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The Homeschool Experiment
A delightful novel for moms set in the hilarious, hard, and beautiful world of homeschooling. It’s the perfect first book for those just starting out on their homeschooling journey, or beginning to consider the idea, and it's a reminder to the verteran homeschooler that you're not alone. It’s sort of like living in the house of a homeschool family for a year. You see the daily challenges, but also the rewards. With refreshing humor and honesty, Hawkins offers moms encouragement in their noble work at home, a chance to laugh at the moments only a mom would understand, and a reminder to cherish those gifts right under their roofs— those wild, irrational, precious people—their own children. Though the book deals with homeschooling, it also addresses the larger question, “What happens when you feel called to do something that seems entirely too big for you?” Between laughs, don't be surprised when you pick up ideas that will simplify your own homeschooling plan. So, come join Julianne and her co-op friends as they navigate through a hard but humorous year of diapers, dinners, husbands, meltdowns, and math lessons. And that's just September.
260 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2012
14 people are currently reading
294 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
January 27, 2019
I have been homeschooling my kids since day one and they have never been in a brick and mortar school. I was kinda excited when I got this book and I really tried to like it and to relate to the mom, but I really couldn't. Maybe because it's not my personality to stress too much , I don't know, but it seemed to me that Jules was creating and adding more stress onto herself than needed. And putting so much pressure on her ( very) young kids. And she seemed obsessed with lists...chores lists, schedule lists.... I also must be among the very few ones that did not think this book was funny. At all.
I am a mom of 3, but I never go out with my hair unwashed and a mess and in yoga pants 95% of the time and then blame it on the homeschool life. But that's just me. Homeschooling is not easy, but it's definitely not as hard and as chaotic as she describes it.
I am a mom of 3, but I never go out with my hair unwashed and a mess and in yoga pants 95% of the time and then blame it on the homeschool life. But that's just me. Homeschooling is not easy, but it's definitely not as hard and as chaotic as she describes it.
March 7, 2014
I can't say it made my list of favorites or that it was beautifully crafted, but it was fun to read as we resume our summer school schedule.
The Homeschool Experiment, a novel by Charity Hawkins, reminded me to laugh at the inherent craziness that takes place in the daily life of a stay-at-home mom or a homeschooling mom. I wish I was better at making fun of myself (and the situation) on the challenging days, but I tend to take things too seriously.
I laughed as she described her children:
Our children are absolutely adorable, like three stair-stepped angels, with their dimples and button noses and doe eyes. When they're in a good mood, that is. When they're in a bad mood, they have furrowed brows and scowls and fire shooting from their eyes. It all depends on the day, really (37).
And I laughed again at her attempts to organize and schedule her day:
"Mom," Daniel cries. "Michael needs you! He has a poopy diaper!"
Argh. Poop is totally not on my schedule. (84).
I was reassured that I'm not alone as I think her little Michael might be my Tornado Teddy's long lost twin:
I kept having to stop chopping vegetables to get Michael out of trouble. He got into the craft cabinet in the laundry room and spilled beads all over the floor. He climbed up the stepstool into the sink and turned the water on. (He was trying to brush his teeth.) He pried the lid off his sippy cup and spilled milk all over his chair and the table, getting it on Joy's math book and making her cry. (122)
The book is written as something of a journal with monthly entries. I like the idea of the book--that of sharing both encouragement and commiseration with other moms in the trenches--but I think it would have been better if authored by a stronger writer. It has the quality of a blog so it would have been more enjoyable to read in shorter sections rather than to read it in a couple days like a novel. It got kind of old as it lacked plot, characterization, climax, and other elements of a well-written novel.
Having said that, I appreciated the book both as a reminder that we WILL HAVE crazy days (and that's ok!) and for its definition of some of the end goals of home education:
They have freedom to run, to yell, to tumble around. They can work--making castles, collecting shells, finding treasures. They don't need or want 'entertainment.' Real life works fine, thank you very much.
This is how I want to raise them and one of the reasons I want to homeschool. I want them to get to explore the world, marvel at God's Creation, be awed by His power rolling in on the waves and breathless at His beauty hanging in the clouds. Not that they couldn't do that if they were in school--I guess I just want to be there for it. I want to be there with them as they discover this world, not only on vacation and in the summer, but in the quiet of ordinary days. (76)
The Homeschool Experiment, a novel by Charity Hawkins, reminded me to laugh at the inherent craziness that takes place in the daily life of a stay-at-home mom or a homeschooling mom. I wish I was better at making fun of myself (and the situation) on the challenging days, but I tend to take things too seriously.
I laughed as she described her children:
Our children are absolutely adorable, like three stair-stepped angels, with their dimples and button noses and doe eyes. When they're in a good mood, that is. When they're in a bad mood, they have furrowed brows and scowls and fire shooting from their eyes. It all depends on the day, really (37).
And I laughed again at her attempts to organize and schedule her day:
"Mom," Daniel cries. "Michael needs you! He has a poopy diaper!"
Argh. Poop is totally not on my schedule. (84).
I was reassured that I'm not alone as I think her little Michael might be my Tornado Teddy's long lost twin:
I kept having to stop chopping vegetables to get Michael out of trouble. He got into the craft cabinet in the laundry room and spilled beads all over the floor. He climbed up the stepstool into the sink and turned the water on. (He was trying to brush his teeth.) He pried the lid off his sippy cup and spilled milk all over his chair and the table, getting it on Joy's math book and making her cry. (122)
The book is written as something of a journal with monthly entries. I like the idea of the book--that of sharing both encouragement and commiseration with other moms in the trenches--but I think it would have been better if authored by a stronger writer. It has the quality of a blog so it would have been more enjoyable to read in shorter sections rather than to read it in a couple days like a novel. It got kind of old as it lacked plot, characterization, climax, and other elements of a well-written novel.
