Category Archives: homeschooling

Jul 13 2025

5 Books Homeschool Moms Must Read

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Every year, homeschool moms should read one book about home education. At least one. I have put the bar low because I know how busy we all are. And once you have been doing this for a few years, it might seem redundant to keep reading books about homeschooling.

Feeding the Mouth that Bites You

This book has helped me tremendously as my children became teenagers. The author has a podcast, too.

Nevertheless, reading about homeschooling helps to keep your mindset fresh and updated. Children grow up and change. You change with them. The general books about homeschooling probably hit you differently when your kids are under 10, compared to their teenage years.

Reset Your Child's Brain

Implementing this book completely changed one of my children for the better

Therefore, I put together a TOP 5 Books for Homeschool Moms to help give you a grounding for the right homeschool and parenting mindset. This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Affiliate, I receive a small compensation without added cost to you if you buy through the links below.

  1. For the Children’s Sake
  2. The Well-Trained Mind
  3. Feeding the Mouth That Bites You
  4. Reset Your Child’s Brain
  5. Ten Ways to Destroy the Imagination of Your Child

Bonus title, especially for Christian parents, The Power of a Praying Parent by Stormie Omartian.

The Power of a Praying Parent

A prayer book which tackles all the aspects of a child’s life and development

Stop reading this blog now and order these books for your shelves. Get them from your library if money is tight. I strongly advise you to get your own copy though. These are classics and you will refer to them again and again.

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Affiliate, I receive a small compensation without added cost to you if you buy through the above links.

Jun 24 2025

Amazon Prime Day 2025: 7 Self-Care Deals for Homeschool Moms

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We homeschool moms pour our hearts into creating enriching learning environments for our children, often putting our own needs on the back burner. With Amazon Prime Day 2025 running from July 8-11, it’s the perfect time to prioritize self-care with some amazing deals on products that promote relaxation, wellness, and a little pampering. Below, I have curated seven self-care essentials tailored for homeschool moms, plus a special note on how an Amazon Prime membership can maximize your savings. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases, which helps support this blog at no extra cost to you. Let’s dive into these must-have deals!

 

1. Pré de Provence Lavender Soap Bar

Indulge in a luxurious bathing experience with this shea butter-enriched soap, crafted using traditional French methods. Its soothing lavender scent and thick lather make it a perfect addition to your evening wind-down routine, leaving your skin soft and refreshed.

Pre de Provence Lavender Bar Soap

Pre de Provence Lavender Bar Soap

  • Why I Love It: Long-lasting, natural ingredients, and a calming aroma ideal for a quick self-care moment.
  • Deal: Up to 30% off select Pré de Provence products during Prime Day.
  • Price: Approx. $10.99.

 

2. Dreamegg White Noise Machine

Sound Therapy Machine

Sound Therapy Machine

Create a serene environment for meditation, naps, or focused planning with this versatile sound machine. With 34 soothing sounds and customizable light settings, it’s a homeschool mom’s best friend for carving out moments of peace amidst a busy day.

  • Why I Love It: Portable and perfect for creating a calming atmosphere during lesson planning or downtime.
  • Deal: Matches the best price seen in 2025, up to 25% off.
  • Price: Approx. $29.99 after discount. Maybe less. Check the link.

Continue reading »

Jun 10 2025

Amazon Prime Day 2025: Best Homeschool Back-to-School Supplies to Grab Early

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As homeschool families prepare for another year of learning adventures, Amazon Prime Day 2025 arrives at the perfect time: July 8-11. We’ve carefully selected these foundational items that work across multiple subjects and grade levels, helping you maximize your homeschool budget. This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This means I may receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through these links. See our full disclosure policy for more details.

Back to School Amazon Prime Day

Back to School Amazon Prime Day

 

Essential Items

  1. The Homeschool Planner by Paper Peony Press and Jennifer Pepito [affiliate link]
  • 192 pages printed on high quality interior stock
  • Monthly tabs
  • Undated (so that you can start at anytime!) sections
  • Clean & simple layout
  • Beautiful hardback cover with gold spiral and corner protectors
  • 7.25 in. x 9.75 in.
  • Why we love it: This planner specifically addresses homeschool needs while remaining flexible enough for various teaching styles.

