From Pandemic To Present Day - A 'Covid Homeschool' Story: Jennifer Moreno

UNEDITED VIDEO

TRANSCRIPT

Shanxi: Hello, this is Shanxi Omoniyi, host of MPE’s “Homeschool Hints” podcast to encourage you wherever you may be on your homeschool journey.

Today I am so excited to be speaking with Jennifer Moreno. She's a fellow homeschool mom in the area, and we've known each other through MPE. There's been GROW events and meetups, and today she's going to tell us a little bit about her story and how she started homeschooling. And Jennifer, take it away.

Jennifer: Thank you so much. I'm so honored to be on here. You are so sweet. When you asked me to come and speak, I'm like, OK, what do I have to say? But that's just, I think, kind of great how the Lord works.

It's been kind of cool as I started to homeschool, I've had women in my church come up to me and start asking me questions. And I'm like, hey, I just can tell you what worked for us and if it works for you, that's great.

So we actually started homeschooling when COVID happened. So, we are those people that, when COVID hit, we were like, OK, we're gonna start homeschooling. In 2020, my son was in 4th grade, and we kind of saw what was happening in the public school, and how everything was in disarray.

Nobody knew what was going on. The end of that year, I mean, school was just crazy, like the kids were not learning. There was no order. They were doing some kind of Skypes with their teacher, but it wasn't very structured. It was kind of like a free-for-all, so looking back, I mean I feel bad for probably high school graduates that year. I know a lot of them kind of got, you know, it was a little crazy for them, but, I mean, my son was in fourth grade.

And so I never knew much about homeschooling. The home-schooling thing really started to come more in the mainstream when COVID happened, and I started to hear people talk about it more in the mainstream.

But I grew up public school educated, and my husband was public school educated, so this was all new to us. We had no idea what to do, and I just started researching it, looking into it, and I just had such peace to homeschool. And so I know it was from the Lord, and it wasn't anxiety, it wasn't pressure, it wasn't stress.

So that's why I knew like, it was literally a calling, that God said, you're gonna homeschool now. And so I was like, OK, let's do it. We started to do that.

My daughter was in high school at the time. We did pull her out. She was not enjoying high school. She was stressed out and didn't like the teachers. She had some friends, but she just wanted to do online. So, we actually did an online curriculum for her the last two years of her high school and she graduated and everything worked out really great for her.

So the majority of my time I've been homeschooling my son, so we're going on five years now and he's in 9th grade. And yeah, we're loving it. It's so much fun.

I was checking on him, you know, hey, how's it going? You think we're doing good? Do you like it? Would you ever think about going back to public school? He's like, no, mom. I like it. Like, let's keep doing it. So yeah. <laughs>

Shanxi: That's awesome. Anyone from your church who was homeschooling?

Jennifer: Actually, no, nobody from our church actually did homeschool. Our church is kind of a fairly new church, but as the years have gone by now, there have been a lot of people that have been homeschooling.

I just was talking to a mother the other day, and she was telling me, yeah, we're gonna start homeschooling. She has three boys. She's like, we're gonna start doing it because of things that are happening in the school, and things that she's just not liking, and the influence that her young boys are getting. She's like, that's not something we believe in. And I, you know, want to make sure that my sons are raised with God. And so yeah, it was, so for her, it was been a very convicting thing, and it was for me too.

And coming up until, you know, we homeschooled, we were very fortunate. We actually had really great experiences with the teachers.

My son, you know, homeschooled – or, excuse me, public schooled – till 4th grade. And we actually did receive some great services. He had speech delays as a young boy. So when we went and took some different programs within the public school.

And the teachers were phenomenal, so I have nothing bad to say about the teachers in the public school. I love a lot of teachers, and I have a lot of teachers that are good friends, but it was just kind of the system, you know, just all of that, the administration, just the rules and everything that was coming down the pipeline that we didn't agree with.

But yeah, I think that was mostly other parents that I saw, like, hey, let's try home schooling. I'm like. What's that? <laughs> So I'm like, OK.

