Homeschool Mama Self-Care: Nurturing the Nurturer Teresa Wiedrick

Would you like some atypical encouragement for your new homeschool year? Pay attention to your thoughts.







Since childhood, I have enjoyed capturing clever quotes in a quote journal. I owned two large books of quotes on various topics. Many years later they were handy for college writing. And now I use them routinely in Instagram stories.







Other people’s thoughts encourage, inspire, and help put my experiences into perspective.

















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Let’s choose words for your new homeschool year: for your kids and yourself.







Consider these words for your new homeschool year: to help you show up on purpose in your homeschool mom life…







Henry David Thoreau might have been my first educator as I memorized one of his quotes in my single-digit years:







“Most men lead lives of quiet desperation.”







Young Teresa didn’t understand the significance of those words but I thought they sounded like they were probably wise and it would be useful for me to memorize them.







As older Teresa, I get it.







I’ve learned, they’re definitely wise. Sadly, most hu(mans)” are leading lives of quiet desperation.







“We should stop asking 18-year-olds what they’re going to do for the rest of their lives. What are you going to do for the rest of your life? It’s an odd question no matter what your age.”–Me







This quote arose when I got clear that our kids continue their education well after they leave our home-based educating families.







“Collect your kids before you direct your kids,” Gordon Neufeld, author of Hold onto your Kids.







If we really want our kid’s hearts, they need to know we have theirs first.







Last week, in the Confident Homeschool Mom Collective, I offered a workshop titled, “Eyeball to Eyeball: Practical Moments to Meaningfully Connect with your Homeschool Kids” and I referred to Gordon Neufeld.







I share that when we first see our kids in the morning, we need to give them a little eyeball-to-eyeball contact, so we connect with their hearts first.







Also, this is meaningful intel: it’ll help you see where your kids are likely at and how they’ll likely engage with others.







“Make your plans but hold them loosely.”–Teresa Wiedrick







I have said this on repeat to many homeschool moms.







“The chief desire of (hu)man is not pleasure, it’s meaning,” declared Viktor Frankl, holocaust survivor and author of Man’s Search for Meaning.







Viktor Frankl gave meaning to the hard stories of my life. It was through Frankl that I learned I was writing the story as I was living it. How I frame my life gives it meaning.







I am grateful to the nun in my catholic high school religion class for introducing Viktor Frankl to me because he threw me a life preserver when I was 19,

If your 1st-year homeschool frustrations have left you feeling overwhelmed; however, you still want to try to make homeschooling work for your family, this is for you.

















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Gia’s experience in her 1st homeschool year…







“I am a mom of 3, ages 13, 11, and 6. My older two are in public school but I homeschooled my youngest this past year because I didn’t think he was ready for public school kindergarten. We will be moving at which point, I will likely be homeschooling all three kids… 







This past year was a disaster. 







These are my 1st year homeschool frustrations: I definitely homeschooled out of fear and anxiety. Though I had a support teacher with an online homeschool, she was not the right fit and did not provide me the support I needed. 







And I was trying my best to unschool but felt lost without much of an experience with doing so. 







I felt overwhelmed with other commitments with part-time work, volunteering, and homeschooling. Definitely had too much on my plate and lacked time to research into what I could be doing with my son. 







We tried things that the teacher recommended but they failed. 







I struggled even to help my son remember letters of the alphabet or numbers to 10. Then I realized there probably wasn’t enough repetition in applying them in different activities, but it was honestly challenging when I could not homeschool full time.







 I did not know how to set things up so he could do some learning on his own. Also, I did not know what to do when he just couldn’t remember things. 







I also realized that my own learning style preference is class learning. So this experience was just too overwhelming. 







I’m done with these 1st year homeschool frustrations and need someone to guide me to plan homeschooling, which I why I’m here! 







I had a curriculum for only math and language arts. They were helpful but depending on the day, a lesson that was supposed to take 15-30 minutes would get drawn out quite a bit when my son lost focus or got tired and needed a break. 







