I’ve delayed putting off this post as long as I could, but the more I try to separate my blogging life and my home life, the more disconnected I feel. The time has come to lay it all out on the table.
This is a personal blog, a record of my own experience as a wife, mom, friend, sister, aunt, coupon user, writer, crafter, baker, photographer, compulsive blog-starter, shopper extraordinaire, depression-survivor, & child of God. While it may have started in one place two years ago, it has certainly gone in other directions since. And how could it not? As humans we rarely stay it one place for too long; change is all we know. Of course now I find myself in this strange predicament of not knowing what to write for fear writing about something new will alienate those of you who have come to expect something else.
The truth is that where I am right now is knee deep in books about reptiles and Ancient Egypt, spending my days fully engaged with my kids as we memorize verses, quotes, & poems, explore classic children’s literature, learn the parts of speech & discover how to work with math manipulatives. We swim every day and have learned to ride bikes and started gymnastics. We go on field trips and pretend we’re nomads or pharaohs or snakes slithering in the grass, and we do craft after craft after craft. Our days are FULL of activity and learning and fun, and at the end of them we are all exhausted.
It has been a huge shift in paradigm for our entire family, and homeschooling has meant drastically reordering my priorities. My time spent at the computer has been reduced to only a couple of working hours early in the morning, before the girls are awake. If something doesn’t get done in that time, it just doesn’t get done. Thus, blog posts have been far and few between and many an email has gone unanswered. At this point in my life, I am not only totally okay with that, I am slightly ashamed that it took me this long to figure out what is most important.
Four-and-a-half weeks in, it is quite possibly the most amazing adventure I’ve ever been on, and our journey has only just begun.
Even so, I’ve been reluctant to write about it here because it is all so brand new. I have needed a little space from this public space to grow a figure things out on my own and get my feet wet. I am learning as I go and honestly I am terrified that if I start to write about it here, one of two things (or both) will happen: A.) experienced home-schoolers will mock my naiveté or B.) unexperienced home-schoolers will ask for advice, something I feel utterly unqualified to give, at least right now.
Which brings me back to my dilemma: What then should I write about? The way I see it, I have 2 choices. I can start including our homeschool experiences as part of this blog or quit writing it completely.
I’ve thought about it a lot these past few weeks. I love writing this little blog of mine, love the creative outlet it gives me, and love how it has led me to meet new people and try new things. Even if no one is reading– and sometimes I do wonder if there is anyone left–I don’t think I’m ready to quit just yet.
So that leaves me with the alternative: I will add our homeschool adventure to the list of topics I write about. If anyone IS still reading, I promise that I’ll still write about all the other stuff I love too-DiY, recipes, party planning, photography, and life in general–even though in the beginning, while this is all fresh and new and exciting, I might write more about homeschool than the rest.
The one thing I probably won’t write too much about, at least not here on LWSL, is coupons. I still love coupons. I still use coupons. I still think everyone should use coupons. I still teach classes on how to use coupons. I have written a LOT on how to use coupons, including a free eBook called The LWSL Beginner’s Guide to Coupons, and I still write about coupons every day at SWSL and PrintHotCoupons.com. But this site is not about coupons; it is about, well, life.
My kids are 3 and (almost) 6. They will never be this age again, and I will never get this time back. Twenty years from now, I am never going to look back and say, “wow, I really wish I would’ve spent more time on the computer.” That said, I know I will be glad I had this special place to record our lives.
And if you’re out there, still reading through all of this, well then, first of all, thank you. I would love to hear from you every now and then, just to know you’re there. Your comments really do mean a lot to me, and if any of you homeschoolers have advice to share–particularly any tips on keeping younger siblings entertained and how much time you devote each day to lessons, but really anything you’ve learned along the way–I would definitely love to hear it!
Here’s to a whole new adventure–wish us luck! 
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Tonya July 18, 2012 at 4:10 pm
Ruth, I want to wish you the very best with your new adventures. I think its wonderful that you are homeschooling!!! Please keep us posted on everything
Kayla July 18, 2012 at 4:36 pm
Glad you decided to keep writing! Good luck, you are amazing!!
Krista July 18, 2012 at 4:49 pm
Ruth, I follow all of your blogs and have to say I am a huge fan. You are so relatable! Perhaps, you are just so honest that it is easy to find a way to connect with you. I have been toying with the homeschool topic for quite some time and hope your blog will help me finalize my decision. I know you will provide an honest reflection of your successes and struggles. I have two little ones and one more on the way. My oldest just turned 4 and I have done some work with him at home and have loved it! I am a certified teacher turned stay-at-home mom and would love to officially unite the two worlds. I will be happy to give any advice on what has worked for us so far by I by no means consider myself to be an expert. Maybe we can learn together. By the way, what prompted you to make this decision? I have been praying that God will help me and put my mind at ease about my final decision. Thanks for being an inspiration!
