Chasing Ducks and Reading Books: A Homeschooling Update (2025-2026)

Time flies by faster every day, and although I've been meaning to place a homeschooling update here (currently, I have five children under the age of 10), other things keep sliding to the forefront of my mind. So, as I drink some Assam tea and my children play Machi Koro 2, I'm going to take a minute to type away as I review our homeschooling life. How have things changed over the past few years? What has been working, and what has not turned out as I'd hoped? What are our educational plans for the future? 

A Education in Life

"You need to bring the kids over. Come anytime!" From beneath her white veil, the religious sister smiled at me and continued to insist. "Bring the kids over!" 

I knew that I needed to finally do it. 

When I had first learned that this woman had opened a home for elderly people and those near death, I was excited. The life-affirming mission of this home was beautiful. Yet, I hadn't taken my kids; it was hard to determine the "perfect" time to make a trip. However, that day after Mass, the answer popped in my head. 

"What if we just came and brought our schoolbooks?" I said slowly, turning the idea over in my mind. Instead of meandering home or heading to a park after daily Mass, once a week we could drive over to this home for the dying instead.

It would be, I realized, an answer to a prayer that dwelled in the depths of my heart.  

When we visited relatives last Christmas, I thought about how good it is to be with others, even if we aren't constantly doing an activity together. There's something reassuring and comforting about curling up on a couch with a book and seeing a couple other people playing a game nearby or watching a show together. Just being around other people, in community, is a beautiful and consoling thing. 

How Catholic parishes can support homeschooling families

My family and I are moving to the area soon, and we're homeschoolers. What is a good church that offers opportunities for homeschooling families?

A variation of this question regularly pops up within social media groups, especially as people look ahead to the coming school year. Over time, I've noticed that in the Catholic community, the same handful of parishes tend to be recommended over and over. Homeschooling families flock to these parish communities. They know they will be supported in their educational journey, and they are excited about the existing opportunities they can enjoy. 

It's wonderful when parishes encourage homeschooling families, and I'm grateful for the encouragement that homeschoolers receive from the diocese as well. However, I wonder if more parishes could join in this support and outreach. Catholic parishes do a fantastic job supporting and celebrating Catholic education when it comes to the school system. Yet, there are families in the pews who seek a Catholic education through homeschooling. 

Homeschooling families are part of the parish community, even if we don't utilize the Catholic school system. We don't need a homeschooling equivalent of Catholic Schools Week, but we would love encouragement and support, too. I've encountered Catholic homeschooling communities across America, and between my experiences and those of my friends and acquaintances, I've observed different ways that Catholic parishes can reach out to homeschooling families. Here are a few ideas to get us started as we support these families in their mission and work: 

A Learning Life: a homeschool update

As we ate whatever random scraps of food/leftovers comprised our lunch that day, two of my children started talking about pelvises and asking me questions. I ran to the shelf, grabbed one of our human body books, and brought it to the table. Together, as we nourished our bodies with food, we looked at the diagrams of the pelvis and discussed the differences between the pelvis on men and women. A week later, as my midwife gently rubbed my belly, feeling the position of our little one, my six-year-old seized the opportunity: "You know, the pelvis on a lady helps to hold up the uterus," he began. 

Just another ordinary day in our homeschooling life ;) 

I haven't done a "homeschooling update" since October 2021, so I guess it's about time to do another one! I started out the 2021-2022 school year with the mentality that we would take a slow approach (which soon got even slower) and it's now become a lot more of a "slow unschooling approach." It's been really, really good for us at this point in life.

A couple weeks ago, my six-year-old asked if he is in first grade (it seems that age and/or grade designations can be very important to kids). "Umm...I guess?" I responded, before I gave some lengthy ramble about grade levels being rather pointless when one is homeschooled (at least in the early years). Someone else recently mentioned homeschooling in the summer, asking if we do that, and my response to this was the same. Umm...I guess?

Yes, I guess we homeschool in the summer-because we live a life of learning.

