The beauty within all your sadness is this - you’ve not really finished, because you’re like an extra silent partner in the lives of so many as you speak into their lives in different ways. The fruit of your loins (have a little KJV term for a giggle) have formally finished, but you have many other “children” who aren’t done. Because of you their lives are enriched by a Charlotte Mason education. May the Lord give you a deep sense of joy in knowing how much of a blessing you continue to be. And “well done, faithful servant” for the season that has closed, and “look unto Jesus” for the new days ahead. 🫂
My child is also going into grade 9 in the school system, from homeschooling, and reading this I am feeling a little like I didn’t quite process the end of our formal homeschooling. I’d love to hear more about how you cultivate atmosphere and connection and a lifestyle of learning with a teen in school, and how you balance the school-y way of learning with your awareness of a Charlotte Mason way.
Thank you for your bravery in sharing that sometimes honoring our children as born persons means doing the drastically unexpected. As always, you are a gift and a treasure ❤️
Leah this is so beautifully told! I felt this same sadness in exactly the way you described it when we were launching Jude to college. I remember walking through the grocery store and tearing up, thinking of all of our memories. The build up to it for me was the hardest and I am glad I really sat with the feelings of sadness over a beautiful season ending. I think really feeling it all allowed me to approach this next season with joy! And this next season has been truly so wonderful, too. All is well. You have been (and continue to be) a light in your own family and to so many others. I’m grateful your light shines on me!
Oh Leah! This is hitting so close to home ! I’m feeling the same feelings, anticipating this might be our last year of homeschooling . I don’t know it yet but I’m starting to grieve . Sad and glad, that’s the mood. I’m glad I had the courage to do it, when in Spain is now officially allowed to. We took it year by year, in the beginning with loads of fear of being “caught”… little by little we reached the last year of official/mandatory education. And this is the last year. There are still two more years of secondary school here, but as you said in GB 🇬🇧, there are other options as well… so we pray and open our eyes bigger and try to be attentive at their current needs and desires… I’m so glad I met you at Stratford- upon-Avon that year! You’ve been a lovely companion and I’m sure you’ll continue to be!
Oof, mama😭💔 I was so engrossed in this series, not because i imagined your gorgeous accent reading it aloud to me, but bc, as a mama of seven, still quite in the thick of it myself, i felt this so deeply. Like, i have always equally envisioned yet avoided thinking forward to this time of our lives (we’re just a beat behind you, my oldest just entering into year 9). Thank you for sharing your heart with us, for resounding that families, kids are not one-size-fits-all. That, to everything there is a season. Thankful for mamas like you who have gone before us and are paving the way, I appreciate you. Hugging you from afar, and blessings to you all as you navigate this next chapter❤️
Wow, Leah...what a change for you all. But WELL DONE! Looking forward to hearing what life looks like for you and your family now, and thank you for all your continued work here.
Leah, thank you for sharing the beauty and the grief of this period. Your ability to adapt and honestly share is just as valuable a gift as your mentoring in a Charlotte Mason educational lifestyle. You continue to walk beside us and encourage us, and that is such a blessing.
Oh, Leah! As always, you put it so beautifully. We now have two in uni in America and as we start our first day of the homeschool year tomorrow with my younger two, I am still grieving them not being with us in the everyday. Not because of bad things, but because all the precious gifts our home education has blessed us all. I am looking forward to all you will continue to share with us still in the trenches! Blessings!
You are a beautiful person who bears fruit that will remain. ❤️
This fall marks the first year with only one left in my homeschool, and we are wrestling with the same questions. I knew years ago when I realized how much I loved homeschooling that this season would be hard. And here we are. Thank you for sharing your courage with me!
Well done, Leah. I understand grief also. The grief I felt when our first child graduated took me by surprise, and I felt guilty for being so sad. Talking with another mom online who went through the same emotions after graduating all her children helped.
We are now in a new and unexpected season of grief. My husband of almost twenty years and father of our five children passed away at the end of July. We are trying to pick up the pieces of life and carry on. We will continue to homeschool, but we must make adjustments along the way. The rollercoaster of emotions is exhausting. It all has been overwhelming at times, but God is faithful. We have received an abundant amount of love and support from family, friends, and our local community. Whenever I feel like I'm going to fall apart, God sends someone along to encourage.
😭😭😭 I can relate, though my circumstances are different. U.S. educating momma of two, the oldest of which we dropped off 5 hours away at an excellent university to continue his studies in engineering, and the youngest of which I'm now much more of a chauffeur and advisor as he commences his U.S. year 11 with a combo of dual-credit college courses and homeschool co-op classes. I'm grieving this change of seasons and how seemingly quickly we arrived here. But the grief is because of the absolute treasure that our 13 yr season of home education was to our family. I will always tell mommas feeling the tug to home educate that the time you reclaim with your kids will be something you never regret.❤️
Leah, I’m weeping with you as I read this. I feel it deeply. Thank you for sharing so graciously what you’re at liberty to share. Praying you find comfort and strength when the days are hard. So many of us have been blessed by your journey…well done! Love and hugs to you!!
“I’m sad because I chose to live this season of our lives so deeply, so intentionally, over a long period of time, and I loved it, and it’s ending. It has been one of the most joyous seasons of my life and I wouldn’t change a thing.” Yes!!! Thank you for summing up the emotions of an end of homeschooling that feels so familiar. May you feel your sadness and May our good Lord turn it into dancing soon. Thanks for sharing your journey with us for so many years.
