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Thank you so much for taking the time to share your personal perspective on having a child with an invisible need. So often being an invisible needs mom isn't talked about. My son was diagnosed with autism a year ago and since he doesn't meet the stereotypical profile of a child with autism, I've found that the responses he gets for just being his beautiful, loving, inclusive self aren't always kind. I appreciate you recognizing the difficulties we face and how overwhelming it can be, and the weight we carry in being the best Mom's we can be for them.

Thank you for the encouragement on kids with special needs…not beating ourselves up and it being okay to not homeschool for every single year. I needed to hear that. I enjoy all of your content. I don’t know how you do it all! It’s such a blessing, thank you. 🤍

Part of the beauty of homeschooling is that they can each go at their own pace and it sounds like you found the perfect place to help support that for Noah. ❤

Homeschooling vids are what I’m here for. Even if they’re far and few in between I cherish your homeschool advice/ideas and styles. Thanks so much! -homeschool mom of 3 boys

Behavioral issues here. Food was a huge piece for us. God has really led us and opened our eyes to the needs of our children. I know the pain of dealing with a child who has behavior issues that push you to your absolute end. It’s hard. Praying for peace.

I was a gramma of 50 (I'm now 69) before I learned my math difficulties my entire life were due to an actual math disability. I did fine with the very early years of elementary school but once we hit multiplication, I struggled. Once I hit college in my later life, I had learned ways to cope and I made it through college math be putting forth herculean efforts but I did it. I'm nearly in tears being so glad you are approaching Noah's issues early on. He is such a charmer and will do amazing with the extra help!

Go Noah, go! You are going to accomplish amazing things, just as God intended you to do them 🌟

From 2 grade into high school I went to a private school for kids with dyslexia and learning disabilities. They gave me confidence, and knew how to teach me the way I needed. I didn’t read until age 8, and because of this school I felt no shame whatsoever. I am very proud whenever I get to tell someone that I have dyslexia. I had the most amazing teachers, they were all passionate and people I respected. That school changed my life, and by my last year I was one of the top three students in my class. I wrote beautiful essays on Shakespeare, and to this day I feel proud about my writing and ability to express myself. We wrote poetry too, and had vocabulary tests every week with 100 words or more. I am so thankful I had that school.

I understand so well the blurry lines in determining behavior issues that need to be disciplined and addressed vs behavior that is just organic and coming from a very “spectromy” place. It has been the very hardest part of parenting so far. Love to you.

I can relate with wanting…”forward motion.” It’s a struggle but the Lord does provide!

Thank you for sharing. We are a family of 6 with 4 children adopted from foster care. My 5th daughter has pretty severe effects from the drug exposure. It's very hard because her only diagnosis is ADHD, but it's SO much more than that. She is currently in school, getting all the testing as well. God has shown me that I have to surrender my desires in regards to their education. You definitely have to have another level of trust.

I was nodding my head to alot of what you said. When you said how it can be harder sometimes when your child has a disability that you cant see, that really resonated with me. My son has a stutter and believed to have some sort of adhd. All I can do is get him whatever help is available. He is in occupational therapy, speech, and a program called "special friends " where they teach him how to control big emotions and playing with others. 💕

Wishing the best for you and your beautiful family!! Everything will be ok :)

Great to meet each child where they are at and getting the help they need ❤️

I have been in a really similar situation with my little guy and I appreciate you sharing! The struggle is real!

I just experienced the same issue last fall. I think it is wonderful that you are sharing not just the ups but also the hard things.

Bravo, Mom! So glad he is a part of your family. ❤

I love your homeschool videos. I had no idea what I was doing when I started 5 years ago and probably still don’t but you’ve always encouraged me to change what isn’t working and just keep going. ❤

You are such a good mom, and your children are blessed to have you. 🤍 Thank you for sharing and being an encouragement to the rest of us mamas. 🤗

Wow how wonderful you find a school that can help him! What a blessing.

I loved this video and the things you said about your children and the things you said you want for your babies. I have a son in the same position and it's been quite hard and watching this video made me tear up because I did the same thing with the discipline and afterwards felt horrible for not being more understanding. Absolutely loved this video and your transparency without sheding a tear doing it. Very powerful and sending support ❤

Loved this video so much. My kids are grown but what a struggle one of them had and now seeing my grandson going through some of the same things but at least now we know better so we do better! God bless you and sweet Noah.

