Homeschooling Encouragement Archives

What to Take to Your First Blogging Conference

August 3, 2017 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

Blogging is a pretty solitary occupation, isn’t it? We spend a lot of our time sitting at the computer by ourselves. Then we spend a lot of our time taking pictures and editing them – by ourselves. Then we spend a lot of time promoting this content across social media – also by ourselves.

Bloggers do get a lot of social interaction from fellow creators and partners online, but this profession is not at all like a traditional one, which means you can end up basically working on your own.

For a lot of bloggers, a blogging conference is the first time they can experience the synergy of interacting with like-minded entrepreneurs who just get it. They understand the work, the struggles, and the tips that can help push a website to the next level.

And that’s why I’m so thrilled to be attending my very first blogging conference ever this fall! I’ll be going to FL Blog Con in Winter Park, Florida and to get ready I’m taking along some wonderfully cute business cards from Basic Invite!

But that’s not all I’m taking and I’m so glad that I have plenty of time to pack so that I won’t forget any blogging conference must-haves. If you’re new to blogging meet-ups (like me), here’s what to take along to your first blogging conference!

Disclosure: I received this product in exchange for this post and I was compensated for my time. All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review.

What to Take to Your First Blogging Conference

Think about all of the things you use for blogging. What comes to mind? You probably use your laptop, your phone, your camera, and, of course, your chargers.

Guess what?

You should probably bring them ALL with you. Which means you’re going to need a fairly good-sized bag.

Like this one! I got this rolling mobile office bag about a year ago and it is a perfect size. It has space for a small laptop (like my Lenovo Yoga), my camera, and my other supplies. Plus, it rolls, which means no aching back!

But there’s one other thing you absolutely MUST bring with you to a blogging conference…

Business cards!

Why You Need Business Cards for Your First Blogging Conference

Bloggers work online so much that we can forget how to do good old-fashioned networking. And you can’t do that without a business card.

Using a business card gives you a great way to let content partners and brands know exactly who you are, what you do, and how to find your site.

Plus, business cards add a layer of professionalism to your occupation. They show you’re taking your job seriously.

I received a set of customized business cards from Basic Invite and they are so, so gorgeous! I can’t wait to hand them out at the conference!

When it was time to order my blogging business cards, my initial thought was “There’ll probably only be, like, five different designs I can choose from. Ho-hum.”

I was wrong. Basic Invite features a wide range of customizable business cards for all kinds of industries. The Vertical Color Block Business Cards are the ones that caught my eye. If you’re looking for an eye-grabbing business card, this is a great one. It’s a little unusual, but still very professional-looking.

With Basic Invite, you can change almost everything about the card. Users can select:

The colors
The fonts
The amount of text
The placement of text

For example, I wanted my business card colors to mimic my blog colors (teal and gray), so I found bold colors in those same shades. Since Basic Invite is one of the few websites that features a nearly unlimited color selection, you can have a blast “trying on” the different colors and seeing how they look on your cards – right in the preview pane!

I also wanted the text on my cards to reflect the grade levels addressed on my blog: Preschool through Grade 6. So a little playful, but also a little serious. And I think these fit that theme well!

And don’t worry, I’ve already put my business cards and my card holder in my bag. There’s no way I can forget them now!

If you’re heading out to your first blogging conference, check out the stationery options at Basic Invite. Besides the gorgeous business cards, they also have gobs of options for other occasions such as baby shower thank you cards and inexpensive birth announcements. Stop by today and start designing your own!

Learn more about Basic Invite by following them on social media!

And for more ideas to boost your blog, don’t miss the tips on my Blogging Smart Pinterest board!

What to Do When Homeschooling Feels Like Too Much

May 2, 2017 by Selena Robinson 1 Comment

I’ve been a homeschooling parent for almost nine years. More than that, I’m a homeschooling graduate. You’d think I’d have this stuff down by now.

But last week, it happened. I had an utter and complete homeschooling meltdown. My children were behaving horribly, I was behind on lesson planning, I was exhausted, and I was defeated. It literally felt like I was drowning.

Ever been there?

Homeschooling is a wonderful lifestyle for families. It gives us a lot more freedom, flexibility, and time with our kids. But it also takes a lot from us. And, after a while, it can feel draining, especially when things aren’t going so well.

