Tanya and I met through the Kid Blogger Network, but our friendship transcends beyond just "blog buddies." She has become one of my dearest friends and someone I feel so blessed to have in my life.
Tanya is the content creator and writer behind the fantastic blog The Natural Homeschool. Come read about her journey to becoming a homeschool parent and what a typical day might look like for her family. Oh, and don't forget to stop by her blog for tons of educational printables, homeschool resources, recipes, and more!
Q: Would you start out by telling everyone a little about yourself?
A: I am a former school teacher that loves traveling and learning other languages. Before getting married, I lived in several countries and travelled abroad a lot. Learning languages came easy to me, so I took advantage and learned to speak about 7 languages (five of which I can still speak pretty decently). I am a life-long learner and I am excited to be home to instill this and other positive attributes into my children.
Q: Why did you decide to homeschool?
A: Honestly, I never thought of that option. My husband was homeschooled all the way through high school, but never asked for me to stay home to homeschool. Then our first child was born and wow, he was quite advanced for his age. He could read before he could even walk and, my mother-in-law, who had homeschooled her 7 children, saw what he could do and told me to consider homeschooling.
A: Honestly, I never thought of that option. My husband was homeschooled all the way through high school, but never asked for me to stay home to homeschool. Then our first child was born and wow, he was quite advanced for his age. He could read before he could even walk and, my mother-in-law, who had homeschooled her 7 children, saw what he could do and told me to consider homeschooling.
I kind of freaked out about it, mostly because I thought that I would be "trapped" at home all day, but after praying about it, I felt better about it. At that point, I talked to my husband about trying it out while he was still young to see if it "worked out" for us. I asked him if he thought I could do it...if I could be a good teacher to our children. His response was, "I cannot think of a better teacher for our children than you." SOLD!
Q: When and how did blogging about your homeschool journey come about?
A: We live away from family, so I started a blog for family to read and keep up with what we were doing as a family and in our homeschooling journey. It wasn't until about a year and a half later that I started writing actual blog posts and not just journal posts. And it wasn't until a year or so later that I monetized it. I know, I was a slow starter, but honestly, my youngest was an infant and I don't think I would've had the time that it takes to run a blog as a business at the time. What encouraged me to blog as a business was that I loved doing it, that my pageviews were going up and that I became friends with some amazing bloggers who encouraged me to reach for the stars.
Q: Are there other themes that come out in your blog?
A: Sure. I write about homeschooling, including our classical and Montessori school work, healthy recipes, DIY toiletries and cleaners and some parenting posts. I also offer free printables and also post product reviews.
A: Sure. I write about homeschooling, including our classical and Montessori school work, healthy recipes, DIY toiletries and cleaners and some parenting posts. I also offer free printables and also post product reviews.
Q: What does a typical day look like for you?
A: We wake up and eat breakfast. Then we do our online portion of our homeschooling while I do some blogging chores, like promoting the new blog post that went live that day and such. Then we go to the homeschool room to do some of our classical memorization work and some of our paper and pencil work. While we have lunch, we watch our Latin video and listen to geography memorization songs or poetry memorization. After lunch, we do Science, some History, music or art and review our classical memory work. We are done homeschooling by 1:30, the latest. After that, the kids eat a snack and play in the backyard while I do some bloggy stuff. Hubby comes home and I go to the gym. While he goes to the gym after me, I make dinner. After dinner, I blog a little and then hang out. We put the kids to bed and hang out a little more. Then I blog some more. Sometimes, I am too tired to stay up, so I just go to bed earlier that day.
A: We wake up and eat breakfast. Then we do our online portion of our homeschooling while I do some blogging chores, like promoting the new blog post that went live that day and such. Then we go to the homeschool room to do some of our classical memorization work and some of our paper and pencil work. While we have lunch, we watch our Latin video and listen to geography memorization songs or poetry memorization. After lunch, we do Science, some History, music or art and review our classical memory work. We are done homeschooling by 1:30, the latest. After that, the kids eat a snack and play in the backyard while I do some bloggy stuff. Hubby comes home and I go to the gym. While he goes to the gym after me, I make dinner. After dinner, I blog a little and then hang out. We put the kids to bed and hang out a little more. Then I blog some more. Sometimes, I am too tired to stay up, so I just go to bed earlier that day.
Post: Homemade Cinnamon Rolls
Q: How do you balance being a wife, mom, homeschool parent, and blogger?
A: It is easier when the kids are older than when they are infants or toddlers because they need my attention a lot more. Hubby is ok with me blogging, especially when he sees an income coming from it, but I try my best to never put blogging before spending time with him. I will always choose him first. When it comes to blogging and homeschooling, I have absolutely no issues with it because I blog about our homeschooling! Haha. Family is first, then blog.
A: It is easier when the kids are older than when they are infants or toddlers because they need my attention a lot more. Hubby is ok with me blogging, especially when he sees an income coming from it, but I try my best to never put blogging before spending time with him. I will always choose him first. When it comes to blogging and homeschooling, I have absolutely no issues with it because I blog about our homeschooling! Haha. Family is first, then blog.
Q: What do you consider to be your greatest accomplishment?
A: Being a wife and a mom and next, being able to keep our kids home to educate them ourselves and making enough through the blog to fund our homeschooling.
A: Being a wife and a mom and next, being able to keep our kids home to educate them ourselves and making enough through the blog to fund our homeschooling.
Q: What advice would you give to other wives and moms looking for ways to balance multiple "hats?"
A: I would say: have a clear vision of what you want and keep your priorities straight. Once those are set, I say "Go for it!"
A: I would say: have a clear vision of what you want and keep your priorities straight. Once those are set, I say "Go for it!"
Thanks, Tanya, for sharing with us today! I loved when you said, "Family is first, then blog." I completely agree with you! It's less about finding an equal balance and more about having priorities in order. As mothers juggling many roles, each day is filled with a dauntless amount of tasks--the ones that involve family should always come first. Bonus points if we get to a few of the others accomplished checked off the list! The rest? They'll all be there to tackle another day!
More "Behind the Scenes" Looks...
This post is part seven out of a twelve part series I'm doing with several other bloggers. Each month we'll be sharing what goes on behind the scenes of blogging. This month's theme was Blogger Interviews. Be sure to join us on the last Thursday in August when we'll be sharing answers to our most frequently asked questions! Have a question you want answered, be sure to send me an e-mail. For now, you can read more about the series and past posts here. Grab a cup of coffee, get cozy, and take some time to read more interviews like this one...
Erin of The Speckled Palate | Twin Stripe
The Homeschooling Momma Behind the Blog | The Natural Homeschool (My interview!)
Katie Williamsen/@ Twinstripe Interview | The Speckled Palate
Personal Interview with a Homeschool Mom and Blogger | The Life of Jennifer Dawn (You're here!)
Erin of The Speckled Palate | Twin Stripe
The Homeschooling Momma Behind the Blog | The Natural Homeschool (My interview!)
Katie Williamsen/@ Twinstripe Interview | The Speckled Palate
Personal Interview with a Homeschool Mom and Blogger | The Life of Jennifer Dawn (You're here!)
Happy reading!
Thank you so much for interviewing me! I'm honored to have had the opportunity, but most of all, to have you as a friend. ;)
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