A Homeschooling Snapshot: Fall 2021

I spent the first several years of my life as a homeschooled student, and I know that a typical "homeschooling day" can look completely different from family to family. At one point when I was young, there was a family in our homeschool group who exhibited a fairly unstructured "unschooling" lifestyle, and another family in that same group who opted for a highly structured approach. However, no matter what a family's particular approach to homeschooling is, the flow of the day commonly is different than that of a full-day brick-and-mortar school. 

Watching a demonstration by a Mounted Color Guard. 
It was very cool when they began hacking the balloons with their swords!

Many times, I've thought about doing a "day in the life" post, but since that would involve taking pictures and making notes from a particular day, I decided that I would put together a general overview of what our weekdays typically look like. Even with unpredictable events and a couple of regular activities, we somehow manage to keep a fairly consistent schedule for Monday-Friday. Perhaps, when my kids are older and life gets busier, I can look back on this post to remember the gloriously peaceful days of our "quiet growing time." 

As of now, in Fall 2021, my kids are ages 5, 3, and 1. In Oklahoma, school is required for five-year-old children (and full-day kindergarten here is the norm), but there are no requirements for homeschooling. So, we really have the ability to pick and choose whatever we want to do right now. My approach to homeschooling is currently very laid-back, and I draw some of my inspiration from the Montessori, Reggio-Emilia, unschooling, and Charlotte Mason educational movements and philosophies. With all that in mind, here's a snapshot of our daily life! 

Macaroni Musings

We need to talk about mac n’ cheese, because apparently I have some strong opinions.

When I was a young child, I would eagerly dump packets of orange powder into the steaming pot of macaroni noodles, excited to watch these noodles transform into the glorious concoction that is mac n’ cheese. I gobbled them up, savoring all of their fake-cheesy goodness. There was just nothing like it. Years later, when I got married, I decided that I would make mac n’ cheese for a meatless meal. However, rather than fly to those convenient boxes of my youth (which, while delicious, were not very filling) I decided to prepare homemade mac n’ cheese. I happily made a roux, cooked it into a sauce, added real cheese, poured it over noodles, and was filled with pride at my culinary pursuits. Those were the days when—as an excited newlywed—I plunged myself wholeheartedly into homemaking (in between college classes) and operated under the belief that “homemade is always best.” (Yes, those were the days when I even made homemade flour tortillas and, on occasion, homemade noodles)

Homemade mac n’ cheese was good, but it definitely lacked that delightful zest of the boxed variety. It wasn’t until a few years later when a coworker gave my husband the best recipe for mac n’ cheese; the ultimate recipe that we periodically prepare (and enjoy immensely).

A slow homeschooling approach

I've read that homeschoolers generally begin each academic year with tremendous momentum, planners and detailed lists in hand (as someone who was homeschooled until seventh grade, I can personally attest to this). With gusto, they jump into concentrated study, co-ops, and organized activities. By the end of winter, their energy may slow as they push through core subjects. The knowledge they started the year out strong gives them hope; the recognition that at least we got a lot done in the beginning. 

And then there's me. 

I arrived at the year's beginning with fairly relaxed homeschooling plans, and even those have slowed dramatically. We don't have the excuse of a pregnancy, new baby, or  major move, either. We have absolutely no excuse for moving at a snail's pace, aside from one: we're really enjoying a slow education. 

My three-year-old was a little unnerved by the huge tortoise
that kept trying to climb out of its enclosure, but it was pretty cool to see. 

The term "slowschooling" popped in my head as I began this post, and lo and behold, plenty of other people have already created hashtags and articles about this topic. There's comfort here, in knowing that I'm not the only insane homeschooler who is trying to step away from the rat race of education that sweeps through countless communities. As my husband and I tell our sons all the time, whether they're running down the hall to the bathroom or sitting down to eat dinner, "it's not a race." 

I've been trying to ensure a quiet growing time for myself and my kids, and it's honestly incredibly refreshing and liberating. We are learning, pursuing virtue, having a ton of fun, and simply enjoying the gift of life together. 

The hundred languages of homeschooling

When I finally climbed out of bed yesterday morning and trudged into the living room, my four-year-old happily greeted me: "Look, Mom! It's the Master Sword!" As he gestured towards his Magna Tile creation, I couldn't help but think of our recent homeschooling adventures.

