Mostly, homeschoolers must do one of three things to close their year with the state...

A Portfolio

A Evals

Testing

Depending on where you live and what flavor of homeschool you follow the requirements will be different...check HSLDA to see what your state requires.

But let's look at some out-of-the-box ways to say goodbye to this year's homeschool adventures:

• Your Own Yearbook or Movie (01:30)
• An Interview or Narrative (04:00)
• Celebrate Accomplishments (06:55)
• Purge Books, Materials, & Unwanted Manipulatives (08:05)
• Start Planning for Next Year (10:25)
  • Use our Homeschool Plan Like a Mother, or you can do this with a piece of copy paper
• Recap (12:45)

We like these because they fit no matter your capacity or your season...they have a wide range of doable...so don't choose A giant waterpark day where you're going to video interview each of your kids before they go down a slide in a magical transition emerging as a brand new "6th grader" only to come home and purge your home and start your planning for the next year....ALL ON THE SAME DAY.

We gotta work with what we have, mommas.

And never forget,

YOU are doing beautiful work!

P.S. Don’t forget about the FREE LifeskillsNow Summer Camp! (This would be a great week to get your kids busy working on life skills while you purge and plan!)

Find the complete podcast notes on our website.

To find The Deliberate Day on Instagram, click here.

Looking for items shared in our podcasts?!

• Learn More About Life Skills Now Season 4
• You need the 4 Steps to Mastery, get it here!
• Get the Editable Homeschool Clipboard Template here!
• Here's our Homeschool Plan Like A Mother Guide!
• For the 12 Week Planner, click here! (Use code PODCASTMOM for 20% off!)
• Get your FREE Meal Planning Kit here.
• For the Favorites List, go here.

Gardening doesn't have to be complicated. It can be manageable and small and still make a big difference for your family.

Nicky Schauder and her husband, Dave, are on a mission to help families grow their food.

Their garden journey began when their kids were diagnosed with “failure to thrive” due to multiple food allergies. Because of these health issues, they felt called to grow organic at home... and since they have supplied 25% of their fruits and veggies from their tiny townhouse backyard.

From their permaculture gardens to speaking at Green Festivals to their most recent project: a permaculture garden designer app (which successfully launched on Kickstarter last year!) to growing their family of 8, they are doing some pretty amazing and beautiful work in the world.

• A Challenging Diagnosis (02:25)
• A Life-Changing Idea (06:10)
• The Difference Between Organic Gardening and Permaculture (09:05)
• Time to Grow (19:00)
• Permaculture Zones of Use (21:45)
• Gardening Can Bring Peace to a Mom's Heart (22:45)
• The Many Benefits of Gardening (28:35)
• A's to Our Q's (32:20)

Nicky had the kids in mind when she made the Start with Sprouting course!

You’ll also see Nicky and her kids in two separate courses in the LifeskillsNow Summer Camp (affiliate link)! It’s FREE and it’s June 9th-13th!

Finally, if you need a kick-start to get growing, check out the 5-day Plant Your Pantry Challenge!

And, check out the Permaculture Gardens website to see more about Nicky and her beautiful family!

Find the complete podcast notes on our website.

To find The Deliberate Day on Instagram, click here.

Looking for items shared in our podcasts?!

• Learn More About Life Skills Now Season 4
• You need the 4 Steps to Mastery, get it here!
• Get the Editable Homeschool Clipboard Template here!
• Here's our Homeschool Plan Like A Mother Guide!
• For the 12 Week Planner, click here! (Use code PODCASTMOM for 20% off!)
• Get your FREE Meal Planning Kit here.
• For the Favorites List, go here.

This is the #1 question we get regarding the clipboard system.

I think our brains just want to tell us we don't know what to put to protect us from trying something new because it's meant to keep us safe, and if we aren't trying anything new, it feels safe.

But you know. Mommas, we know.

There is no wrong answer.

Find the complete podcast notes on our website.

To find The Deliberate Day on Instagram, click here.

Looking for items shared in our podcasts?!

• Learn More About Life Skills Now Season 4
• You need the 4 Steps to Mastery, get it here!
• Get the Editable Homeschool Clipboard Template here!
• Here's our Homeschool Plan Like A Mother Guide!
• For the 12 Week Planner, click here! (Use code PODCASTMOM for 20% off!)
• Get your FREE Meal Planning Kit here.
• For the Favorites List, go here.