Having said that, I appreciated the book both as a reminder that we WILL HAVE crazy days (and that's ok!) and for its definition of some of the end goals of home education:
They have freedom to run, to yell, to tumble around. They can work--making castles, collecting shells, finding treasures. They don't need or want 'entertainment.' Real life works fine, thank you very much.
This is how I want to raise them and one of the reasons I want to homeschool. I want them to get to explore the world, marvel at God's Creation, be awed by His power rolling in on the waves and breathless at His beauty hanging in the clouds. Not that they couldn't do that if they were in school--I guess I just want to be there for it. I want to be there with them as they discover this world, not only on vacation and in the summer, but in the quiet of ordinary days. (76)
August 5, 2022
Probably the most relatable fiction book I have read. You can tell it was written by a homeschool mom. It was equal parts, funny, encouraging and heart warming.
June 16, 2012
The Homeschool Experiment is the story of Julianne Miller and her three young children Daniel, Joy and Michael as they navigate their first year of homeschooling together.
If I did not know better I would swear that The Homeschool Experiment was written about me! Those where my first thoughts when I started reading this book! Really.
Of course this book is not entirely like my life, I only have two children and I have never once been to a homeschool convention. *gasp* I have poured over curriculum and made purchases I knew were not a fit for our family and created a homeschool schedule I could not possibly maintain! I have homeschooled a 7 year old while chasing a 2 year old and trying to figure out how to get it all done and remain sane!
Julianne and her family step out on their homeschool journey and find that some days are hard, some days are down right halarious and some days are not at all what you expect!
She faces many of the difficulties we all face as homeschoolers being overwhelmed by the many curriculum choices,worrying we will choose the wrong one and learning to teach older children while chasing around a toddler!
The best part of The Homeschool Experiment is that it is laugh-out-loud funny! Oh my! I have never laughed so much while reading a book about homeschooling! I will not give away the story, but there are many parts of this book I can really relate to!
This book is a wonderful read for seasoned homeschoolers and new homeschoolers alike!
If I did not know better I would swear that The Homeschool Experiment was written about me! Those where my first thoughts when I started reading this book! Really.
Of course this book is not entirely like my life, I only have two children and I have never once been to a homeschool convention. *gasp* I have poured over curriculum and made purchases I knew were not a fit for our family and created a homeschool schedule I could not possibly maintain! I have homeschooled a 7 year old while chasing a 2 year old and trying to figure out how to get it all done and remain sane!
Julianne and her family step out on their homeschool journey and find that some days are hard, some days are down right halarious and some days are not at all what you expect!
She faces many of the difficulties we all face as homeschoolers being overwhelmed by the many curriculum choices,worrying we will choose the wrong one and learning to teach older children while chasing around a toddler!
The best part of The Homeschool Experiment is that it is laugh-out-loud funny! Oh my! I have never laughed so much while reading a book about homeschooling! I will not give away the story, but there are many parts of this book I can really relate to!
This book is a wonderful read for seasoned homeschoolers and new homeschoolers alike!
June 2, 2012
Loved this book. I felt like the author was my best friend. I related to her so much. I laughed, I teared up, I prayed. I would love to find out if she has a blog or a website that I can keep up with her and her family.
July 11, 2016
Great book to read when you need to laugh or a pick me up. So many things you can relate to in this story and it shows you that the little things matter, those precious moments with your kids rather than a perfect 4hr school day checking off boxes...krb 7/11/16
September 12, 2025
I'd recommend this book to anybody considering homeschooling and feeling a little lost about how to do so. We see her VERY OPTIMISTIC homeschool schedule at the start of her school year, and how it evolves each month by discovering what is NOT working, learning how to delegate and train her kids in on chores, seeing progress, dealing with extended family that are NOT sold on this whole homeschool thing, and everything else you deal with when jumping into homeschooling for the first time with the ages seen on the cover (5, 3, 0).
Each chapter is a sweet little read, and I'm sure many have and will continue to find it helpful. If you're like me and already very organized, well read on the subject of homeschooling, and feeling confident in your homeschool plan (and that you can do so in a way that's not overwhelming), I wouldn't consider this required reading.
I went to a homeschool conference with a bunch of breakout sessions that thoroughly covered every issue touched on in this book, and then some, so while this was a pleasant enough read for me, it covered a lot of territory I didn't need.
Each chapter is a sweet little read, and I'm sure many have and will continue to find it helpful. If you're like me and already very organized, well read on the subject of homeschooling, and feeling confident in your homeschool plan (and that you can do so in a way that's not overwhelming), I wouldn't consider this required reading.
I went to a homeschool conference with a bunch of breakout sessions that thoroughly covered every issue touched on in this book, and then some, so while this was a pleasant enough read for me, it covered a lot of territory I didn't need.
July 29, 2018
I found this book (at where else?) a homeschool convention and I thought the idea of reading a novel about homeschooling would be fun. This novel was cute and fun to read during my summer vacation from homeschooling my 3 children. This book definitely speaks more to a mother of younger children and I am long past that with a daughter going into 7th and a son going into 6th. I will say that some parts of this book made me reminisce about my days when my kids were little and made me laugh as I could totally relate (I do still have a 4 year old). Other parts were a little slow and mundane since I am past this mothers stage in life. I would highly recommend this book if
1) you are considering homeschooling or
2) you have kids not in school yet and are planning on homeschooling.
