To be honest, I have been suffering from imposter syndrome in this space.

I am no longer homeschooling my children. My life has moved firmly into the "cheerleader" and "observer" categories. What do I have to offer homeschooling parents still in the midst of a most wonderful (and often tiring and stressful) endeavor?

Yes, teaching music appreciation in SQUILT LIVE! keeps me connected with children and families (what a blessing) - but that is different than the daily routine of homeschooling, picking out curriculum each year, and trying to find the right tribe to encourage everyone.

It’s been three years since my youngest graduated, and I can say with certainty that it does take TIME to adjust to the “purpose” of homeschool being removed from my plate. Life changes, and we must change with it.

Life Update

My oldest, Anna, is a special education teacher at a local school for children with special needs. My heart swells as I listen to her talk about her days and how much she enjoys her work. She was created by God for this work - I have no doubt. Selfishly, I love it that she lives only 20 minutes away and is still active in our church community.

She will tell you that she wasn’t the easiest child to homeschool - but that’s what I love about her. She is incredibly self-aware, and that strong will is almost always for a worthy cause. I watch her now and witness the incredible love and advocacy she possesses for her students, and know that God created her just as He intended.

That strong-willed child who caused me to drive to the local middle school one day and say, “This is where you can go to school if you don’t want to listen to me!” is now my cherished friend. (Yes, I really did that. No, I’m not sorry about it.) A good friend encouraged me that sometimes the strongest-willed children turn out to do the biggest things and march to the beat of their own drummer.

Thank God for that. (And thank God I didn’t give up on homeschooling during a few rough years!)

My youngest is a junior in college, majoring in Sports Communication. This is basically his dream major, and if I look back, it makes so much sense. The child that was obsessed with every kind of sports statistic, never stopped talking, and showed an affinity for language and reading at an early age… of course he’s destined to “yap” (as he would say) for a living.

Their life trajectories confirm to me that homeschooling was the best decision for our family. We could foster interests, identify strengths, and help mold their characters in ways no school education ever could. It was a way of life, not a method of education.

I am SO thankful I didn’t miss out on their greatest milestones and struggles by sending them to school. All Glory to God for His provision in allowing our family to home educate.

The Hard Part About Homeschooling

But here’s the hard part - as a homeschool parent, you truly get wrapped up in your children (as it should be). The dirty little secret they never tell you is how hard it will be when they leave home (for you AND for them).

Your family has developed a closeness that most children in the world don’t have. If your children go away to school or move away from home, the transition can be shocking. Oh, they will be prepared to manage their time and make it in the world, but the emotional shift may be difficult.

It’s taken me at least two years to fully adjust, and I’m sure once my youngest graduates from college and moves all of his LEGO (by the way, have you seen the LEGO section of this blog - my son is 100% the reason for all of that!) out of the house, I’ll definitely be sad all over again. Finding a new purpose and path in this stage of life has been full of God’s graciousness and mercy. Joining a local Bible Study Fellowship group has given me community and a deeper understanding of God’s word.

I am beginning to step back into more commitments at my local church and also serve on the board of a brand-new local school for children with special needs. Between these things and tackling some long-needed projects around the house, I’ve been putting one foot in front of the other and entering this new phase of life.

Hal, my husband of 29 years, is right there with me. What a blessing a Godly husband is - I am thankful to have a partner in this life that makes me laugh, challenges me, and also likes to eat dinner before 6 p.m. now that we are in our mid-fifties!

We work in our business together here at home - he is the finance and Personal Finance for Teens guru at Your Profit Pro, and I handle the artsy side of things in SQUILT Music Appreciation.

So, let’s circle back around to my original question,

“What do I have to offer homeschooling parents still in the midst of a most wonderful (and often tiring and stressful) endeavor?”

I can offer you:

Encouragement.
Nuggets of wisdom about big areas of your homeschool (reading aloud, making time for beauty, consistency, morning time).
HOPE that this homeschool thing works out, that you will survive, and that your family will be better for it.