Despite my years of practice, I still have times when homeschooling feels like too much to handle. Yet, here I am, back on track and still homeschooling. Here’s how I keep going, even when I’m ready to give up on homeschooling.

Image c/o: Jaykayl / depositphotos

What to Do When Homeschooling Feels Like Too Much

First: Remind yourself it’s okay to feel overwhelmed.

Sometimes homeschooling parents, moms in particular, get exhausted and frustrated and then feel guilty about feeling that way. Once we get onto that carousel of emotional guilt, it’s very, very hard to get off. The days begin with super high expectations and then end with a crash when lessons don’t get completed or children don’t behave.

It’s perfectly okay to feel like this. Parenting is hard. Teaching children is hard. (Don’t believe me? Ask a public school teacher!)

Take a breath, acknowledge how you honestly feel, and then give yourself grace for experiencing a normal human emotion.

Second: Focus on the now.

A few months back, I heard an actor do a quick mental meditation exercise on television. He said “Focus on this moment you have right now. This moment now is the only one that matters.”

And, really, he was right. As parents, we can start to think so much about our children’s future that we bury ourselves in a sea of worries.

What if my children don’t pass their tests?

What if they have to repeat a grade?

What if homeschooling turns out to be a huge mistake?

What if they hate me for insisting on teaching them at home?

NO ONE can life a happy life while carrying that kind of mental and emotional weight, and you shouldn’t attempt to be the first.

When you’re overwhelmed, think about the moment you’re in. Are your children healthy? Are they (relatively) happy? Do you have the things you truly need? Then, for this moment, you and your family are fine. Make yourself stop and appreciate the security of it.

Third: Throw yourself a lifesaver.

There are many, many situations we face in which we have little to no control. Homeschooling, generally, is not one of them. We have plenty of say-so in how we teach our children, what curriculum we use, and which homeschooling method we implement. Use that authority to make homeschooling work for you!

Are you exhausted from planning lessons? Use prepared unit studies to make planning less strenuous. Do you despise teaching math? Try Khan Academy as a stand-in math teacher. Do you feel lonely spending all day with the kids? Get them out of the house (and yourself around some other adults) by attending library storytimes, local museum events, and more!

You are absolutely not tied to any homeschooling curriculum, method, or schedule, no matter how much money or time you’ve invested in it. When you feel like you’re drowning, throw yourself a homeschool lifesaver and float for a while instead of trying to swim on your own.

How do you manage your emotions when homeschooling feels like too much? What do you do to get yourself back on track and recommit to teaching your children at home? Share your tried-and-true tips in the comments!

Be sure to read some of my other homeschooling support posts!

And see even more tips for homeschooling successfully on my Homeschool Tips Pinterest board!

The Top 10 Posts of 2015

December 31, 2015 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

It’s the last day of the year! Can you believe it? I’m still in shock, honestly. It seems like it was just a few weeks ago that I wrote about our experience with public school (it was actually 11 months ago) and now my kids are already four months into their new homeschool year! Crazy.

But it’s a great time to look back at the top posts with my favorite people: you guys! Here are the top 10 posts of 2015 from Look! We’re Learning! that made a hit with my readers. I hope you see your favorites on the lis!

The Top 10 Posts of 2015

1. Our Homeschool Curriculum for 5th Grade, 2nd Grade, 1st Grade, and Tot – Our annual homeschool curriculum roundup is always a big hit, so this one was a popular post from this year. And I have to say: This is probably the first year that we’ve actually stuck with our choices! I may actually finish a textbook this year!

2. Why I’m Choosing to Homeschool Again – After experiencing what it’s like to have kids go to public school, I was thrilled to share that we were coming back to homeschooling. And I was touched by the supportive comments I got from all of you.

3. 5 Ways to Show Love to Your Defiant Child – I haven’t written a LOT of parenting posts here on the blog, but that’ll be changing in 2016. Parenting is hard, you all. And just when you think things are smoothing out, your child enters another phase that challenges you even more. This post seemed to resonate with many of you.

4. 5 Storage Ideas for Your Homeschool Dining Room – Based on how popular this post was, it looks like a lot of you are homeschooling in your dining rooms! We’d love to have a dedicated school room, but until that day, we make do by finding ways to store our supplies in the dining room. I hope these tips helped you as well!