There are a lot of great tips for you written into this novel if you are in one of these two categories.
1) you are considering homeschooling or
2) you have kids not in school yet and are planning on homeschooling.
There are a lot of great tips for you written into this novel if you are in one of these two categories.
October 21, 2022
I honestly enjoyed this book more than I thought I would (because I’ve been homeschooling for a while now). It reminded me of all those fears I had when I first started. All the “what if”s, and the “I’m screwing my kids up” feelings that homeschooling brings were in the story, making it highly relatable.
There is a lot of practical advice for new homeschool moms here.
My favorite paragraph of the book:
“Homeschooling (like life) is barter. There’s a trade off. There is strife, and there is a cost. But, the lovely things are worth it. The beautiful things aren’t easy. There will be times of crying, of praying for patience, of frustration, but there are also hours on the couch with my children, pouring truth and beauty into their souls. To me, it’s worth the cost.”
There is a lot of practical advice for new homeschool moms here.
My favorite paragraph of the book:
“Homeschooling (like life) is barter. There’s a trade off. There is strife, and there is a cost. But, the lovely things are worth it. The beautiful things aren’t easy. There will be times of crying, of praying for patience, of frustration, but there are also hours on the couch with my children, pouring truth and beauty into their souls. To me, it’s worth the cost.”
December 11, 2019
I wanted to love this book, because, well, she’s homeschooling mom. It started out ok, but as the book went on, it felt more than a little like lessons veiled in narrative. Even the mishaps felt just a little too precious. If I were just starting out, this book has some advice I would value. I’m just a little farther along on our journey to feel inspired. And I wish I didn’t feel that way, but I do.
November 25, 2021
I appreciated this mom's glimpse into real-life homeschooling. It's okay to have imperfect days. I loved her graceful response to rude comments.
However, this book desperately needed an editor. It felt more like a journal than a book focused around homeschooling. Most of the content focused around the hum-drum of every day life (minus the homeschool part). And while there were cute moments, I actually didn't connect with the humor. It's worth reading, but not my favourite.
However, this book desperately needed an editor. It felt more like a journal than a book focused around homeschooling. Most of the content focused around the hum-drum of every day life (minus the homeschool part). And while there were cute moments, I actually didn't connect with the humor. It's worth reading, but not my favourite.
January 3, 2020
A gift to new and old homeschooling parents
This book will light up your eyes, in new ways and also in ways which you didn’t even expect. Many laughable moments that surely your family has endured. It’s hard to put down and contains such good information on the view of a homeschooler, along with the view of us as homeschoolers from the rest of the world.
This book will light up your eyes, in new ways and also in ways which you didn’t even expect. Many laughable moments that surely your family has endured. It’s hard to put down and contains such good information on the view of a homeschooler, along with the view of us as homeschoolers from the rest of the world.
June 6, 2021
Having homeschooled my four children through high school (about 24 years), this book really struck a chord with me. It was a fun--and funny--read as I could identify myself and so many attitudes, beliefs and iterations of homeschool life through the years. Highly recommend to current and former homeschooling moms.
September 6, 2020
It's like she crawled inside my life and my brain and wrote exactly what I think and feel! So good to know I'm not alone and SO encouraging to learn as I enjoyed a "work of fiction" based on SO much reality! 🥰 A homeschool mom's MUST-READ.
March 14, 2023
A funny story about homeschooling with some good parenting tips thrown in there every once in a while. Written from a Christian perspective. If you're looking for a lighter, quick read, with some good laughs, this is the book!
March 20, 2018
Thoroughly enjoyed this one!!! True to life, seriously!!
March 21, 2020
More about her life than homeschooling, but still enjoyable.
April 9, 2020
It was a fun read although a bit stereo typical.
June 25, 2020
Laugh aloud book! Read it in 2 days.
August 16, 2024
It took me a while to get into this book. I think it accurately portrays both the overwhelm and joys of homeschooling.
May 7, 2025
Humorous and relatable. A bit more preachy than expected, but still a fun and lighthearted read.
March 5, 2014
In The Homeschool Experiment, A Novel, Charity Hawkins handles both the sublime and the silly aspects of life in a household with three small children with humor and affection, and her sweet novel will be especially entertaining for those of you who are homeschooling your young'uns--but you really don't even have to be a homeschooler to enjoy the author's lovable heroine, Julianne Miller, or her often hilarious take on young mommyhood. The book is told in the first person, so the lucky reader gets inside Julianne's head--which is a treat. The passage about her trip to the Salvation Army thrift store with her kids in tow is so hilarious (in a cringe-worthy sort of way, because if you've ever been a mother to small children, you'll probably be thinking, "Been there!"), that one scene alone is worth the price of the book. Just about any mother in the throes of raising little people--whether she's taken on the daunting task of educating them herself or not--will be able to relate to the blessed chaos this harried stay-at-home mom deals with on a daily basis.
And here's the bonus: this book is unabashedly Christian in theme and content, and the main character is very much focused on God's will for her family throughout the story. Even though one chapter begins with the lament, "Drat. Double drat. It looks like God wants me to homeschool. How did this happen?", Julianne perseveres--because for Julianne and her husband, John, the answer appears to be homeschooling. But the author is careful to stress that although homeschooling is right for this fictional couple, it might not be right for everyone, and that ultimately, parents have to assess their unique situations to determine how to best educate their children. You will find plenty of encouragement in this book, and even some homeschooling tips; what you won't find is judgment. And you will also see a mother who turns often to God with the kind of silent entreaties I used to make when dealing with a toddler temper tantrum or the like: Lord, help me. Truly, Julianne is one of the most relatable characters I've ever come across in fiction.