Victoria@Snailpacetransformations July 18, 2012 at 4:51 pm
I am entering year 11 of homeschooling, and still feel like a newbie. Homeschooling changes as kids change. Its ever evolving, but oh so worth it. I wish you best of luck with your adventure, the first few years when they are learning to read are the most time intensive but also the most rewarding.
Erin Willis July 18, 2012 at 4:57 pm
I just came upon your blog not too long ago and this is the first post I have actually read. Your title peaked my interest since I have been debating on whether or not to embark on the homeschooling journey with my 3 girls (ages 7, 5 and 3) just this morning. I look forward to reading about your adventures!
Ronda July 18, 2012 at 5:30 pm
Ruth I am thrilled that you will keep writing and include homeschooling. My girls are grown 34 and 22, but my days of homeschooling are wonderful memories. It changed our life for the better and I still get a rush when I get a homeschooling catalog in the mail. Not only will your girls learn, you will learn so much about yourself and life and what is important. It is a wonderful journey, enjoy!!!!!!
Lindsay July 18, 2012 at 5:54 pm
Ruth–I love your blog and always enjoy your posts!
Rachel July 18, 2012 at 7:15 pm
Oh Ruth, of course we still read this!
LWSL is my HOMEPAGE. It reminds me every day to keep things simple and sweet and take everything in stride. It is truly admirable the way you are always setting new goals.
You have helped me remember that even though as newlyweds, my husband and I don’t have much, we are blessed to have each other and to be able to focus on our life and our love.
Please, please don’t stop posting. You have a faithful follower here!
Percilla July 18, 2012 at 7:17 pm
Your blog has been a inspriation to me with your couponing and your writting about your life and the life of your family. Will enjoy your homeschooling also. If I had children in this time I also would home school. So here is wishing you luck!
SJ July 18, 2012 at 7:28 pm
We’re still reading! I found your blog late last summer as I embarked on a new journey of my own, couponing! It was so nice to find another Fl couponer to lead me, with all the local chains and Fl rules. I am excited for you to grow and change your focus as your family grows, and I am not at all bitter if you shift your focus from couponing. It is really a gift that you share your life so honestly with us, and I appreciate it so much!
Kim July 18, 2012 at 7:33 pm
Ruth,
It’s funny, I just asked Kyle today if he had seen your daughter in school. Well, I guess that answers that question! I have to say you continue to inspire me, first with coupons, then with crafting and cooking and now who knows, maybe homeschooling. It has definetly been something that has crossed my mind in the past few years. I wish you and the girls the best of luck and I know if anyone can do it with grace and style, it is you!
Kim July 18, 2012 at 7:50 pm
Love ALL your blogs…keep writing! We love you and your posts!
Mothering From Scratch July 18, 2012 at 8:22 pm
{Kathy} You have figured out the biggest secret to mothering….It doesn’t last! Those girls are only those ages, for those days, for those moments. And you are there. Smart, smart woman. I have an enormous amount of respect for you. I will pray for you and your new adventure!
Steph July 18, 2012 at 9:31 pm
I am all for it! Good for you homeschooling your kids who, by the way, are precious and adorable. I honestly believe that for our children to get a complete education that parents must homeschool or, at least, supplement their children’s public education and correct misrepresentations they get in government schools. I enjoy your blog, no matter what you write. I followed your gut-wrenching posts about the abuse you suffered and your journey to God and healing. I enjoy the hints and ideas on shopping, etc. I just enjoy you so keep it up! Just write when you feel you should write to us, okay?
much love
Meg July 18, 2012 at 10:11 pm
Good for you, Ruth! It would be wrong for anyone to condemn you for ordering your priorities so your children are first. I would dearly love to homeschool my son when he’s old enough, so I will enjoy reading about your experiences and hopefully learning from them. I love reading your blog because you come across as a “real person” and those are hard people to come by. Fret not, we’re still here!
Rachael July 18, 2012 at 11:12 pm
Well that is exciting news! We homeschool too so I really look forward to your posts! For your part A: I would say that even if a person is experienced with years of homeschooling there will always be something new to learn whether it is from others that have homeschooled for years or just a few weeks! Things constantly change with time and each child is different so it is a learning process (please tell me this on my bad days lol) For part B: I’d say that you answer to the best of your knowlege and maybe conclude by asking others for their tips in the comments. People like to chime in with ideas like that. I understand you feeling hesitant in sharing. I grew up homeschooling so I think people look at me like I should be super smart and probably teach my kids perfectly. I think you have to just always remember why you are homeschooling and focus on that and then share encouragement with others. Looking forward to your posts!