The beauty within all your sadness is this - you’ve not really finished, because you’re like an extra silent partner in the lives of so many as you speak into their lives in different ways. The fruit of your loins (have a little KJV term for a giggle) have formally finished, but you have many other “children” who aren’t done. Because of you their lives are enriched by a Charlotte Mason education. May the Lord give you a deep sense of joy in knowing how much of a blessing you continue to be. And “well done, faithful servant” for the season that has closed, and “look unto Jesus” for the new days ahead. 🫂
My child is also going into grade 9 in the school system, from homeschooling, and reading this I am feeling a little like I didn’t quite process the end of our formal homeschooling. I’d love to hear more about how you cultivate atmosphere and connection and a lifestyle of learning with a teen in school, and how you balance the school-y way of learning with your awareness of a Charlotte Mason way.
Thank you for your bravery in sharing that sometimes honoring our children as born persons means doing the drastically unexpected. As always, you are a gift and a treasure ❤️
Leah this is so beautifully told! I felt this same sadness in exactly the way you described it when we were launching Jude to college. I remember walking through the grocery store and tearing up, thinking of all of our memories. The build up to it for me was the hardest and I am glad I really sat with the feelings of sadness over a beautiful season ending. I think really feeling it all allowed me to approach this next season with joy! And this next season has been truly so wonderful, too. All is well. You have been (and continue to be) a light in your own family and to so many others. I’m grateful your light shines on me!
Oh Leah! This is hitting so close to home ! I’m feeling the same feelings, anticipating this might be our last year of homeschooling . I don’t know it yet but I’m starting to grieve . Sad and glad, that’s the mood. I’m glad I had the courage to do it, when in Spain is now officially allowed to. We took it year by year, in the beginning with loads of fear of being “caught”… little by little we reached the last year of official/mandatory education. And this is the last year. There are still two more years of secondary school here, but as you said in GB 🇬🇧, there are other options as well… so we pray and open our eyes bigger and try to be attentive at their current needs and desires… I’m so glad I met you at Stratford- upon-Avon that year! You’ve been a lovely companion and I’m sure you’ll continue to be!
I meant to say it’s NOT officially allowed. Hopefully one day we will be able to say it’s NOW officially allowed!
Oof, mama😭💔 I was so engrossed in this series, not because i imagined your gorgeous accent reading it aloud to me, but bc, as a mama of seven, still quite in the thick of it myself, i felt this so deeply. Like, i have always equally envisioned yet avoided thinking forward to this time of our lives (we’re just a beat behind you, my oldest just entering into year 9). Thank you for sharing your heart with us, for resounding that families, kids are not one-size-fits-all. That, to everything there is a season. Thankful for mamas like you who have gone before us and are paving the way, I appreciate you. Hugging you from afar, and blessings to you all as you navigate this next chapter❤️
Wow, Leah...what a change for you all. But WELL DONE! Looking forward to hearing what life looks like for you and your family now, and thank you for all your continued work here.
Thank you 😭 I’m feeling very emotional today!!
Tears for you as you start this new season. Such beautiful words. 💙
Thank you for opening up and sharing. I am choked up and at a loss for words. Sending you virtual hugs!!
Leah, thank you for sharing the beauty and the grief of this period. Your ability to adapt and honestly share is just as valuable a gift as your mentoring in a Charlotte Mason educational lifestyle. You continue to walk beside us and encourage us, and that is such a blessing.
Oh, Leah! As always, you put it so beautifully. We now have two in uni in America and as we start our first day of the homeschool year tomorrow with my younger two, I am still grieving them not being with us in the everyday. Not because of bad things, but because all the precious gifts our home education has blessed us all. I am looking forward to all you will continue to share with us still in the trenches! Blessings!
You are a beautiful person who bears fruit that will remain. ❤️
This fall marks the first year with only one left in my homeschool, and we are wrestling with the same questions. I knew years ago when I realized how much I loved homeschooling that this season would be hard. And here we are. Thank you for sharing your courage with me!
Well done, Leah. I understand grief also. The grief I felt when our first child graduated took me by surprise, and I felt guilty for being so sad. Talking with another mom online who went through the same emotions after graduating all her children helped.
We are now in a new and unexpected season of grief. My husband of almost twenty years and father of our five children passed away at the end of July. We are trying to pick up the pieces of life and carry on. We will continue to homeschool, but we must make adjustments along the way. The rollercoaster of emotions is exhausting. It all has been overwhelming at times, but God is faithful. We have received an abundant amount of love and support from family, friends, and our local community. Whenever I feel like I'm going to fall apart, God sends someone along to encourage.
Take it one day at a time, friends.
Beth
😭😭😭 I can relate, though my circumstances are different. U.S. educating momma of two, the oldest of which we dropped off 5 hours away at an excellent university to continue his studies in engineering, and the youngest of which I'm now much more of a chauffeur and advisor as he commences his U.S. year 11 with a combo of dual-credit college courses and homeschool co-op classes. I'm grieving this change of seasons and how seemingly quickly we arrived here. But the grief is because of the absolute treasure that our 13 yr season of home education was to our family. I will always tell mommas feeling the tug to home educate that the time you reclaim with your kids will be something you never regret.❤️
Leah, I’m weeping with you as I read this. I feel it deeply. Thank you for sharing so graciously what you’re at liberty to share. Praying you find comfort and strength when the days are hard. So many of us have been blessed by your journey…well done! Love and hugs to you!!
“I’m sad because I chose to live this season of our lives so deeply, so intentionally, over a long period of time, and I loved it, and it’s ending. It has been one of the most joyous seasons of my life and I wouldn’t change a thing.” Yes!!! Thank you for summing up the emotions of an end of homeschooling that feels so familiar. May you feel your sadness and May our good Lord turn it into dancing soon. Thanks for sharing your journey with us for so many years.
Beautiful words Leah! ❤️ sending lots of love to you and your amazing family 🥰 xx