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
Earnest Echoes (articles revisited): I Am THAT Mom.

Earnest Echoes (articles revisited): I Am THAT Mom.

by earnestmomblog ♥ 1 Comment

*Originally published 07/30/2021. I am also human, and working on myself one step at a time.

As I prepare to write this, I earnestly feel gutted. Today, I was THAT mom. The mom that I have seen a million times; trying to keep it together as she can feel the entire façade of “everything is perfect” start to crumble and slip away. At first it was hard, but as I realized that I am human I was forced to give myself some grace.

Let’s set the stage for you. Thunderstorms kept us indoors. So movie and popcorn it is, until the popcorn maker got knocked over spilling popcorn every where and cracking the side panel. It was an accident, stay chill mama – accidents happen and its just a popcorn machine. Then children kept climbing the counter, literally I was taking children down from the countertops. Things started to calm until the hall closet upstairs was completely dissected from its contents while I was cleaning the popcorn machine. By then, the window to prepare dinner was closed, my oldest needed to go to karate and this mama was waving her white flag. It was enough.

My vehicle was parked across the street at my mother in laws and since my youngest two usually refuse pants and shoes, I needed to move the car to my driveway to save them from crossing the street shoeless (I have learned to pick my battles, shoes make it to the car in case they’re needed but I do not fight them on – in these cases I prefer peace to the fight). I called all three to the kitchen and said “get your shoes ready and stay RIGHT HERE, I am bring the car over.” They get busy putting their shoes on and I hot footed it across the street. All of the sudden, as I open the driver door there is my middle little. She startled me, then I realized she had ran across the street unassisted and that her 3 year old brother is likely right behind her. In my fear, my frustration I yelled at her. Ouch, it hurts my heart to even write that as I have been really working on my volume and tone with my children, but I was scared. Scared she could have been hurt, scared my youngest would soon be doing the same or is elsewhere outside completely unsupervised. I yelled, right at her “you scared me, and what about brother?! IS he safe?! I told you to stay in the house as I ran across the street!! Why didn’t you stay???” Ugh. We ran back to the house, and my oldest and youngest were standing right where I had asked them to stay only three minutes before.

Now I tell you, I have seen this mom around, so many times. Tired, worried, stressed, overwhelmed, scared, angry, frustrated, and yelling at her kid. Until this moment, I had always viewed the “yelling” mom as such a villain – and to all the moms I have judged before, I earnestly apologize. This is so HARD. Not that I condone yelling at children, however when I was scared, overwhelmed and worried for the safety of my children, that panic kicked in and naturally my voice elevated.

As soon as I saw all three of my children safe (my oldest is 11, so legally he can stay 3 minutes with his siblings as I drive up to get them, in case you are worried lol); I knelt down, cried and apologized instantly for yelling. I asked for my middle little’s forgiveness, I explained how scared I was but that yelling was not appropriate and I am working hard not to yell anymore. Then something surprising happened, she apologized for not listening and saw how scary that was for me. I was taken aback. I did not expect her to mirror my actions, to recognize and acknowledge her mistake and my feelings. It was messy, it was hard, but even in my mama-meltdown epic failure moments, these brilliant amazing little humans are still learning forgiveness, empathy and owning their own mistakes.

Yes, I am THAT mom. I am the mom that struggles with keeping my temper, sometimes doesn’t get food to the table on time (by the way we ordered in tonight), allows too much screen time, gives in to some demands to avoid the fight, and yells when I do not mean to. I am also THAT mom who forgives quickly, loves fully, asks for forgiveness and apologizes to show them I make mistakes too, and would protect my children at all costs. I cry in the bathroom, laugh at the dinner table and hug with everything I have got. I am 100% that mom and proud.

Remember mama, we are in this together – one Earnest MOM-ent at a time!

Love, Earnest Mom

An Earnest Summer: Keeping Homeschool, Light, Fun and Faith Filled.

An Earnest Summer: Keeping Homeschool, Light, Fun and Faith Filled.

by earnestmomblog ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Because learning does not stop when the sun comes out. Free printables below.

When summer rolls in, many of us homeschool parents face the same obstacle. We long to keep our learning rhythms built throughout the school year. However, we also want the freedom and rest of summer. The good news? We do not have to choose between learning and rest, we can do both!

In our home, we follow a gentle yet simple, heart-led summer rhythm to keep learning alive but not overwhelm. Join me as I share how we will make a meaningful summer and avoid burn out. There are even FREE printables to help us get started. Cheer’s to a summer of love, learning and grace!

Summer does not mean an end to learning for the homeschool family. What we do is shift our approach to the summer months. We bring in more reading time – be sure to check out your local libraries for their FREE summer reading programs (Erie County Residents, here is ours). Copy work or scripture readings for each week, just once a week is easy as pie. Real world mathematics, whether through baking, grocery store visits or budgeting for a new bike – get them involved. Another fun idea is nature journaling – keep it easy, just a clipboard, paper and pencil. We can sit outside together and draw what we hear, or write words describing sounds, smells and textures. Let’s be creative and explore different spaces around our towns or cities. At the end of the summer, compare and choose all the favorite spots. Long drives? Listen to audiobooks or interesting podcasts. Choose some that relate to what we learned last year so there are familiar roots to build on. This heart-lead approach has a light touch while we build deep roots.