5. Our 2015-16 Year-Round Homeschooling Schedule – Each year, as part of the Not Back to School Hop, we share our homeschooling schedule for the year. This was the first year that we actually committed to schooling year-round. And now I wish I had started doing it years ago! It’s working wonderfully so far.

6. What My Homeschooled Children Taught Me about Public School – We didn’t decide to continue with public school, but it was a HUGE learning experience – for my children and for me. In fact, I think I may actually have learned more than they did. I shared some of those lessons in this post back in the summer.

7. 10 Simple Science Printables for Kids – I just cannot get it together with science on my own. I’m not scientifically-inclined enough. So I loved this roundup of simple science printables! I use these with my kids and I think you’ll like them too!

8. 50 Free Spring Printables – In 2014, I started a series of roundups featuring free seasonal printables and this past spring, I shared 50 free spring-themed printables you can find online. It was a big hit with my readers!

9. Free Spring Flower Flashcards – Speaking of free spring printables, I made some free spring flower flashcards for all of you! Feel free to grab a set and dream of warmer weather. 🙂

10. 50 Free Summer Printables – And, finally, our last entry in the seasonal printable series: 50 free summer-themed printables for kids!

Did your favorite post from this year make the top 10? Do you have anything you’d like to see us write about more often? Let me know in the comments! See you in 2016!

10 Homeschooling Gifts I’ll Never Take for Granted Again

August 10, 2015 by Selena Robinson 10 Comments

Last year, I went through a serious case of homeschooling burnout. I was working, I was going to college full-time, and I was attempting to homeschool my three oldest children. And it was not going well.

I sent them to public school for a few months, but even though I appreciated the slight increase in “alone time“, I missed them terribly. And I found that I actually missed homeschooling.

Now that we’ve returned to homeschooling, I’m determined to have a more thankful attitude toward our learning this year by appreciating the homeschooling gifts our family enjoys by being together. Here are 10 of the homeschooling gifts that I missed and vow to never take for granted again.

Image: beerphotographer / Dollar Photo Club

10 Homeschooling Gifts I’ll Never Take for Granted Again

1. Preparing breakfast with my children

2. Making artwork together

3. Playing outside with my kids

4. Sharing a new story as a family

5. Taking a homeschool field trip

6. Listening to my children talk about what they learned

7. Watching all four of the kids read quietly

8. Helping my daughter (who hates math) master a new math concept

9. Seeing my kids get excited about choosing books at the library

10. Hearing one of my children say “Thank you” when we finish the school day

What homeschooling gifts are you thankful for? Share them in the comments!

And let me just add an update here – There are a few more homeschooling gifts that I’ve grown to treasure:

11. Watching my children support each other in a tough subject

12. Being there when they have questions or fears about learning something new

13. Waking up when we feel like it and beginning the day relaxed

14. Taking a vacation whenever we’re ready for one

15. Observing my kids grow into young adulthood with confidence

Need more parenting encouragement? Don’t miss these posts!

This post is part of the Homeschool Gifts linkup from iHomeschool Network! Click over to read what our fellow homeschooling bloggers are thankful for this year!

Need more ways to plan your homeschool this year? Check out my Homeschool Planning board on Pinterest!

What My Homeschooled Children Taught Me About Public School

May 25, 2015 by Selena Robinson 6 Comments

Last Friday was the last day of the school year and the last day of our Great Homeschool Public School Experiment. Our kids were only in public school for seven months, but it really and truly felt like forever.

Naturally, we sent the kids to public school to help them learn. The strange thing is that I think I learned even more than they did. Today, I’m joining up with several other iHomeschool Network bloggers to share what my child has taught me. I’ll be talking about What My Homeschooled Children Taught Me About Public School!

(If you’re looking for this week’s edition of 52 Weeks to a Healthier You, come back on Wednesday!)

What My Homeschooled Children Taught Me About Public School

1. It’s more work than homeschooling.

I was one of those parents who thought I’d “get a break” by putting my kids in public school. Wrong. Public schooling is FAR more work than homeschooling ever was.

Previously, I had the luxury of combining subjects and teaching all of my kids together. No more. Each child had his or her own teacher, own classroom, own homework, and own projects to complete. Plus, everyone had school events that I was supposed to attend.

