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 Homeschooling with special needs children presents a lot of situations that are difficult to navigate. We can feel so alone in our homeschooling journey because we don’t know of many who are homeschooling children with special needs. You are not alone. Today I hope to offer some homeschool encouragement for the special needs family!

As a homeschooling family with 7 (living) children, including a few with several medical and/or special needs ranging from mild to severe, I understand.

From food allergies to asthma, to global developmental delays and feeding tubes… we are dealing with a lot every day.

When one or more of your children have a special need, then you become a family with special needs. You all learn to work together to include all of your children and that is just one of the blessings of having a special needs family.

We have homeschooled from the very start and are so thankful for doing so. Our special needs life is often a roller coaster ride.

Creating a stable and secure homeschool has been key in making the most of our life, so I always love encouraging moms who homeschool children with special needs.

I’ve learned that what seems to work for other typical families probably won’t work for us, but that’s okay!

Whenever you need homeschool encouragement in this (long) homeschooling journey, I want you to remember this homeschool encouragement for the special needs family.

HOMESCHOOL ENCOURAGEMENT FOR THE SPECIAL NEEDS FAMILY

1. First of all, if I can homeschool, anyone can.

I am not more patient, smart, or organized than you are.

This is true of every homeschool mom. If you want to, and you feel called to, home educate your special needs child(ren), God will equip you!

One reason anyone chooses to homeschool is to customize their child’s education and this is no different when you have children with special needs.

2. Nobody’s life is perfect, even without special needs.

We all go through seasons, don’t compare yours to someone else’s.

For example, we are extremely busy managing the tasks we have here at home with no extra time for outside distractions.

It may not be ideal and others may not understand why we can’t go to all of the events. This is simply the season of life we are in right now.

3. Learning to love the life you’ve been given is possible.

And making the most of it is possible, too. We will have bad and good days, but so does everyone else!

We all must choose to count blessings, seek joy, and find strength in Jesus to get through these temporal hardships, because of the hope we have in eternity!

Look for the hidden beauty in each day… a smile, a laugh, a concept understood, a moment of delight, a connection, relationship growth, a hug, and so much more!

4. You have to do what you have to do for your family to not only thrive but to live meaningfully in any situation.

Strive to be content, stay positive, and do not allow self-pity to live at your house. Your children will not think they are ‘missing out’ unless they are given reason to believe so.

While others may give them the impression that they are missing out because of homeschooling and/or your special needs life, it is YOUR attitude that will set the tone in your home.

Let them see you rolling the negative comments off your back and taking it all in stride and they will learn to do the same.

5. Our ministry as wives, mothers, and Christians starts here at home and should not be underestimated.

The call to mother and homeschool your special needs child(ren) is such a high calling! Your work is important! Your relationship with your child(ren), their heart & soul, are more important than academics.

We know that quality time with our children now is more important than our outside interests or hobbies. They are only young once and we only get one chance to teach them what’s important.

We are our children’s main/first example of Godly and Christ-like love. We are choosing to invest in our children now so that when they grow older they have no doubt that we loved them and sacrificed for them.

If they can’t trust us now & believe that we have their best in mind, they will have a hard time trusting God as adults.

Is it easy? No. Do we fail? Yes! But, God’s grace is sufficient!

6.  Don’t let others dictate your emotions, attitude, or decisions.

Trust your gut and do what you know is best for your family!

We are choosing this quiet, simple life because we think it is what is best for our family. It has nothing to do with anyone else.

Extra-curricula activities are not necessary when a child’s health is on the line, no matter how many other families are doing them. Do not be afraid to say ‘no’ (or ‘yes’) based on your child’s special needs!

7.  Growing in Christ is what matters most.

Our relationship with each other and Jesus is the foundation of our family.

Immersing ourselves in God’s Word together as much as possible is necessary for our survival and sanity.

Biblical marriage is under attack from every which way. Outside influence that does not encourage and promote godliness and a strong marriage is damaging.

We must put our marriage and spiritual life first. That is the best thing we can do for our children.

8.  Remember that when others see your family for a few minutes or a few hours (often at our worse, am I right?), they cannot judge anything based on that time.

They are not living life with you. They are getting a tiny look into your life.

The brief moments they encounter you and your children does not give life to the joys & sorrows you live with each day.

They may form their opinions, but don’t let them discourage you.

9. You are finding your rhythm and it may take a few years!

Just keep living your life the best way you know how, seeking wisdom and guidance from God.