Shanxi: I know, it's amazing. I mean, I've heard from people who, you know, they started homeschooling because a public school teacher told them, you know, I think your son would thrive in homeschooling.

And so that's just been really neat to hear how oftentimes, some of the best champions and advocates of homeschooling are former public-school teachers who just see the system itself is what's hampering many of our students. It's not the, you know, the teachers. Teachers often love the kids, and they got into their professions because they love teaching and then, it's just.

Jennifer: I know, and I have heard that too, even in our co-ops, the parents that step up to help teach the kids, they have that education background, and it's wonderful.

And you're right, they just love the kids, and they can see the frustration. And we personally have teachers in our family that were great teachers and love the kids. And unfortunately, they were just unhappy in the school district, and they ended up retiring or quitting, and just like, no, I just want to be here for the kids, and it's just not working out.

So, we did see that just even within our family members, extended family members too.

And it's a shame because they need those good teachers.

So I have met a lot of teachers that have gone to homeschooling now or recommend it, so it is great.

It's not necessarily them against us, you know, and that's what I've learned too. It's for the kids, whatever better suits the kids. I mean, I know sometimes, like, I'll get on social media, and I'll get a little bit on my, you know, soapbox about homeschooling. And I have to be careful sometimes because it's completely foreign to a lot of parents, and all they've ever known is a certain way, and I think some homeschoolers can kind of relate and understand that.

But it's just showing them in love, like, hey, this has worked for us and you have to be open to it. I was open to trying something different. That was the big thing. A lot of parents just completely shut it down and think like, well. I can't do that, you know. And I'm like, well, the Lord gave you your children. I mean, you're to shepherd them and teach them and raise them up in the ways of the Lord. You know, there's tough days. Everybody has tough days, but I keep going back to what, you know, the Lord has put on my heart.

And so, I mean, I think of the one Bible verse, Philippians 4:13. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I keep just saying that to me, you know, I can't do this in my own strength, but the Lord, I know I can do it through him. So he gives me the strength.

And then on those tough days, I mean, you know, sometimes we all have them, you know, every day is new, and we can start fresh and have a better day today, if it was a tough day yesterday. So I do love that.

Shanxi: So, when you decided to make the switch, you know, you were like jumping into your first year of homeschooling. Were you working at the time? I mean, how did everything look like, from a, just a, “my life is going to change completely” viewpoint.

Jennifer: Actually, yeah, that time I wasn't (working). I was actually one of those moms that was pretty involved in like, I was the “home room mom.”

So, I really loved being a part of my kids’ education. I’d help out in the PTA and it went – gosh, when I looked back, we've moved around to a couple of different states, and we lived in Iowa for a while. I was on the PTA board. And so I've always loved education. I really have. I think just the kids are our future.

And so I've always wanted to be, like, really involved in that.

So at the time, I wasn't, I wasn't working. But I have worked since then in the five years.

I've worked part time, I've worked full time, and you know, and it kind of depends on your family needs and stuff like that. We had a car payment, a couple of little expenses, so I did, I worked part time, and that worked out good.

But definitely like for other moms that are looking to, that have to work because I get it. You know, you have to work, or some families just have no choice. But that support system is so vital.

We don't have grandparents and things like extended family members. But my husband was a great support system. If I was working, he could work from home and help out with homeschooling our son, or I'd reach out to other friends and have other friends in the homeschool community. And I'm like, hey, I have to work today. Can my son be over there with your kids?

And so I'm so thankful for the community. I've met so many great homeschool families that have welcomed us in that. But I, just my take on it. When I did, I started working part time and I was doing really well, and they promoted me to full time, and we talked about as a family, and my husband's like, OK, well, let's try it. Let's see how we can do it.

And it didn't work for us because it was really difficult to really get my son's school work done and things like that and my husband was trying to work, but then still trying to do his stuff.

And so I just decided to go back down to part time ,and I actually worked for a great company, and they actually let me go back down to part time. So I only worked like full time for like about nine months.