My heart goes out to you as parents and Noah during the process. The "figuring it out" phase is really difficult. But it gets you to the other side (which is not necessarily easier) where success can look more individualized and better achieved. My sister has a more obvious disability, and my son is a rather masked one that makes some think "those parents..." type ideas. I find myself feeling the need to forewarn others maybe to prevent the inevitable judgment. So glad you found something that works for you all right now and prayers and hopes that more solid info comes your way soon.

My son was diagnosed w autism at 3. I understand the tears but i also see the the drive to raise children w values! You are doing all the right things. We did 3 yrs of therapy. 40 hours a week. It was difficult for all of us. However it was so worth it. He is off to college this year a well rounded, well liked young man. God chose you to be his mom! His life will be rich and successful because of That Godly choice.

Prayers mama, it IS difficult! I have a beautiful son with invisible disabilities and it is hard. Hugs to you ❤️ and all the parents doing the best for their kiddos!

Thank you so much for sharing this. I'm going through this with 3 of my children. I agree that it's difficult when it's not something you can see... We're all trying our best for our kids :)

THanks for sharing something so personal. It's good to be encouraged to get help if you need it, because we often think that we are the only ones that can help ourselves and/or our children, blocking out outside sources/resources that can be of benefit to us. I applaud you Angela and CR for making your children's needs a first. priority and encouraging others to do the same.👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽❤❤

Love the homeschool videos ! Definitely like an all in one type of planner - vertical columns - weekly spread and daily spread / to do list Type of thing .

Thank you for doing what Noah needs even when it's hard. I grew up with learning disabilities but the adults in my life wouldn't do all the testing needed so I was a teen before I knew why I struggled so much.

The important thing is now you know and are moving forward together. Sometimes kids need to learn sideways because that’s how their brains work. We’re all rooting for you Noah!!!

I have a son with dyslexia and can completely relate to this.. the early years were so hard and I definitely felt the guilt once we discovered it. He has been in tutoring via zoom for three years now and I’m just blown away at his progress!! I think it’s so wise to get the help.. in the words of Julie Bogart, “Help helps!”

I hear my daughter's story in Noah's. It's so hard on momma when her baby is struggling. I'm so proud of you for pushing forward to find out what is best for each child! ❤️

Looking forward to the update videos on the room. I hope y'all can get the answers you need for Noah and are better able to formulate plans which support his gifts and help him to manage his challenges.

So proud of you and your husband and happy for Noah!!!

I started watching you for the homeschool videos, it brings me so much joy to see this video!! As someone who two special needs kiddos thank you for this video !

I love your vulnerability and willingness to share. My son has Asperger’s/ADHD and we had the opposite effect where public school was causing all of our problems. I was a public school educator and had to make the decision to leave my career and homeschool him. Since then we were able to take him off all of his medicine. He also was suffering from Trichotillomania which completely went away. It was the scariest but the best decision we have ever made.

I can relate very much to homeschooling and trying to figure out what is best for a special needs child. I have 3, a teen with autism, and 2 with developmental delays and intellectual delays. Some days are easier than others. I see you, and you are doing a fabulous job mama!

Wow, our family is in the EXACT same place with our little guy! You echo all my thoughts and feelings 🥹 We are working through evaluations and preparing for therapy…I will be sure to add you guys to my prayer list.

Thanks for the update! I would love to know how everything else is working for some the other kiddos as well.

I love this and Lisa's podcast episode! I just pulled one of my six kids from our small town public school. I am really trying to focus on each kids needs individually! The idea of having kids in public school and at home truly doing homeschool is completely overwhelming! After listening to and watching you the last 2 days, I do feel like I am enough! As far as planners go, all-encompassing would be best for our family!

Thank you for the update. My daughter got diagnosed with ADHD last year but it was in the middle of the year. It was a struggle to school her through it. You are not alone. I thunk it is great that you are putting him first and helping him.

Thank you for this. I've been struggling with figure out what is best for us. Putting the dates and checking off my teachers manual for My Father's World has been the best that works for me. When I remember I also write in down in a spirlal notebook and phone. Thank you so much for all you do.

My second son is dyslexic and I feel this so much. I had to step back and recognize what's most important and everything you said resonates with me! You are a good momma

Thank you for sharing your story about Noah. My son has a development delay and we have found a lovely school that nurtures and helps him. During the year of lockdown, he was making little progress at home with me and sometimes homeschooling doesn't work for some children. I'm just grateful that he loves coming home and sharing what he has learnt with us ❤️ hope you and your family are keeping well. X

Noah man will do just fine and blossom with both you as parents who can recognise he needs a bit of help and also his teachers and class's mates who will celebrate his achievements along the way. I hope he is enjoying it! How did the girls enjoy coming to the UK and how are the new horses?! X

You're wonderful parents, and your children are blessed to have you as much as you're blessed to have them.