For example, during the last week of school, I attended three separate awards ceremonies on three separate days. (This is, of course, in addition to dropping them off and picking them up each day.) There were separate field trips (with separate fees), class parties, and book fairs. It was a lot. I kept thinking, “Why do I have less time in the day now when I have fewer children around?”

2. My kids could handle it.

Before we finally went through with the decision to enroll them, we wondered how well our kids would adjust to public school. After all, they’d never been before. They’ve never even been to daycare. So just being away from home all day with a group of children was a new experience.

Plus, they’d have to deal with homework (even Roo had homework in kindergarten) and they’d have to deal with a handful of kids who were disruptive. Tigger’s class, for example, consisted of 21 students, including 14 boys. She sat in a row with three boys on one side of her and three boys on another. Naturally, she had some trouble concentrating.

We were pleasantly surprised, though, to see our kids succeed. All three of them were on the Honor Roll every quarter, two were chosen as student of the month in their class, and all three tested several grade levels in reading. I learned that the work we had put in during previous years was valid. Which, ironically, made me start thinking about returning to homeschooling.

3. It’s not for us.

More than all, though, my children taught me that public schooling is not for us. They were miserable in school. They loved what they were learning, but they hated the routine, the pressure, the focus on tests, and the time away from us.

I also learned that I missed them. In all my years as a mom, I’d never been away from them for entire days on end before. And I missed them terribly. So we’re all glad that we’re back to homeschooling again. 🙂

What have you learned from your children this year? Feel free to share in the comments!

This post is part of the “What My Child Taught Me” linky from iHomeschool Network! Click over to read other great posts by my fellow bloggers!

Why I’m Choosing to Homeschool Again

May 11, 2015 by Selena Robinson 6 Comments

As you might know, our family has recently experienced a serious change: we took a homeschooling break and put our children in public school. For us, that was a major adjustment – something I never thought I would do.

Well, after six months, we’ve decided to end the Great Homeschool Public School Experiment and bring our children back home after the school year ends. A few weeks ago, I mentioned that we were returning to homeschooling, but I wanted to explain exactly why we decided to do so.

Here’s why I’m returning to homeschooling.

Image: nadezhda1906 / Dollar Photo Club

Why I’m Returning to Homeschooling

1. I wanted a second chance with my kids.

When the kids went off to school, I had (a little) more time to think. I’d walk by our homeschooling space and think about how harried I had been and how much pressure I felt to teach them everything on the objectives list each year.

I remembered responding testily when one of my kids had a question. I remembered shouting at Tigger to “SIT DOWN!” I remembered how little I took my own advice about adjusting a homeschooling approach for kids with ADHD.

And I wanted a second chance, a do-over, so I could relax and enjoy homeschooling along with my children.

2. The public school schedule did not work for us.

For kids who’d been homeschooled from birth, getting up every morning at 6:25 a.m. was a real struggle. For a mom who’d homeschooled her kids from birth, getting out of the door by 7 a.m. every morning was a real struggle. But the morning chaos had nothing on what happened in the evenings.

When we homeschooled, evenings were for family time. We’d relax, prepare for our weekly congregation meetings together, have dinner, and let the kids play before bed. Once they were in public school, though, afternoons were a flurry of snacks, homework, school projects, papers for me to sign, hurriedly rushing through our meeting preparation, and finding something to throw in the oven for dinner. After dinner, it was time to rush everyone off to bed so they could get up at 6:25 a.m. all over again.

We all hated what happened to our evenings. It really started to erode our sense of togetherness.

3. My kids wanted to come back home.

Most of all, the kids wanted to come back home. They missed the freedom of learning we had when they were homeschooled. Sometimes I’d pick them up from school and the first thing out of their mouth would be “Can we go back to homeschool?”

I’d hear them talk with each other about field trips we’d taken, lessons we’d covered, and crafts we’d made together. It made me realize how much they enjoyed learning at home, even though they gave me a hard time occasionally. 😉

So that’s why I’m returning to homeschooling!

Have you been homeschooling since birth? Did you start later? What makes you sure about your choice to homeschool? Let us know in the comments!

See more about our public school experience below!

And see more about how we make homeschooling work on my Homeschooling Posts Pinterest board!

This post is part of the “Why We Chose to Homeschool” linky from iHomeschool Network! Click over to read even more great posts from my fellow bloggers!