I know that after many years of marriage and homeschooling special needs children, we’ve developed a way of life that works for us.

That is what everyone does. That is what you are free to do, too.

Remember that your family is special and unique, but not just because you have children with special needs. Every family is special and unique and we all must learn from our personal experiences what works best for our family.

*****

Clarissa is a Christian, Wife, Homeschool Mom to 7 Children with Medical & Special Needs, Grieving Mom to 1 Child in Heaven, Homemaker, and Writer. You can find her at www.ClarissaRWest.com sharing practical tips & encouraging others to count blessings, seek joy, and find strength in Jesus. Connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, or Twitter!

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When you consider your homeschooling efforts, have you ever wondered how it’s all going to turn out? Do you ever worry that you’re ruining your kids’ lives or if you’re doing the right thing?

Yeah, we did, too. I think we all do. We want our kids to turn out right.  And yet every day seems to give us evidence of our weakness, uncertainty, and lack of skill at this grand project!

I’m going to be sharing some homeschool encouragement for you – 5 things I wish I had known sooner!

We started homeschooling when we only had two children, and now we have eight. Four of them have graduated and gone on to college, while we still have four at home.

We’re twenty-four years into our homeschooling adventure, and though we’re several years from being finished, we’ve learned some things along the way … things that we know now that we wish we’d known SOONER!

HERE’S SOME HOMESCHOOL ENCOURAGEMENT FOR YOU – 5 THINGS I WISH I HAD KNOWN SOONER!

1. They grow up fast.

The days are long, some days, oh so long, but the years are incredibly short. When they’re all little, everything is hard.

I remember when it was trouble to go anywhere because you had to find all the shoes, then the baby needed to nurse, then you had to change a diaper (or two). By the time we got in the van, children, and shoes and stroller and snacks and diaper bags and all, I didn’t even want to go anywhere anymore!

I wish I’d known that one day those same kids would be carrying out my bags and driving me around.

When all the children are small, growing up seems an eternity away; but when they’re big, you’ll ask yourself where the time went!

It’s especially a challenge homeschooling a houseful of all different ages, but it’s worth every bit of it. Here’s some free help balancing it all.

2. They are going to learn to read.

Even that kid.

Our first three were early readers and we started to think our kids were brilliant and we were pretty good at this homeschooling thing. Then our sweet, bright fourth child just couldn’t get it.

We tried program after program before we realized he was dyslexic. You know what? He’s in college now and he’s on the Dean’s List.

I wish I had known that back then. And I wish he’d known that, too.

If you’re in the midst of the struggle to read, listen to this free workshop for hope and help. Don’t panic or give up just because your child is learning on a different timetable than you expected.

3. Homeschooling is not a competition.

That pressure to do what’s best for our kids tends to make us look around us to see how we’re doing. We eyeball the other families in our group and anxiously compare milestones.

If our child’s “behind,” we feel like failures. If they’re ahead, we’re full of pride.

In truth, we probably had nothing to do with either outcome!

Social media doesn’t make it any better. We’re watching everyone else’s highlight film and comparing it to our own blooper reel. Ugh. But it doesn’t need to be this way!

One of the huge advantages of homeschooling is that we can do what’s best for each of our kids, so why do we worry about what the Joneses are doing?

Their “perfect” curriculum may be awful for your kids. Your schedule might drive them crazy. Who cares? No one will even know in twenty years. You do what’s best for your family.

4. God’s curriculum doesn’t always look like yours.

So many of life’s important lessons aren’t in our lesson plans, and you can’t buy them at the online bookstore.

As we look back on more than two decades of homeschooling, we can think of so many times that life just overtook us – times that one of us was ill, times a family member was hospitalized, times we had to relocate in the middle of a school year, or a high-risk pregnancy interrupted our plans.

We were stressed out as we dealt with the emergency and thought of our homeschooling falling further and further behind schedule.

What we didn’t realize when we were so worried about all the unfinished schoolwork is that our kids were learning character lessons that don’t come from a textbook.

• They were learning that family comes first and you need to take care of those you love.
• That God provides for us, even in trials.
• There was patience, responsibility, compassion, and so much more that they learned.

When God brought about the circumstances, though, we worried about worksheets. Seriously. Don’t be that parent. Here’s a free workshop that will give you practical help and encouragement.