Raising 'whole' children isn't actually about raising children at all…it's about raising adults!

Our job as parents is to teach our children how to hone life skills (from everyday living basics to critical thinking) AND to instill and grow holy characteristics in their little hearts.

...And our guest today has taken the idea of teaching life skills to kids to a whole new level…

For years, she's been helping to change kids’ relationships to food through her work in the kitchen and her support of parents of picky eaters.

She’s a former teacher, two-time TEDx speaker, writer, and mom of 4.

She created the Kids Cook Real Food eCourse, which The Wall Street Journal recommended as the best online cooking class for kids.

And, if that wasn't enough, her blog, Kitchen Stewardship, helps families stay healthy without going crazy.

She’s on a mission to connect families around healthy food, teach every child to cook, and instill those all-important life skills!

• Katie Kimball (01:30)
• Asking Difficult Questions (07:00)
• Prepare for Anything (12:00)
• The Result of Adaptability (17:10)
• The Fruits of Critical Thinking (23:15)
• Life Skills (27:00)
• A's to Our Q's (39:00)

Learn about Katie's FREE Life Skills Now Summer Camp

Find the complete podcast notes on our website.

To find The Deliberate Day on Instagram, click here.

Looking for items shared in our podcasts?!

• Learn More About Life Skills Now Season 4
• You need the 4 Steps to Mastery, get it here!
• Get the Editable Homeschool Clipboard Template here!
• Here's our Homeschool Plan Like A Mother Guide!
• For the 12 Week Planner, click here! (Use code PODCASTMOM for 20% off!)
• Get your FREE Meal Planning Kit here.
• For the Favorites List, go here.

I was listening to a podcast by Jon Acuff the other day and he talked about how goals go through seasons...it got me thinking, because instantly it made me think of how children and parenting go through seasons, and so do our homeschools.

All the time we envision and expect to find that perfect groove or perfect routine, the one where everything flows...once we JUST crack the code...

Where we find this perfect groove, that's perfectly within our control, and nothing stressful or hard will happen.

Life with kids is just too darn interesting to be like that though.

And our homeschooling goes through seasons.

Sometimes, it really needs to go through a "DONE" season.

We typically hit the ground running in the summer or fall

...we drink the kool-aid

...we get that curriculum addiction high

...we get ...

Then our season changes as weather shifts and holidays arrive...

The new year arrives usually with a new commitment and vigor for learning and routine, which carries us into spring.

As spring weather and activities are in full swing, I feel myself slipping more and more into needing a 'done' day to look forward to.

Deadlines are beneficial because they provide structure, direction, and motivation to complete tasks efficiently.

What did I say was important at the beginning of the year, that has entirely fallen off the bandwagon?

A break doesn't have to be the entire summer long.

Our friend Katie runs an epic virtual Life Skills Summer Camp from June 9-13, where all the learning happens without any need for curriculum planning or oversight from parents.

Your children watch really short, kid-directed videos, and always have a hands-on mission they carry out after. Life skills like cooking, sweeping, making deposits, creating business plans, and taking charge of their own homeschool days (I bet you'd never guess who made that one).

In short..

You might just need a 'done' day in your life and homeschool this year

The break doesn't have to be long.

You can recharge, plan, dream, or just drink coffee.

The break can still hold learning...or not.

And you will ALL benefit from it.

So go choose a date for your done day. Then email us or tag us on Instagram and let us know when it is!

Links in this episode...

Life Skills Summer Camp

Homeschool Plan Like A Mother Guide

Find the complete podcast notes on our website.

To find The Deliberate Day on Instagram, click here.

Looking for items shared in our podcasts?!

• Learn More About Life Skills Now Season 4
• You need the 4 Steps to Mastery, get it here!
• Get the Editable Homeschool Clipboard Template here!
• Here's our Homeschool Plan Like A Mother Guide!
• For the 12 Week Planner, click here! (Use code PODCASTMOM for 20% off!)
• Get your FREE Meal Planning Kit here.
• For the Favorites List, go here.

How ideal does it sound to have a teen that meal plans for your family...all the way though from looking at sales....to choosing good meals...to then making said meals...and even cleaning up after them...