Coming Back to Homeschooling

April 21, 2015 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

It’s Tuesday, which means it’s time for the Laugh and Learn Linkup! Last week, we had some great posts shared and Tina, Sarah, and I have featured our favorites below. Plus, a new blogger, Haley, is joining our linky! You can read all about her below. 🙂

I also wanted to share a post I wrote recently for The Homeschool Post, which I’m very excited about because….*drumroll*

We’re returning to homeschooling this year!!!!!

Coming Back to Homeschooling

We began our Great Homeschool Public School Experiment in November back when I desperately needed a break from homeschooling. Now that I’m almost finished with my associate degree program, I’m definitely ready to bring our kids back home.

I cannot tell you how much I’m looking forward to homeschooling them without the added pressure of going to school or working. It’s going to be fabulous. All of it. Yes, even the sibling squabbles and the days when the kids don’t want to do their work. 🙂

This time, though, I want to do some things differently. So I wrote a post about what I’d like our new homeschooling approach to be over at The Homeschool Post. Stop over and see how coming back to homeschooling is changing my homeschooling perspective!

Coming Back to Homeschooling – The Homeschool Post

And now it’s on to the linky! 🙂

Welcome to our 29th week of Laugh and Learn – Homeschool and Parenting Linkup. We have a new addition this week! Haley will be joining our linkup and picking her favorite post too. Be sure to visit her and say hello

Laugh and Learn – Homeschool and Parenting Linkup will be open by 6 am every Tuesday morning. We will pick our four favorite posts and feature them on the following weeks linkup. Be sure to link your best content and maybe we will pick you! When you link your post with us it will be featured on four blogs.

We pin our favorites to a special Pinterest board for #laughlearnlinkup – homeschool and parenting posts. Check the board out here: #LaughLearnLinkup {Featured Favorites}. It’s added exposure for your awesome content!

Your Fabulous Hosts 😉

Tina

Tina lives abroad in Latin America with her husband and four children. Currently in Mexico, Tina is active in homeschool, travel, and her Bible ministry. She blogs about all of their adventures and more at Los Gringos Locos.

Find Tina at her blog link above, and on the following social media networks:
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Google +
Linkedin
Tsu

Selena

Selena is a writer and a homeschooling mom to four kids, including three with ADHD/SPD. Selena and her husband, Jay, are committed to teaching their children at home and loving every minute of it! You can read about the family’s homeschooling experiences at Look! We’re Learning, written by Selena!

Find Selena at her blog link above, and on the following social media networks:
Facebook
Pinterest
Twitter
Google +
Instagram

Sarah

Sarah lives in Kentucky, USA, where she and her husband homeschool three children. Sarah writes for and about, families with special needs. She hopes to provide support and encouragement to all special needs parents in the homeschool community. Visit Sarah at Dedicated Homeschooler.

Find Sarah at her blog link above, and on the following social media networks:
Facebook
Instagram

Haley

Haley hopes to encourage stay at home moms. She wants to help moms learn how to make an extra income, to stretch a budget, to make crafts, and other useful information. Haley always has updates on the kids and funny things that happen. Visit Haley at Haley’s Vintage Finds & Deals.

Find Haley at her blog link above, and on the following social media networks:
Pinterest
Instagram
Facebook
Twitter

Our Favorite Posts for the Week of April 20th:

Written by Ann at Annie and Everything

Written by Alecia at Learning 2 Walk

Written by Brenda at Schooling A Monkey

Thanks to everyone who submitted a post. Please check out the posts above by clicking on the image.

[bctt tweet=”Come join the #laughlearnlinkup and share your favorite #parenting or #homeschooling post!”]

Now, let’s see your best posts for this week so we can share them as next week’s favorites!

An InLinkz Link-up

Why I Decided to Take a Homeschooling Break

December 3, 2014 by Selena Robinson 15 Comments

If I was to sum up the last ten years of my life as a parent in one word, it would probably be “homeschooling“. We planned to homeschool Tigger as soon as we found out we were pregnant and we’ve stuck with it from the very beginning.

But ….

Last month, we decided to put our three oldest kids in public school. Everybody gasp with me! GASP.

Like a lot of homeschooling mothers, I’ve thought about public school a few times before but this is the first time I’ve actually gone through with enrolling them. And it was hard. A lot harder than I thought it would be.