But that was, it was kind of hard. I mean, it wasn't majorly stressful, but when I looked back, it just wasn't the right fit for us, you know.

But I've talked to families that, you know, they do homeschool at night. You know, if Mom has to work, you know, there's a lot of single-parent families out there. And I know you can make it work. And that's like, where there's a will, there's a way, I feel.

And I was fortunate that my husband made enough money that I didn't need to keep working. It was more just, kind of more of a supplemental-income type of thing.

And I've talked to other friends and sometimes, you know, if you really want to homeschool, you really have to sometimes look at those hard things of, OK, well, maybe we can't have like 3 cars in the home.

Maybe we can't have the 4000-square-foot home if mom and Dad are working.

I know it's really hard in this day and age to look at that, but I feel those stories that are, you know, they scale back their expenses so Mom can stay home and homeschool.

I just think those are such inspirational stories for me. I just think like, God is gonna bless that family. And it's foreign to like, most of people that live in America, like, what do you mean? Like you have to sell your house and go down to like, you know, a smaller home? Like, oh my gosh. But I'm like, yeah, because that's what they want to do.

And so for us, we've just kept our expenses, you know, pretty – the way it is, and God's always provided. We've never had to go without and never struggled.

So that's another thing too is I know God has just provided through our whole homeschool journey. We've never had financial issues or problems where I've had to work, my husband’s had to work.

So, we're very thankful for that. He has blessed us with that.

But I would say, you know, part time is ideal for homeschooling. And when the kids get older too, I know families – my son has a friend. She's homeschooled and she's 16, so she stays home. She can get her stuff done. She doesn't need very much guidance, and then her parents do work, and the other children go to public school, and it works for them.

But it's like, you have to kind of figure out how your family is. Like, if I leave my son alone to just do his own stuff sometimes? I know, like, you know, I've gotta, like, check his work and make sure he's staying on task. (laughs)

So I mean, you get to know your kids. I mean, some kids are just like, Yep, I got it done. Good. So it is different for each family, and (you) just have to kind of gauge that.

Shanxi: How was navigating the whole like curriculum world for you? I mean, especially starting like right at COVID and everything. And there were just a billion options all around. Did you go straight to a virtual online curriculum? Did you kind of have to feel your way for the first few years? How was that?

Jennifer: I didn't want to do so much computer stuff. My son, you know, he's a boy. He likes to play video games and things like that. So, I was very aware of that. I didn't want to do so much online, so I think he did one subject online, but I was a bit overwhelmed at first. I looked at all the stuff, but we mostly did, like, book work and I found some curriculums that we liked. We did Masterbooks and Easy Peasy and Math-U-See and things like that. I mean, I feel like even like now, I'm looking at 10th grade curriculum. And I guess there's no magic thing, right? You know that is the one question I get from people all the time, like, how do you pick curriculum? I'm like, yeah, exactly.

I mean, I watch all this stuff, and I download all the things and everything like that, but we're still trying to figure out – I mean, when I look back, and that's what I love about homeschool is, we try something, you know, we’ll try something for six weeks. If it doesn't work, if it's not working OK, we'll switch it up.

I was actually thinking about this and looking back the other day and reading my notes and things because I'm a note taker.

And I look back on all of that, and the one thing my son had said about, he had to do some project for like, strengths and weaknesses. And he said one of his strengths, he feels, is adaptability.

And I said, Oh, OK, because we are kind of changing things a lot. So I was like, wow. So that was that made me feel so great, that even though sometimes I feel like I'm failing because I might have switched curriculums, you know, a few times, he's like, I can adapt and I can make it work.

But it was overwhelming. It was at first, you know, but we navigated it.

We found some great curriculums that worked, but I don't kind of stick with the same thing. I do kind of switch things up every year. I've done different curriculums like every year, kind of like that. I mean, that's why I love going to the conventions that you guys have. Those are so helpful. They're great. I went to the, you know, the one you guys just had a few months ago, and that was just – looking at all the curriculum, getting to ask the questions and talk to the people. And oh, it's so helpful. So, I would encourage people to go to those conventions every year.

