How to homeschool for free | 11th grade

How to homeschool for free | 11th grade

Before I launch into all the details on these incredible free 11th grade homeschool curriculum options, you might want to read my perspective and background, first. TLDR version: Our kids have been in public schools, in private schools, and homeschool.  You probably know that homeschool can be pretty expensive if you don’t know where to look. But you [...]

Why we’re all Luisa from Encanto’s “Under the Surface” right now

Why we’re all Luisa from Encanto’s “Under the Surface” right now

I’m not sure how much more can be said about the amount of seismic stress crushing parents right now. A month or two ago, I was feeling pretty optimistic about the way things were going, with lower case numbers and vaccines for kids under 5 (both of mine are in this age group) on the [...]

Thomas McKenzie was our Dumbledore and our Gandalf. The quest goes on without him.

Thomas McKenzie was our Dumbledore and our Gandalf. The quest goes on without him.

In epic tales, the spiritual mentor dies just when the quest is at its most precarious. As a member of Church of the Redeemer in Nashville, I felt this way when we lost our beloved priest, Thomas McKenzie, to a car wreck this week.    In Lord of the Rings, the fellowship is already weary and [...]

Choose your Christmas traditions using the “Make, Read, Give, See” method

Choose your Christmas traditions using the “Make, Read, Give, See” method

In A Bad Moms Christmas, Mila Kunis plays a mother who nearly ruins her kids' joy when she gets into a screaming match with her over-the-top mom, who has taken Christmas too far. Her mother's traditions are forced on the family. They will be made to enjoy the holiday, whether they like it or not. Kunis cracks. [...]

The small joy of writing to your favorite author | The Childhood Magic series

The small joy of writing to your favorite author | The Childhood Magic series

Several months ago, I received a press kit with an advance copy of Toni DiTerlizzi's Kenny and the Dragon book in it. Boxes of review copies are nothing new at our house, and like so many other books that have come across our kitchen table, this book was passed on to one of my kids. [...]