I have tried having designated homeschool areas. I even moved our table to the kitchen to use the dining room for homeschool and put the kids’ desks in there for them and all they needed. But they just ended up fussing. Inevitably, one of them would end up lying at the back door in the floor where the sunshine comes in and is warm. So then I got new desks and set them each up in their rooms with everything. They used the desks to pile junk on. I finally sold their desks and they have lap desks now so they have a surface to write on wherever they want to do school. Most of their work is self explanatory so they just need me if they get stuck. It finally dawned on me one day that part of homeschool was so it wouldn’t feel or be like public school which they know nothing about anyway. So now I’m trying to go with the flow and as long as they get their assignments finished, I don’t give them time constraints or care where they work at. Some days they just want to be in the room with me. Some days they might want to be together and sometimes they want to be alone or lie at the back door in sun! I hope you get your diagnosis for your son. I think my 12 year old has auditory processing disorder. He mishears so much! I tried to get him diagnosed when he was younger and they gave him some academic tests and said he was too smart for assistance. I wasn’t trying to get assistance. Just a diagnosis. He passed all his hearing tests. I knew he was smart enough. Not sure what that had to do with APD.

I use a sheet protector folder and put the current month in the front. Just a basic month with margin at top for a to do checklist. Just write lesson numbers completed, holidays and outings. I do have a wall calendar for appointment details by the door. I have a separate notepad for todo list details grocery, home improvement ect and a spiral note pad for lesson plans/ notes on progress, work samples. I used to journal but just have a 365 bible and make notes in that. I like a clean simple monthly calendar now but love seeing new organizational ideas. Thanks

I find it SO encouraging how youre bending and adjusting. Even with the jungle room, having to make decisions on what works best for your kids in THAT season. ❤

Another great video. As Mamas, we can be so hard on ourselves. If we are aware of our children’s unique needs, and we respond to meet them, that means we are successful. It can be difficult when our plans are derailed. You inspire me to be my best. Thank you for this video. I have submitted the form so I won’t add my planner “issues” to this comment. I can’t wait to see what you come up with.

You’re a wonderful mother! ❤

As a mom of three, all of which have varying disabilities, I can totally relate to this video. Thank you so much for sharing your story with us❤️

It is definitely nice to hear another homeschooling video! I prefer a spiral bound planner with no dates so I can use it at any time.

It is amazing that you are finding the resources that he needs to succeed.

I adopted my three kids from foster care and I homeschool the youngest and have benefited so much from what you have shared. They all have different health/behavior/sensory issues. It is HARD. Sharing the hardness is helpful. Thanks for sharing with such grace and addressing that education "success" is low on the priority list. And that is a good thing. There are greater priorities for sure.

As a mom of a child who has learning disabilities, I’m so thankful for you speaking on this and the struggles that not only our children face, but what we face as parents when trying to make the best decisions for them! We take the wins when we get them, no matter how small! ❤️

Great video! Thanks for the honest update. I would enjoy a fairly simple planner with sections for other areas of life also.

I LOVE my Penny Pincher planner and made adjustments to include our homeschool routine. I love that I can look at everything I need to do during the week and cross off each item. I use a line at the top to do "attendance" (I don't mark per kid, I either get all the kids or mark who was sick). I add a couple boxes at the end of the week to record that we finished our science and history lesson as a family. My only complaint is that I haven't figured out a good way to record which subjects my kids each completely individually each day.

I've recently gone through the same thing. My oldest recently got two diagnoses and it's been such a challenge. I've regretted how I handled what I now know was her frustration and overwhelm and I thought it was defiance. This video resonated with me deeply!

I was so into the planners from Well Planned Gal. But a few years into creating my own mishmash of homeschooling curriculum, and I realized I needed more structure just as much as my children need structure. We’ve been doing solely My Father’s World this year and oh my goodness the load off my mind! Everything is planned for me and is mostly open and go. And the best part is that it’s working beautifully for my children. Catering to what works with one’s family as well as the individual children is so so important. And I hope new and vet homeschool parents realize this can take years! And it’s okay if it does!!! ❤

I love your channel! I've been homeschooling for 2 years now and I've struggled. But since finding you, you've helped me feel better about all of it. I have a 10 yr old who is behind tremendously with reading and it has stressed me out, especially considering that 6 of 8 of my kids are school aged, so it's overwhelming. But your advice to read to them has absolutely helped us all love to read more!