I went my first year, and then I went again, and then I went just this last year, and they're so great, even for seasoned people, because there's just so much curriculum and it can get overwhelming, and you just have to kind of pick through it and look, OK, well, let's try this. This looks like it'll fit, so let's try it. And it is kind of like sometimes, stepping out and taking a leap of faith. I try to stick to something, but if my son is completely miserable, then I'm like, OK, this isn't working.

And that's what I love about homeschool, like, we can switch it up, and I don't want to be miserable. And unfortunately with public school too, you know, you just couldn't do that. You were just stuck in certain things, and the kid would be miserable in a certain curriculum and wasn't learning. And it creates just so many other issues and stuff. So.

But yeah, I mean, we still go through the whole curriculum things. I mean, I'm trying to plan our 10th grade year and I'm like, OK! (laughs) But we'll get there.

Shanxi: Looking back, now that you have the perspective of five years and now if you're talking to like, the first-year homeschool mom, what would you say is like, the hardest year? Would you say it's those first one to three years, or even now?

Jennifer: I mean, the first year actually was fabulous. We had a lot of fun. But I kind of did do some unschooling and you know, just trying to figure it out.

So the first year I actually really loved, but I would say actually like year 2 and 3 was kind of hard. And I've known people that say, well, we're gonna give homeschool a year.

And I actually read like in a home school book that they say, really, if you really wanna give home school a good try, you should do three years.

So I don't think a year is enough. I really don't. Because you're still trying to figure it out. You kind of just made it through the year and there's still so many things to iron out. But yeah, I would say like second and third year, now even, just in high school, trying to figure all that out.

We're kind of, you know, I'm a little more stringent on our schedule because we're doing things for credit, looking at colleges, you know, things like that.

But maybe it was just because we were in the throws of COVID. In the circumstances, we're very like, I'm like, hey, let's just enjoy (it). Really, the world was shut down. So we just, we planted a garden, we went to parks, you know, it was just like we went on nature walks.

So I mean when the world was going crazy, we were actually very peaceful and just kind of doing our own thing. So, but it was probably because of all of that too. So that was kind of very unique situation, I guess. But and I sometimes think sometimes it can depend on your kids. I know people that have pulled their kids out of public school, and they're already in the teen ages, and it's really difficult. Because we're going through all the stuff that teenagers go through, you know, we've been in the thick of that.

So I mean, I get that, but just seek the Lord in it. Then you'll be fine. But yeah, I would say probably the second and third year, which is, I know, strange to think, but yeah, that's how it was for us.

Shanxi: Yeah, that is so good to know. That's really a great treasure because I think sometimes you – if you fit certain molds in the homeschool community, like you know, maybe you started in kindergarten. You're going to have a very different experience to somebody like you, where your child was already 9 years old, and then they're trying homeschooling for the first time.

Jennifer: Yeah, and it was. And a lot of times, it's just the parents getting over our own insecurities because my husband and I were public-school educated. Well, you know, that stuff is just drummed into you.

And so then I started to really open my eyes to, with how public-school education, and how it just drums things into you, that it's so hard to think of things.

And sometimes I found myself having public school in my own home because just, following what I knew as far as like, education. But I'm, No, it doesn't have to be that way, you know. Still, my extended family members, you know, don't understand it. They still question me all the time.

But yeah, that was just trying a lot of times. If it's completely new to mom and dad, it does take mom and dad a while to get out of that mindset, because you'll just – you will give up in the first year if you're homeschooling for the first time, you've never known anything different. It is going to be really, really hard. So I mean, I kind of tell people that, but it's been the best thing, the best decision we've ever made as a family, I truly believe.

Shanxi: What have been some of the surprises? I mean, I know obviously, public school versus homeschooling, when you're trying to explain it to somebody who's just been public schooled all the way?

Jennifer: Yeah. I mean, the average day, the kids aren't stuck doing schoolwork for 7-8 hours a day, and people just can't seem to fathom that.