My husband and I only homeschooled the youngest of our five sons, and we only homeschooled him for five years (from grades 4 through 8), so I don't know what it would be like to juggle the needs of a first-grader, a pre-schooler, and a toddler all at once, the way Julianne has to do. But I can completely relate to dealing with the often rude questions posed by well-meaning friends and even close family members. Just as Julianne must suffer her mother-in-law's thinly veiled disapproval of homeschooling, I had to field questions like, "Don't you worry about socialization?" and "Do you feel there will be some gaps in your son's education?" Even though homeschooling has come a long way in the past few decades, there is still a bit of a stigma attached to it, and Hawkins deals with that aspect of the experience with honesty and plenty of her trademark humor.
That's probably what I enjoyed most about this book--the humorous voice of the author. Julianne is a master of self-deprecation, and she is harder on herself than any critic could ever be. One of the chapters begins with this sentence: "I am a terrible mother." Who among us hasn't felt that way at one time or another? I also enjoyed the way the author describes the relationship between Julianne and her ever-supportive husband (a sainted individual who reminds me a bit of the man I married). It is obvious that theirs is a strong Christian union, one filled with deep love and understanding. And Hawkins is also a master at describing the personality traits of Julianne's young children, particularly her endearing but sometimes exasperating six-year-old son: ''I hate to stifle his creativity, but he comes up with complicated and physically voluminous ideas at an astonishing rate. It wears me out. In the car the other day, out of the blue, it was, 'Mom, I'm gonna need some big bricks.'" Now that's stellar writing, if you ask me. Although this is a novel, the situations and conversations ring absolutely true to real life.
Charity Hawkins has written a novel that conveys the beauty to be found in the homeschooling life, when parents choose it so that their children will learn "truth and virtue, perseverance and character, to love God and to follow Him wherever He may lead. Those are the most important things." Amen to that.
Highly recommended!
And here's the bonus: this book is unabashedly Christian in theme and content, and the main character is very much focused on God's will for her family throughout the story. Even though one chapter begins with the lament, "Drat. Double drat. It looks like God wants me to homeschool. How did this happen?", Julianne perseveres--because for Julianne and her husband, John, the answer appears to be homeschooling. But the author is careful to stress that although homeschooling is right for this fictional couple, it might not be right for everyone, and that ultimately, parents have to assess their unique situations to determine how to best educate their children. You will find plenty of encouragement in this book, and even some homeschooling tips; what you won't find is judgment. And you will also see a mother who turns often to God with the kind of silent entreaties I used to make when dealing with a toddler temper tantrum or the like: Lord, help me. Truly, Julianne is one of the most relatable characters I've ever come across in fiction.
My husband and I only homeschooled the youngest of our five sons, and we only homeschooled him for five years (from grades 4 through 8), so I don't know what it would be like to juggle the needs of a first-grader, a pre-schooler, and a toddler all at once, the way Julianne has to do. But I can completely relate to dealing with the often rude questions posed by well-meaning friends and even close family members. Just as Julianne must suffer her mother-in-law's thinly veiled disapproval of homeschooling, I had to field questions like, "Don't you worry about socialization?" and "Do you feel there will be some gaps in your son's education?" Even though homeschooling has come a long way in the past few decades, there is still a bit of a stigma attached to it, and Hawkins deals with that aspect of the experience with honesty and plenty of her trademark humor.
That's probably what I enjoyed most about this book--the humorous voice of the author. Julianne is a master of self-deprecation, and she is harder on herself than any critic could ever be. One of the chapters begins with this sentence: "I am a terrible mother." Who among us hasn't felt that way at one time or another? I also enjoyed the way the author describes the relationship between Julianne and her ever-supportive husband (a sainted individual who reminds me a bit of the man I married). It is obvious that theirs is a strong Christian union, one filled with deep love and understanding. And Hawkins is also a master at describing the personality traits of Julianne's young children, particularly her endearing but sometimes exasperating six-year-old son: ''I hate to stifle his creativity, but he comes up with complicated and physically voluminous ideas at an astonishing rate. It wears me out. In the car the other day, out of the blue, it was, 'Mom, I'm gonna need some big bricks.'" Now that's stellar writing, if you ask me. Although this is a novel, the situations and conversations ring absolutely true to real life.
Charity Hawkins has written a novel that conveys the beauty to be found in the homeschooling life, when parents choose it so that their children will learn "truth and virtue, perseverance and character, to love God and to follow Him wherever He may lead. Those are the most important things." Amen to that.
Highly recommended!
April 9, 2012
I read The Homeschool Experiment this weekend.
It was light and fluffy.
Fun and delightful.
And just what I needed.
It is a novel about a mom with three children. 6, 4, & 1. (Same ages as my kiddos!)
The mother is in her first year of homeschooling.
I laughed out loud and noticed myself in this woman. I felt like parts of this book were me speaking. I could have been writing it myself. I highlighted several passages that really spoke to me right now. They were motivating, beautiful or spoke of something that was already on my mind.
1. "When I can relax, I remember: this is what my children need. This is what I need too. Snuggles, stories, the closeness of family. These small moments are the jewels that fill my mothering heart. Diamonds all around, moments of peace and sweetness."
