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Don't Forget The Mom Who Has Graduated Her Homeschoolers

The support is abundant for new homeschoolers, for homeschoolers in the trenches, and for those contemplating homeschooling.

What method should you choose? What science curriculum is best for your middle schooler? Is there a chore chart that gets your children to clean the house magically? How do you handle the unmotivated high schooler? Can you even homeschool your child through high school?

Will your kids be damaged for life if you homeschool them? (No)

All of that used to matter to me - but I will be honest. It doesn’t matter to me now. Life is changing. I am getting ready to send my youngest to college in one week.

My homeschool career is over, and I’m going to say it - I AM SAD.

Don't Forget The Mom Who Has Graduated Her Homeschoolers!

Don’t Forget This Mom

The other day when I felt particularly sorry for myself (more on that later), I made an Instagram post that resonated with many people. I wasn’t trying to solicit sympathy, I just wanted people to understand that the grief during this time is real and that it is so easy to forget about your friends in this stage of life.

One mom commented:

there is very little support for this season of life and it’s crazy hard!

There are many reasons why the end of a homeschool career is hard, and we need to acknowledge those reasons, sit with them and feel all the feels - then move on with grace.

  • For many, graduating their last child coincides with peri-menopause or menopause. That stage of life is NO JOKE!

  • We have been intimately involved with our children’s lives and educations for many years. Turning that off at graduation isn’t easy. Yes, we remain close to our children, but it changes when they enter adulthood.

  • The hugs and kisses you received when your kids were little have disappeared. Young adult children are making their way in the world, and often this can strain a relationship with their parents.

  • Our adult friendships have been with other homeschool moms. It is hard to keep in contact if you don’t have to see these friends because of your children.

  • Our daily routine and purpose have revolved around children for so long. We must cultivate new interests, possibly return to work, or discover productive ways to use our newfound time.

Homeschool Family

For the mom reading this who is still homeschooling her children - don’t forget your fellow travelers who are no longer on the same road as you! They have wisdom, empathy, and knowledge to offer.

And for the mom who is with me - a empty homeschool nester - I see you. I understand what you are going through.

I believe it is good to acknowledge your feelings and go through a period of grief, but God is good, and there is much ahead now that you have honed your intellect, patience, and practicality for so many years.

I hope to support you here as we move forward together in this next stage of life. (For now, you might want to print out these scripture cards. My first defense when my mind goes south is to remember the truth of what God says about me.)

Also, the following books (because you know I love to read!) have been helpful to me in this stage of life. I have found this book to be a gold mine of information as I parent my adult children.

So many of you have been reading Homegrown Learners since we first began homeschooling in 2011. Now we’ve graduated children and I’d like to keep traveling through life with you.

If you are new here, don’t forget homeschool content is ABUNDANT (especially if you have a LEGO lover!).

I also send a Friday Focus newsletter each week - you can sign up below if you’d like to receive it. It contains four short pieces of information: a homeschool tip, a book recommendation, something interesting, and something beautiful. Short and sweet, because I know your time is valuable.

Tell me about yourself in the comments below.

Are you a “retired” homeschool mom like me? Or are you still on this journey?

I’d love to hear from you!

One Thing a Homeschool Mom Must Do

As a homeschool mom, you just want me to give you ONE MORE THING to do, right?

You have a lot on your plate. Believe me, I know.

Now that my children are graduated, I can reflect on what did and didn’t work in our homeschool and what was time well spent and time NOT well spent. I look back and see the things that truly mattered. I also wish I had done a few things, and I hope you can benefit from my experience!

This blog serves as beautiful documentation of our homeschool journey. I am immensely thankful I kept a record of our learning this way. That leads me to what I want you to consider right now:

How are you documenting your homeschool journey?

One Thing a Homeschool Mom Must Do

What I Wish I Had Done

Let’s clarify. I am NOT talking about grades, curriculum, and what books you read. I am concerned about your thoughts, hopes, and dreams.

Was there something beautiful your child observed one day? Was there something hilarious someone said?

Were you feeling particularly thankful one day? Were you unusually discouraged another day?

I wish I had kept a short, daily record of these things. I visited my sister a few weeks ago, and she showed me her “Some Lines a Day” journal. I ordered one immediately because I knew it was necessary (and ACHIEVABLE!) for me to start this practice.

One Thing a Homeschool Mom Must Do

I have always liked the idea of journaling but have never been able to stick to it. In this journal, however, I only need to write a few sentences each day. (I can do that!)

It is a five-year journal, and each page is dedicated to a day of the year. So, in five years I will be able to look back on (for example) June 7 and see what it was like in 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026, and 2027.

By the time I finish this journal, my son will hopefully be graduated from college, and my daughter will hopefully be finished with Occupational Therapy grad school. I can reflect on the past five years and see what each year held. Not only will this be good for ME, but it will be a treasure for my children and grandchildren one day!

One Thing a Homeschool Mom Must Do

I incorporated it into my bedtime routine to ensure I did this EVERY SINGLE DAY. Before I hop into bed, the last thing I do is open my journal and jot down a few sentences.

(It sits on my nightstand with my ever-growing book stack so I can’t forget!)

I brush my teeth, wash my face, put my miracle magnesium lotion on my legs, and then write in my journal.

One Thing a Homeschool Mom Must Do

A Bonus Suggestion for Memories

One other thing I have been doing for YEARS is using the Timehop App.

It connects to your phone camera and any social platforms you allow, and shows you pictures from years past on any specific day. For example, six years ago today my husband and I were on a trip to the beach celebrating our 20th anniversary! I loved opening my TimeHop today to see that memory:

Life is a busy and wonderful thing. It can also be a hard thing.

It is important, however, to document every step of the way so we can look back and learn, reflect, and grow. Our children, grandchildren - and maybe even generations to come - can look back and see what our life was like, and what WE were like.

You don’t need to be a homeschool mom to benefit from this, but of course I’m always thinking in those terms! 😉

Do you keep a journal?

Tell me about it in the comments below!