Those of us graduating our last kiddo were asked to share words of wisdom with fellow moms at one of our monthly co-op meetings. This is what I shared. I know it’s targeted to homeschool, but mommas – I think we can apply a lot of this to many areas of motherhood.

I’m not sure I have “words of wisdom” but I can tell you what I wish I wouldn’t have worried so much about.

▪️I worried I would fail my child if I homeschooled her.

▪️I worried about curriculum.

▪️I worried about her social interactions.

▪️I worried about our older two daughters and not homeschooling them.

▪️I worried about community for myself.

Now a little back story for all of these worries.

A long time ago, my best friend kept dropping little nuggets about homeschooling. I was 1000% that mom that said “there is no way I can do that.” But my friend, in her own Amy Vonfeldt way kept planting those seeds. Then when Brooklynn was in 3rd grade, she began begging to be homeschooled.

If it wasn’t for Amy dropping those little nuggets, planting that seed, cheering me on and telling me “yes you can” there is no way I could confidently stand here today and say – I am a homeschool momma who didn’t fail.

I was so worried about being judged by how we parented each child. Our older two girls were already established in school. Courtnie was in high school and Emma was fixing to be. What works for one, doesn’t always work for the other. And that’s a true statement.

I stressed and stressed and stressed over curriculum. Mommas of littles, don’t stress. Just ask another homeschool mom what works best for their child. Try it out, if it works, great. If it doesn’t, well that’s ok. The beauty of homeschool is there’s a lot of room for trial and error.

I worried about her social interactions. That was silly of me. She was involved in plenty of things and is just fine.

Now on to community for myself.

After homeschooling for a bit, Amy said,“Hey, I brought this application home for you to fill out. Fill it out and I will bring it back for you.” She knew I would have talked myself out of turning it in. It was for Grace Co-op. She said I think it would be fantastic for Brooklynn.

Our first year at Grace Co-op was rocky. That November of 2019 I lost my momma unexpectedly. I was new at Grace, but that didn’t stop a lot of the mommas from loving on my family. Women I barely knew provided food, hugs, and prayer. I will never forget being at my mom’s visitation and I look up to see Mrs Katha & Mr Vick. I know I told Amy a million times “Wow, I can’t believe they came”. She said, “Yes, that’s what they do.” It all truly blessed me and my family more than I could ever express. That was community for myself. Also, I’m sorry I never sent out thank you notes. 😉

A few months went by and if you live with grief you understand the brain fog that it gives you. I have no idea how we got through those next few months but we did and it brought us to spring of 2020 with the pandemic. School had to close, and we all had to stay home. I was in such a bad place mentally, physically, and emotionally because of grief, and I pretty much had my mind made up that we would not be returning the next year. But then one of Brooklynn’s teachers turned it all around for her and myself. I have never told her this but because of her weekly zoom meetings and her love for that class, that little act of service brought so much joy and hope to Brook and to myself. Brooklynn was so excited and looked forward to those every single week. So, Vicki Pineda thank you. Truly.

Again, community.

Now, here we are, fixing to graduate our baby. And looking back, wow…all that worrying for nothing. “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:34 .

Honor begins at home. Your family is your first ministry. The kiddos come first, not the school work. “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it” Proverbs 22:6.

When we got Elijah (our foster baby for those of you who don’t know who I am talking about ) Brooklynn wrote on a chalkboard hanging up in our kitchen – the greatest difference you can make on a child’s life is to love them. So love them well and with His truth.

We see the evidence of his goodness all over Brooklynn’s life. She has a foundation she can grow from, her roots run deep, and she knows exactly who she is in Christ. She knows what she wants and does not want to do with her future and all of this brings Jeff and I so much peace. We are beyond proud.

Pour into your kiddos. Read the Bible with them, teach them all the Jesus things, pray with them and for them, and remind them every single day you have their back.

Teach them about Grace and love, forgiveness and humility, and loyalty. Teach them about serving others.

Don’t worry yourself sick over structured days, schedules, etc!

If you need to take something off your plate, give yourself permission. It’s not about perfection. It’s about being present.

I would tell the me who was afraid and worried, “Tiffany, you have all you need. He has equipped you abundantly.”

Enjoy the journey mommas. It will be you here before you know it.