Trust God and make the best of whatever the Lord brings into your life, even if it isn’t the calm, ordinary homeschool life you imagined. His lesson plan is perfect.

5. In the end, you’ll be glad you homeschooled.

Now that we have adult kids, we see benefits we didn’t even know to look for.

I wish I had known that homeschooling would allow us to build a relationship with our kids that few people enjoy these days.

Our adult kids are our best friends, our prayer partners, and one of the biggest sources of joy in our lives. We didn’t realize that all that extra time we had with them would pay off in such a big way.

God told the prophet, Isaiah, “I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning …” (Isaiah 46:10-11)

We don’t know the future—He does. Yet we have seen this ourselves—homeschooling is a really effective way to disciple our children, diligently teaching them God’s word “when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.” (Deuteronomy 6:7)

Let that be your homeschool encouragement. Be faithful with the things you can control, trust God to stand in the gap, and don’t fret! When you look back when it’s all said and done, you’ll be amazed at what God has made out of all those days and weeks and years! He is good!

*****

Melanie Young and her husband Hal are the award-winning authors of Raising Real Men; My Beloved and My Friend; Love, Honor, and Virtue; and the upcoming No Longer Little: Parenting Tweens with Hope and Grace. They are publishers, writers, bloggers, and popular conference speakers internationally, known for their Christ-centered focus and practical, real-life stories. They are the parents of six real boys (four grown!) and two real girls and live in noisy, messy happiness in North Carolina.

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I’m embarrassed to admit it, but last week I opened a jar of salsa that was softly blue and fuzzy. Turns out that neglecting it in the back of the fridge wasn’t the best thing for it.

While it is easy to forget about a jar of salsa, those of us who are married have a remarkable treasure that may be suffering from lack of care—our life’s companion.

Homeschool moms have a certain strength that can become a vulnerability: We are focused on our children. We care about what happens to them, and we invest our money and energies into them.

Sometimes, our whole purpose is motherhood and homeschooling.

Then the kids grow up and move away. And then we wake up and feel the grief of the loss of our children and of our purpose. As one friend puts it, “When the end comes . . . .”

How To Avoid An Expiration Date On Your Marriage

After my children graduated, I walked around for a year in an empty house wondering what to do with my life. I felt alone. I felt like a tube of toothpaste that was all squeezed out.

While we are pouring ourselves out like water from a pitcher, we do not realize that we may be neglecting our marriage. When no children are around to buffer the relationship, will we be uncomfortable with the man we married or wonder if we would be happier elsewhere?

Will we run up against an expiration date on our marriage?

I eventually remembered that I had a husband. Then grandchildren came along. Recently, something else happened that altered our lives tremendously, but I’ll save that for later in this article.

How can overwhelmed homeschoolers have a marriage that weathers the beatings it gets?

How can we women have the kind of man we can grieve with, laugh with, and enjoy life with during and after homeschooling?

Here are three powerful suggestions that have helped me and others avoid an expiration date on our marriage!

1. Spend time with one another. 

One day, the children will be out of your house.

Become friends with your husband now. Go on dates, the kind where you look at each other and connect on some level. Take walks. Read a book to one another as you fall asleep. Play games. Pray. Walk through Lowe’s together and dream about home improvements. If your husband travels, arrange to go with him occasionally.

Be intentional about spending time together. Put it on your calendars.

Find common interests and activities.

My husband and I have been playing the board game UpWords together Sunday evenings for over twenty-five years.

It is shared experiences that help bind couples together and keep them strong.

When I asked my friend Debbie what she and her husband of thirty-five years do to keep their marriage healthy, she texted back, “We’re spending the afternoon together so we can do just that.”

If your calendar is filled with kid stuff and you have little time to develop a companionship with your husband, consider cutting back on some of the kid stuff.

2. Be friends to one another.

Most of us married our best friends, but in our busy-ness, it’s easy to lose touch with the man and the qualities that endeared him to us.

The Old Testament writers often used the word hesed (or chesed) when describing God’s love for us. It is sometimes translated love or mercy, but often it is translated loving kindness.

I love that description. It explains that God shows his love for us by doing something. It’s practical and demonstrative.

What can each of you do for the other that shows your love? Understand your love languages? Learn what his are.

3. Get help when you need it. 

There’s no shame in going to a counselor.

This person can give advice or, at the very least, be a neutral third party who can help you hash things out or find your way.