Here's the thing...Moms suck at delegating...our brains are hard wired to see all the things that need to be done, to do the things the way we want or need them done, and do it as quickly & efficiently as possible.

So it comes down more to building the skill of delegation in motherhood...and the art of making those delegations meaningful and fulfilling work....much more so than it does just getting our kids to do stuff that we see needs to be done....or ridiculously, expecting our kids to just do things that need to be done.

Story: Overwhelmed with to do list...Bper helping and tackling things once he was given autonomy and I released control of the outcome.

That's what leads to these pay days that serve our entire family, and especially our individual children...because we're raising adults.

• Choose what to Delegate (04:35)
• Make it Meaningful (07:35)
• Clarity is Kindness (11:05)
• How This Changes Things (14:30)

Find the complete podcast notes on our website.

To find The Deliberate Day on Instagram, click here.

Looking for items shared in our podcasts?!

• Learn More About Life Skills Now Season 4
• You need the 4 Steps to Mastery, get it here!
• Get the Editable Homeschool Clipboard Template here!
• Here's our Homeschool Plan Like A Mother Guide!
• For the 12 Week Planner, click here! (Use code PODCASTMOM for 20% off!)
• Get your FREE Meal Planning Kit here.
• For the Favorites List, go here.

We're getting closer to the end, and most of us are feeling pressure to double down on finishing curriculum and worksheets...checking all the boxes that tell the world (and sometimes our husbands or nosey do-gooders) that we're doing a good job teaching our kids.

But we're here to remind you that you’re already doing enough.

Even if you've skipped days or haven't finished that math book (who has?! No one in school does!), or you "FEEL" like your kid is behind...you're doing a good job.

Your child is right where they are meant to be.

Homeschooling is a long game and they HAVE learned a lot already.

So instead of filling your bucket stressing over the final things that need to be finished this year...we want to encourage you to let go and give one of these activities a try instead.

We're willing to bet what you really want is to end the year with good memories.

These are our 5 best totally low-energy ideas for making memories without overwhelming you at the end of the year.

• Poetry Tea (02:45)
• Afternoon Movie (05:55)
• Kid Taught Lessons (08:05)
• Popsicles & Audiobooks (11:15)
• The Park, Friends, & A Picnic (15:05)

Before you go, leave us a review and subscribe! We promise to keep working incredibly hard to bring you podcasts that make you feel seen, heard, and encouraged if you do.

And hey, send this to a fellow homeschool mom and plan one of these totally low-key memory-making ideas together

And sweet momma, never forget…

YOU are doing beautiful work!

Links mentioned in this episode...

Matt Fradd & Sarah Mackenzie Podcast (jump to 45:00 for the bit about reading aloud)

Sing a Song of Seasons: A Nature Poem for Each Day of the Year (Affiliate Link)

Disclosure of Material Connection: This page includes “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Find the complete podcast notes on our website.

To find The Deliberate Day on Instagram, click here.

Looking for items shared in our podcasts?!

• You need the 4 Steps to Mastery, get it here!
• Get the Editable Homeschool Clipboard Template here!
• Here's our Homeschool Plan Like A Mother Guide!
• For the 12 Week Planner, click here! (Use code PODCASTMOM for 20% off!)
• Get your FREE Meal Planning Kit here.
• For the Favorites List, go here.

It's no secret we love the tickets...BUT as with everything...it can get out of hand...

Okay...even a LOT out of hand.

Here are the boundaries I've set to keep our ticket system working for us, not the other way around.

• Ticket Boundaries (00:30)
• Recap (12:42)

Get the tickets guide, which includes pages of Q&As and over 100 incentive ideas, ranging from free to big, hairy, and audacious prizes!

Plus, you get editable templates to create incentive lists like the ones in my stories.

And beautiful mommas, never forget…

YOU are doing beautiful work!

Find the complete podcast notes on our website.

To find The Deliberate Day on Instagram, click here.

Looking for items shared in our podcasts?!

• Learn More About Life Skills Now Season 4
• You need the 4 Steps to Mastery, get it here!
• Get the Editable Homeschool Clipboard Template here!
• Here's our Homeschool Plan Like A Mother Guide!
• For the 12 Week Planner, click here! (Use code PODCASTMOM for 20% off!)
• Get your FREE Meal Planning Kit here.
• For the Favorites List, go here.