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Krista: [00:00:00] This is Secret Mom Hacks, episode number 26. My name is Krista, and I am your host. It's August 2nd, 2023, and today's episode is about homeschooling. Yes, y'all, my sweet daughter starts kindergarten this month, and we've made the decision to homeschool for various reasons. Now, my husband and I are both products of small town public schools, and I'll admit I never really imagined us doing anything differently with her, but I have to say, with the way of the world, it's a decision I didn't take lightly, and I'm actually really looking forward to homeschooling.

But before we dive into more of the reasons why, I just want to say thanks for tuning in mama. I started this podcast because babies don't come with instructions. As of this recording, I'm chasing around a five year old that no amount of Googling, mom groups, or what to expect when you're expecting books [00:01:00] were able to prepare me for.

There's a lot of stuff people don't talk about when it comes to pre pregnancy, during pregnancy, postpartum, and all the way up to five year olds and beyond. And as someone who was previously terrified of all of the above, I'm here to help you pull back the curtain on all of it. And every now and then, it may get a little messy, we may share a little TMI, but that's why you're here, right?

My goal is that you'll leave every episode feeling refreshed, inspired, and hopeful knowing you are not on this mom journey alone. Now there's a lot of subject matter to cover when it comes to mom life, and we are covering it all. So let's jump into the world of homeschooling and why we're heading in that direction.

I actually have a handful of compelling reasons why we're embracing homeschooling. And the first is personalized education. When you homeschool your child, you have the incredible power to tailor [00:02:00] their education to their individual needs and interests. No more cookie cutter curriculum. You get to choose what they learn, how they learn, and at what pace.

It's like having a personal education concierge for your little one. Another reason is because of flexibility. Homeschooling allows you to create... Homeschooling allows you to create a schedule that works for your family. Early bird or night owl, you decide when and where learning happens. It's like having the freedom to dance to your own educational rhythm.

Another compelling reason for homeschooling for us is individualized attention. In a homeschooling setup, your child gets one on one attention from you as their dedicated teacher. You can identify their strengths, weaknesses, and unique learning style, providing that targeted support and encouragement that they need.

And it's like having a personal [00:03:00] academic coach right by their side. I mean, let's face it, guys. As it relates to each of our kiddos, there's no teacher that's going to have the vested interest that I do in educating my child. And I'm sure you can say the same for your kiddo too.

My next reason is having a safe and nurturing environment. Homeschooling allows you to create that safe, nurturing learning space for your child. Free from external distractions and negative influences. They can focus on their studies, build confidence, and develop a strong sense of self. Another reason I'm really excited about homeschooling is due to our values and our family beliefs.

Homeschooling provides the opportunity to instill and reinforce our family's values, our family's beliefs and traditions within that educational experience. So we have the freedom. [00:04:00] To incorporate our faith, our ethics, our morals into the curriculum so we can create a foundation of education rooted in our family's core values.

And then another reason that I'm excited about homeschooling our daughter is because of flexible socialization. Contrary to popular belief, homeschooling doesn't mean isolation. In fact, it allows for more flexibility in socializing. It allows for more flexibility in socialization. You can arrange play dates, join homeschooling groups, participate in community events and activities, and even collaborate with other homeschooling families.

We can build a vibrant social network, supporting our child's social development. And that's something I'm really excited about, as I have explored this very new and fascinating world of homeschooling, I have learned that there are various resources [00:05:00] and groups within our community. There is actually a co op here in our area where once a week I will be able to take my daughter to be in a classroom setting with other peers within her age group.

And I've been able to select a handful of classes that she is now enrolled in and she'll be able to participate in those classes each week. They are led by a professional, trained teacher, and that's going to be so, so great, not only for her education, but for that socialization, as I just mentioned. Also, I'll be able to stay on site and I'll be able to connect with Other parents, for the younger kiddos, it's not just some drop off program.