Jen and her husband have gone to a counselor twice in their thirty-eight-year marriage: once to get help on a difficult decision and once for her husband to break a habit detrimental to their marriage. She says, “Get counsel when there’s trouble. Don’t ignore it.”

My husband and I were having dinner at a local restaurant recently when the waitress asked, “Are you two celebrating an anniversary?”

“Sort of,” my husband said. “Today we’ve been married fifteen thousand days.”

Yeah, he’s that kind of guy. He likes numbers. He figured out the date when I’d been married to him exactly half of my life. Ditto for him. And now, fifteen thousand days of marriage.

It was a meaningful milestone to celebrate, especially as we’ve come through an awful lot together and are still in painful situations.

After layoffs, at least ten moves, financial troubles, illnesses, untimely deaths of family members, surgeries, graduating three children from homeschool, and the ever-present pace of life, we are now caring for my elderly mother who has moved in with us. This is that huge adjustment I was telling you about earlier.

If my husband and I were not purposeful about spending time together, the extra involvement and stress of this new situation would cause us to drift apart.

One day, your nest will be empty. Look across the table at your husband. What can you do now to sow seeds of friendship with him so you’ll be strong together in the aftermath? What can you do to avoid an expiration date on your marriage?

Whatever it is, keep at it. It will be worth it.

*****

Sharon Watson was forced to retire from homeschooling after eighteen years when she ran out of children. When she isn’t avoiding cleaning her desk, she enjoys playing with her granddaughters or watching her husband play softball.

Jump In, her middle school writing curriculum published by Apologia Press, and The Power in Your Hands: Writing Nonfiction in High School are two of her popular courses. Recently, she’s added an Illuminating Literature series for teens. Visit her website for fun weekly writing prompts for grades 5-12. Connect with Sharon on Facebook or Pinterest!

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As I peruse social media, the same questions keep popping up. What do I do when we’re far behind the lesson plan? How do I handle it when my child won’t follow it? Letting go of the lesson plan is always a good option.

I’ve had to deal with this many times over the years. At times, my response was a good one…other times, not so much.

It finally occurred to me: sometimes, the lesson plan just doesn’t matter as much as I think it does. Sometimes, it really is ok to just let it go and let my child learn in other ways.

WHEN SHOULD I LET GO OF THE LESSON PLAN IN MY HOMESCHOOL?

Starting Our Homeschool Journey

When I first brought my little boy home to teach him myself, I was excited but terrified. A whole new world had opened up to us – a world of learning, of discovery, of things that we could tackle together.

I envisioned all the fun things we’d do together, like nature walks, projects, and experiments. Our little one-room schoolhouse would be fun!

Of course, I had no idea how to actually do that, so I turned to what I did know.

I bought all the textbooks, workbooks, and teacher’s guides that were recommended. Then, I sat down to write a lesson plan.

Don’t get me wrong: I am not in any way against textbooks, teacher’s guides, or lesson plans. I’ve used them many times over the years, and I’m thankful for them!

However, something that I learned after our first few years of homeschooling is that lesson plans are tools. They are there to make our lives easier, to help us quickly figure out what to teach our children.

But in the end, they are tools. The lesson plan is not your master!

Moving Away from the Lesson Plan

During certain times of the year, it is completely normal to fall into what some might call a “slump.”

That shiny, new curriculum is no longer shiny or new. The schedule that was so welcome at the beginning of the year…well, it’s not so welcome now.

When this happens, be encouraged. It doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong. Rather, it often just means you need a ‘change in scenery,’ so to speak.

This is the time when moving away from the lesson plan might be just the thing you need.

It doesn’t have to be anything huge and dramatic. Often, just a simple, temporary change will do the trick.

It might be as simple as taking a “Spring Break” or “mental health week,” whichever seems the most appropriate. It really is a good thing to take a break!

Or, you may want to change things up with a fun unit study or field trip. Learning doesn’t only happen through “formal” school work, and changing things up can make a huge difference.

Sometimes, even something as changing up your routine can do the trick. Do school outside (if the weather is nice), add in some fun activities like a read-aloud or cooking class, or supplement your studies with a fun movie.

It might not be in the lesson plan, but that’s ok. It can even be a good thing!

Homeschool Encouragement in the Midst of Change

Whether your homeschool is in need of a significant change or just some little tweaks, please be encouraged. Those changes can actually have a lot of benefits!

