Author: earnestmomblog

Earnest Mom follows our journey from a school based system into home learning with my wild and free three - and regular momming life. S (15), E (10) and J (7) are my three who make me want to be a better person every single day. We love God, reading aloud, sharing stories, building blocks, nature hikes, family suppers, and trying to be kind caring humans to those around us. Home learning is a whole new world to us and we are so thankful that you have stopped in to join the ride. Follow us on Instagram @earnestmomblog Bless, Rebecca
Planning a Homeschool Year with Prayer. (+ Free Printable Planner Pages and Editable 2025-26 Calendar)

Planning a Homeschool Year with Prayer. (+ Free Printable Planner Pages and Editable 2025-26 Calendar)

by earnestmomblog ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

When we first began homeschooling, I earnestly believed the most important thing was finding the perfect curriculum. I spent hours and hours researching lesson plans, charts, posters, planners, etc. Overwhelming at best! But the truth is – what my homeschool really needed was not a flawless plan. It was prayer.

Prayer reminds us that God is the one leading our homeschool, not us. It shifts the focus from getting all the things done, to walking with Him and letting Him lead.

That is why this year instead of simply mapping mathematics or history timelines, I am starting with prayer and I want to remind you mama, you can start here too.

Start with praying before the planning. Before you open your planner, open your heart and ask the Lord to guide you in the process. You can ask Him:

  • What do my children need this year – not only academically but spiritually and emotionally too?
  • Where do we need to slow down? Where can we grow deeper?
  • How can our homeschool point to You, in every lesson and every day?

Next, plan with purpose and not pressure. Planning with prayer means shifting from rigid checklists to purposeful rhythms. Instead of asking, “What do we need to get through?” ask:

  • How do I want the days to feel?
  • What values do I want to weave into our learning?
  • Where can we create space for joy, rest and connection?

Be willing to change your plans. Homeschool is full of surprises. Sickness, field trips, life interruptions – God uses them all. When you plan with prayer, you give yourself freedom to adjust and trust that detours can be divine. Instead of trying to control the year, commit it to God and hold your plans loosely. (I am telling myself this daily while planning – I need to let God more than I let me!)

Dedicate your year to the Lord. Once your planner or calendar is filled – pray over them. Lay your homeschool, and the hearts of you and your children at the feet of the saviour. Ask him to lead you, teach you and let the whole year be His. Pray together before your year starts – as a whole school household. Ask him to bless your learning, conversations and growth.

Our homeschool year officially starts next week with a back to school party with fellow homeschool friends. However we always launch in August with a mini unit to get back in the school day rhythm. In planning these last few weeks, I have created a 2025-26 calendar, daily planning sheet (that I will laminate and use daily), our read aloud booklist (we are a read aloud family – curious? Check out my previous article), and a booklist sheet for each of my children.

Calendar
Daily Planner
Read Aloud Booklist
Child Booklist
Child Booklist
Child Booklist

Like what you see? You are welcome to access the Earnest Mom Homeschool Planner Bundle – FREE! Click the link, then select ‘Use template’ to open and edit your own copy in Canva. That’s it!

Remember mama, we are in this together, one Earnest (and prayerful) MOMent at a time!

Love, Earnest Mom

Finding Earnest Connection in Motherhood

Finding Earnest Connection in Motherhood

by earnestmomblog ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Motherhood is earnestly beautiful – but it can also be lonely.

We spend our days pouring out – packing lunches, reading stories, wiping tears (and bottoms). And while our hearts are full of love for our family, many of us have the quiet worry… Who is pouring into me??

God never meant for us to be alone, not in life and especially not in motherhood.

We are created for connection, for laughter across the kitchen table. For prayers whispered over coffee. For a knowing glance or silent hand squeeze in the toughest of times. Moments that say, we are in this together.

The thing about motherhood, with all its moving pieces, we find that friendships take a back seat and then it is hard to make new ones or even pick up old ones. Friendship in motherhood takes intention, and often takes courage. In a recent Ohio State University survey, 71% of moms said that the demands of parenthood made them feel lonely sometimes or a lot of the time. That is every 2 out of 3 moms you know or meet. The facts are staggering, and what’s more once we get into the that lonely place, it is so tough to get out.

