Embarking on the Homeschool Adventure

Like most new homeschoolers my early years were filled with struggles and uncertanity, but I was fortunate to receive support from experienced homeschooling friends. Reflecting on those days, I’m so thankful for that season of doing  ‘homeschool life’ with some of the most amazing women I know.

Over time, I’ve become the veteran homeschool mom for others, and I genuinely enjoy helping and encouraging fellow moms.

For a while now, I’ve wanted to build my YouTube channel, blog, and Instagram account aiming to inspire others. However, the demands of daily life often sidetrack me from getting it done.

Dreams, Distractions, and Creative Pursuits

While I have tons of aspirations and ambitions, I often find myself falling short of my goals. Throughout the day, I experience moments that feel perfect for creating a compelling post or a helpful video. Yet, life’s demands persistently call: the kids need my attention, household responsibilities beckon, errands await, and dinner needs preping. Just becasue the books are put away doesn’t mean our day is over. So those moments of inspiration often fade or pass me by which can be so frustrating. Even when I manage to return to them, maintaining focus becomes an uphill battle due to competing tasks and desires.

Currently, I have three videos awaiting editing for my channel and a dozen unfinished blog drafts. I frequently forget to share the ups and downs of our homeschooling journey on Instagram– from exciting field trips and park days to everyday events that shape our lives. These include the day Connyr explored a college campus, or his first day of classes. Theres also the day when Fyona had the privilege of attending a lighting class led by author-illustrator James Gurney. There’s even a draft of a reel capturing the amazing dinners the kids have cooked. I promise myself that I’ll get to them – someday.

Navigating Priorities

I’ve learned first hand that dedicating the time and energy required for content creation often means diverting attention from my primary role as a homeschooling mom. Finding sporadic moments to write is both exhausting and stressful. I dwell on whether my work sounds good or is easy to comprehend, prolonging the time it takes to complete the task.

There are times when I long to write but spend an hour staring at the screen, then dealing with the guilt of the wasted time. On the flipside, when I’m in a creative flow, interruptions to my rythm trigger irritability and resentment, leading right back to guilt.

Empathy and Connection

I’ve often contemplated postponing my creative pursuits until the kids are older and out of the house. But, I worry it would diminish the authenticity compared to capturing my current experiences and emotions.

Even now, when I talk with homeschool moms in the trenches with young kids or those managing both toddlers and older students, I feel somewhat detached. While I’ve lived through those stages and experienced the frustrations and overwhelm, my current stage makes it challenging to recall those feelings and empathize fully.  

Finding Harmony

So, here I stand at the crossroads of dreams and responsibilities, still seeking that elusive equilibrium. My path has been marked by imbalance, yes, but it’s also been defined by a quiet determination to pursue more. 

While I haven’t found the perfect formula to harmonize my roles as mother, homeschooler, content creator and writer, I’m working on accepting that it’s okay. Life is messy, unpredictable, and beautifully imperfect. and I’m striving to embrace the blissful chaos of it all.

The pursuit of balance remains a constant theme in my life, one that I’ll continue to explore as my family and I evolve. Together, we’ll navigate this intricate dance between dreams and reality, cherishing every step of the journey.