And they're like, he gets all his work done in a few hours? I'm like. Yeah. Yeah, he does. (laughs) You know, and I try to tell people too.

Now you have to think too, in a school environment, they're having to teach, how many kids?

So you have to think that, you have to allow for that time too. I'm just teaching one to three, you know.

I know some families have bigger families and stuff, but there's also that ratio. I think that takes a lot of time as well.

You know, classroom, 25 kids or whatever, but just the day-to-day, which we have just loved. You know, we wake up, we get our school done by lunchtime, we can enjoy the rest of the day.

And there's so many great adventures. You know, we've gone on. So I just love that. Just going out to the arboretum, zoo, the parks and just really being able to enjoy my son's childhood.

And it's not just a weekend thing. When I look back at my childhood, it was the vacations and the weekends that my parents were off, that I got to spend, all that time with them. And spending that quality time with your kids is so great.

And you get to see all the little things, how their mind works, and just doing a problem and solving things, and you get to see their strengths. That's what I have loved seeing your kid excel and things and know like, OK, hey, they're really good in science. Wow. I wasn't good at science, but wow. I mean, he knows physics, and so I'm just like, wow, that's so cool.

And just, really seeing your kids flourish. Before, it was like, you'd get a report from the teacher, and I remember those times where your teacher would say, your kid is so great in this. And you'd always be like, oh, I'm so proud of my kid. But you didn't get to experience it. You just got a report. And so, I love that I get to experience that with my kids.

I don't think a lot of families realize how hurried they are, and how rushed they are in society. It's brought such a calmness to our family life, and I love that. I love that.

I see so many other families that are rushing from this to this to this, and it's just like, Oh my gosh, it's just, and these kids, childhood is just gone in the blink of an eye.

Before you know it, they grow up and they leave you, you know, go to a job, trade school, college, whatever. This time is just fleeting. So, I've just enjoyed those special moments with them.

And I would say that I've never felt more connected to a community. I told you, I was in the PTA. I had other moms and stuff. But the community of the homeschool (mom) is just amazing. I've met just the most fabulous people like you, MPE, the Women's Encouragement Day you guys did, was so fabulous. It was so great. I'm so happy. And like I tell other moms like, there's a great support system out there for us. You don't have to do it alone. So that's another one that I've really, really loved.

Shanxi: You're right, there is something special about the homeschool mom community because it's like we've been through so much together. You know, it's a bit like sometimes you hear people like I keep hearing, like, “through the trenches.” And I mean, I know that’s like, warfare, but like, how you do feel like you're in the trenches as a homeschool mom is like, does anybody understand what I'm going through? Am I alone?

Jennifer: Yeah.

Shanxi: Am I ruining my kid for life? To bounce ideas or people who have gone ahead of you and realize, OK, this is not as terrible as it seems.

Jennifer: Oh, exactly, I know, and it's so great to get to know other people have been doing it for 20-plus years. You know, like, it's gonna be OK.

And even like, I was listening to the speakers at your guys's Women’s Encouragement Day, and you know, they're all homeschool moms and grandmas now, and they're like, you're gonna be OK.

Like, my kid didn't read till they were 7 or 8. And guess what? Like, they're doing this now. And I'm like, OK, great. So yeah, it is. It gives such perspective, and that's one thing that I've really learned, is just to have perspective because when you are in the trenches of it every day, you're like, am I making any headway?

Because like with us, we struggle with math, and that's just been one of our struggles.

And I'm like, but he's so good in another subject. So, but I'm like, are we ever going to get there? And it's like, then I hear great stories of people like, hey, my son – it took him a while to catch up to math. And now he, once he got to a certain age, his brain just matured and got it.

But yeah, it's very hopeful, and I think we do need that hopefulness. And now yeah, like we're not in this alone.

Shanxi: You also mentioned co-ops and home school community and that kind of thing. How would you advise young moms just starting out? How would they get plugged in? How would they get connected?

