What is this all about?
Everything that you find here grew out of my passion to support YOU. To help you see that your role in all of this – as counsellor, mother, coach, teacher, nurse, cheerleader, you name it – is vital, and that it’s important to look after you in the process.
So, this is the place to come for organisational tricks, inspiration, creativity, and encouragement to help you make your home into the haven you want it to be. A place that feels like a haven for you, as well as your family. A haven full of life, truth, goodness, beauty… and fun!
Who is this for?
I believe that every mother needs a place to come for inspiration and solidarity, whether you homeschool or not. Because we all get it! So don’t be deterred by the name. Yes, Homeschool Haven started as a space for only homeschoolers. BUT as you explore the content throughout my site, you’ll see that it’s so much more.
You’ll still find homeschool-specific tips, ideas and support in the Homeschooling section of my website. But you’ll also find encouragement for motherhood in general in the Motherhood section. These are easy to spot when you head to the menu. So go on – have a click around and enjoy browsing! Oh, and if something really encourages you, please consider passing it along to someone else who you know will appreciate it, too. That would mean so much.
How did it start?
It all started with Choosing Thankfulness. A challenge to be thankful amid all of life, including (and especially!) as a mama. And in my case, a homeschool mama. From there, Homeschool Haven was born. It started out on Facebook, as a natural extension of the support and encouragement that I’ve offered families in all sorts of ways for the past ten years and beyond. And now: here we are at homeschoolhavenwithkristy.com!
My original focus of supporting homeschoolers has continued to expand even further than I imagined, to become a platform to connect with and support mamas in all walks of life. Because we’re all parents, after all – and we’re all figuring out this thing called motherhood, one small step at a time. I’m so glad you’re here!
What is Kristy’s background?
Let’s take a moment to chat specifically about my experience in the realm of homeschooling. As someone in the unique position of being both a second generation homeschooler and a trained teacher, I have many years of varied experience to share with you, and I especially love thinking outside of the proverbial box. Throughout these pages you’ll be encouraged and inspired, as well as equipped and supported in creating your own homeschool haven.
As for my own years as a homeschooled student? They’re full of such fond memories! My youngest siblings were home educated right through their school years. In fact, the kids in my very first classroom were the same age as my siblings at the time. Now that was an interesting comparison! They’re now successful adults who are passionate life long learners. Which is exactly what we all want for our kids – right?!
Interestingly enough, I also loved attending school here in New Zealand. And have fond memories of the years I spent teaching across a range of ages before my husband and I began a family of our own. It’s given me a deep appreciation for the hard work and the heart-work that teachers tirelessly pour into the children in their care.
Now, as I write this, we’re in our tenth year of homeschooling our three children. While it isn’t always easy – and certainly isn’t ever perfect – we do love it. Different seasons have required different things from us. Some have been considerably more challenging than others. And we are certainly changed as a result of this homeschooling journey that we’re on.
Be sure to also check out About Kristy for the inside scope on more of what makes me tick and for a bit of a giggle, as well as authenticity about some of the tougher things we’ve faced as a family.
What’s free, and what’s not?
This website is a labour of love, and is somewhere (along with my Facebook and Instagram pages where I hang out frequently) for you to access free information and encouragement to help you in your journey as a mama, as well as a homeschooler (if you are one).
I love creating free resources for you to download and enjoy too, so be sure to keep an eye out for new ones. It’s also completely free to sign up to my mailing list and receive (somewhat sporadic) inboxed inspiration from my heart to yours – and you’ll get extra freebies that way, too!
I invest a lot of time into creating this free material and writing blog articles to help and inspire you, so if you’ve appreciated what you’ve found here, the highest compliment you could pay me is to interact via the comment sections and spread the word so that others can also be encouraged. Together, let’s make a difference!
I also offer paid support and coaching in the form of video consultations (otherwise known as a virtual coffee and chat). You can learn more about my heart behind this, by heading here. This paid service (along with my exemption support service) helps me to be able to provide the material you have access to here, free of charge. To find out more, see my How I can help you page. Then head straight on to my Contact page to book yours.
I’m working on creating supporting resources that will be available to purchase through Homeschool Haven, in addition to all of this. So if you’d like to be among the first to hear about new material being released, take a moment to sign up to my mailing list now, so that you stay in the know!