Still, I know it was the right decision for our family. For now. Here’s why I decided to take a homeschooling break.

Why I Decided to Take a Homeschooling Break

1. I was no longer a happy homeschooling mom.

For the past year and a half, I’ve been juggling homeschooling, working, and going to college full-time. During my first two semesters, my husband was unemployed, which was a huge reason why I went back to school in the first place.

This fall semester (ending this week! Yay!) has been the first time I’ve tried to juggle all three while he’s had a job. It. Has. Not. Been. Fun. I’ve been stressed for the last 15 weeks straight. I couldn’t even concentrate on teaching school to my kids, because I was so worried about my own (often rushed at the last-minute) assignments.

2. My ADHD was becoming a real problem.

I’ve always had a lot of things going at one time. I was brought up that way and I’d done it so long that I didn’t know there was another way to live. Since I have ADHD, I tend to get bored quickly and want to move on to something else.

Here’s the problem: You cannot do that when you have to take care of a home and raise children with consistent values. Boredom is not an excuse to skip lessons for a week (or a month), let dishes pile up in the sink, or overlook a tantrum. I had gotten to the point where it was either: A) put my kids in public school so I’d have a little time to clear my head or B) try medication. And, for me, medication is the absolute final last resort.

3. I didn’t want my kids to get the wrong idea of motherhood.

Most importantly, though, I began to feel that I was giving my kids the wrong perception of motherhood. Moms shouldn’t be stressed out and frazzled, because they have too much going on at once. And we certainly shouldn’t treat our kids as if they’re inconveniences, which is what was happening to me. I mean, what’s the point of keeping them home with me if I’m biting their heads off every time they ask a question?

Here is an example of an actual exchange between me and Pooh:

Pooh: *loudly from down the hall* “Mama?”

Me: *working* “WHAT?????!!!???!!!”

Pooh: “Can I….”

Me: “STOP CALLING ME! GOD!!!!!”

Pooh: *sadly* “Yes, mom.”

(I’ve since apologized. Fortunately, he’d forgotten about it. But it was not one of my proudest moments as a parent.)

That is not the mother I want to be. And I decided that being a happy mom was more important than being a homeschooling mom. Right now, I can be one or the other but not both. And my husband, wonderful supportive spouse that he is, was open to it from the beginning.

Btw, I’ll be blogging about our transition and some of the adjustments we’ve had to make along the way. And I’ll keep sharing great educational unit studies, lesson plans, printables, and more! I have Piglet with me during the day and she’ll be starting tot school soon, so I’ll have plenty to share for preschoolers in the upcoming months. Plus, I’ll be making activities and lessons to use with the kids during breaks and summer vacation. So if you’re a fan of our resources, they’re not going anywhere. 🙂

Have any of you ever considered taking a homeschooling break? What made you decide to? Or what made you decide not to? Let us know in the comments!

Why Homeschooling Little Ones is Easier Than Homeschooling Teens

September 8, 2014 by Selena Robinson 7 Comments

We’ve got four learners in our house under the age of 10, so we’re right in the middle of homeschooling little ones. As all of my mama readers know, when you have kids, there are lots of great days, a good amount of okay days, and a fair amount of rough days.

It’s important that we take a break to focus on what we have so we can appreciate it before it’s gone. I know that these days with my kids won’t last forever, so it’s up to me to value them NOW, rather than later.

Keep Reading…

5 Pieces of Homeschooling Advice for the First Year

August 20, 2014 by Selena Robinson 4 Comments

When I first began homeschooling Tigger six years ago, I felt that I had a pretty good understanding of homeschooling. After all, I’m a homeschooling graduate myself.

I quickly found, though, that being a homeschool student and being a homeschool parent are two very different things indeed. Now I was responsible for providing a quality education to my little preschooler and I wasn’t even sure I knew what preschoolers needed to learn!

Keep Reading…

Homeschool Planning with Kids Underfoot

July 9, 2014 by Selena Robinson 37 Comments

It’s that time of year! Time for everyone to break out their homeschool planning ideas! School year planning is probably one of the most exciting times for me personally. I get to look at my kids’ progress over the years, feel sad about how much they’ve grown (sniff), and get excited about what we’ll learn in the upcoming months.