Audrey McBride July 19, 2012 at 1:08 am
I love your blog! You are such an inspiration to me. Thank you
josie July 19, 2012 at 9:26 am
I wish you the best of luck on this new experience. I am glad you will keep writing, I follow all your blogs, I check them all everyday. You are an inspiration to me. My son is 2 and I have another one on the way, I also love couponing, I enjoy doing party themes for different occasions, etc, so I relate to you in many ways. Thank you.
Liz July 19, 2012 at 10:24 am
I’m still reading! I find all of you posts to be so entertaining – I always want to read more! I’m 19 and I was home-schooled all of my life, I personally loved it. Of course, I didn’t know any different since it was what I was used to, but from all the stories that my friends told me about public and even private schools – I didn’t feel like I missed a thing. I feel like I ended up knowing so much more about life because I was taught about things that I really enjoyed, of course I had to learn the stuff I didn’t like too – but I was able to dig deeper into the subjects that really interested me. I was always told I was so much more mature than other kids my age too, and I think it had something to do with not being stuck in a classroom for 8 hrs a day. I think you’ll do great!
Katrina July 19, 2012 at 10:29 am
Ruth~ I absolutely love to read your blogs. You are inspirational! I am proud of you for homeschooling and for blogging about it, and for being with your children more! Mi sister is a mother of 5 and homeschool’s. Her kids ages range from 13-1! I have a 3 year old and a 5 month old and I do some preschool/kindergarten work with my daughter. Can’t wait to hear more about your adventures! God Bless!
Jaime July 19, 2012 at 12:02 pm
I’m still here and always have been! I, too, am struggling with what to do with my blog while I try to enjoy life with my kids and (hopefully) return to teaching in the classroom full time. Good luck with homeschooling and can’t wait to hear how it goes. And give yourself a break if you don’t blog often “enough.” You are right that you can’t get this time back again. Good luck and blessings!
Kimberly H July 19, 2012 at 3:09 pm
Hi Ruth
Welcome to homeschooling !! I’m in my third year and I have a three children. You will find that you will change the way you do things ALL the time. Since you have little ones a great site that I think you would like is called Confessions of a Homeschooler. It’s a great site !!! This site has all kinds of things you can print for school and it’s FREE !! She has a great letter of the week program, and she also has a program called Road Trip that I will be doing with my kids this year. There is so much more on this site you will have to take a look. I look forward to your homeschooling post, again welcome to this great adventure of homeschooling !!!
Allison July 19, 2012 at 3:54 pm
Am so glad you decided to keep writing. The choice of how to best educate your children is so important and so personal. No one else can tell you what is best. My only child is 18 months old and I am almost sure we will home school. I say almost only because I don’t want to pretend I can anticipate her educational needs while she is still a toddler. I teach part time at a home school co-op and encourage you to seek one out in your area. Even if you choose not to send your children to any classes now, the one I am at is a marvelous resource for parents just starting in the search for alternative educational choices. Follow your convictions! You know your children best!
Yvette W July 19, 2012 at 6:45 pm
You are absolutely right. Your children will only be this age once. You have to enjoy and absorb every moment, because it goes by so fast. Enjoy this gift from God. They are only young once. God Bless:)
Mari July 19, 2012 at 7:01 pm
Yay!!! I was hoping you would share with us your homeschool adventures
My husband likes to say our son is a “Stay at Home Son”, ha! We have him enrolled in a virtual school and while I do most of the schooling and teaching I have some help. Some may not call it homeschool, but we do. I love all the time I get to spend with my son, since I also know time passes us by too fast. I can’t wait to see what else you will share!
Melissa N July 19, 2012 at 7:52 pm
Ruth I am so glad you will keep writing, I love your blogs! We are also starting our first year of homeschooling and are excited! I will enjoy reading about yours too! Thanks for sharing from your heart.
ZombieMommySaves July 19, 2012 at 11:18 pm
Enjoy it, you are right, you’ll never get this back. There is so much support for homeschooling. Glad to see you are jumping right in.
Deut 6!
Penny July 20, 2012 at 4:11 am
Hi Ruth, I love all your blogs and think you are a lovely lady with a beautiful family, I look forward to reading your adventures with the girls, keep up the good work. Happy days from NZ
suzana July 20, 2012 at 12:30 pm
ruth, you have never been alone during this time! i used to check this blog everyday but as posts got scarcer i began to only check in periodically. the days when i found a new blog post were amazing… i always look forward to the words that come from your heart so naturally. hopefully these comments warm your being and encourage you to continue to update us about your life’s adventures!
