While our older kids can now choose their own church clothes and help hide eggs for the younger ones, Easter has become more than just a busy Sunday morning. Over the years, it has grown into a season of reflection in our home—a deliberate shift in focus toward the good news of the gospel.

As we close the curtain on what may possibly be our final Shakespeare performance, I find myself reflecting on the journey that brought us here. For anyone feeling overwhelmed at the thought of introducing the Bard of Avon to their littles, I have a story that I hope will encourage you.

I wasn’t feeling great after our hike, so I laid down for a nap as soon as we got home. Not long after, I woke to the sound of my youngest (9) vomiting. I shot out of bed and rushed to the hall bathroom—only to find my oldest daughter (11) gently holding her little sister’s hair back as she got sick into the toilet.

I suddenly felt nauseous myself. I grabbed an anti-nausea med from the counter and sat down on the floor near the toilet, trying to steady myself. That’s the last thing I remember.

As I type this, we are in the middle of my nearly-12-year-old’s Week of 12! I do have to say that the thirdborn is handling the task load of this week with far more grace than either of my first two. (Sorry, guys.) Maybe it is the fact that she has seen this done twice before, or perhaps it is that she has longed for this rite of passage much longer than the other two. There’s also a possibility that she just lucked out with a personality that fits well with this challenge. No matter the reason, her flaws seem to be showing up much less than mine this go-round.

When my children were 1, 2, and 3, my husband was frequently away due to military travel. Then, we got the news—we would be moving back home for a few years while he attended school to become an officer in the Navy. I was burnt out as a mother, watching other families enroll their little ones in preschool, and I found myself wondering if that was the right choice for us.

Homeschool co-ops are a game-changer for families looking to provide their children with socialization and diverse learning experiences. Many homeschool moms specialize in just one or two subjects, and co-ops help fill the gaps while building a supportive community. If you're an introvert or not a trained teacher, don't worry—you can still start a successful co-op!

When my oldest was in second grade (public school), she was asked to be someone’s best friend. She knew I wasn’t a fan of that terminology, recognizing how much heartbreak it could cause. After politely declining, she watched as the girl simply moved on to ask someone else. As lunch seating shifted and more BFF pairs formed, “Twin Day” was announced in class. My daughter was distraught. She eventually found a girl who agreed to match with her, so she came home excited, meticulously collecting the perfect outfit for the next day. But when I picked her up, she collapsed in tears—the other girl had "forgotten."

When I first started homeschooling, I quickly realized that education wasn’t just about academics—it was about preparing my kids for real life. Over time, I saw that many parents, including myself, were unintentionally doing too much for their kids. One mom I highly respected once shared her goal of having her children capable of running a household by age 12. That idea resonated deeply with me—I wanted my own children to grow up capable, confident, and prepared to manage a household independently before their teen years.

If you had told me years ago that I would be helping homeschool parents find order and confidence in their journey, I’m not sure I would have believed you. But looking back, every challenge, every pivot, and every season of life has led me here.