Childhood is too precious to miss: why we homeschool with Abeka

Natalie | California

People are often surprised when I tell them I have a master’s degree, and I homeschool my children. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve been asked, “You’re not putting your degree to use?” But the truth is, I am putting it to use—just not in the way the world expects. I always respond that my degree will always be there. My time with my children won’t.

When my husband, Juan, and I got married, we waited five years before starting our family. I was finishing my bachelor’s at the time, and I was determined to go on and get my master's. I needed that for me. Even though my husband had a thriving business, I wanted to carve out my own identity. I graduated with my Master of Social Work, worked for a few years, and then we welcomed our son, Dallas.

At first, I planned to go back to work once he started school. But when that time came,

I couldn’t ignore what my heart was telling me: I wanted to homeschool him. I wanted that time. That presence. That influence. And I am so grateful that I’ve been able to do just that with Abeka Homeschool.

Our family loves to travel—we’re not ones to stay home for long. That’s one of the things I love most about homeschooling: learning travels with us. Whether it’s a road trip or a family visit, we take our lessons along for the ride. I remember driving to a place Dallas had read about in his book and telling him, “Look! You learned about this—and now we’re here.” Watching that lightbulb moment happen in real time is incredible.

One unexpected blessing of homeschooling has been the deep connection my children have formed with their grandparents. They spend so much time at their grandma's and Bubba’s house—it’s like a second home. My mom has seen so much improvement in Penelope’s reading. Dallas and Penelope love reading to her. She cheers them on with so much pride: “Grandma, look what I can read!” It’s beautiful to watch.

And it's not just about academics—when Dallas is over there, you’ll find him in the front yard with my dad, throwing the baseball. It’s those little moments that have become such a big part of their lives—and mine.

Homeschooling, for us, is a family affair. It’s not just mom. It’s dad, grandparents, even aunties. Everyone plays a role. My husband even retired from his family business to help with homeschooling.

He's especially involved when it comes to math—I call him our math teacher, and the kids love it. They also read to him, and you can really see the bond they’ve built. It’s helped us grow closer as a family and deepened our relationships with the kids in so many ways.

Through homeschooling, we’re able to make space for Penelope’s passions. Even her love for baking becomes a lesson—we tie it into math, science, and reading. It’s all connected.

In school, you can’t just go from A to Z without going ABC...It's like in baseball, you have to try new things to improve your technique. One day you might hit a home run, but the next you might strike out. Every day we have to go out there and do the same work over and over. That's the way you progress and make yourself even a better player than you are now. —Juan

Through homeschooling, we’re able to make space for Penelope’s passions. Even her love for baking becomes a lesson—we tie it into math, science, and reading. It’s all connected.

Sometimes Dallas gets overwhelmed by certain tasks, like writing assignments. But as his teacher, I get to meet him where he’s at. When I told him to write about his favorite baseball player, he lit up. He had a full page written in five minutes. We used that assignment to work on proofreading, grammar, structure—all the essentials. But because it was tied to his interests, it didn’t feel like work.

That’s the beauty of Abeka’s curriculum. It gives us structure and guidance, but we get to add the heart.

We’re also part of what we call “Friday School,” a co-op where other homeschool families come together once a week. It’s one of our favorite parts of the week. Penelope is learning about artists like Van Gogh and brings home paintings that I proudly hang on our walls. Dallas is learning music, reading notes, and studying composers. Last year, he focused on hands-on science. The day starts with chapel and prayer, and from there, it’s just this fun, engaging, collaborative environment. It’s not a traditional classroom, and that’s what makes it special.

Homeschooling isn’t always easy, and it’s not always understood. But for our family, it’s been one of the greatest blessings. Abeka Homeschool has given us the tools, flexibility, and support to prioritize what truly matters—our time together, our children’s unique gifts, and a lifestyle that works for us.

I’ll always have my degree. But these years with my kids? I’ll never get them back. And I wouldn’t trade this time for anything.

Learn more about their homeschooling journey.

WATCH VIDEO

---

Natalie's Must-Have Products

Grade 3 Child Kit

In this kit, you will find all essential textbooks and coordinated materials, including tests for an entire year of schooling—26 items total. SHOP NOW

Grade 1 Child Kit

By the end of first grade, your child will have made amazing leaps in learning! They will be able to recognize and use all the phonic sounds—including 132 special sounds—needed to phonetically read words! SHOP NOW