On several mornings, we curled up on the couch with one of Akira Himekawa's Legend of Zelda mangas. Sandwiched between my preschooler and my two-year-old, I'd hold the baby and read for nearly an hour straight. The baby would watch excitedly before nursing or falling asleep (or both), as the boys would point to the pictures and ask questions about the story. When my voice grew weary, I'd leave to work on chores so the boys could entertain themselves. Inevitably, Link, Ganondorf, and Zelda would drift in and out of their imaginative play. 

Loris Malaguzzi, founder of the Reggio-Emilia approach to education, once wrote that "The child has a hundred languages." I find myself draw to these words as I see my children engage with the world in their own unique ways. 

The Joy found in Simple Work

I tend to think that the final weeks of pregnancy may be a strange time to unleash my homesteading/homemaking/pioneer aspirations, but that's just life. 

Several months ago, I was reading a book about urban homesteading-type activities, and I came across a section that discussed the value in using freshly milled flour. The book talked about the way that flour loses natural nutrients once it's milled. If there was one step the reader wanted to take in embracing more of a homesteading-type lifestyle, the author encouraged milling wheat berries at home to use. I was intrigued to learn more--after all, freshly milling flour at home sounded much more doable than cultivating an extensive garden or owning my own chickens. I began researching the topic, but I wasn't sure if I was ready to take such a big step. 

Months slipped by, but the idea of buying my own mill wouldn't leave my mind. But then, I discovered I was pregnant, and amid the nausea and fatigue, this fell off my radar completely. However, a few months ago, I unexpectedly received a monetary gift and as I wondered what I should get with it, I thought of flour mills again. 

Homeschooling is looking a lot like Pokémon over here

Dutch Blitz cards were scattered across the dining room floor as my kids and I sat to play. 

"I SEND OUT BLUE PLOW!" my firstborn cried, flinging a card in front of him. 

Our homeschooling looks a bit like a Pokémon battle over here, I thought. 

Even though we're still in the long, hot days of summer, a lot of people are talking about school, and for good reason: With the unpredictability of this pandemic, many people are experiencing changes and transitions regarding school. Some families, due to certain circumstances, have no choice aside from the brick-and-mortar schools. Other families are choosing to homeschool for the first time. Even those who were homeschooling prior to the pandemic, and will continue to do so, have new transitions to work through. 

The Trials and Joys of Building a Homeschooling Network

My three-year-old's voice rang out from the stacks of library books we had recently acquired, thanks to the availability of curbside pickup: 

"Do you know what a is for?" he asked-posing the question to no one in particular-as he enunciated the short vowel sound clearly. "It's for apple and spat." 

I grinned, a feeling of sense of delight. Well, despite my failure to do any kind of structured letter work lately, he seems to be learning just fine, I thought. 

Deep in my heart, I believe that most kids have a natural love for learning that we need to nourish and encourage. My firstborn is no exception; he loves learning, and frequently asks me to present the stack of letter flashcards to him. However, in the past several weeks-as I've fought to cope with this worldwide pandemic-I've responded to his request with "maybe later," or "we'll have to see"--and we never seem to get around to the flashcards. I keep reminding myself that there will be plenty of time for our more formal work in the weeks and months ahead, so instead of getting worked up about not being in a good "school routine" where he regularly has "preschool time" like some of his peers, I'm filling the days with books and nature walks, prayer and playtime. And, as this recent incident showed me, he is learning a tremendous amount right now. 

At this time last year, I was in a bit of a panic. I was hearing about some amazing homeschooling opportunities that friends were involved in, and I felt exasperated when I was informed that my kids were "too young" for some of these opportunities. I was struggling to find our place and path in this whole crazy journey of homeschooling. During this time, I had the unexpected and wonderful blessing of being able to speak with the fabulous Lisa Mladinich on her new homeschooling podcast. Inspired by my conversation with her, I jumped into the coming school year feeling excited and empowered. 

As I look over the past several months, I am amazed at how God has worked. Yes, we've had some fantastic experiences with other families, but even before any of that took place, God helped me through a mindset shift. My change in perspective as I look to a specific guiding principle in our homeschooling journey has been monumental. I had the great gift of getting to share my "aha!" moment, and much of my journey, on a recent podcast episode with Lisa. Here's part II of "Building a Network When Your Children are Small"! 

