Encouragement for homeschool moms Archives

This week on Homeschool Highschool Podcast: Encouragement for Homeschool Moms, Interview with Misty Bailey.

Encouragement for Homeschool Moms, Interview with Misty Bailey

Vicki is joined this week by our friend, Misty Bailey of the lovely encouraging podcast: Joyfully Homeschooling Podcast. Misty is back again (her previous interview with us shared how to NOT be intimidated by homeschooling high school.)

Misty has been homeschooling since 2009. Misty was originally a school teacher but wanted to homeschool her kids. She started with kindergarten with her oldest and has been at it since. She now has a high schooler, middle schooler and elementary schooler.

Misty found that homeschooling (and raising) teenagers has not only been a calling, but also a challenge! She reminds herself often about that as her roles change year to year. Because of the developmental phases that teens go through as they find their own identities and callings, homeschool moms must adapt often.

So how do we adapt with our homeschool high schoolers and not become helicopter moms?

One of Misty’s first challenges came when her oldest came home from summer camp and announced that she was going to become a missionary and serve in India. Misty’s first gut reaction was to say “no”! She did not want to have her daughter get married and have grandchildren on the other side of the world.

Of course, she prayed about it and God reminded her that she and her daughter were not ONE person, that God may have completely different callings for Misty and Misty’s daughter. God did not expect her to agree with Him about her daughter’s calling. She is not Misty’s person, she is God’s person.

Once Misty surrendered her heart to God about her daughter, doors opened for her daughter to go on missions trips. (Now with the pandemic and all missions trips on hold, Misty even feels sorrow for her daughter’s delayed dreams.) Misty is learning to let go.

This story, of course, reminds Vicki of her saying: A mom’s mind plans her way, but God directs her path.

Misty’s eighth grader is a young scientist who wants to grow up and become a veterinarian. ANOTHER adaptation to a heavy math/science curriculum. (She is doing courses through Nelson Academy right now. BTW- we are not affiliates, just passing on information.)

Check out our interview with a homeschool graduate who is now a veterinarian!

Misty’s encouragement for homeschool moms:

Let teens have a say in their curriculum (credit levels, electives)
- Listening is an important mom skill!
Let go and let God where it comes to your teen’s callings
Be clear about the musts (the subjects that need to be on transcripts)
Help them explore their interests
- Be willing to invest time and money in their interests and goals, as much as God enables you
- Remember to pray so you know how to adjust time, energy and financial budgets
Be adaptable
Let your homeschool high schoolers make some mistakes and learn about natural consequences of their decisions
- They may make some mistakes on curriculum or course choices, time management choices, etc. But they learn resiliency skills by bouncing back from mistakes. It also helps them avoid perfectionistic tendencies.
No matter how old your homeschool high schoolers are, they still need their mom
- Listen, make time and space for them, love and accept them right where they are
- Allow them to ask questions and hold tough conversations
Relationship trumps academics
- Even though academics are important, of course

BTW- Misty’s daughter loves 7Sisters’ Fantasy Short Story Writing Guide and Career Exploration Bundle.

Check out Misty’s Joyfully Homeschooling podcast. Finding Joy in the Journey website (signup for her newsletter and get a freebie).

Don’t forget to sign up for 7SistersHomeschool.com’s email list (we love to share specials and freebies, too), as well as our Facebook group and Instagram.

And if you’re new to homeschooling, check out all these resources from our Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network family!

Join Misty and Vicki for some encouragement for homeschool moms!

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