Not only can they give you and your kids the break you need, but those changes can also teach your kids a very important lesson. I’ve seen it happen with my own son!

Many of us like things to happen according to our plans, but in ‘real life,’ how often does this actually happen?

If your life is anything like mine, the answer is probably “not often.”

How are we to react when our plans go awry? How should our kids react?

Many times during the past 15 years, we have had to make changes in our lesson plan, schedule, our curriculum, and even our way of approaching homeschooling.

Sometimes, these changes were due to things like medical or financial issues. At other times, they were due to developmental changes – my son grew, changed, and learned differently than he did when he was younger!

By being open to making changes in our homeschool, even little ones, I was able to teach him how to react to those situations as an adult.

Today, one of his strengths is his flexibility. As a situation changes, he can change with it and still keep his focus. (Have you ever stopped to think how rare ability that is?)

This has already served him well in ministry, in his college courses, and at various jobs. And I know that, as he grows older, it will be a benefit in ways I can’t even yet imagine.

Just think, he learned all that from our both being willing to move away from the lesson plans!

Could letting go of the lesson plan be beneficial in your homeschool? If so, be encouraged and inspired to let go!

*****

Jennifer Duncan is the owner and founder of A Helping Hand Homeschool, where you can find tips, resources, and support for homeschooling ‘out of the box’ learners with fun and faith. You can also find her on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter.

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Dear Homeschooling Mom (or Dad),

You are tired: not just physically, but mentally and emotionally as well. I believe you’re discouraged: left wondering can I really keep doing this homeschool thing? Feeling doubtful: does all of this even matter…am I really making a difference in my kids’ lives?

Do you remember when you had those thoughts? Do you remember those days when you wanted to give up on homeschooling entirely? Are you having one of those days even today? If you are, or if you ever have in the past, I want to tell you that you should not give up; you are making a difference; you can keep doing it!

A THANK YOU LETTER FROM A HOMESCHOOLED DAUGHTER

It’s a great gift to receive encouragement from people who are “in the trenches”, as they say, right there with you, experiencing the same struggles, emotions, and doubts that you are.

Well, I’m afraid that the encouragement I offer today is not from the homeschooling trenches alongside you. Rather, I offer encouragement that comes from the reason you’re in the trench, to begin with, …a thank you letter from a homeschooled daughter if you will.

A thank you to parents who didn’t give up on it for her.

What if your kids could be the ones to encourage you to keep going…to not give up on homeschooling for them? Would that encourage your heart on a whole new level?

I’m sorry to have to tell you this, but your kids probably won’t encourage you in that way today…or tomorrow for that matter. But the reason they won’t encourage you or thank you is not that what you are doing doesn’t matter or isn’t worth the effort – or the tears – that you are putting into it.

The reason is that they are not yet at the end of the journey; they can’t thank you yet because they have not yet seen the place your hard work is bringing them to.

As with so many things in this life, if only we could see the end result, we would be bolstered enough to continue on the journey to reaching it.

If your adult homeschooled daughter could talk to you where you are today, however, here are some things her thank you letter might say:

Mom, Dad: thank you for training and discipling me in the ways of the Lord.

If you are anything like my parents, the unique opportunity that homeschooling provides to shepherd and disciple your children was one of the leading motivators of your decision to homeschool. I cannot thank them enough for that.

I truly believe that I am not the woman I would be today if I had only received “regular” education, whether private or public.

This is not to say I would be a train wreck by any means; this is just to say that I can see the way that the focused discipleship my parents gave me (through homeschooling) has grounded me more firmly and shaped me more fully into a woman, wife, and mom who desires to walk with and honor her Lord.

So, on those days (is it today?) where you feel as though you have accomplished nothing of academic value because all you’ve done was talk about your child’s behavior, again and again, take heart.

Those times that might distract from the textbook for a few moments will be used to shape your child’s character and love for the Lord in an immovable way.

Those are actually kingdom moments, and parents to need to refocus themselves on that fact again and again. Invest in those moments! Shove the academic aside because future generations depend on how well we are training our children today.

I cannot thank my parents enough for the focused way they taught my siblings and I to be godly men and women.

(For some inspiration and help in how to do that, check out The Keepsake Notebook, a customizable curriculum for training biblical sons and daughters. Also, take a look at volume 1 and 2 of The Way I Should Go, character stories for teaching young children.)

Mom, Dad: thank you for valuing me enough to keep me with you every day…voluntarily!

