Encouragement for Homeschool Moms with Jessica Anderson

This week on Homeschool Highschool Podcast: Encouragement for Homeschool Moms with Jessica Anderson.

Encouragement for Homeschool Moms with Jessica Anderson

Need a little homeschool encouragement? We invited our dear friend, Jessica Anderson from Intentional in Life, to come share some homeschool goodness with us.

When you talk with Jessica, you usually feel like you are in the presence of wisdom and intentionality. (Of course, that’s why her work is called Intentional in Life!) She is one of those wise guides through the ups and downs of homeschooling.

Featured in this article:

• Jessica Anderson’s story
• Living life when life does not behave
• The Messy Middle
• Tips for the Messy Middle
• Some Messy Middle Times
• But homeschooling has its gifts
• Long-term goals for relationships with our kids
• To get there, remember

Jessica Anderson’s story

Jessica is the mom of three boys. She is living in all stages of homeschooling: a high schooler, an almost-middle-schooler, and an elementary-aged child.

Vicki, Sabrina, and Kym met Jessica at their beloved 2:1 Conference when the elementary-aged son was in a baby carriage. We have warm memories of our 7Sister Kym on hands and knees chatting with the baby!

Living life when life does not behave

One thing we appreciate about Jessica is that she doesn’t pretend every day of motherhood or homeschooling will be perfect.

In fact, perfect might be boring for year after year.

The Messy Middle

Jessica and her family have navigated a lot of changes and chaos in their world. Jessica calls these years the Messy Middle.

The Messy Middle is all part  of the process of it all!

Tips for the Messy Middle:

Jessica has learned some things to help her hold onto encouragement:

• Stay connected to the Lord
• Have a word or two for the year (either actual words or Scriptures that can be sources of meditation, calibrations, and prayer to guide your year)
• Seek out and pray with other homeschool moms. We all need to encourage one another.
• Make sure that you have your children’s hearts; prioritize your relationship with them:
  • Of course, they must know how to read and write and do all the things academics and practical life require, but relationship is foundational.
  • Stay intentionally invested in listening to them, especially if you are in a Messy Middle, stressful or sad time.
• They need to feel safe coming to you and sharing their struggles. Occasionally, ask them questions like:
  • “What’s going on for you?”
  • “How have you been feeling?”
  • “Is there anything you have questions about what’s happening?”
  • “I know we’ve been through a lot.”
• Help build your children’s faith. Each family does this differently, which is lovely! Jessica has found that a foundation of faith is important preparation for life.

As Jessica says:

“They can’t fly without faith.”

Some Messy Middle times

Jessica’s family has experienced some deaths in the extended family. They have also moved between states several times. It’s not easy when you’re homeschooling and going through hard things.

But homeschooling has its gifts. For instance:

• You can homeschool anywhere!
  • (Geography happens when you are traveling to a new state!)
• Homeschoolers can learn in many different ways, not just textbooks!
  • (In times of grief, young people learn how to be part of a family during sad times, or how to help.)
• Homeschool your way!
  • (Some families like schedules. Jessica’s family prefers rhythms and routines, finding schedules are too rigid for them.)

The long-term goal in relationships with our kids

Jessica echoes a desire many of us share: when our children grow up and start their own families, they will still want to call us, have friendly conversations, or ask for advice.

To get there, remember:

• When you are homeschooling, you are in a building stage. You are building on a firm foundation for your children.
• Think about your legacy: What you want to leave behind with your kids as they go through life is their faith.
• Some people see legacy as wealth. That’s the legacy that we want to leave behind: faith!
• Model faith by your life and by listening to and following guidance and discernment from God.
• Model filtering information through prayer, Scripture, and talking things out with trusted people.

So remember:

• Put your emphasis on those precious relationships.
• Try to stay grounded in wisdom and intentionality.

Most importantly, remember this: You CAN do this! (Hey, if you want an online parent’s course from 7SistersHomeschool on homeschooling high school, check out You Can Do It!)

Connect with Jessica at:

Intentional In Life (Be sure to sign up for her encouraging newsletter.)

Visit 7SistersHomeschool Facebook group if you haven’t done that yet. Lots of 7th Sisters are there to encourage you and share homeschooling advice. (BTW- there are 6 of us 7Sisters: Vicki, Kym, Marilyn, Sara, Allison, and Stacey. So who’s the 7th Sister? YOU are! So, join us on the Facebook group!)

Thank you to Seth Tillman for editing.

Keep the encouragement going with these Homeschool Highschool Podcast episodes:

• How to have good conversations with your teen
• From overwhelmed to encouraged with Suzie Lubbers
• Encouragement for the mid-year with Felice Gerwitz
• Encouragement for homeschool moms with Misty Bailey

And this post from 7SistersHomeschool:

How to help a friend in crisis: Encouragement for homeschool moms

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The post Encouragement for Homeschool Moms with Jessica Anderson appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.