Guarding Your Marriage

by on February 15, 2012
in family time · 33 Comments

Written by contributor Kris Bales, of Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers

So, why am I talking about marriage on a homeschooling blog? Because, in the last couple of years, I’ve seen the marriages of several fellow homeschooling families end in divorce.  Now, don’t misunderstand — I’m not saying that these couples didn’t take steps to guard their marriages. It’s just that seeing the fallout of divorce tends to strengthen my resolve to hold tight to what I have.

It’s easy, as a homeschooling mom, to fall into the trap of giving the best part of your time to your kids. By the time you’ve schooled all day, cooked the meals, done the laundry, cleaned the house, run the errands, and everything else that goes into managing a household, there can be little energy left for investing in your marriage.
[Read more...]

The Best Homeschooling Resources Online

by on February 13, 2012
in a mom's education ·

Written by Jamie Martin, editor of Simple Homeschool and Steady Mom

Today I want to point you in the direction of Parents.com–where I recently had an article published sharing the best homeschooling resources online.

Head over to read about the following:

  • websites to help you understand educational philosophies
  • websites to answer your legal questions
  • best online curriculums
  • best websites for online learning
  • best homeschooling blogs
  • best twitter feeds and facebook communities

Check out the article here!

Weekend Giveaway: Sparkle Stories

by on February 11, 2012
in giveaways ·

This giveaway has ended and the winners have been contacted via email. Thanks for entering!

Today you’re in for a treat: an introduction to one of my family’s recent discoveries, Sparkle Stories. My three children have fallen in love with these imaginative tales, and I think yours will as well.

From Sparkle Stories:

“Sparkle is an online subscription to high-quality audio stories for children and families. Each week Sparkle Stories delivers delightful audio stories to subscribers around the world.

We offer five original Story Series, plus a sixth Series with classic stories, songs and games, all designed to entertain and inspire the whole family. (Jamie’s note: Two of the storylines, about Martin & Sylvia, feature a homeschooling family.)

Audio stories, or stories told out-loud, are untethered to images viewed on a screen. The child is free and able to paint her own pictures out of her own imagination. She becomes relaxed and entranced – committing herself fully to a fantastic adventure.

Sparkle Stories are fun, Sparkle Stories are inspiring, and Sparkle Stories are good for young minds and spirits! Our stories inspire a sense of wonder and magic in life, encourage creativity and a strong sense of self, and even illuminate common childhood challenges.”

Two Simple Homeschool winners will receive a 3-month subscription to the full Sparkle Story series.
[Read more...]

How to Feed The Kids (and Still Have A Life)

by on February 10, 2012
in home maintenance & management · 19 Comments

Contributor Amida writes for Journey Into Unschooling.

One of my biggest challenges when it comes to homeschooling is not the schooling itself but the fact that we are always home — and hungry.  Because we are home the majority of the day, mealtime — and hence meal prep — takes up a huge amount of time for me.

Being the sole cook in the house, some days it feels as if I am a permanent fixture in the kitchen, making breakfast, cleaning up, prepping for lunch, and brainstorming for dinner. By the middle  of the week, I am usually clear out of ideas or tired of cooking. On the days the children have multiple classes outside the house, it becomes even more challenging as I figure out how to feed them quickly and healthily.

It would be awesome if the children could cook for themselves, but that is just not always practical, especially for the younger crowd who still require supervision and a parent helper. To help move things along, there are a few short cuts and techniques that I’ve found helpful in the daily struggle to feed everyone (and still have time left over for life outside the kitchen!).

In the same boat and need ideas to get you started? Read on!
[Read more...]

Jessica’s Day in the Life (with a 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, & 14-year old)

by on February 8, 2012
in organization · 48 Comments

Written by contributor Jessica Fisher of Life as Mom and Good Cheap Eats

Parenting and homeschooling six children has been, by far, the wildest ride of my life yet. The month of January was a particular roller coaster-ish one. When Jamie mentioned that we were sharing our “day in the life,” I inwardly cringed. I would have loved to present a picture perfect image and a schedule to match.

But, alas, that is not my reality.

In fact, the first month of the year was one of great reflection, introspection, readjustment, and a lot of “fighting the funk.” As a result, I’m currently undergoing an extreme home(school) makeover and trying to figure out what’s most important for our homeschool. I’ve realized as my family grows in size and age, things won’t always go according to my lovely plans. Life is subject to change.

And I want to enjoy that life fully, despite the hairpin turns and the loop-de-loops that make my jowls shake in the wind. Just for fun, I kept a running log one day to see what really happens around here. I found it quite amusing.
[Read more...]

FREE copy of my new book, Mindset for Moms! *UPDATE* Promotion Now Over

by on February 6, 2012
in links ·

UPDATE: This promotion has now ended, but Mindset for Moms is available for just $4.99 in four formats: for your Kindle, for your Nook, on iTunes, or as a printable PDF. To buy the PDF you can just click ‘add to cart’ here:Add to Cart
Find out more about the ebook and read an excerpt here. Thanks!

From right now until 10 pm EST on Tuesday, Feb 7th, you can get a PDF copy of Mindset for Moms: From Mundane to Marvelous Thinking in Just 30 Days completely FREE just by helping me spread the word about the book!

Head here to find out all the details.

Thanks for your support!

« Older Posts
Newer Posts »