who still believe that kids are shy (or loud. or talkative. or introverted. or…) simply because they’re homeschooled. You’ve probably dealt with this, too. Let me give you an example from our experiences. …
It’s Because They’re Homeschooled: No, Actually It’s Not Read More »
Reading, writing, and arithmetic are important, no doubt. But there are a lot of other things kids should learn that will help them function in the real world—and they’re not the things we are going to find taught in any curriculum. This list might be a little different than what you’re expecting. So, here goes. …
10 Real Life Things Kids Should Learn That Aren’t In A Curriculum Read More »
Hi. My name is Amy (hi, Amy) and I’m a homeschooling mom. I’m also a writer with a habit of telling it like it is. So when my family started our journey down the road of homeschooling back in 2007, I knew that homeschooling was going to be added to my list of things I …
Like most folks this time of year, we’re keeping track of the things we are thankful for. I thought I’d let you in on the silly but memorable way that we do it…and how it has grown. Several years ago during our first November here at the farm, we decided we’d write down three things …
I’m the kind of mom who spends a lot of time in the kitchen. I love the kitchen. Give me a day to cook and bake from scratch and I’ll give you…well, a whole lot of yummy food. I love to bake bread. I love to make soup. I love to make desserts. And homemade …
Recently, I asked several of my favoritest homeschool moms how it was that they finally knew they were a homeschool mom (besides, you know, homeschooling their kids). What were the things that screamed, “oh my word, I am totally a homeschool mom!” After a lot of giggles, I am happy to present to you this …
For kids, learning how to write a paragraph can be hard. Really hard. My kids read a ton everyday, so I figured this meant they had a pretty good understanding of what a paragraph entailed. I remember (years ago) when it came time to learn how to write a paragraph, I assigned them to write …
I know. You’re a homeschooling mom and you spend a ton of time with your kids. So why in the world would you need one on one time with them? Why do you need to take each of your kids out on a special date? I’ll tell you why. One on one time makes them …
The Importance of One On One Time With Your Kids Read More »
I used to think that mom guilt would go away as my kids got older. I used to think that as my kids became more able and independent, the things for me to feel guilty about would lessen. Y’all? So. Not. True. Let me tell you about one of my more recent and unexpected explosions …
The great thing about homeschooling is there are people in different stages of the journey. New parents jumping in, experienced parents nearing the end…and a whole bunch of people in between figuring out where they are in the game. We all need each other. New homeschoolers have a drive and a passion, an excitement about …
Why New and Veteran Homeschoolers Need Each Other Read More »
When I first started this homeschooling journey back in 2007, I was pretty well convinced that homeschooling was all about freedom. Freedom in the sense that kids should be let to run free, spending all day doing what kids love to do. Who needed schedules and routines? The learning would come naturally and everything would …
Schedules and Routines: Some Kids Actually Like Them Read More »