Keep Reading…

How I Juggle Going to College and Homeschooling My Kids

April 21, 2014 by Selena Robinson 27 Comments

Good morning! College finals are fast approaching, so I took last week off from blogging to catch up on some of my last assignments for this semester. Now that I’m nearly a full year into my “back to school” experience, I thought I’d share some of the pointers I’ve picked up about how to homeschool while going back to college. Spoiler: It’s hard. 🙂

1. Insist on a regular schedule.

You’ll need at least two schedules: one for your kids’ lessons and another for your own. It’s really difficult, but it’s essential that you keep the kids on their regular homeschooling schedule. Otherwise, you’ll finish the semester and then realize that you have to do double lessons for a month to catch up on math (like I have to do with Tigger in May).

As for organizing my classes – I have an enormous binder that I use for my classes with sections for each subject and a stack of weekly planning pages in the front. At the beginning of the semester, I look through every class schedule and then write the due dates for my assignments in my planner pages. I usually do this during the first week of class before the really heavy assignments start.

I’m usually very organized at the beginning of the semester, but after spring break, it’s all downhill and I’m barely functioning by finals. That’s when the organizing I did early in the semester ends up saving me. Seeing what assignments are due several weeks in advance helps me avoid having to work on them all at once.

2. Enlist the help of your spouse.

I’ve written before about why we need supportive homeschooling spouses, and going back to college has just underscored how much I need the help of my husband. There have been many, many school days that he’s taught for me so I could go study. He has no problem cooking dinner or getting the kids ready for bed when I need to cram for a test or attend a school function.

In order for our spouses to help us out, though, we have to communicate with them. Jay and I have had several long conversations, especially this past semester, about how we can make adjustments to our schooling schedule while I’m in class. After finals, we’ll be sitting down again to see how I can revise my course load in the fall so that we can get back to learning more as a family.

3. Be flexible.

This is probably the most important tip I’ve learned about trying to go to college while homeschooling my kids. I’ve had to be open to trying new approaches almost every week. One of the choices I made was to take classes online, since that was the most flexible way for me to get my school work done.

Btw, if you are considering going back to college, I highly recommend distance learning. It’s convenient, easy to use, and adaptable for moms who are already busy during the day.

Another big part of being flexible is prioritizing. I have several interests that have had to take a backseat, especially during this past semester, including knitting, sewing, traveling, and (occasionally) blogging. But that’s life. We always have to shuffle our priorities to make sure that we’re taking care of the “more important things.” (Phil. 1:10)

I’ve even had to let go of my attempt to maintain a 4.0 GPA. In the past, I’ve done extra credit and additional assignments to make sure that my grades were perfect. As I’ve gotten older, though, I’ve learned that it’s more important to be reasonable than right. I hope that’s something I can teach my kids as well.

So, those are a few of the things I’ve learned while juggling homeschooling and going back to college! Are any of you back in school? Are you thinking about it? We’d love to hear your tips or suggestions in the comments!

This post is part of the “How Homeschool Moms Juggle” linkup at iHomeschoolNetwork! Click on over and read how our fellow bloggers juggle homeschooling and their other responsibilities such as housework, caring for a new baby, and working outside the home!

The Real Sacrifice of Motherhood

April 10, 2014 by Selena Robinson 15 Comments

I haven’t shared a personal post on here in quite a while, so I thought I’d let you all know about something that’s been on my heart lately.

When I hear people speak about motherhood and/or homeschooling, one of the words I hear the most is “sacrifice”. Quite often, I’ve heard people mention some of these sacrifices, which could include giving up a career (for some mothers), accepting the physical changes in your body (for most mothers), and sharing your time everyday (for every single mother on earth).

If you’re homeschooling, you’ll have even more sacrifices, which might involve living on a smaller income, learning to teach subjects in which you did not excel as a student, and adapting to the learning needs of your children.

But there’s another sacrifice that I’m having to make as a mother: I have to give up my feelings. Now I don’t mean my feelings about my kids, of course. But I’m having to let go of how I feel about a lot of other things so that I have room for my feelings toward my kids to grow.

Here’s what I’ve discovered about the real sacrifice of motherhood.

The Real Sacrifice of Motherhood

Before I had kids, I used to have an opinion about nearly everything under the sun.

Did that celebrity have plastic surgery?

Should the U.S. Individual Income Tax code be changed?