2. "But God, our benevolent Teacher, is watching us mothers with a smile, isn't He? He's not mad at us for the missteps; He's encouraging us to dance. He knows we're doing the best we can; He's proud of us for trying; His love for our sweet and clumsy selves fills the rooms."
3. "A lot of learning happens smack-dab in the middle of life, it turns out."
4. "I remember thinking I'd never be able to help other people if my kids weren't in school during the day. Now, I'm realizing that we all get to serve together. My children are with me when we take someone a meal or babysit for a friend. What better way for my children to learn to serve than by serving with me, like the disciples did with Jesus? I realize I'm not Jesus, but I am called to teach them god's truths when I sit in our house, when I walk by the way, when I do laundry, and when I make dinner. Or something like that."
5. "A test won't measure if Daniel can actually think. It won't gauge honesty or kindness or self-control. And it's difficult to weight the contents of a child's heart."
6. "Homeschooling (like life) is barter. There's a tradeoff. There is strife, and there is a cost. But, the lovely things are worth it. The beautiful things aren't easy. There will be times of crying, of praying for patience, of frustration, but there are also hours on the couch with my children, pouring truth and beauty into their souls. To me, it's worth the cost. "
7. "What is a better student/teacher ratio than 3:1? I can work with Daniel to learn self-control and to focus, and I have more energy for it than a teacher would. Joy can enjoy being a little girl without worrying about having a boyfriend in the fourth grade, as I remember doing. And Michael, well, he can play in the sandbox instead of riding around in his car seat all day picking people up and dropping people off. My children can learn to be who they are without the constant pressures of fitting in. They can play in the "forest" of the backyard, make tents in the living room, or lie on the trampoline and watch the clouds.
Though this homeschooling journey may be scary for me, aren't all new things? It will be an adventure of the daily and quiet sort, but an adventure nonetheless. I'm thankful I don't have to work now, and I will have decades to work after my children are grown, but I don't want to miss these years because I was in a hurry. Or thought I needed to, in order to define myself. I want to focus on the job at hand; definitions will follow.
Deep down, this is the childhood I want to give my children: a slow waking up on the kitchen couch, watching the squirrel jump in the sycamore tree instead of us bustling off to school; long hours to build creations with blocks; or time to get our the watercolors, instead of preparing for the end-of-year test. Or for the next year, or for college. College will come soon enough; they need time and space to be children.
And, you know, I want to be there with them as they discover this world and who they are, who God made them to be. I don't want to wake up one day and realize I missed it."
It was light and fluffy.
Fun and delightful.
And just what I needed.
It is a novel about a mom with three children. 6, 4, & 1. (Same ages as my kiddos!)
The mother is in her first year of homeschooling.
I laughed out loud and noticed myself in this woman. I felt like parts of this book were me speaking. I could have been writing it myself. I highlighted several passages that really spoke to me right now. They were motivating, beautiful or spoke of something that was already on my mind.
1. "When I can relax, I remember: this is what my children need. This is what I need too. Snuggles, stories, the closeness of family. These small moments are the jewels that fill my mothering heart. Diamonds all around, moments of peace and sweetness."
2. "But God, our benevolent Teacher, is watching us mothers with a smile, isn't He? He's not mad at us for the missteps; He's encouraging us to dance. He knows we're doing the best we can; He's proud of us for trying; His love for our sweet and clumsy selves fills the rooms."
3. "A lot of learning happens smack-dab in the middle of life, it turns out."
4. "I remember thinking I'd never be able to help other people if my kids weren't in school during the day. Now, I'm realizing that we all get to serve together. My children are with me when we take someone a meal or babysit for a friend. What better way for my children to learn to serve than by serving with me, like the disciples did with Jesus? I realize I'm not Jesus, but I am called to teach them god's truths when I sit in our house, when I walk by the way, when I do laundry, and when I make dinner. Or something like that."
5. "A test won't measure if Daniel can actually think. It won't gauge honesty or kindness or self-control. And it's difficult to weight the contents of a child's heart."
6. "Homeschooling (like life) is barter. There's a tradeoff. There is strife, and there is a cost. But, the lovely things are worth it. The beautiful things aren't easy. There will be times of crying, of praying for patience, of frustration, but there are also hours on the couch with my children, pouring truth and beauty into their souls. To me, it's worth the cost. "
7. "What is a better student/teacher ratio than 3:1? I can work with Daniel to learn self-control and to focus, and I have more energy for it than a teacher would. Joy can enjoy being a little girl without worrying about having a boyfriend in the fourth grade, as I remember doing. And Michael, well, he can play in the sandbox instead of riding around in his car seat all day picking people up and dropping people off. My children can learn to be who they are without the constant pressures of fitting in. They can play in the "forest" of the backyard, make tents in the living room, or lie on the trampoline and watch the clouds.
Though this homeschooling journey may be scary for me, aren't all new things? It will be an adventure of the daily and quiet sort, but an adventure nonetheless. I'm thankful I don't have to work now, and I will have decades to work after my children are grown, but I don't want to miss these years because I was in a hurry. Or thought I needed to, in order to define myself. I want to focus on the job at hand; definitions will follow.
Deep down, this is the childhood I want to give my children: a slow waking up on the kitchen couch, watching the squirrel jump in the sycamore tree instead of us bustling off to school; long hours to build creations with blocks; or time to get our the watercolors, instead of preparing for the end-of-year test. Or for the next year, or for college. College will come soon enough; they need time and space to be children.
