Fall Update

I can't believe it's been four years since we launched this website! How is that possible? There wasn't a big blogiversary post like I've done before. You may have noticed how quiet it's been here on the blog, and there are a number of reasons for that. Mostly, we've been busy this past year. In addition to trying not to spread a deadly disease and keeping up with homeschooling, I've started a new writing endeavor that Chris and I have both poured a lot of time and effort into, and my free time to share updates here at Small Home Family has dwindled. So, yes, going forward, there will be fewer blog posts, at least for the foreseeable future.

Ironically, our Facebook page has really taken off the last couple of months for reasons I cannot begin to fathom. If you found us through Facebook, welcome!

With a new school year upon us, I wanted to take some time to address the homeschooling thing again, as I've done each of the last three years.

We're sticking with it. Between both our girls' unique needs and this never-ending pandemic, it's just the best choice for our family, hands down.

That said, the further we dive into this endeavor, the more I see my own weaknesses as a parent/teacher. Reading and writing and math? Easy peasy. Social studies and science? Um...yeah. I miss the co-op we were a part of, where our girls could get enrichment in subjects we struggle to teach them well. I miss the interaction. I miss a lot of things.

I'm weary of all this.

And the bigger our girls get, the smaller our house seems. Especially with how much time we've spent at home the last eighteen months. (No surprise there. Ha!)

Despite all this and the hardship and tragedy, 2020 and 2021 have been amazing years for me. I've spent a lot of time looking inward at myself, and I've learned a lot. I've discovered things I love more than I ever imagined--things I never would have tried before. I've discovered things I needed to give up for my own sanity. (Certain social media outlet that shall remain nameless, I'm looking at you!) I've discovered that I spent way too much time in the past caring about things that weren't worth my time or effort. And I've been learning to give myself grace, as cliche as that sounds.

So as summer turns to fall, which we all know is the marker of a new year for any parent of school-aged children, I've been reflecting. This update isn't anything monumental, no. It's just a whole lot of little things. But they add up to a lot of changes for us, and we're taking life as it comes.