One thing I don’t envy homeschoolers now is the sheer amount of NOISE that exists in the homeschool community. Whether it is online or local opportunities, there are just so many choices. I think you must get decision fatigue quite easily!

I will never regret beginning simply - staying home and really getting to know my children and how they learned. Then, we joined a local one-afternoon-a-week co-op, and the rest worked out from there. Less is more. Keep your blinders on and stay in your own lane.

The Book Community

In addition to my music curriculum, I do love sharing about the books I’m reading.

Our Facebook group, Homegrown Book Picks, is my favorite place to be online. It’s truly a non-political, all-happy kind of place, and I invite you to join us!

I credit homeschooling to my own love of reading. I enjoyed reading before, but something about that pursuit of knowledge and sharing so many great read-alouds with my children spurred my own reading life on in a beautiful way. Many Sunday afternoons, I will just plop down on the couch with a good book and read for the afternoon!

The Friday Focus

Each Friday, I send a short newsletter to a group of subscribers who want homeschool encouragement, book tips, and my latest recommendations. for interesting and beautiful things.

If you’re a long time reader, thank you thank you for the years of support and encouragement. I love this community! If you’re a new reader, poke around a bit and discover the YEARS of posts and ideas I poured into this space when my children were younger.

Please leave a comment (if you feel led) and tell me about your own homeschooling journey - where you are at and how it’s going. I love to stay in touch with the community!

February always feels a little different to me. The days are still short, the world is quiet and wintry (it’s been VERY wintry here in the Southeast!), and it’s the perfect time to curl up with a really good book.

For our February Homegrown Book Picks Reading Challenge, we’re keeping things simple and fun: choose a book with a red cover. That’s it. No pressure about genre, length, or reading level—this challenge works beautifully for adults, kids, and families reading together.

Sometimes a small, playful prompt is all it takes to help us pick up a book we might have otherwise passed by, and those are often the stories that surprise us the most. Here you’ll find a few “red” suggestions - mostly books that I have on hand and books that I enjoyed, too.

Books With a Red Cover for Adults

Sense & Sensibility by Jane Austen

I have this lovely edition of Sense and Sensibility. It is part of a box set - and the cover is RED, so I’m counting it as a candidate for this month’s challenge!

Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens

I’m trying to read more classics… Oliver Twist has been on my shelf for a few years, and this edition that I picked up (I think on sale at a big-box bookstore) has a red cover. Thus, it’s a candidate for February.

The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto by Mitch Albom

This book is a lyrical, music-soaked novel about a gifted guitarist whose life is measured not just in years, but in the people he changes along the way. Told in a unique and imaginative way, the story follows Frankie from a war-torn childhood to a remarkable musical journey, exploring how talent, sacrifice, and kindness ripple outward in ways we don’t always see. I have read the physical book and listened to the audio (which is a treat!).

Dogs That Know When Their Owners Are Coming Home by Rupert Sheldrake

This book has long been recommended to me, and it might be time to finally read it this month. Of course, I have a VERY smart dog, so I’m sure this book might affirm what I already know! ha ha!

Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann

I have already started Killers of the Flower Moon, and it is my official February 2026 pick. Wow - I’m just 50 pages in and I can tell it’s going to be good. David Grann is one of my favorite narrative nonfiction writers, so I am expecting good things.

The Betrothed by Allesandro Manzoni

I have seen this book rated highly in translation. I picked it up at the bookstore and am not sure if I’ll read it this month, or later this year when we do have to read a book in translation. This book is Manzoni’s best-known work and a cornerstone of Italian literature, often read not just as a novel but as a moral and historical lens on 17th-century Italy.

The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead

The Underground Railroad has been on my shelf, and several people in the Homegrown Book Picks group have told me I must read this. The book follows Cora, an enslaved young woman who escapes a Georgia plantation by fleeing north on the Underground Railroad—shown here as a literal, hidden railway beneath the ground.

I’m very intrigued by the premise!

Farenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

This book is a chilling dystopian novel set in a future where books are banned and “firemen” burn them to suppress independent thought. As Montag begins to question the world he serves, the story becomes a powerful warning about censorship, conformity, and the cost of losing curiosity and truth.