And, you know, I want to be there with them as they discover this world and who they are, who God made them to be. I don't want to wake up one day and realize I missed it."
April 11, 2012
I LOVED this book.
If you’ve ever homeschooled (I’ve only homeschooled for preschool thus far), thought about homeschooling, wondered what it might be like, then you MUST read this book. Not only does Charity write about homeschooling adventures in a completely realistic (I’m assuming much of this was real) fashion, but she does so with humor and Biblical wisdom thrown in.
It’s rare that I want to take notes when reading fiction, but this book made me want to pull out my highlighter. Charity ponders the homeschool vs. public school vs. private school debate openly, honestly, and logically, giving fantastic advice to others who might be struggling with this decision. The mentors from whom Julianne seeks advice do the same: they are able to help Julianne find strategies and resources to solve the problems that she’s having, providing valuable insights to any of us reading the book.
In the back Charity includes a study guide for homeschool groups, making this a fantastic possibility for your next book club meeting or Mom’s Night Out get together. My favorite part of this was that along with questions, she includes resources relating to issues in the book, so if something resonates with you, you are then able to seek out more information on that topic easily.
Charity shares about how the decision to homeschool is about more than academia:
If I teach my children nothing else, I want to teach them to recognize true treasures – not jewels or palatial mansions, but this amazing world God created, the precious people around us, and His eternal Truth. For where my children’s treasures are, there their hearts will be also.
Though this computer addict hates to admit it, technology now plays a major role in most people’s lives – and that’s drastically changed the way that families relate to each other and to the outside world. After being around others who are more “connected” than her little family is, Julianne decides that:
I want to raise children who know how to be still, how to sit, how to think. I want my children to have hearts for people, not things, and to live to serve, not to be entertained. And, ultimately, I want them to learn to listen: to family and friends, to their own hearts, and to that Voice that doesn’t beep and flash, that doesn’t always thunder in a whirlwind or burn with fire, but that comes in a gentle Whisper. (p. 116)
Of course, along with being a voice of wisdom and experience, this book is flat out funny. From fire trucks and hotel visits to who-can-amass-the-most-McD’s visits per month, Julianne’s story will definitely tickle your funny bone.
And who doesn’t need some more of that?
To read my complete review and possibly win your own autographed copy, visit my blog at www.anestintherocks.blogspot.com.
If you’ve ever homeschooled (I’ve only homeschooled for preschool thus far), thought about homeschooling, wondered what it might be like, then you MUST read this book. Not only does Charity write about homeschooling adventures in a completely realistic (I’m assuming much of this was real) fashion, but she does so with humor and Biblical wisdom thrown in.
It’s rare that I want to take notes when reading fiction, but this book made me want to pull out my highlighter. Charity ponders the homeschool vs. public school vs. private school debate openly, honestly, and logically, giving fantastic advice to others who might be struggling with this decision. The mentors from whom Julianne seeks advice do the same: they are able to help Julianne find strategies and resources to solve the problems that she’s having, providing valuable insights to any of us reading the book.
In the back Charity includes a study guide for homeschool groups, making this a fantastic possibility for your next book club meeting or Mom’s Night Out get together. My favorite part of this was that along with questions, she includes resources relating to issues in the book, so if something resonates with you, you are then able to seek out more information on that topic easily.
Charity shares about how the decision to homeschool is about more than academia:
If I teach my children nothing else, I want to teach them to recognize true treasures – not jewels or palatial mansions, but this amazing world God created, the precious people around us, and His eternal Truth. For where my children’s treasures are, there their hearts will be also.
Though this computer addict hates to admit it, technology now plays a major role in most people’s lives – and that’s drastically changed the way that families relate to each other and to the outside world. After being around others who are more “connected” than her little family is, Julianne decides that:
I want to raise children who know how to be still, how to sit, how to think. I want my children to have hearts for people, not things, and to live to serve, not to be entertained. And, ultimately, I want them to learn to listen: to family and friends, to their own hearts, and to that Voice that doesn’t beep and flash, that doesn’t always thunder in a whirlwind or burn with fire, but that comes in a gentle Whisper. (p. 116)
Of course, along with being a voice of wisdom and experience, this book is flat out funny. From fire trucks and hotel visits to who-can-amass-the-most-McD’s visits per month, Julianne’s story will definitely tickle your funny bone.
And who doesn’t need some more of that?
To read my complete review and possibly win your own autographed copy, visit my blog at www.anestintherocks.blogspot.com.
March 18, 2013
Title: THE HOMESCHOOL EXPERIMENT
Author Charity Hawkins
Publisher: Family House
2012
ISBN: 978-1937639063
Genre: Contemporary fiction/homeschool
A delightful novel for moms set in the hilarious, hard, and beautiful world of homeschooling. It's the perfect first book for those just starting out on their homeschooling journey, or beginning to consider the idea, and it's a reminder to the verteran homeschooler that you're not alone. It's sort of like living in the house of a homeschool family for a year. You see the daily challenges, but also the rewards.
With refreshing humor and honesty, Hawkins offers moms encouragement in their noble work at home, a chance to laugh at the moments only a mom would understand, and a reminder to cherish those gifts right under their roofs- those wild, irrational, precious people-their own children. Though the book deals with homeschooling, it also addresses the larger question, "What happens when you feel called to do something that seems entirely too big for you?" Between laughs, don't be surprised when you pick up ideas that will simplify your own homeschooling plan. So, come join Julianne and her co-op friends as they navigate through a hard but humorous year of diapers, dinners, husbands, meltdowns, and math lessons. And that's just September.
