Feature Story: I thought I was a bad homeschool mom.
There were years I lived in this exhausting homeschool cycle.
Make a plan. Feel hopeful. Try to hold everything together. Watch the routines fall apart. Second guess everything. Rewrite the plan. Start over with a new system. Hit a wall crying. Feel guilty for being a “bad homeschool mom.” Then do it all over again.
And honestly?
For a long time, I thought the problem was me.
I thought I just needed to be more organized. More disciplined. More consistent. Better at follow-through.
But eventually I realized something really important:
The problem WAS NOT that I didn’t care enough.
The problem was that I was trying to carry TOO MUCH at once.
And here’s the thing…
I’m not the only homeschool mom living in that pattern.
I’ve heard from hundreds of moms carrying the exact same cycle: the mental overload, the second guessing, the routines that work for three days and then collapse, the constant feeling that everyone else seems to be handling homeschool better.
What I needed back then wasn’t another perfect planner. I needed someone to help me SEE the pattern.
I needed someone to say: “You are not failing. You are overloaded.”
And honestly? That’s a huge part of why I created the new website.
Not as a polished business project.
But as a place where overwhelmed homeschool moms can finally feel understood… and begin finding calmer, more realistic ways to homeschool in real life.
A place for: ✔ burnout support ✔ peaceful routines ✔ emotional regulation ✔ homeschool planning help ✔ realistic rhythms ✔ and practical next steps when your brain feels full
So over the past few months, I’ve been building a calmer, more supportive online space for homeschool moms who are stuck in that cycle.
Not a place full of pressure or impossible systems.
But a place where you can finally start understanding: why overwhelm keeps happening, why routines fall apart, why your brain feels so full, and how to begin building a homeschool that actually fits your real life.
And because I really want moms to explore the new website and discover the support available there, I decided to turn this launch week into something a little more meaningful than a typical website reveal.
I’m giving away a Calm Homeschool Starter Bundle designed for overwhelmed homeschool moms who need a gentler place to begin.
One homeschool mom will win: 🫶 Launch Lab 🫶 Routine Builder 🫶 Escaping Overwhelm 🫶 a signed copy of Overwhelmed 🫶 plus a printable bundle
And two additional moms will win signed copies of Overwhelmed + printables.
You can explore the new website and enter the giveaway here:
I created this page for the homeschool mom who is carrying too much for too long and quietly wondering why everything feels so hard.
Inside, I talk about: ✔ why homeschool burnout happens ✔ why overwhelm is not moral failure ✔ why routines keep collapsing ✔ and how to begin finding calmer rhythms again
And if you enter the giveaway first, visiting this page through the giveaway dashboard will earn you bonus points toward the grand prize bundle.
COMMUNITY BOARD
Come Meet with Me
Community Days
FREE
One of my favorite parts of homeschooling is getting to build real-life community with other families.
And this June, we have a few really fun things coming up:
🌲 June 12th — Silver Falls Day Trip Come hike, explore, and let the kids run wild in one of Oregon’s most beautiful spots.
🌋 June 22nd — Lava Tubes Adventure in Bend A super fun summer field trip day for curious kids and homeschool families who love a little adventure.
📚 June 30th — Free Curriculum + Book Swap in Wilsonville Bring homeschool books, curriculum, or supplies you’re no longer using and swap with other local families—for FREE.
If you are wanting to learn more and find community, come join my Facebook group: Homeschooling Oregon below!
This one-day conference brings homeschool families together for practical workshops, encouragement, and connection with other parents walking the same path.
I’ll be leading a session called:
Let’s Calm the Chaos and Create a Calm, Doable Homeschool Routine If your homeschool days feel reactive or overwhelming, this workshop will help you reset your approach and build a routine that actually works for your family.
A lot of libraries now have a “Library of Things” section where you can check out games, puzzles, STEM kits, and other hands-on items for free.
It’s such a great way to try games before buying them — especially because some become huge hits… and others lose their sparkle pretty fast.
🏝️ SmartGames — Treasure Island AGES 6–10
Both my 6-year-old and 9-year-old have really enjoyed this one.
It’s a puzzle-style logic game where kids work through different challenges to solve the setup. The nice thing is that it feels like play, but it’s building problem-solving and spatial reasoning at the same time.
We’ve also checked out Squirrels Go Nuts from the same company multiple times now, which probably tells you all you need to know.
If your kids enjoy figuring things out independently, these are great options to look for at the library.
🐶 Dog Man: Attack of the Fleas AGES 6+
Because we are big Dog Man fans over here, we borrowed the Dog Man game from the library.
The boys had fun playing it together, especially at ages 6 and 9, and I liked that it gave them something cooperative to do together.
That said… I personally wouldn’t buy this one.
It was fun for a bit, but the novelty faded pretty quickly. This is exactly why I love borrowing games first instead of automatically purchasing them.
🚗 Jellyfish, Toast & Jam AGES 5–8
This is one we keep in the car (it's pretty inexpensive).
It’s simple, portable, and easy enough to play during long rides without a huge setup or complicated rules.
Most importantly? It helps keep the younger two occupied on road trips.
Honestly, sometimes that alone makes a game worth having. 😂
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The weekly email designed to help you reclaim your time, create meaningful connections, and build a homeschool that’s as unique as your family. Join 6K+ homeschool moms who treat this newsletter as their trusted guide to confident and joyful homeschooling. Disclaimer: This newsletter may bring unexpected breakthroughs, peaceful homeschool days, and that “finally, I’m doing enough” feeling.