Jenna July 20, 2012 at 12:44 pm
While I am not a homeschooler, I read your blog not necessarily because all of the content applies to me, but because I love your style of writing and enjoy your honesty and openness. Continue doing what you think God is leading you to for the good of your own family (not at the sake of it). Good luck and keep up the great work, whatever that may be!
Karen Taggart July 20, 2012 at 3:55 pm
I love your blog Ruth! Keep doing what you’re doing. I have a 15 month old and am interested in homeschooling as well. Not sure if it’s for us, but I love learning about anything new either way. And good for you for having your priorities straight while still having some time to for you. I think it makes us all better moms, wives, and friends.
Mrs. Amy Peters July 21, 2012 at 4:16 pm
Oh what fun you’ll have!
We have six children (5 boys) and home schooled for 17 yrs. I still miss it.
One piece of advise. Let each day be each day. Put it down at the end of the day and don’t pick it back up again except to remember the awesome things. You won’t get everything done and you will make sacrifices, but what an adventure!
Oh what fun you’ll have!
Claire July 22, 2012 at 12:20 pm
Best of luck Ruth! I always enjoy your blog and use the SWSL site weekly!
Can’t wait to read about your new adventures!
Elizabeth Rogers July 22, 2012 at 9:55 pm
We are starting our fourth year homeschooling and I’ve learned so much right along with my children, and learn something new almost every day. I’ve also learned that the most important things for me to focus on as a mother are the things that are relevant right now, and that does change from season to season. I think that where you are right now is a wonderful place to be, and I hope you enjoy every moment of it. It won’t last forever, they grow up so quickly!! And once you get more experience homeschooling it won’t take up so much of your time and energy and that will be okay, too. My boys are going into fourth and eighth an we spend about 4 hours a day doing “school work”, a lot of which they work independently. With a three year old and a six year old, I can’t imagine doing more that two hours at the most of anything they have to sit still and pay attention to. Please bear in mind that swimming, reading aloud, crafts, field trips (even to the grocery store sometimes), any kind of creative play (dress up, pretend games, etc.), cooking (and any other life skills acitivies), and almost everything you do with them counts as education activites and can be considered lessons. If homeschooling is what you feel you have been lead to do, then I’m happy that you’re doing it with all your heart, and I’ll always be checking in from time to time to see what’s up with you!
Mercedes July 23, 2012 at 2:23 pm
Congratulations on deciding to homeschool your girls! I want to do the same with my 15month old son:) thank you for your wonderful blog and for being soooo real!
Kristine July 23, 2012 at 11:09 pm
You are a wonderful writer and I always enjoy whatever you choose to write about. I never thought I would follow a blog, but you reeled me in with couponing and then kept me here with your beautiful writing and very special life! You share so openly which is truly a gift.
Thank you!
Michelle July 28, 2012 at 4:48 pm
I always read both this blog, and your savingwellspendingless site. Always will. Your a true inspiration, I check your site daily to get myself going in the morning. Don’t stop writing =)
Meghan August 14, 2012 at 7:20 am
I’ve just started reading this blog and was excited to see that you are homeschooling (not the reason why I started reading but now an added bonus). Congratulations on your family’s decision to homeschool. I have been doing it for 4 years now and love it. To get that extra time everyday to watch your children grow is amazing. I love the fact that my children can read or tell time because I taught them. Again, congratulations on homeschooling and may you and your family enjoy the many blessings that come along with it.
Ruth August 14, 2012 at 3:38 pm
Thank you so much for commenting, Meghan! I’m so glad you found my blog. We are still brand new but I have to agree that it is very cool to see your kids learning stuff that you taught them. They really are like little sponges!
Christina August 27, 2012 at 12:23 am
Found your blog through the not back to school blog hop. . . I just wanted to let you know that I Love Love Love that your 3 yr old daughters shoes are on the wrong feet in your picture in this post. It made me smile. Your daughters are so beautiful and precious.
M October 20, 2012 at 3:41 am
Your blog was the first couponing blog I was able to follow. Couponing did not work out for me, at least not in the extreme sense, but I still follow your blog and look forward to your updates. I love being inspired by you and your family and am very glad to hear you will continue sharing your story.
Wendy Revels February 8, 2013 at 11:19 pm
Hi, I just found your blog today and I can say that I am now a follower. Only after reading a couple of posts, I like what I see. I found you through a link for your Homeschool Planner and I have printed that out. I have a 9-year-old son and a soon to be 1-year-old son. I am getting things ready so that I can start homeschooling my oldest. I’m almost there…..excited beyond words and also nervous beyond words!