The "treating homeschool like a job" hit me a lot this year too! This is our third year home educating:)

And if others could understand it’s a job too, that would be great. Nothing more frustrating than people thinking you can be flexible for them because you homeschool. Yes I can be flexible but I am flexible when I need to be, for the benefit of my children. Sorry I just needed to get that out lol. Great video with lots of encouragement!

Yes I agree with your last point so much. It's hard but so fulfilling

This was so encouraging; thank you for sharing! Homeschooling my 5 year old with a 2 year old and 1 year old has proved to be more difficult than I originally expected and I’ve been feeling discouraged because of it. Trying to remember that this season of life may be hard but it is also fleeting. Also trying to remember that we have time to figure out our new routine.

Hi Angie, I so enjoy your videos. It's delightful that you take the time to share with us -- the internet anonymous -- what is on your heart as you homeschool and this life unfolds for you. Thank you for taking the time, and learning the skills, and making the effort to keep going week after week, month after month, and year after year. :-) My family is somewhat similar to yours -- I have an 8 year old, almost 7, 4 (almost 5), and also a 3, 1, and am expecting next April. Whew! But we have a 3rd grader and a 1st grader, and my 4 year old includes herself in our school so I have to remember not to neglect giving her things to work on. This topic of "five things I wish I had known" is fascinating, and interesting, but hard for me to come up with for myself. I don't think having a future self tell me encouragements would have changed much in my heart.... But boy, I sometimes wish I could dip forward to a FUTURE me, and explain my difficulties and conundrums for NOW! My mother homeschooled me and my siblings, and I sometimes ask her questions, but she usually shrugs and tells me she can't remember. I wish I had an interested listening ear to say "Oh yeah, that's hard.... Hmmmm, have you tried this?" or maybe to give me a quick smile and a hug and say, I know it's hard, but realistically that stage lasts less than one school quarter. By the time you get to your next break this will be resolved. Hang in there!. Since you asked in your description, "What would be your 5 things?" I'll try to think of the 5 things I wish I could tell my *future* self right now... 1. Meal planning is my nemesis, and I can't seem to get my food act together WITH my planning and executing homeschool act. Will this ever get easier?!?!? (It doesn't help that I'm in the first trimester "bleck" of nausea, but even for the past year I've had a hard time getting meals figured out in my juggling.) 2. Juggling. Now that I'm adding in a second child to "official" schooling, I'm having a hard time making sure I spend time getting BOTH kids through all the subjects I want to do. We do okay with our family subjects together like Bible, story reading, memory work... But I usually get only ONE done with Math, and MAYBE one with their reading lesson. When does this get easier, and does it even matter? 3. Reading is huge! In these early weeks of pregnancy, I tend to let a LOT slide, and just put on audio books to listen to in the afternoon and consider it "educational enough" -- increasing their vocabulary, concentration, and stretching their imagination and understanding of the world. Future self, tell me that it's PLENTY good enough. Seasons change, and this one will too. 4. Connecting. One particular child of mine seems to have a style of "feeling loved" that isn't an easy-for-me-to provide way. In fact, I've been trying since she was a baby to give her the reassurance and love and closeness I want her to feel -- but it often seems to fall short. I can tell she is feeling particularly needy when she tells ME "I love you mommy" more than 3 or 4 times in a 10 minute period of time. She's seeking and yet not finding something from me.... Future self, am I ever going to be able to connect with this child? I'm TRYING. I just can't seem to see it reflected in her eyes as content-happiness or something?!?! I truly believe that ONLY in homeschooling and getting every hour of her day will I be able to form that elusive connection, and I hope that someday it does blossom. I hope. 5. Priorities. Future self, can you take a look at my future children, and tell me if I've chosen well what our priorities should be? Are they growing in wisdom and knowledge and favor with God and men? Are they respectful, curious, interested, engaged people? Have they chosen to accept correction and gain wisdom? Do they enjoy their work and choose to be diligent? It seems that at least half of my daily teaching them is character driven and not subject specific... But I believe that will be important in the long run. Am I on the right track? Angie, I so enjoy your openness, and your sweet observations of your homeschooling. Thank you for encouraging *this* Colorado homeschooler. You come into MY home, and give me a bit of that "mom-camaraderie", which is an encouragement to my own homeschool. God bless you.

Really great, thank you! I've started thinking of homeschooling as a job, and as a result I became more productive. We all work hard at our jobs, so making that switch in my brain helped! Definitely there are days where you feel like something failed, but the truth is there is no rush, if you have to slow down and review more, that's already much better than public school where you must move on with the schedule and if you don't get it, you're left behind. Still the best decision I've made, even on hard days 😁

Thanks for sharing. My eldest is still 2 year old and I've already decided to homeschool here. It scared me at first. But by thinking of me to do it year by year makes me become confident to step even further. Love of your curriculum contents ❤️

Love this!!! 💯 agree!!!

Thanks so much for all your videos -- I don't comment often, but get bunches of info/inspiration from you. Will you do another what I got my kids for Christmas video -- I loved ones you have done in the past!

Thank you Angie! I agree, it IS a job. And i hope people will also see that.

🌺💃🏽Powerful!!💃🏽🌺

I'm interested in the idea of plateaus and spurts in terms of learning...do you have any resources you could recommend that discuss that topic? I love your channel! You're such a "cozy place" for me. :)

Benign question out of genuine curiousity: Do you think homeschooling is fulfilling your kids as much as it is fulfilling you?

Can you mention some of the things you did or paid for the made you a better homeschool mom? I have read a TON of homeschool books but was wondering if you took courses that you would recommend or seminars