I want a home school planner that isn't by the day but has space on the left for tasks that need to be done through the week and on the right has check boxes for M-F to show when it was done.

I like the simple strictly homeschool planner idea

13:09 I feel this. Thank you for sharing. I just recently realized one of my kids may have special needs. It’s all new to us within the last couple months. I guess I was in denial 🤷🏼‍♀️ he is in early intervention now and has been helpful for him. It’s a journey and I feel alone in it just because it’s all new to me. I have guilt that I should have noticed it sooner but didn’t.😞 Just moving forward and doing everything we can to get him the help he needs.

I started using homeschool planet last year and it has been perfect. So easy to plan and reschedule when the plan ultimately falls behind. Each kid gets their weekly checklist printed out for their clipboard.

I really enjoy a simple planner. But I do use my planner for “life” planning too! My son has some disabilities and I am so glad you can open up. It helps make others , like me, not feel so alone.

Great Job Angela

Wow. This video for me is divine intervention. I have loved your videos/ family/ books for years etc. but I don't usually watch homeschool content much anymore as our homeschool journey closed (for now at least).... today for some reason I felt the need to watch this and if it wasn't exactly my story with one of my own sons... just days ago I received more information on his evals/ diagnosis.... I have advocated for him and fought so hard to support my baby and your words on how you felt have healed me a little because like you I had so much guilt. then all your words on success you want for your children - perfection. I so needed this. Thank you always for just being you. sending you & your family lots of love!

Yo girrrrlll, Appreciate you sharing! The Blood covers! Keep up the hard work 😁

Momma to a few Special needs in different ways and kinds here. Glad there’s a great place for Mr. N and I hear ya with being far away from everything! Very cool for created a planned! Excited to see what that’s like.

I have been watching your videos for like 5 years and I feel like I know you. You have helped me in my homeschooling journey ❤

PLANNERS ARE THE BEST🎉 I would love one with a weekly section that plans vertically and allows for ten subjects going down and I also would prefer size options of planners I have a full size now and it’s a bit much hahah

I so much appreciate that you show grace towards homeschooling families. I love homeschooling my kids but found some respond better than others. With the less responsive kids I felt very guilty and pressured to exclusively homeschool. Now that I see how much my kids are thriving in their different learning environments the guilt has left. I do miss the flexibility of exclusivity homeschooling but not at the sacrifice of their happiness and interest in learning.

Reading logs for each kid, place to track days, monthly calendars that can be blank so I can use each year, I use a book much like yours to record our daily work, 5 squares down and 8 across. A place to record resources for each subject, maybe a weekly planning sheet.

Thank you so much for sharing this. I am walking through trying to figure out what myself and my kids may be dealing with also. Part of this process is dealing with some grief that has come up for me in wondering if *I* have been part of the problem for my sweet kiddos because of disciplining them for things that I now am realizing they weren't doing by choice. It is not a road I ever envisioned traveling as a mom, but, with the Lord as my strength, I am here for it.

Praying for you and Noah💕💕💕

Thank you so much for always being so honest and open about everything. Homeschooling is not always the same or easy but God is good. About the planner, the more simple the better. I always find that a separate planner for life and homeschool is the best. Keep up the good work!!

I thought I preferred just a homeschool planner but lately I’ve been making a column or two for home and life related things, lol. I guess I need an all in one planner. I understand everything you’ve said. It’s hard and exhausting.

I love your homeschool videos! I have been homeschooled, been to private school, & public school. In all of the cases: I wish that my parents would have gotten me additional outside help. I have dyslexia & ADD. Most of my years in school left me putting maximum effort into the simplest things & feeling stupid when ‘it still wasn’t good enough’. I did great in most of my subjects, but so needed SO MUCH HELP in my the other subjects. I plan to homeschool our children. My personal experience has taught me not to be afraid to outsource.

I am so proud of you, Angie! I have been around the homeschool world for a while now. I have seen many moms unfortunately, not get their children outside help. I think sometimes they will feel as if it is their own failure and inability to teach their child, when it’s not you are setting an incredible example to so many homeschool moms that sometimes you have to seek help outside of your self for your children’s education when it becomes necessary. Thank you thank you thank you.

I stopped using homeschool planners and stared creating individual syllabi for each kiddo. They know what they need to get done each day and use a highlighter to mark off each thing they’ve completed. It has been great, and I plan on using this system for years to come.

