Be Free 2/24/26 Be Free 2/24/26

We Asked Experienced Homeschool Moms What They Wish They Knew…

Laura Abbott - Feb 24, 2026

We asked our Facebook community of experienced homeschool mamas what they wished they knew before they started homeschooling and here were some of the responses we got:

“You don’t have to be a “unicorn” mom to homeschool. It’s not magic or sorcery or something that only super nerdy or “special” moms can do.” -Brenda
“See if you can find someone who has the curriculum you’d like to use to visually be able to see it and hold it before you make a purchase—this will save you money.” -Heather
“I wish I had relaxed a little! I wish someone would have told me that homeschooling is not making a school environment at home. Public libraries are a WEALTH of knowledge for homeschool families. There are so many free recourses!
I am so thankful I had homeschool mommas speak life into my journey when I was scared and no one else thought I could do it. (Be that momma for others!)” -Brittany
“It doesn’t have to be complicated or rigorous! Meet your kids where they are at, your 5 year old doesn’t need to know how to read!! I had 2 kids reading at 4/5 and one not reading until 6/7. All of them are smart and successful!”- Sarah
“It looks different for every family and every child. There is no right way (but there is wrong ways ) but adjusting and finding the balance is key” -Sarah
“It wasn't an 8 hour school day” -Ronni
“It might take awhile to “unschool” your brain and kiddos if they attended public school first.”- Brandi
“There are weeks where school is done every day and then there are weeks where the only schooling accomplished may be “nature study” but that’s okay because that’s just one perk of homeschooling”-Cala

When you lay all of these responses side by side, something beautiful happens.

You start to see a pattern.

Not a rigid formula.
Not a “step-by-step to homeschool success.”
But a steady rhythm of freedom.

You don’t have to be a unicorn mom.
You don’t need an eight hour school day.
Your five year old doesn’t need to read yet.
Your home doesn’t need to look like a classroom.
And your journey won’t look like anyone else’s.

What these experienced mamas are really saying is this: homeschooling is less about performing and more about partnering. Partnering with your child’s pace. Partnering with the season you’re in. Partnering with the Lord as He shapes both you and your kids along the way.

There will be curriculum wins and curriculum flops. Library stacks taller than your toddler. Weeks full of structure. Weeks that turn into “nature study” and long walks and deep conversations. There may even be a season of gently untangling the school mindset from your brain.

And that’s not failure.

That’s growth.

The common thread woven through every response is permission. Permission to relax. Permission to adjust. Permission to meet your child where they are. Permission to not replicate public school at your kitchen table.

And maybe the most powerful encouragement of all: find community. Borrow the curriculum before you buy it. Ask questions. Let another mama speak life into you when you feel unsure. Then turn around and be that voice for someone else.

Homeschooling is not magic or sorcery.
It’s ordinary faithfulness, lived out daily.

And in the hands of an ordinary, willing mom, that’s more than enough. 🌿

Be Free 2/10/26 Be Free 2/10/26

Homeschool Hacks

Some things just make life easier. Like grocery pickup and drive-thru’s. We’re a big fan of making our journey more seamless. Here’s a few ways we’ve found to make homeschooling easier, more social and fun.

Homeschool Co-ops

A homeschool co-op is a group of homeschooling families who meet regularly to share teaching and learning experiences. Instead of doing everything alone, parents often help lead specific classes based on their skills- like woodworking, art, homesteading skills, cooking, math games, and more. Co-ops give kids hands-on learning, social interaction, and exposure to subjects or activities that might be harder to do at home alone, while also creating community and support for families.

Partnership Programs

Partnership programs are publicly funded programs that partner with homeschool families to help provide extracurricular classes for free. From physical education classes like swim, martial arts, gymnastics to music lessons and STEM robotics, they cover a vast array of extracurriculars. Typically, the only requirement is a weekly check-in where kids show what they’re learning. This is especially helpful for larger homeschool families, making sports and enrichment activities more affordable while still allowing families to homeschool their core subjects.

Church Groups

Youth group, children’s church, American Heritage Girls, and AWANA are faith-based programs that are often free or low cost for families. They give kids regular opportunities to socialize, build friendships, and be part of a community while also learning and strengthening biblical values. These programs usually offer age-specific activities, lessons, and mentorship, making them a meaningful way for homeschool families to support both social development and spiritual growth at every age.

Unit Studies

Unit studies focus on one topic and include multiple subjects in one. For example the study might focus on a general theme of The Ocean, but in learning about that topic the curriculum will include lessons on science, language arts, writing, history and the Bible wrapped all in one lesson.. Many options include one family style, read aloud lesson, then coordinating age appropriate work for each child. They are a wonderful option for parents with MULTIPLE children varying in age groups. Curriculums like this are a game changer and allow learning time to also be bonding time with the entire family. Homeschooling doesn’t have to be complicated with piles of books that overwhelm and clutter your space.

We hope these “hacks” bless your homeschool journey.

