Who and What is Muses of a Mom?

Muse {myooz}

verb - 3rd person present:  be absorbed in thought.
similar: ponder, consider, think over, contemplate, reflect on

 



Muses of a Mom began in 2008 when I discovered blogging and thought it would be an excellent way to improve my writing skills and have a journal of everyday life. At the time, my boys were 11 and 5. (You will often see them mentioned as the "Oldest" and the "Youngest" in my posts.) The blog name seemed appropriate for a writing mom who always had questions to be answered and thoughts to be translated as words on paper.  

 


Our "everyday life" changed when we began our homeschool journey in 2013. The Oldest, Matt, finished his Junior and Senior year as a homeschooler. Josh, the Youngest, has enjoyed eight full years of homeschooling -- from fifth grade through high school. Both boys did well in public school, but we agreed as a family that more could be accomplished at home. Matt and Josh could explore the subjects they really wanted to learn, rather than the "have to's" in public education.


 

Matt was relieved when told that he could choose some of his homeschool classes. It was important to him to have the opportunity to study astronomy and the Japanese language, both not offered in public high school. Josh preferred routine and liked the traditional learning style, with books and worksheets. Now he spends his school days learning independently with his curriculum and videos to help him through his courses. 

 

Myself and "the Youngest," Josh, a high school senior!
 

As I completed research and writing to create resources for our homeschooling and a co-op we attended, I began to share these unit studies on my blog. (Some of these can be found using the "Homeschool Resource" tab on the blog menu.) There seemed to be a need for free and low-cost homeschooling resources, especially for middle and high school. One of the resources I offer for free here on the blog is the High School Astronomy Course Outline. I am currently updating this resource, as many homeschool families have found this helpful for their teens.

 

The number of families who homeschool has skyrocketed since our family started to homeschool eight years ago! The 2020 pandemic saw a massive influx of families who discovered the benefits of homeschooling, besides health and safety. Because of the growth in the homeschool community, I plan to continue writing about homeschooling, sharing resources, and encouraging homeschool parents, even though the Youngest will graduate this Spring.

 

As time has passed, I have been writing about topics other than homeschool. Today, Muses of a Mom is a lifestyle blog with encouragement and strategies for midlife women navigating through the challenges of life: working, caregiving parents, homeschooling teens, or launching young adults with a desire to attain their own personal dreams, goals, and necessary self-care into their lives. 

To gain progress with my writing in 2021, I joined Hope*Writers in January, which is a community of working writers dedicated to helping each other progress while learning to balance the art of writing and the business of publishing. Four times a year, I join fellow bloggers in the Ultimate Blog Challenge, (#blogboost)

Are you in the same season of life as I am? A homeschool parent? Bookworm? I would love to connect with you! Here’s how:

  •     Follow me on social media. All the links are at the very top menu on the right.
  •     Write a note or ask a question using the "contact me" tab, also at the top menu.
  •     Sign up for updates by using the sign-up form on the right margin. 
  •     And of course, leave a comment!!

5 comments:

  1. I homeschooled my children all the way through. I absolutely loved it and the extra time I was able to spend with them. They are all grown now but, I cherish those memories. Resources and fresh ideas are always welcome to the parents.

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    1. Thanks Heidi! One of the best results from homeschooling is the stronger relationships that have developed with both my sons.

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  2. I enjoyed reading this post and admire you for taking on this important task of homeschooling. It's a very rewarding job that builds experiences and memories that last a lifetime. Thanks for sharing your story here!

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  3. That's such a neat story of your blog growth and your homeschool journey! You're right about the explosive growth in the numbers of homeschooling families because of the pandemic. I've been considering sprucing up my hygge homeschooling book, because I would love to help homeschool moms create coziness first as a foundation, so that the whole process is easier. But I tell you, I just can't find the motivation right now.

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    1. Maybe something I can promote in the future when you do finish it. :)

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