I really like a planner with a place for notes, monthly calenders, weekly calenders, and then the daily. Upcoming events, daily to do lists, priority lists, grocery lists, maybe even cleaning lists for each week that can be marked off. I like to put down in a planner what we did get done at the end of the day. With everything including homeschool. I think planning first and then at the end a separate place to write what did get done so that I'm not feeling bad about what I didn't get done but am motivated by what I did get done. :)

I’d love more homeschool videos. 😊 i hope you can get clarity with Noah and know how to proceed that best fits his needs. I haven’t used any homeschool planner up until this point. But this fall I’m doing things differently and could actually see a potential need for a planner. But beings as I’ve never used one before I don’t really know i would want it! 😂

Very simple planner for me. I just need an attendance sheet and a calendar or weekly calendar of some sort because i don't plan ahead i write what we work on for each day!

Yes I want a life/homeschool planner! And one where I can separate kids/subjects/day- and have enough room!

😥 thank you. My daughter has TBI and yes she wears a brace but how she interacts with the stimulus in her world brings lots of struggles and levels of disregulation. It is hard. Thank you for sharing.

This was so good. 😊

Thank you so much for this video. It really spoke to me as recently my adopted son was identified as likely having behavioural development needs and I have felt like a failure, frustrated, so unbelievably sad for him at times, and at others like I am going mad. Having now had some outside help from adoption UK things are steadily improving as I now have the tools and techniques to speak to nursery and soon his new school as to how to beat support him which is a load off my mind. You are such a fierce advocate for your kids and I really admire that. Have followed you over the years from the UK. You brought Benji home as a newborn at a v similar time my son came home through closed domestic adoption at 13ms. All the very best to Noah xxx

Hi , I use a separate school planner for my high schooler. She fills it out as she does her work. The planner has a place for each subjects, a box where she outs what pages or lessons she did on that day, and is a weekly 2 page set up. I can reference it for daily work, tests, and it keeps track of school days, sick days, and holiday breaks. Very simple for both of us to use.

We had our homeschool space upstairs in a bedroom and it was really hard to do homeschooling up there. We set it up cute, but I found that my daughters work better on their school throughout the day while I do house work, meals, and my work. We now do school in the kitchen, at the dining room table, and in our little office room on the main floor. School really is part of life-not separate from life. :) I think the jungle room will be a great change for homeschooling!

I am a person that needs to have a well organized every day homeschool and daily life planner. I need to have the space for homeschooling, my to-do list, meal plan, upcoming project ideas and plans. And definitely something with enough surface area I need space to write in fit all in.

I appreciate you discussing your sons struggles. I am going through evaluations with my 3 year old. It’s so hard to just be dying to help them and have no clear answers.

Completed the survey for you!❤️

Send virtual hugs with 2 kids on the spectrum I understand the guilty & just heartbreak for feel!

I’m not a parent and I don’t always watch your homeschooling content. But I do usually watch the videos about organising the homeschooling spaces. And I just want to say how much I admire your perseverance in rearranging and organising spaces to fit your needs. You don’t get caught in “I spent so much time organising this space 6 months ago” you just think, “well we tried that and it’s not working or our needs have evolved so we’re gonna change it up again” maybe you get tired of it, but I enjoy seeing your idea come to life and how you adapt spaces and furniture for new purposes. Keep it up.

This video was very helpful. Thank you for sharing. I would like a planner with room for homeschool activities and personal things like dr appointments , etc so that I don’t overlap

I’m a SLP and have worked with many kids with learning difficulties. I believe you are doing the best for your son. Building his skills as well as his confidence, friendships and confidence. Many homeschoolers wouldn’t reach out like you do. 👍

I did the form but I've thought of a few more things to add. I guess I'll send an email I get your newsletters. Thanks Angela. Xx

Angela oh how I feel you! I’ve had a very similar situation with one of my boys and I remember the immense guilt I had after realizing he just couldn’t do what I thought he should and before I knew that my frustration, my husband frustration as well as on some days anger was at a all time high. Give your self grace love. You deserve it. We are all flawed. I’ll pray as you go on this journey your Noah will be placed in the best possible situation where he can thrive! 😊 As far as the planner- I have a basic request. It would be great to have a home school/life planner. Keeping track of one is hard enough. 😂 Perhaps you could include a number of your handy dandy charts- ie: grocery list, meal planner etc. It would be so nice to have them all in one place. Sending my best to ya mama!