Ideally, I would have a simple non-time intensive curriculum that covered all the basics, leaving time to reinforce learning through daily living. I would also appreciate help to know how to teach the unschooling way.”



















Invitation for 1st Year Homeschoolers…















The Problem: First-year homeschool moms often feel overwhelmed and unsupported due to a lack of clear guidance, effective curriculum, and time management strategies. This leads to frustration, anxiety, and a sense of failure in their home education efforts.







They often share with me that they are challenged by these things…







1. They need clear, step-by-step guidance, especially when they prefer structured learning environments and aren’t familiar with how children learn and child development concepts.







2. Moms want a comprehensive, simple, and non-time-intensive curriculum that covers al...

If you want to become a confident homeschool mom in year 1, this discussion is for you.







As a graduated homeschool mom who walks alongside other homeschool moms to help them shed what’s not working, so they can stop pushing through and instead meet their own needs, manage their stress, and set realistic expectations, these are the 9 steps to thrive and become a confident homeschool in year 1.







When you do you’ll become a more confident, competent, and happier homeschool mom.

















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Your new beginnings…







You are on your way to becoming a confident homeschool mom in Year 1…







Some homeschool moms I walk alongside are early in their homeschool journeys. Many of them are in preparation mode right now as they begin their first homeschool experience this upcoming autumn.







So, if that’s you, welcome!







If you want to be a confident homeschool mom in Year 1, here’s what I wish I had known when beginning my homeschool journey, and what I could have practically planned for, and would share in coaching with Sarah.







Who is Sarah, you ask? “Sarah” is a composite representation of a new homeschool mom who wanted to be a confident homeschool mom in Year 1.



































When Sarah first entertained the idea of homeschooling her two children, she had a few concerns:









* Could she manage their education alongside her part-time job?







* Would they find a place to make friends or miss out on some cool school field trips?







* As she scrolled through endless Facebook groups, Instagram accounts, and Google searches, she stumbled upon a startling statistic: the number of homeschooled students in the United States had surged from 850,000 in 1999 to over 3.1 million in 2022, representing roughly 6% of school-age children (according to the National Home Education Research Institute).









Encouraged by the rather large (and quickly growing) community and the success stories of other homeschool families, Sarah decided to take the plunge.







Here’s how she—and me too—navigated the path to becoming a confident homeschool mom.



































Step 1: Equip Yourself with Knowledge







Sarah’s Question: What are the legal requirements for homeschooling, and how do I prepare if someone comes knocking on my door?







You can find a specific discussion on your state or province here.







I remember spending countless hours researching, exploring different approaches, and trying to pick and choose the very best for my family.







It wasn’t until my third or fourth year that I resolved to do my homeschool in a way that served each of my kids (& me, because I no longer wanted to feel like I was a chicken with its head cut off).







But it wasn’t until around the 6-8th year that I confidently determined I was homescho...

Homeschooling allows families to provide a personalized, freedom-based education for their kids. However, navigating the homeschooling landscape can be overwhelming.







This guide aims to simplify the process by providing essential information.







So, let’s dive in and explore the ins and outs: can I homeschool in Canada?

















Get your (free) Guide to your 1st Homeschool Year































Firstly, this is what you’ll find in this Guide to Homeschool In Canada:







Can I homeschool in Canada, you ask? In this article, you’ll find the following to answer your questions and hopefully by the end, you’ll say YES, you can homeschool!







Here’s what you’ll find:









* Homeschool Regulations in Canada: Know the Laws in Your Province/Territory







* Getting Started with Homeschool in Canada: Requirements and Curriculum Planning







* Explore Resources for Canadian Homeschoolers: Platforms, Providers, and Support Groups







* Must-Visit Canadian Homeschool Websites: A Treasure Trove of Information







* Canadian Homeschool Conferences: A Hub of Inspiration and Education



















Schedule a call with the Homeschool Life Coach, Teresa Wiedrick





















Can you homeschool in Canada?















But first, can I homeschool in Canada?







One word: yes! You can homeschool your child in Canada!