We get to stay there and we get to help in the classrooms. And I know that's going to be great networking for me to pick up some other resources as a homeschooling parent. Speaking of resources, as I have been exploring [00:06:00] homeschooling, as I've mentioned, I have come across a handful of resources that I thought I would share here to pass along to you.

Just in case you like me have also been considering this path and maybe you've even already made that decision or maybe not Maybe you know someone who is thinking about it or headed down this path I have put together a handful of resources that will be helpful.

Resource number one is the Homeschool Legal Defense Association, or HSLDA for short. They are like the superheroes of the homeschooling world, providing legal support and resources to ensure you're on the right track. Resource number two is called Khan Academy, the ultimate educational sidekick. They have this extensive library of videos and practice exercises covering various objects.

Truly. It's like a personal tutor right at your fingertips. I've actually [00:07:00] downloaded the Khan Academy app and my daughter loves it. It makes learning super fun and it's age appropriate. I love that As she grows older, the lessons will match her grade level and increase in levels of difficulty and so on.

The next resource I want to share with you is National Geographic Kids. They have an awesome website packed with educational resources. Games and activities that make learning fun and captivating. The National Geographic Kids YouTube channel, by the way, is awesome.

Within the last couple of days, we watched a video on the National Geographic Kids YouTube channel all about blue whales, and my daughter loved it. It was so much fun. So that is a resource that we have really been enjoying, and I definitely intend for us to be using it on this homeschooling journey.

The next resource I want to share with you is local homeschooling groups, which would be your [00:08:00] tribe of like minded parents. So definitely important to connect with local homeschooling communities for support, socialization, and valuable resources. Just like I mentioned, the co op that we have here in our area, chances are wherever you live.

There is likely a co op or some type of homeschooling community in your town or city as well. And then two more resources I want to share. The next one is probably pretty obvious, but that would be the library. Libraries are treasure troves of knowledge. Public libraries. offer a wealth of books, eBooks, audio books, research databases, and a lot of libraries like ours here are doing all kinds of activities throughout the week, and a lot of times they will do activities and groups specific for homeschool education, so check the local library in your area for more [00:09:00] homeschool resources as well.

And then lastly, online forums and communities. Websites like Homeschool World and Secular Homeschool provide forums where you can connect with other homeschool parents, ask questions, and share experiences with other homeschooling families. So we're nearing the end of this episode.

I just wanted to share with you some of the reasons why we are choosing homeschooling as we are starting out my daughter's school. educational journey and wanted to share some of the resources that I have come across that might be helpful for you as well. Whether you're starting this homeschool journey or not, whether your child is in elementary school or middle school, the great thing is, I think all of us parents at the end of the day, We just want to be the best parents we can be so we can raise up humans to be the best humans that they can be.

[00:10:00] It's all about knowledge and resources and connecting with each other. I'm hopeful that wherever you are in your child rearing and educational journey that these resources will be beneficial to you. I just want to remind you as we bring today's episode to a close, make sure that you're taking care of yourself.

Cause as we've talked about many, many times here on secret mom hacks, it's hard to take care of those you love if you're not taking care of yourself. So just another gentle, friendly reminder for me to stay hydrated, make that self care time, whatever that looks like for you, whether it's a quick walk, around your neighborhood, throughout the house, putting some things away.

If there's any way that you can just get in 20, 30, 40 minutes of heart pumping activity, help you sweat. That is amazing. Don't forget to wash your face, put on that great overnight moisturizer before you slip into the [00:11:00] sheets and don't forget your sunscreen in the morning. Your skin is going to thank you.

All right. Thanks for joining me on this episode of Secret Mom Hacks today. I really appreciate you spending time with me and hope you found today's episode helpful. If that's the case, please subscribe for free if you haven't already. Give me a five star rating and leave a review sharing your favorite takeaway so far. Make sure you stop by secretmomhacks.com where you can find transcripts, resources, and more stay tuned for next week's episode. And until then you've got this mama.

[END OF EPISODE]

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