Homeschool Mom: Stories from the Shoebox

Meet Adrienne. She’s a stay-at-home mom who explains why homeschool is right for her children. It’s a wonderful insight into someone’s life who may {or may not} be different from your own…

What inspired the title of your blog?
Well, I’m not a shoe fanatic (if that’s what you might have thought). I live in flip flops, and I’m always in desperate need of a pedicure because of it. We live in a modest home in Florida. It’s not big, but it’s just right. I have always referred to our home as our ‘shoebox’. The term is versatile. It can be used out of love or anger. When I’m thinking about the space I don’t have or the silence I need, it’s ‘a shoebox’ (angry tone, irritated facial expression-fleeting husband and children). If I’m thinking about the memories we’ve shared, my beautiful backyard, or how blessed I am to have it, it’s ‘our shoebox’ (smile, peaceful sigh, husband moving closer, snuggles from children). See…versatile!

What are your goals for you blog? Do you have any?
The only goal I have is to continue to grow personally through writing and sharing life with all of you. I love the connections and friendships that I’ve built through blogging, and hope to build many more. Blogging has given me a passion to write and learn about others. I just want to keep doing that!

What can readers expect to find when visiting your blog for the first time?
I tend to write about life. Marriage, my kids, homeschool, my faith, relationships…my journey as a woman in this world who wears many hats. I don’t really have a niche, and I like that! I don’t want to be defined by one tagline. I’m me. That’s different everyday! My posts tend to reflect my mood, my thoughts, and my feelings on just about everything. Sometimes I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing.

Why is homeschooling the right decision for your family?
Teaching methods in the classroom are limited to only one style, simply because there’s only one teacher. Education should be engaging and positive for every child, and many students cannot reach their full potential inside of the classroom. Our oldest son isn’t a cookie cutter student, and struggled in the public school system. He’s academically advanced, but lags behind socially. It was very difficult for him to meet the behavioral expectations of his teachers. This began to wear on his self confidence, and we knew we had to do something to help him. Having him home has helped him tremendously. It’s been so positive for him that we just followed suite with our youngest, who is now in Kindergarten. We know it’s the right choice for our family because our boys are thriving. It’s that simple. You have to do what works for your children, and every child is different.

What advice can you offer women who are considering homeschooling, but don’t think they’re up for it?
Before homeschooling, I often thought I was not equipped for the job. I looked in on other families and thought that I would never be able to do it. I worried that I would not be able to give my boys what they needed. But, I was wrong. It takes love, dedication, organization, and prayer. Four things I believe motherhood takes no matter where your kids go to school. God can equip you for any good work. Remember that if this is something your children need, you can do it. There’s always going to be days that aren’t smooth, and there’s always going to be days when you question if you’re doing the right thing. But, the good days far out weigh the bad. What I’ve learned in the past few years is this: you are never alone! There is an abundance of resources, curriculum of all styles, and millions of families out there doing the same thing! Just like the SITS Girls say, “The Secret to Success is Support”! I’d say the same about homeschool. There’s always a group, there’s always another mom who has a child just like yours, and there’s always someone willing to help. Be encouraged, SITStas!

More from this fab homeschooler:
The Love Dare Updates: Adrienne is on a mission to change her heart and strengthen her marriage.
Is That For a Girl Or Boy?: A recent rant about how Adrienne hates telling Mcdonald’s she wants the girl toy for her son.
I’m Here AGAIN?!: Sometimes it’s a good thing write about your past.

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About Francesca

Francesca has an extensive background in content marketing, public relations, and social outreach. She oversees all Operations at Sway Group, including our robust metrics capabilities. Prior to joining the online world, Francesca oversaw viticulture and oenology at various wineries in both California and Italy, and managed regulatory affairs and facility approvals at the biotech company, Genentech. Francesca has been featured on CBS Sacramento and Food Blogger Pro’s podcast. She has also hosted an AMA webinar and spoken at Social Media World.

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