THE HOMESCHOOL EXPERIMENT is a fiction account of a homeschool mom. Written in first person, it gives an up-close and personal look at the mindset of a homeschooler, including the doubts, the thoughts, the stubbornness, and the determination.
I’ve been homeschooling for many years—a veteran homeschooler, and I could totally relate to Julianne’s thoughts about using vacation trips as a homeschool experience, about how the in-laws think you aren’t good enough and are ruining the kids’ lives, and about trying to choose the correct curriculum for your family. It just goes to show that everyone’s approach for homeschooling is different. There’s no one right way.
If you are homeschooling, thinking about it, or know someone who does and you’re a bit curious, then pick up THE HOMESCHOOL EXPERIMENT. You’ll laugh out loud, be encouraged, and maybe even learn something. A study guide and a bunch of resources are included at the end of the book. $12.99. 260 pages.
Author Charity Hawkins
Publisher: Family House
2012
ISBN: 978-1937639063
Genre: Contemporary fiction/homeschool
A delightful novel for moms set in the hilarious, hard, and beautiful world of homeschooling. It's the perfect first book for those just starting out on their homeschooling journey, or beginning to consider the idea, and it's a reminder to the verteran homeschooler that you're not alone. It's sort of like living in the house of a homeschool family for a year. You see the daily challenges, but also the rewards.
With refreshing humor and honesty, Hawkins offers moms encouragement in their noble work at home, a chance to laugh at the moments only a mom would understand, and a reminder to cherish those gifts right under their roofs- those wild, irrational, precious people-their own children. Though the book deals with homeschooling, it also addresses the larger question, "What happens when you feel called to do something that seems entirely too big for you?" Between laughs, don't be surprised when you pick up ideas that will simplify your own homeschooling plan. So, come join Julianne and her co-op friends as they navigate through a hard but humorous year of diapers, dinners, husbands, meltdowns, and math lessons. And that's just September.
THE HOMESCHOOL EXPERIMENT is a fiction account of a homeschool mom. Written in first person, it gives an up-close and personal look at the mindset of a homeschooler, including the doubts, the thoughts, the stubbornness, and the determination.
I’ve been homeschooling for many years—a veteran homeschooler, and I could totally relate to Julianne’s thoughts about using vacation trips as a homeschool experience, about how the in-laws think you aren’t good enough and are ruining the kids’ lives, and about trying to choose the correct curriculum for your family. It just goes to show that everyone’s approach for homeschooling is different. There’s no one right way.
If you are homeschooling, thinking about it, or know someone who does and you’re a bit curious, then pick up THE HOMESCHOOL EXPERIMENT. You’ll laugh out loud, be encouraged, and maybe even learn something. A study guide and a bunch of resources are included at the end of the book. $12.99. 260 pages.
April 4, 2012
If I didn't know any better I'd say author, Charity Hawkins, was peeking in my windows and following me around. How does she know so much about my life?! I can so relate to Julianne Miller in this story. We have a similar situation in our household with an older son, 4 yr old child, and a younger one. Daniel reminded me so much of my son.
One of my favorite paragraphs in the book, "Homeschooling is a lot like my garden. It's messy. My method seems haphazard. I am learning as I go. It rarely turns out exactly as I planned and the results are unpredictable. At some point along the way, I feel like a failure. But somehow the roots go down deep; the tender plants grow strong. And every single spring, every single summer, I am awed by the harvest God brings." This little paragraph really spoke to me. It may be because we are in the process of growing our garden, I don't know. I just really relate to this!
I recommend this book to any and every homeschooling family. You are not alone out there. We all go through some of the same things. This really brings everything close to home.
A little testimony from me: I started doing some child care for a friend and was starting to worry about my son's homeschooling. I decided I would enroll him in a virtual school so he wouldn't fall behind. That lasted a whole 2 months. While I was reading this book I got convicted! Well, maybe convicted is a strong word to use. I just knew I had given up and I was wrong in my decision. I didn't seek God first before I chose to do this. How could I do this to my son? He wasn't loving it after the 1st week because we had so much makeup work to do. I stopped doing the childcare and decided we were going back to homeschooling our way. My son woke up early the next day excited about school. "When are we doing school today?!" That just helped me and confirmed that what I did was the right thing. Thank God for this book that helped me realize my children weren't going to suffer from lack of knowledge if we didn't do "school" EVERY day, or get to every subject I have planned. This is a very encouraging novel. I received at just the right moment. God knew I needed this.
One of my favorite paragraphs in the book, "Homeschooling is a lot like my garden. It's messy. My method seems haphazard. I am learning as I go. It rarely turns out exactly as I planned and the results are unpredictable. At some point along the way, I feel like a failure. But somehow the roots go down deep; the tender plants grow strong. And every single spring, every single summer, I am awed by the harvest God brings." This little paragraph really spoke to me. It may be because we are in the process of growing our garden, I don't know. I just really relate to this!
I recommend this book to any and every homeschooling family. You are not alone out there. We all go through some of the same things. This really brings everything close to home.