I have not missed the fact that my mother (and father) gave up a lot by homeschooling. No parent will ever deny their love for those precious, few (quiet) moments when their children are, well, gone.

This reality in no way diminishes the amount of love you have for them, but in all seriousness, kids are a lot of work! And even though the work changes with each stage of their lives, it’s always still there in some form or another.

So let’s be honest, there’s a perk in sending your kids into the traditional classroom…and that perk is the fact that they’re gone for 6-7 hours every weekday! Well…not so for the homeschooling parent because, hey, those 6-7 hours get to be spent with you! In addition to all the other ones!

All kidding aside, you have made a big sacrifice in homeschooling your children. But instead of looking at it as a loss of so much precious time away from them, motivate yourself into viewing it as receiving so much more precious time with them.

You get time with your homeschooled children that other parents miss out on experiencing, so treasure it.

Remember that these days actually go fast (yes, mom, with the steam coming out of your ears, I’m talking to you!). They are, believe it or not, going to be all grown up one day, away from you in homes of their own, so enjoy this time with them.

And then one day, they’re sure to look back on all this time you’ve invested in them (like me) and say, “Wow. My mom…she was amazing!”

Mom, Dad: thank you for investing yourself in my learning.

It’s no easy undertaking to say that you are going to be in charge of your child’s academic learning. There were times when I know my mom questioned whether she was adequate enough to give her children a full and rounded education.

When those doubts arise, be encouraged with the knowledge that you are providing more than just academics.

Most people would understand the word homeschool to have a very basic meaning: school that happens at home. I think the term has so much more meaning than that, however.

It’s not just school that takes place in the home, it’s where the home and school come together.

Are you interested in your child’s academic learning? Of course! (That’s why you’re so frustrated when it feels like those ingrates you call your children are preventing any meaningful academics from taking place!)

But you’re interested in more than just academics.

You’re interested in every aspect of your child’s learning, maturing, and training – and seeing those academics shaped and nurtured by the home. Home not simply as a physical place, but as a source of primary influence. The home is the center of all that’s taught.

Mom, Dad: thank you for not giving up on my learning. 

Picture this: you’ve tried countless times to help your child understand something, and they are still struggling to get it. You’re at the point of doubting that anything will ever work and you’re considering just throwing in the towel.

Stop. Breathe.

When your child is grown and they look back on this, yes, they’ll remember the struggle of learning it, but they’ll also remember the parents that walked alongside them and never gave up on them. And that will actually mean a whole lot more than the thing you were so concerned that they learn.

Mom, Dad: thank you for a family that sticks together like glue.

I have no doubt in my mind that the closeness my siblings share with each other and our parents is largely due to homeschooling.

Remember that the home is more than just the location you’ve chosen to do school in…it’s a shaping force in the life of your children.

Don’t let those difficult days overshadow the fun and meaningful ones you experience with them. Stay focused on the long term goal of what you’re doing and the rewards that are in store.

So, please, though you are weary today, keep going…do not leave the trench. Not because it won’t be difficult anymore, but because you care about more than just today.

One day you may receive a thank you letter from your homeschooled kids. And on that blessed day, what you’re feeling this day simply won’t matter anymore.

In closing, I would like to speak for all of your children who are too young (or immature, or stubborn, or whatever it is) right now to understand or appreciate the sacrifice you’re making for them or the gift you’re giving to them.

So, on behalf of all the homeschooled kids of the weary parents reading this, I would like to say thank you. Thank you for investing in your kids and in our future generations.

With love,

Michelle – a grateful homeschooled daughter
www.keepsakecurriculum.com

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Michelle Jansma is one half of the mother-daughter team at Keepsake Curriculum. She and her mom, Cindy, desire to help parents raise up a faithful generation. Children are a keepsake entrusted by God, and if we are to “keep” the next generation, we need intentional parenting. It’s the goal of Keepsake Curriculum to have academic and spiritual training come together in that task. Michelle taught kindergarten at a Christian school for five years before having the blessing of becoming a mother. When her first son was born, she joined Cindy at Keepsake Curriculum. She now has two little boys. Cindy homeschooled her five children over a span of fifteen years and is the proud grandmother of five (soon to be 6!), grandchildren. Cindy now has the privilege of helping to homeschool her grandchildren!

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Parent Road Ministries provides practical resources to train and equip families to biblically disciple their children, teaching them to love God with all of their hearts, minds, and actions.

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