Do not lose hope mama, it may take a little work, being a bit awkward but the truth is – we are all awkward and nervous. Here are some gentle steps you can take if you are craving deeper friendships this season.

  1. Be Brave enough to go first. Sometimes friendship starts with a simple smile or a brave “Hi!” at the park or in the church nursery room. It’s ok to feel nervous – you are not alone in that.
  2. Extend small invitations. You do not need to plan a big event or playdate – send a quick test saying “want to grab coffee?” or “want to join me for a stroller walk today?” These are great places to start mama, one small step at a time.
  3. Embrace imperfect connections. Friendships do not require dust free baseboards or a five course meal. Invite someone over, even if the laundry is out. Real connections grow in real life situations.
  4. Look for the mom standing alone. Maybe at church, the park or your local homeschool co-op, the library or even waiting outside the pick line at school. She is probably just a nervous as you but longing for a friend too!
  5. Ask God for friendship. Do not forget to pray! Ask the Lord to bring the right women into your life – someone who will see you, support you and will help you grow with him.

Mama, we were made for community. We were made for connection.

Be bold. Be kind. Be willing to go first. Be awkward. Be real. And walk in truth – it is hard to step out and make new friends, but it is harder to be in this alone. So, choose your hard mama. Sometimes the best of friendships began with a shared smile or a spare diaper, because you have run out of diapers while in the bathroom at a department store too.

I have included some sweet and simple ways to connect – Mom Connection Cards! Print the cards out, fill in your name and number and keep them in the diaper bag, purse or glove box. Hand them to another mom when the moment feels right – it is the first step that can lead to some beautiful rewards.

Remember, in motherhood we are in this together, one earnest MOMent at a time.

Love, Earnest Mom.

Earnest Echoes:We Are a Read Aloud Family.

Earnest Echoes:We Are a Read Aloud Family.

by earnestmomblog ♥ 1 Comment

Originally published 10/25/2020

What is a read aloud family you ask? Just as it sounds, we read aloud together. Every morning as a part of our daily rhythm we read aloud while the kids do handicrafts. We have scripture reading then we read a chapter book. Last month was the Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum, this month we are reading The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis (of course to be followed by their very first viewing of The Chronicles of Narnia movie). They love read aloud time, in so much that they often request it goes longer or happens again later in the day. They even like the voices that I do, even though I feel silly, they only feel the magic of a character’s voice speaking to them.

I have always been a sucker for literature. I remember loving storytime in early elememtary grades, and with a sixth grade teacher who was obsessed with William Shakespeare (shout out to Mrs Matheson of Amherstburg Public School, you literally changed my life) I had read the entire works of Shakespeare by the time I was 13.

Every year at Christmas Little Women is a book I consume, and every January I follow Little Women with Jane Eyre. It is incredible how I can read these books over and over and I still cry in all the same places; marriages devistated on the alter, hidden secrets, and the death of a beloved. The aches from the first times my tears fell turning page after page ripples back up like an old friend that I had forgotten about until the sting of the words reveal the emotion again.

I love being read to; in full disclosure I have to admit that the last two years both of my favortie books listed previous have been read in audiobook form. No wonder I love sharing read aloud time with my children, I have it all the time for myself. While I fold laundry, wash the dishes, go for walks and even traveling – I am constantly being read to. This year is the 100th Anniversary of Agatha Christies’s Hercule Poirot and I am slowly making my way through the whole series. During the past COVID quarantine, I had been more on a self improvement book kick with an occasional “Agatha break” but as of June, I began The Mysterious Affair at Styles in honor of Poirot’s 100 years I have stuck to this egg-headed detective.

When I think of the adventures I have been on, the people I have met and the countries I have been. Through literature I have experienced life and death, marriages and ruin, love and loss; never having to leave the pages before me. I get so excited watching my children head out on those same adventures to the sound of my own voice. Reading aloud has been something we did informally all the time, but with home learning we now make it a part of our day. It is a daily family adventure that often leads to the hope of “just one more chapter before we start school.” We love it.