So you know, in Canada, education is a provincial responsibility. This means that homeschool laws and regulations vary by province.







To find out about homeschool laws in your specific province, you should check with your provincial education department.







1. Homeschool Regulations in Canada: Know the Laws in Your Province/Territory







Homeschooling in Canada is legal in all provinces and territories. However, each province and territory has its own regulations and guidelines.







Can I homeschool in Canada in a specific province? Here’s the answer for your province.









* How to start homeschooling In British Columbia







* Ontario







* Yukon







* Nova Scotia







* Saskatchewan







* Alberta







* Prince Edward Island







* Newfoundland & Labrador

Books can be mentors and coaches in our homeschool mom lives. We can learn from those who have gone before us in our homeschool journey, giving us tips and ideas.







Therefore, whether it’s a personal growth book or a homeschool idea book, we need resonant mentors to walk alongside us.







In essence, I offer books for homeschooling moms at the Homeschool Mama Book Club that will do that. To serve your whole homeschool mom person and life.

















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Introducing 10 Books for Homeschooling Moms that will encourage your confidence, self-compassion, and purposeful life.

























Firstly, “Homeschooling Option” by Lisa Rivero is a guidebook that explores the various paths and methods available to homeschool parents. Rivero provides valuable insights into tailoring an education plan to suit a child’s unique needs and interests. This book offers practical advice, educational resources, and inspiration to empower them in their homeschool journey.



























Secondly, “Growing Yourself Up” by Jenny Brown is an insightful exploration of family dynamics and their impact on personal growth and relationships. Brown offers valuable guidance on how individuals can break free from unhealthy family patterns and develop emotional maturity. This book is handy for homeschool moms as it equips them with a deeper understanding of human behavior and relationships.

























Additionally, learn from classic homeschool books and recent offerings from the homeschool mom community.









“Charlotte Mason: A Homeschooling How-To Manual” by Catherine Levinson is a practical guide that delves into the educational philosophy and methods of Charlotte Mason, a renowned 19th-century educator. Levinson provides clear and actionable insights into implementing Mason’s holistic approach to education, including nature-based learning, living books, and narration. This book offers a step-by-step roadmap for applying Charlotte Mason’s principles in their homeschooling journey.



























“Homeschool Mama Self-Care: Nurturing the Nurturer” by Teresa Wiedrick is a compassionate and practical guide that focuses on the well-being of homeschooling mothers. Wiedrick explores homeschool moms’ unique challenges and provides valuable strategies for self-care, stress management, and maintaining a healthy work-life balance. This book is invaluable for homeschool moms as it empowers them to prioritize their self-care.

No matter what kind of homeschool method you most align with, you can learn and glean from every homeschool method.







Around this time of year, when spring springs, robins flutter to find bugs, and sprouts shoot from the earth, I feel compelled to leave the bookwork on the table and head outside with the kids.







I grab the fabric bag filled with drawing pencils, art books, nature journals, and classical poetry, head to the pond, take a nature walk, and then study scat, birds, and leaves. We watch to see what’s alive, we’ll draw it, and discuss it. We’ll sit with snacks and someone will read a piece of poetry, and we might even write and share a haiku.







One of my favourite ways to embrace this seasonal shift and nature’s invitation outdoors is to embrace project-based homeschooling with Lori Pickert. By April or May, I transition into a project-based homeschool.







We make sure to do a little math still every day, create an afternoon space to continue our quiet reading, and then enjoy loads of time to pursue our projects.







What projects you ask?







Too many projects to count. There could have been…









* Birdhouse building.







* Free painting on canvases.







* Goat barn building.







* Learning to play guitar.







* Building a telescope (a cardboard telescope;)







* Designing a house (alongside me when I was planning our homestead build).







* Gardening: sewing, weeding, composting, worm farming, chicken raising, goat husbandry.







* Working to get the online chess score higher.







* Auditing a Coursera class on human anatomy.







* Editing, producing, and recording a YouTube channel.







* Writing and recording a history podcast channel.









What projects might your kids be interested in or say they’d like to pursue in the future?

















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