Summer time can be a time for delightful discovery. Instead of formal lesson plans, we can follow our children’s interests. Want to learn about birds? Let’s grab a birding book from the library, download a birding app and put out some bird feed! Sit in our own window and watch or head to a local park and see what we can see! Have a kiddo curious about baking? We can roll up our sleeves, pull out the flour and print some recipes to do together. Or maybe our child asking some big God questions. Grab a notebook and the bible. See what we can glean together. Summer gives freedom to be wonder-led, something that is easily carried into the coming school year too.

Be sure to make room for the extras in the summer. This is a special time that we can lean into things we may skip through the year. Say YES to handicrafts and creative play, bible memorization, music/nature studies, service projects. Choose more family traditions or vacation time. Consider spontaneous field trips. Let our kids choose something within a 1-hour drive away. Take the bus to the library and donate books we are not using. These extras can become the essence of learning being lead by the heart.

Finally, let’s remember that rest is not laziness, it’s sacred. Our families do not need to “keep up.” We need to take time to refresh, slow down and sit back a little. Let’s let summer be marked with slow, long mornings. Barefoot afternoons with books and tea. Popsicles on the porch and sliced watermelon in the lawn. What our kids will remember most will not be what they completed. They will remember how they feel, with us, right where they belong.

Mama, our summers do not have to be busy to be beautiful. Let’s allow this season to be one of connection, peace and gentle learning. Low in pressure, high in family time. Ask the Lord to guide our days, and trust He can do more with our small offerings than we could even imagine.

We are not just getting through, or surviving summer – we are planting seeds that will bear fruit for a lifetime. Remember mama, we are in this together, one Earnest MOMent at a time.

Love, Earnest Mom

Earnest Mom’s FREE Summer Printables – click to print:

Heart-led Summer Checklist

Summer Scripture Memory Cards

Dear Earnest Mom: A Letter to the Me Who Just Started Homeschooling.

Dear Earnest Mom: A Letter to the Me Who Just Started Homeschooling.

by earnestmomblog ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Dear Earnest Mom,

Five years ago, you were tired and overthinking. You’ve doubted all of your abilities. You were definitely holding a cup of coffee that went cold hours ago. You said “yes” to something both exciting and terrifying: homeschooling.

I see you. You are second guessing EVERYTHING. You are listening to those around you tell you things you actually believe. “Children need socialization.” “You can’t, you have a toddler.” “You do not have the space.” “It is expensive.” “I am worried they won’t learn.”

You feel the overwhelming need to have 100 printed worksheets. Little desks should be lined in row. This space definitely needs a chalkboard. You are imagining creating a mini public school in your home. You are planning schedule charts, you have thousands on pins on your newly minted “Home School” Pinterest Board. You need to school for 6-8 hours a day per kid. Plus, you need to do it perfectly.

Let me just stop you. Hold on to both your shoulders. I would look you straight in the eye. Then take a deep breath in; and exhale “mama, you do not have to do any of this.” Breathe in again, and exhale, “you are more capable than you know.”

Here is what I would tell you, if I could sit across from you at the dinner table. The soon to be home school table. If I could, I would pour you a fresh hot cup of coffee. Your amazing children would be playing to and fro. Their couch fort would collapse to the sound of their laughter.

  1. You DO NOT need to recreate school at home. Your children will learn. It may happen slowly, but that real learning often happens curled up on the couch, or reading aloud at the kitchen table. It happens in the kitchen, baking bread and talking fractions. Together you will learn taking walks in the gorge, visiting museums and delivering a kind card to a friend. Learning happens everywhere – do not let the idea of institutional school inspire what you need to do. You know your children, you love your children, you will teach them just the ways they need.
  2. You are allowed to go slow. There is NO “behind” in home school. There is ONLY your pace and your children – exactly where they are at. Some years will feel productive and done in ease. Others will feel like you are playing a game of Jumanji. Both count-remember learning happens everywhere.
  3. You will grow right alongside them. Home school is not just about shaping their minds. It is also shaping your heart. As you walk, the Lord as your lead, you will learn to let go and let God. You will learn to see where you lack, He gives the increase. You will gain the opportunity to know them deeply. This journey will be sacred, though not always smooth. You will learn with patience, humility, and the blessing of slowing down. You will mess up, but grace – sweet grace will meet you there every time.
  4. It’s okay to change things up. Best laid plans, and all that. That color coded calendar, printed out curriculum – it all could change by November. That routine that you planned so well, it could crumble with a stomach bug. You are not failing – you are using your wisdom. You will pivot things in prayer, trust your instincts, and learn to do what works for YOUR family.
  5. You do not have to do this alone. Find your people mama. Your community will carry you. It could be your bestie who has decided to home school too. It could be an encouraging mom from your local MomCo group. Perhaps it’s your sister who picks up every time you call. You were never meant to carry this by yourself, you were called for more.
  6. Fruit takes time mama, be patient. There will be days, SO MANY DAYS when it feels like nothing is sticking. You will wondering if anything that you do matters. You’ll worry they are not learning anything. Then, one day, you’ll hear them explain something you taught them, or a prayer you prayed with them. You will receive compliments of how mature they are. They carry conversations with adults easily. Their respectfulness shows in their top-notch manners! Then, right then, you will see it. The fruit. Lovely. Quiet. Steady. Beautiful.

So, breathe deep mama. You don’t need to have it all worked out today. God’s mercies will be new again tomorrow morning. There will be coffee and the read-alouds. The mess and the wonder will be there too.

You’ve got this — not because you’re perfect, but because you’re called. One Earnest MOMent at a time.

With love and grace, Earnest Mom. (Just a touch greyer, a bit softer, and still in awe of this wild, holy home school life).