A little testimony from me: I started doing some child care for a friend and was starting to worry about my son's homeschooling. I decided I would enroll him in a virtual school so he wouldn't fall behind. That lasted a whole 2 months. While I was reading this book I got convicted! Well, maybe convicted is a strong word to use. I just knew I had given up and I was wrong in my decision. I didn't seek God first before I chose to do this. How could I do this to my son? He wasn't loving it after the 1st week because we had so much makeup work to do. I stopped doing the childcare and decided we were going back to homeschooling our way. My son woke up early the next day excited about school. "When are we doing school today?!" That just helped me and confirmed that what I did was the right thing. Thank God for this book that helped me realize my children weren't going to suffer from lack of knowledge if we didn't do "school" EVERY day, or get to every subject I have planned. This is a very encouraging novel. I received at just the right moment. God knew I needed this.
May 7, 2014
The writing style wasn't as polished as it could have been, though it did improve as the book progressed. The biggest problem for me was that I don't think I was the right match for the book. I think the best reader is someone who is new to homeschooling, never having really considered it much before she jumped in, and also not one who had previously given much thought to teaching children to do chores and is trying to go all-out with a serious formal training plan for a 6 yo and 4 yo (also a 1 yo running around). I had a much more relaxed approach to homeschooling from the beginning.
I also had taught my children to be helpful around the house from a very early age and had more expectations for child training in general, so her early interactions with her children exasperated me. I just couldn't relate well to the heroine of the story. Some of the events that I know were supposed to make me commiserate instead made me look at the main character in frustration as to how she let things get to that point.
I think another important characteristic in a good reader match is a Christian (because there are a lot of verses and spiritual insights) who sees homeschooling as one in a smorgasboard of education options, including public school for young children because the mother is too busy, etc. The book definitely portrays significant advantages to homeschooling, especially in the early years. But, it also sees public school as a completely legitimate choice, which is also something I had trouble identifying with.
Overall, if you're the right target reader, I could see that this could be a fun, enjoyable read.
I also had taught my children to be helpful around the house from a very early age and had more expectations for child training in general, so her early interactions with her children exasperated me. I just couldn't relate well to the heroine of the story. Some of the events that I know were supposed to make me commiserate instead made me look at the main character in frustration as to how she let things get to that point.
I think another important characteristic in a good reader match is a Christian (because there are a lot of verses and spiritual insights) who sees homeschooling as one in a smorgasboard of education options, including public school for young children because the mother is too busy, etc. The book definitely portrays significant advantages to homeschooling, especially in the early years. But, it also sees public school as a completely legitimate choice, which is also something I had trouble identifying with.
Overall, if you're the right target reader, I could see that this could be a fun, enjoyable read.
April 8, 2012
I think this novel will get a “Yes Ma’am!” fist pump from about every homeschool mom out there. Don’t tell me you can’t pick up this book and not relate to the story just a *little* bit.
It’s the quirky kind of tell-all story that will give the non-homeschooler a peeping-tom view of that first few years of “experimentation” into the concept called homeschooling. And to those who have walked (and ARE walking) the path called home education just might send the author hate mail at telling their families secrets. Trust me, we already know them! ;-)
As a homeschool graduate of all twelve years, there is no place I would have rather spent my education, but as also the first child of my parents, I can completely relate to many of the things that had to be tried and retried within the course of the novel. I had to laugh at some parts!
It’s the kind of novel that doesn’t have a lot of plot depth, but definitely the kind of read a worn out mom can enjoy at the end of the day and feel instant encouragement that she is so not the only one.
It’s a cute read, quick and funny and more than just a dash of real life.
This review is my honest opinion. Thanks to the author for my copy to review.
It’s the quirky kind of tell-all story that will give the non-homeschooler a peeping-tom view of that first few years of “experimentation” into the concept called homeschooling. And to those who have walked (and ARE walking) the path called home education just might send the author hate mail at telling their families secrets. Trust me, we already know them! ;-)
As a homeschool graduate of all twelve years, there is no place I would have rather spent my education, but as also the first child of my parents, I can completely relate to many of the things that had to be tried and retried within the course of the novel. I had to laugh at some parts!
It’s the kind of novel that doesn’t have a lot of plot depth, but definitely the kind of read a worn out mom can enjoy at the end of the day and feel instant encouragement that she is so not the only one.
It’s a cute read, quick and funny and more than just a dash of real life.
This review is my honest opinion. Thanks to the author for my copy to review.
March 21, 2017
The Homeschool Experiment is a fun, lighthearted read that also has some poignant moments that will choke up any mom. I am a homeschooling mom of three in my first year, and I really identified with the main character as she struggled through her first year of homeschooling with three young children. From conventions to inlaws to dealing with a toddler and a kindergartener, this book is a very honest look at what homeschooling is really like. Julianne has her victories as well as times when she doubts her abilities to teach her children, something that anyone who has every tried to teach a child to do something can relate to. The book also contains some very practical information, as well as an appendix full of books and websites for homeschoolers. If you've ever homeschooled, or want to, I recommend this book.
October 2, 2014
This book is chick-lit colliding with the reality of homeschooling. From the first pages I was smiling and nodding along. The author uses a month by month approach to chronicle this first-person view of homeschooling from the fictional (but oh so real) eyes of a mom of three who's trying to do the right thing and overwhelmed by all the options and doing it right. Julianne Miller is the kind of young mom I love to sit down next to and encourage. Since I can't do that for all homeschooling mamas, this book is a great break. You'll nod along, think 'yep, that happens in my family' and more. Most of all, you'll be encouraged!
The back is filled with practical helps, but this is a novel. As a former homeschooled kid and now homeschooling momma to four, I can attest that it's one that hits all the themes and angst of a homeschool year.
The back is filled with practical helps, but this is a novel. As a former homeschooled kid and now homeschooling momma to four, I can attest that it's one that hits all the themes and angst of a homeschool year.
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