4 Tips from a Homeschooling Veteran

Recently, I sat down with Kimberly Thomson, who is a homeschooling veteran of 24 years and now a grandmother. On Instagram, she shares viral content on @grannys_got_greens. She advises on motherhood, homeschooling, and marriage. She especially wants to encourage young mothers. She was inspired by Titus 2:10 and wants to help other moms learn from her personal mistakes. 

In addition to her Instagram, Ms. Thomson offers supportive information in her newsletter and several other free resources (see links below). Ms. Thomson described herself as a classical unschooler, and we had an in-depth conversation on her educational journey with homeschooling. 

Throughout our discussion, Ms. Thomson shared intentional and important advice for other moms out there. We talked about social media, staying in your lane, play-based learning, and much more. 

• Stay in your lane.
• Be flexible in your homeschooling journey. 
• Stick to consistency.
• Know your Why.

The Thomson Mindset

Amid all the distractions and comparison traps of social media, stay focused on your goals. Stay focused on your family. Ms. Thomson highly suggests “staying in your lane” as a homeschool parent. There’s a lot of noise and curriculum hype in the homeschooling community; a person can get distracted by the “new shiny thing.” Remember to avoid the traps and stay focused on your homeschooling journey. 

Next, practice flexibility in your homeschooling journey. Use play-based learning for younger children and advance as your child moves forward in their studies. Save harder subjects, like Latin or classical literature, for the high school years. Embrace boredom and give your child time to use their imagination. Also, focus on mastery over speed. Let them learn without pressure. This will develop a love of learning. Lastly, adapt to life’s challenges as needed and give yourself grace in the meantime. 

Continuing, stick to consistency. Although she advocates for flexibility, she also encourages sticking to a schedule and routine. Children will flourish with a routine that helps the whole family achieve life and learning goals. Personally, Ms. Thomson set yearly plans with a flexible mindset to help her family stay on track. 

Finally, know your Why. Ms. Thomson encourages families to remember their Why because it will help them push through the hard days. It will keep them going. If you haven’t figured out your Why, take time to mull it over and discuss it with your spouse. Let this reasoning motivate you to achieve your homeschooling dreams. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, Ms. Thomson spoke parenting truths that will last a lifetime. Many of these truths are simple yet vital for a family’s success. Take time to dwell on these insights and remember to stay in your lane. Figure out your Why and hold fast to its meaning for your family. 

As Ms. Thomson explained, make room for mistakes and imperfections along the way, but like every homeschooling family before you, you can do this!

Click the link to join our Facebook group!

- NxtEra

Written by Bethany (@thebookwormgirl_bethany)

Helpful Links:

Instagram: Instagram

Facebook: Facebook

Linktree: Granny's Picks