Jennifer: I’ve recommended our co-op. We go to a co-op here in Olathe, and I've recommended that to a lot of parents that are starting to homeschool. I've had families that have said, yeah, we're signing him up.

I would say, you are your kid’s advocate. You're the advocate. You’ve got to just go out there and start doing the research.

And of course, I talked to other parents and looked up other things I found out about MPE. You know, I registered, I got on there so I could go to the events. But I mean, no one's gonna do it for you. Like, you gotta go and do that.

I love the co-op because I only homeschool him. So, our coop is like our social thing, which is great for my son. He's got great friends there, and I'm so thankful for that. And it's, you know, like a classroom-type of setting.

Now that he's in high school, he takes the classes for credit, but it's still not like very stressed like, you know, like, Oh my gosh.

The thing I would just encourage people, I know there's lots of Facebook sites that you can go to, but you guys have a lot of great information too on your site to get plugged in.

But yeah, I would say just go out there, search social media, search homeschool communities and all of that, and you find it. You do, and then you get plugged in with people.

And then I truly believe that if you take it to prayer, the Lord will send people. He always does. And I was thankful to get to just people just started to come into my circle that were homeschooled. And I'm like, oh my gosh, this is fabulous. So I did ask the Lord for that, and he did. He provided. So that was a blessing as well.

But yeah, I get on some of these Facebook groups, and sometimes you could just tell sometimes people don't know what to do, and they want everyone to do it for them, right? And I'm like, you know, we all have to do it for us, for each family.

And I'm like, you know, they want you to tell them everything to do and I'm just like, well, no, it's different for everybody. I mean, there's basic steps that you can do, but you can figure it out. And like, I know you guys have great webinars and all that, “how to start homeschooling.” I always encourage people to go to your guys's website to look that stuff up because I have done your classes and all of that, and they were very helpful.

Shanxi: One thought that did come to mind as I was talking with you, was if you could go back and just redo homeschooling or even just under the 5-year window that you have from now, is there anything you'd change? And if so, why?

Jennifer: I never want to be, like, because I learned so much through my mistakes, I guess, yeah. So, when I look back, I don't think I messed up anything too bad to the point of, like, I wish I would have not done this. It was more just trying to figure things out.

I would just try to put my trust in the Lord, more so, in those hard years, in those difficult years, but he still sustained me. He still was there.

I mean, if I just probably, it would be just to have my faith a little bit stronger. But it built me up to, like, the point of – because it's like, that little voice in your head: am I doing it? Like you said.

And as I kept doing homeschooling a little bit more, I got more confident. I got more confident in it. And that voice is like smaller and smaller now. I mean, that's the Lord. And I mean, just spending time with him. And he's given me that strength.

But yeah, I guess just leaning on my faith a little bit more, probably.

And I just would want to just say for anyone that is thinking about homeschooling. Just take that leap of faith. Like truly, you don't have to have it all figured out.

And I think a lot of times as moms, we think we have to have it all figured out.

And just trust in the Lord. And if he's impressing upon your heart to do it, like I was talking to my friend, and she was saying, I'm going to do this.

And I'm like, all right. Good. Take that leap of faith.

And when I look back, it was truly a leap of faith to do this, especially if someone is doing public school, doing private education, then, into homeschool. But that's what's so great, is the home school community is so rooted in faith. And that is so important. And that's what I love. And I hope it stays that way. (laughs)

Because I know there's a lot of secular things that are coming into the homeschool community, but I pray that we just stay rooted in faith and in the Lord.

And yeah, it’s going to be great. But yeah, just take that leap of faith and pray, and I know God will guide you in that.

Shanxi: Thanks so much for listening. We hope you are encouraged in your homeschool journey.

Please continue the conversation with us on our website, midwesthomeschoolers.org, or email us at podcast@midwestparenteducators.org. We're also active on social media if you'd like to connect with us there. Thanks to Kevin McLeod of incompetech.com for providing this royalty-free song Wholesome, which is licensed under creativecommons.org.