Fahrenheit 451 was required reading when I was working on my Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership 25 years ago, and I remember it having quite an impact on me. It might be time for a reread.

The Library Book by Susan Orlean

I read this when it first came out and loved it. The Library Book weaves together the true story of the devastating 1986 fire at the Los Angeles Public Library with a warm, curious exploration of libraries themselves. Part mystery, part cultural history, it’s a love letter to books, librarians, and libraries.

Me Before You by Jo Jo Moyes

Get out your box of tissues. You’ll need it for this book. You’ve probably heard a lot about this one, and if you haven’t read it, you probably should.

I wasn’t able to find the red cover of this book online - but this cover does have a little pink in it!

Books With a Red Cover for Middle/Upper Grades

Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko

This is a middle-grade novel set on Alcatraz Island, where twelve-year-old Moose Flanagan’s father works as a prison guard. As Moose navigates friendship, responsibility, and life with a sister who has autism, the story blends humor and heart with a fascinating slice of American history. I recall this being enjoyed by both of my own children.

The Bookwanderers by Anna James

I will be reading The Bookwanderers this month - it has been recommended by several people. It’s the first in a series (would have been perfect for the January challenge!) so I wonder if I’m going to need to read the rest of them?

”The Bookwanderers invites readers into a world where stories are not just read but explored from the inside. Blending mystery and adventure, the novel follows Tilly as she uncovers a hidden ability tied to books themselves, revealing how stories shape identity, friendship, and bravery.”

Hate That Cat by Sharon Creech

I have not read Hate That Cat, which is the sequel to Hate that Dog. It is a novel told in free verse, following a boy named Jack as he wrestles with poetry, art, and his strong feelings about a certain cat.

Gangsta Granny by David Walliams

This book is on hold for me at the local library right now! I’m very much looking forward to reading it.

Gangsta Granny is a wildly funny and surprisingly tender story about a bored boy who discovers his sweet, cabbage-smelling granny has a thrilling secret life. Packed with outrageous humor and heart, the book celebrates imagination, unlikely friendships, and the joy of seeing people for who they truly are.

The Riddle of the Red Purse by Patricia Reilly Giff

Do you have a mystery lover? This might be the book for them.

(This book is also great for a beginning chapter book reader.)

The Riddle of the Red Purse is an engaging mystery in which a missing red purse leads young sleuths into a trail of clues and surprising twists. It’s a satisfying read for children who love puzzles, observation, and figuring things out step by step.

Inkheart by Cornelia Funke

My daughter LOVED this book when she was in elementary school. I’m not exactly sure why, but I just recall it was a book that she read again and again.

Inkheart is a fantasy (first in a series) in which characters can slip out of books and into the real world when stories are read aloud. As Meggie uncovers her father’s dangerous gift, the novel becomes a exploration of the power of words, imagination, and the responsibility that comes with loving stories deeply.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime by Mark Haddon

Full disclosure. I only gave this book three stars on Goodreads - I didn’t really like it that much. BUT, my daughter read this in high school, and it is now one of her favorite books. Go figure. I guess it makes sense to me, because my daughter is now a special education teacher, and this book greatly influenced her.

The story follows Christopher, a teenager who has autism, who sets out to solve the mystery of a neighbor’s dead dog—and uncovers far more than he expects. Told in a distinctive voice, the novel offers a deeply moving look at logic, trust, and the many different ways people experience the world. I would think this is appropraite for high school students.

As we wrap up February’s red-cover challenge, my hope is that these books did more than simply check a box on a list.

Reading like this—slowly, intentionally, and together when possible—has a way of shaping the atmosphere of our homes. A stack of books on the table, a child curled up nearby, a conversation that starts with “listen to this part…”—these are small moments, but they matter deeply.

May this month encourage you to keep choosing books with joy and anticipation! I’m happy to be on this reading journey with you!

Join us on Instagram and Facebook!

We consistently chat about books and all things reading in our Homegrown Book Picks Facebook group and also on Instagram.

I hope to see you there!

Life After Homeschool