“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” – Proverbs 22:6

Laura + Brenda - Be Free Ministries

Be Free 12/16/25 Be Free 12/16/25

The Ministry of the Ordinary

written by: Laura Abbott for Be Free Ministries

There is a quiet kind of holiness woven into the ordinary.

It doesn’t draw attention or feel impressive
But it faithfully shows up day after day, in the small, unseen moments of home and family life.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”
Colossians 3:23

For many mamas, especially ones homeschooling and choosing a slower lifestyle- the days can blur together. Lessons, laundry, meals, messes, bedtime prayers. It can feel repetitive, unnoticed, and unremarkable.

And yet, this is where ministry lives.

One of my favorite reminders from scripture is in Luke. “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much.” (Luke 6:10)

Reminding us that showing up in the mundane- day after day is not wasted. It is sacred. The work done inside the walls of our home is actually the most important work of all.

This ministry happens when we choose to read one more story when we’re already tired ourselves, when we choose patience over rushing, when we give God authority over our home and family.

“Nothing we do for God is ever wasted.” (1 Corinthians 15:58)

Living Simply:

Choosing simplicity in a hurried culture is an act of faith.

“Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)

Slower days make space for listening, noticing, and trusting God’s leading instead of rushing ahead. When we resist the pressure to do more, we often find the presence of God waiting in the quiet.

Planting Seeds:

Much of motherhood feels like planting seeds you may never see grow. But God specializes in unseen growth.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9)

Faithfulness today bears fruit tomorrow, even when progress feels invisible.

A Gentle Reminder :
You don’t need recognition to be faithful.
You don’t need extraordinary circumstances to live out your calling.
You don’t need a platform to have a purpose

“She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.”
(Proverbs 31:25)

If today looks like folding laundry, reading lessons, making meals, correcting attitudes, and offering grace… then today matters.

Some Encouragement to leave you with…

“The Lord sees not as man sees.”
1 Samuel 16:7

The work you are doing quietly, consistently and imperfectly is shaping lives and honoring God. Your ordinary days are not interruptions to your purpose.

They are the ministry.

Be Free 5/28/19 Be Free 5/28/19

Our Favorite Free or Low-Cost Homeschool Resources

It all begins with an idea.

Written by Laura Abbott for Be Free Ministries

1.Using your library like a pro

Taking advantage of your public library is one of the most overlooked homeschool hacks. From complete deep dives into history subjects, building your own unit studies and just simply fostering a love for reading the library is your best friend.

How to make the most of it:

creating your own unit study: choose one subject a month (oceans, the human body, pioneers etc) and check out books that go along with your subject.
make free library activities part of your weekly homeschool rhythm. Our local library has hosted Lego building days, crafts, story time, and more.
borrow audiobooks to listen to in the car or a part of your morning rhythm.

2. KAHN ACADEMY

A completely free online program offering lessons in math, grammar, science, history, and more.

Why we love it:

Self-paced with built-in instruction.
Great for supplementing or reviewing concepts.
Helpful for older kids or visual learners.

Great for:
Math practice, independent learning, and filling in gaps.

3. YouTube Channels for Homeschoolers (Free)

Used carefully and intentionally, YouTube can be an incredible source of educational content.

Some family-friendly topics to explore:

Nature studies
Science experiments
Art lessons
Geography and world culture
Faith-based kids’ biographies or Bible stories

Great for:
Visual learners, hands-on projects, and reinforcing concepts in fun ways.

4. Nature-Based Learning (Free or Very Low Cost)

One of the most valuable (and biblical!) learning environments is right outside your door.

Ways to use nature as curriculum:

keep nature journals
observe bird behaviors
collect leaves, rocks, or flowers
study weather, clouds, or seasons
start a small garden
walk, explore, and talk

These moments count as science, art, writing, physical education, and discipleship — all wrapped in beauty.

Great for:
Families who value slow living, natural learning, and God’s creation as the classroom.

5. Homeschool Partnerships (Free)

Some local public schools offer free extracurriculars through what they call homeschool partnerships. Some districts also call them “virtual academy” or “online school”

Michigan has a handful of these, and they are by district, so search “public school homeschool partnerships” to get information about offerings in your area. Some local partnerships in the West Michigan Area include: Gull Lake Virtual Partnership, Berrien Springs Partnership, Jenison Innovation Academy, and Niles Virtual Partnership. These are publicly funded and free for homeschool families.

Some things they include:

physical education classes such as: martial arts, dance, gymnastics and swimming
art classes- online and in person depending on the area resources
science classes like robotics, tinkering (connecting kiwi co boxes to science concepts), chemistry, health science and more!

This is not at all a definitive list, the offerings truly have surprised me and it’s been an amazing addition to our homeschool rhythm.

7. The Good and the Beautiful Free Curriculum Options

The Good and The Beautiful is loved by the homeschool community for many reasons including the fact that they offer free curriculum for Math and Language Arts for K-8.