Homeschooling Day in the Life: Robyn, seasoned homeschooling mom of three who loves following the interests of her children

A homeschool day in the life looks different almost every day, right? Over on our Instagram page, we love to give you a peek into lots of homeschool days regardless of how they change day to day.

Today, we’re going to give you a peek into the homeschool day in the life of Robyn, seasoned homeschooling mom to three, who loves following the interests of her children.

We can all learn and be inspired by one another, regardless of our homeschool approach. It’s not about looking good for social media, it’s about the connection going on inside our homeschool walls and sharing with others what works for us.We might all homeschool a little differently, but we can always look for ideas from each other that inspire, encourage and equip us in our own homeschool days. So each week we create blog posts for you to access later of each of those “days in the life”. We hope you keep coming back for more inspiration. Keep going, mama! These days at home are so worth it!

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Meet Robyn

Robyn @mywildoaks resides in Southern Alberta with her husband of over 15 years and their three children (ages 16, 14, and 11). With 12 years experience, Robyn is a seasoned homeschooling mom who has artfully combined child-led and unschooling approaches with elements of Charlotte Mason’s educational philosophies. Her method is straightforward: she follows her children’s interests and integrates learning into their daily lives.

Beyond homeschooling, Robyn is passionate about nutrition and cooking, crocheting, reading, and investing time in her business. She’s currently deepening her spiritual journey by reading through the Bible, alongside the Bible Recap. As someone who enjoys the quiet of the morning as much as the peace of the night, Robyn finds herself somewhere between a night owl and an early riser.

So, grab your coffee (or tea!) and join Robyn on this journey. It’s a celebration of the depth, purpose, and joy that homeschooling brings to her life, all enriched by her newfound faith and wide-ranging interests.

Good Morning

Good Morning!! 🌞 I am Robyn from @mywildoaks, welcome to our day in the life.

This year is my 12th one as a homeschooling mom. It all started when my oldest was of kindergarten age, and has gone through A LOT of changes and shifts since then.

I have three children 16, 14 & 11 and I currently homeschool two out of three of them. My oldest decided to go to high school last year and is currently taking three classes in person and one online. 

Our homeschool could be described as eclectic & relaxed, unschooly & simple, with a bit of Charlotte Mason & Classical inspiration. However, my overall philosophy is to follow my children’s interests and integrate learning into our daily lives.
Embracing the natural rhythms of the seasons, we have always done best with flexible routines over strict schedules. Curriculum completion isn’t my focus and I will adapt mid-year if needed. I’m quick to replace what doesn’t resonate, constantly fine-tuning our approach to align with what works. I am a new believer and my faith deeply influences our learning, adding a new depth and purpose.

On to our day! I am usually up by 7 am, and most mornings have the task of driving my oldest to her high school. It is located outside of our community and requires a few different buses to get there, so I just prefer to drive her. Not having her at home with me during the days makes me cherish the time we spend together in the car. It’s a perfect time for mother & teen-daughter talks. And, like with everything, there will come a day when this will change & driving her will end.

Once I am home, I make some coffee, feed the dog, and settle in for some quiet time alone reading the Bible and a non-fiction book, before moving on to check emails, look over my to-do’s for the day and then work on creating content before my youngest wakes up. 

Whether you’re deep into your homeschooling journey or just starting, I aim to inspire you with the authentic, sometimes chaotic, but always beautiful moments of our day. Glad to have you here today.

Morning Time

Once my son is awake I help him get his breakfast; some days I make something for him and others he takes on this job. He has been learning to make a few simple breakfasts on his own this year. But this morning I made some rice pudding while he read a chapter from Over the Sea, Under the Stones.

Our morning time stats with watching  World Watch together before moving into our morning time lessons. This part of our day hasn’t changed much over the years, we use a loop schedule which I just love and find works well for our lifestyle. A loop schedule, for anyone who doesn’t know, is basically just a list of subjects or books that you would work through a few at a time each day, instead of on set days. So if you take a few days off or someone is sick,  you just pick up where you left off.

Today I read an entry from Bible Made Easy for Children, a few idioms, Matter & Energy – Principles of Modern Physics, an entry from Story of the World – Ancients Times, and then I read our current aloud Swallows and Amazons. After each reading we pause and discuss what was read, getting him to do oral narration back to me. After we are done with his loop schedule, he switched to doing some question onsets on IXL in Math, Science & Language Arts. On days when my oldest is at school all day we do a formal LA lesson, but today I have to pick her up early. So while I am gone he will do some copywork and a lesson from Teaching Textbooks independently.