Continue reading »

Mar 5 2025

Homeschooling Made Simple | Part 2 of 7 – Academic Planning

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In Part 2 of 7 about how to organize your homeschool in 7 days, we cover planning your academics. Above all else, your homeschool will be judged by others in terms of how well prepared your children are for school subjects. So yeah, this is a biggie.

Homeschooling Mady Easy

Homeschooling Mady Easy

The only other aspect of homeschooling which might get more attention than academics is socialization. Homeschool detractors like to point out the S word: what about socialization? Well, we answer them in a future video. This Part 2 is about academics. Continue reading »

Sep 16 2024

Sick Week, No. 2

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For the second week in a row, I am sick. The thing is, I got better. I ran errands for two days; I did things. We were back to full-time homeschooling. Then I got the worst sore throat of my life, which, by the way, is called pharyngitis.

Shrub sleeping on the ottoman

Our cat, Shrub, sleeping on an ottoman.

I treated it with home remedies and, after two days of things getting worse, I asked my husband to take me to an urgent care clinic. I was feeling soreness and knots in places I did not know I had down my throat. Continue reading »

Jun 3 2024

Forest Bathing

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If you have never heard of forest bathing, you should probably look into it. We humans living in the Western Hemisphere, spending most of our day indoors, in front of a screen for legitimate work, are suffering from Nature Deficit Disorder. The solution? Spending time in a forest, also known as forest bathing.

Teenage boy on a river rock

My son sunbathing on a river rock, Old Sugarland Trail

While simply hiking will bring you physical benefits, it also helps with your mental state. Forest bathing implies that you engage all your senses while in the forest: you see trees and plants and animals and birds. You hear squirrels scuttling nearby or birds singing. Or you can touch different tree bark textures or run your hand through a rushing mountain river. And, naturally, you can breathe in amazingly clean air and absorb the sunshine. Continue reading »

Apr 5 2024

The Last Month of the School Year

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For many of us, April represents the last month of the school year. Sure, we homeschool through the middle of May sometimes, depending on how the 36 weeks hit and where they begin. But, for sure, by the middle of April, we find ourselves facing the last month of the school year.

Teenage boy formal attire

My son at a recent formal event

There is a joke in our homeschool community that in August we all hit all sorts of goals and follow planning sheets. By April, the joke continues, we just tell our kids, “Read something.” Well, not quite. Continue reading »

Mar 31 2024

So Much for Spring Break

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It is a good thing we took spring break last week, because we all got sick anyway. We drove to co-op on Monday feeling half back to normal, and we left earlier than usual. My son talked to his teachers and we just left. Gotta love spring allergies.

Gatlinburg sunset

The sunset at our house a few days ago

As we slowly recovered, we got a few more lessons done, but not much. This is one of the many examples where homeschooling has a clear advantage over institutionalized schooling. You do not need a permission slip to take a trip or a signature on a form which states you are ill and will take a few days off. Or whatever they do in school these days. I would not know.

Alum Cave Foggy Vista

Alum Cave Foggy Vista

Having said all that, I love that spring is finally here. We took a hike with our group the following week and things are looking up. All winter long, we did not get sick. I suppose we were due one illness for the season.

Jan 26 2024

New Semester

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The beginning of another calendar year only means one thing for a homeschool mom: the beginning of the second semester. The weather has kept us inside and so we have been working on our books, but we also made it out once for a hike.

Teenager at Panther Creek State Park

My son at Panther Creek State Park

With so many events canceled, we simply took this new schedule and made the best of it. The kids must learn flexibility at some point or other. Continue reading »

Jan 14 2024

Book 49 of 50 – Baking with Mary Berry

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The Princess of Wales lead me to Mary Berry because I saw a clip of the both of them baking together. As I researched who Mary Berry was, I learned they call her the Queen of British Baking.

Baking with Mary Berry

My copy, purchased from McKay’s, a used bookstore in Knoxville, for $8

Next thing I knew, in one of my visits to a bookstore, I spotted a cookbook by Mary Berry. When you open yourself up to a certain concept, the road veers  and steers you in the right direction for the next step. You just have to take the first step. Providence will supply the next and the next. Continue reading »