Well guys, last week we officially made it through our very first homeschooling year… and wow, what a year it was. There were so many ups and downs, struggles and wins, tears and proud moments. But now that we’ve made it through year one and kind of know what we’re doing, we’re getting ready for year two, and honestly, I’m excited for it.
This first year, school happened everywhere. At the kitchen table, in the living room, at the island, and honestly all over the house. While it worked, it also felt a little chaotic at times. Add in a dog who apparently thinks pencils are a snack, and you can imagine how some days went. After a lot of thought, planning, and dreaming, we’ve decided to turn our basement living room into a real classroom space, and I cannot wait to share it with you guys. I even designed a table specifically for what our family needs, and now we’re getting ready to bring that idea to life. Stay tuned.
The boys did really well this year. We learned a lot, struggled a lot, and grew a lot — not just as students and teacher, but as mom and kids too. Trying to find the right balance of schoolwork each day while also doing hybrid school every other day became pretty challenging toward the end of the year. They thrived in some subjects and continued to struggle in others, so this mama started digging deeper.
We absolutely love the curriculum we used this year, and we’ll still be using it next year, but I’ve learned that sometimes even a page can feel overwhelming. So we’ll be blocking off sections to make things feel simpler and more manageable. I also found another curriculum that I’m really excited about because it keeps things very minimal on the page, which has been amazing for autistic brains and ADHD brains.
We’ve also been talking about a year-long school project that I seriously cannot wait to share with you guys when the time comes… but for now, it’s top secret.
A lot of people ask me how I do all of this while working full time, homeschooling, and running my side business. The honest answer? It’s a lot. A lot of time, a lot of stress — good stress — and a whole lot of learning as we go. But while I’m building my own company, I’m also building something for my kids.
Coming soon, The Freestyle Project will have its own curriculum. My goal is to create something fun, engaging, and designed for busy minds that need less clutter and more intention on a page. This idea actually started long before I knew my boys were on the spectrum. Years ago, I worked with autistic students in a school setting, and now learning how my own boys learn and what they need has only confirmed for me that this is something I’m supposed to do — not just for them, but for other kiddos who may benefit from it too.
It won’t be a full curriculum for every subject, at least not right away, but I’m really excited to share this journey as it grows.
As we continue through this new chapter and adventure, I hope you guys can learn from us while we learn from you too.
One of the biggest things I’ve loved about homeschooling is being able to truly meet my kids where they are. My kiddo who struggled with reading was no longer forced to read at a grade level he simply wasn’t ready for yet. He got to read where he was comfortable and build from there, and it has been incredible watching his growth this past year.
Our other kiddo’s brain works completely differently. Once we adjusted things, he tested into levels far beyond where he had been before. It’s honestly been a lifesaver because now we can keep them where they need to be — not stressed because they’re overwhelmed, and not bored because things are too easy.
People thought I was crazy when I said we were going to homeschool. But at the end of the day, I’ll do whatever I need to do for my kids to be happy, confident, and truly learning.