This year I have made him a Notion app checklist for the week to keep him on track of his progress & chores, this helps to foster independence and responsibility.

An Unschooled Approach

My middle daughter, who is 14, tends to rise much later than her brother. Once she’s up, she showers and gets ready for the day. She has always done best with an unschooled approach, which allows her to pursue her interests and set her own goals, with a bit of structure in her math lessons.

Outside of math, she typically focuses on one or two subjects at a time. Currently, she’s concentrating on Language Arts and Science but also reads a variety of books. I check in with her daily to see what she’s working on and if I can offer any help. She writes a lot, and we utilize Google Docs for easy review of her work.

Her day is also filled with activities like practicing her photography skills, cooking/baking, playing Minecraft, and taking care of and training her dog. Additionally, she works as a mother’s helper once a week for a friend of mine. She’s also hoping to transition to high school this coming fall. We are attending an open house tomorrow night at a Catholic High School in our community. It is truly astonishing & a bit heartbreaking how fast children grow up.

Afternoons

After arriving home with my oldest, I checked on my son’s independent work. He had completed his math lessons but was still working on his copywriting. With a little refocus, he quickly finished up.

My afternoon espresso is a pause in my day, a moment of quiet before diving into work mode. It’s a simple pleasure that brings comfort to my daily routine. Although I have a desk in my bedroom, I often find myself working at the kitchen table. This keeps me accessible to the kids whenever they need assistance and facilitates an easy transition to dinner preparations. It embodies the integration of work and family life that I deeply value.

While I was working and preparing dinner, my son skated on our backyard rink. Every year, my husband takes advantage of the cold snap to flood the backyard, creating a perfect spot for physical activity during the colder months.

For dinner, we had Italian meatballs with pasta, simmered in bone broth and mixed with tomato sauce, then topped with a dash of cheese. It’s a simple, yet fulfilling meal.

Shortly after dinner, my son heads off to hockey practice with his dad. He participates in a non-competitive house league, which has introduced a relaxed rhythm to our schedule with its emphasis on fun and consistent practice and game times.

Now I have a bit more time to myself to work and write up this post. Balancing my children’s interests with my own needs means making self-care and careful planning a priority. By ensuring I’m well-rested, nourished, and balanced, I can provide the support they require. My work is interspersed throughout our daily life in a manner that feels both natural and rewarding.

A Comforting Rhythm

Today unfolded with the comforting rhythm of a typical day in our homeschooling and family life. Tonight I calmed my 14-year-old’s nerves about tomorrow’s high school open house. Her mix of excitement and anxiety mirrors the bittersweet feelings I’m also dealing with as we navigate these transitions.

My oldest tackled chores and homework before enjoying an outing for milkshakes with her boyfriend — a simple yet sweet reminder of the evolving stages of their lives too. Once my son got home from hockey practice, he had a quick snack and we chatted about practice before getting ready for bed.

As I end my day and this third time doing a Day in the Life, I find myself with a mix of emotions at how much we have gone through over these 12 years of this journey I have been called to. Homeschooling has allowed me to uniquely experience life alongside my children, embracing every moment, every challenge, and every joy.

With one graduating next year and another set to start high school, it feels like the start of the end of my homeschool career. It’s an exciting time for them to grow and develop into amazing young adults, gain more independence, yet it tugs at my heart, reminding me of how quickly time goes by. From the days of toddlers and sippy cups, to witnessing them blossom into dynamic young adults, it’s a journey filled with pride and a touch of melancholy. I will have four more years with my son, and our days will take on a completely new shape.

To the moms embarking on this journey — remember, perfection is not the goal. Let your days be filled with flexibility, joy, and the creation of precious memories. Your role is to guide, support, and revel in the journey with them.

To those nearing the end of their homeschooling journey — It’s a poignant reminder of the passage of time, akin to storing away the last of the baby items as a keepsake. Yet, it’s also a call to cherish these moments fiercely, recognizing the strength and resilience we’ve instilled in our children.

Thank you for joining us today and if you aren’t following me over at @mywildoaks please do. Come say hi, my DMs are always open to chat homeschool & motherhood.

Thank you Robyn for sharing your Day in the Life with us!

If you want to see more Day in the Life photos and videos, be sure to check out our Instagram profile. There are highlights of each takeover at the top.