How Noticing can be Life-Changing

Four words slide together, forming a question that I utter several times a day. Four words form a backbone of the education I present to my children. Four words that, I hope, we can all ask our children, ask each other, ask ourselves.

One day, I was reading a book to my children; it was a simple, ordinary ritual we participate in often. Like many parents, after I read the words on a page, I asked my son: What do you see? It was some sort of attempt at grasping his comprehension, I guess. I wanted to know if he could identify elements of the pictures that were splashed across the page. Of course, this wasn't always the most peaceful occasion for me as I would grow bewildered and frustrated by how my child couldn't "see" an obvious picture.  

However, I suddenly realized that I had been asking the wrong question. As we sat on that mottled couch, a book spread across our laps, I resolved to ask something else.

A Power Outage and a Podcast: Summertime Adventures

I was sitting in a restaurant the other day and noticed an advertisement for "Fall" milkshakes. Shocked, I realized that even though it's still toasty outside, summer is winding down as falltime (hopefully) begins. It's amazing to look back on the past several weeks and see what God has brought our way. One exciting moment was the chance to be on a podcast! I was interviewed on a recent episode of Homeschooling Saints ("Building a Network when your Children are Small"), so if you want to hear what my voice sounds like and/or want to soak up the wisdom of Lisa Mladinich (the podcast host), you can give that a listen :) 

[Though to be completely honest with you: After that interview, I was filled with anxiety and doubts. I desperately wanted the recording to somehow be misplaced or deleted, because what if what I said came out all wrong? What if people take my words the wrong way? What if....what if...After some prayer and letting myself calm down, I realized that all of my anxiety was unnecessary. God is in control, and if he wanted this interview to happen, then maybe someone else needs to hear it and experience solidarity.] 

In other news, I chopped off my hair! I was sick and tired of having long hair, and I love not having to deal with it anymore. Especially since we had a big adventure coming our way. First, some relatives came to visit for a day/to take care of the kids while we packed...because then we went to Arkansas for the first time!

The Challenge of Homeschooling in the Early Years

I want to homeschool my kids. I am excited to guide them as we learn and explore this tremendously fascinating world. I am curious to see where there interests will take us, and what interests they will pursue. I am thrilled for my husband and I to grow and discover with them in this journey. 

My oldest child is now three-years-old. Many people proclaim that, Kids just need to play at that age! You don't need to "do school!" Yet, there's many children this age who are heading off to preschool (since some schools offer programs for three-year-olds). Then, there's other kids who aren't going off to preschool, but are planning on attending a brick-and-mortar school when they are old enough for kindergarten. They don't see themselves as being part of a "homeschooling family," and mentions of homeschooling will cause their parents to say, that's really great for some people, but it's not for us. 

I firmly believe that play is vital, particularly in the early years. Yet, my firstborn is fascinated with "schoolkids." He's talked about going to "school" someday. He loves being with other children. I think that right now, he would enjoy doing something "schoolish" with others. However, I've run into a small difficulty.

When Education prevents us from being truly present

I remember those mornings when we'd step into our puffy snowsuits and walk into the frosty air, our gloved hands packing snowballs or scooping armfuls of delicate snowflakes that we pushed and stacked into forts. Later, we'd crowd back into the hallway of that creaky Victorian house and lay our wet hats on the radiator as we rushed to sip mugfuls of hot chocolate.

I remember those afternoons when we'd breathe in the crisp air as we drug the rake across the yard, forming piles of leaves. Yellow, orange, and red would mix and tumble as we jumped and flung leaves at each other. I recall when once, a man stopped his car and walked over, and after talking with us raised his camera-and soon after, we excitedly stared at our picture in the local newspaper.

I remember those early mornings when I'd sit at that long kitchen table and write, write, write till the side of my right hand was gray from when I'd rest it against the page of the fantasy story I was creating.

I remember those leisurely, long hours at the library, when I'd lose myself in the shelves and pages upon pages of books. I remember the hiking trips, the field trips, and the peaceful weeknight evenings of fellowship and relaxation. The days and nights of simply being present with other human beings.

Then, the Educational System blasted into the calm.