Is it impolite when someone holds the door open and no one says “Thank you?” (Yes, it is, by the way.)

I voiced these opinions to almost everyone I could find and I’d muster up some pretty strong emotions about all of these topics and others.

It wasn’t just small things like these, either. I had some pretty strong opinions about things that have happened in my life. I was angry about the injustices I’d experienced. I was frustrated, because so many issues had gone unresolved. And I was sad that I missed out on developing long-lasting friendships during my youth.

As I get closer to my kids, though, I’m finding that there is just no room for these feelings to continue taking up space in my heart. I’m at a point where I can either love my kids or hold onto to all those other feelings. And it’s no contest. My kids win.

Psalm 62:8 says “Trust in him at all times, O people. Pour out your hearts before him. God is a refuge for us.” (New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures) I’ve decided to take that counsel seriously and deposit all of my unresolved feelings with Jehovah God in prayer. I know that He wants me to be the best mother I can be, and I know that He will support me if I’m willing to make this sacrifice for my children.

So, that’s where I am today. But I’d love to know what sacrifices you’ve made to become mothers and/or homeschooling mothers. Feel free share your experiences below.

2014 Blogger Planner, Calendar, and Menu Planner from Mama Miss

Forever Blog Planner Review

February 21, 2014 by Selena Robinson 8 Comments

I received a copy of this product in exchange for this review. This post contains affiliate links. See our Disclosure Policy for details.

Hi everyone! You know that we love giveaways here at Look! We’re Learning! In fact, we’re currently giving away two free history books for kids. *wink, wink* But we’re ending this week with a super fantastic giveaway for all you homeschool bloggers out there!

Today’s giveaway is being sponsored by Tina Robertson of Tina’s Dynamic Homeschool Plus and it’s all to announce the release of Tina’s incredible “Forever Blog Planner”! I got the opportunity to review this printable blog planner and I can tell you that it definitely has the right name, because it is the one and only blog planner you’ll ever need!

Okay – now for the good stuff. What’s in the Forever Blog Planner? Over 360 printable blog planning pages, including templates for:

Undated weekly and monthly post calendars
Reviews and giveaways notes
Guest post planning sheets
Washi notes and monthly dividers
Month-end tips and goals
Yearly traffic, income, and advertising tracking
Editable tabs and divider sheets – so you can fill it with whatever you like!

I loved just about everything about the Forever Blog Planner, but what really won me over was its flexibility. I’ve used several different blog planners in the past, but I’ve never found one that is spacious enough for all the writing I like to do.

The Forever Blog Planner, though, is different. Instead of trying to keep up with my social media and last minute notes in a tiny little space for each post, I have a two-page spread for each week where I can list individual ideas and reminders about my posts with plenty of room.

Aren’t those note spaces adorable?

I absolutely love the yearly tracking pages. I can keep up with my blog stats, social media followers, and product reviews easily by using the tracking sheets. There are even tracking sheets for guest posts I have scheduled during the year.

Plus, there’s a sheet for keeping up with my yearly income and expenses. This will be a huge help at tax time.

Initially, I was tempted to use my handy dandy coil binder to bind the planner into a notebook. But in the extensive planner instructions, Tina encourages using a three-ring binder instead. I’m glad I followed that advice. Now I can just print more pages and switch them out as I need to during the year.

Since the weekly and monthly calendars are undated, I can reprint them for additional years without having to buy a new planner ever again! What’s more, Tina provides several different color schemes and styles, so I can use a completely new planner style for next year. She also includes free updates to the pack for every customer who purchases the Forever Blog Planner!

To add a little room for notes and tips I come across this year, I printed several of the included note templates and put them in their own “Notes” section at the back of the binder.

Along with her well-organized printable blog templates, Tina offers a super helpful sheet of Pinterest tips for bloggers inside the Forever Blog Planner. On it, she offers great suggestions for creating noteworthy pins and improving Pinterest reach. And since Tina has over 24,000 followers on Pinterest, she definitely knows what she’s talking about! 🙂

If you’d like to pick up a copy of the Forever Blog Planner for yourself, you can buy it from Tina’s website by clicking the image below!

Now, for the really good stuff! One of my readers will win a free download of the Forever Blog Planner, courtesy of Tina’s Dynamic Homeschool Plus! To enter the giveaway, simply use the following giveaway widget!

Entry -Form