One of my favorite parts of blogging has always been the conversations that happen beyond the posts themselves—the questions, messages, and thoughtful notes readers send along the way. So today felt like the perfect time to gather some of those together and answer them here.
Welcome to The Big Q&A Post — a mix of life updates, honest answers, and a peek into this current season. Let’s start with some everyday life questions!
🙂 Everyday Life Q&A
What time do you wake up?
On weekdays, I usually wake up around 5:00 am. Sometimes earlier, and sometimes closer to 5:15 am.
Do you ever sleep in?
Yes! If the kids allow, I sometimes get to sleep in until 6:30 am on the weekend!
How do you reset after a hard day?
I love to shut myself in our bedroom and do yoga. The time alone and the calm stretching helps me clear my head. If the weather is nice, a walk by myself in peace in quiet is amazing, too.
What’s your hardest time of day?
The time around dinner! Just before dinner is chaotic, dinnertime itself isn’t very relaxing, and then the cleanup is always an extra task after a bustling mealtime.
What’s surprised you most about motherhood?
Feeling two emotions so deeply at once. For example: being totally overwhelmed and absolutely loving our family life. Also, enjoying watching the kids grow but also feeling sad that they’re growing up so quickly.
What’s been sweeter than you expected?
When the kids are proud of something I’ve done or made and hearing their thoughts in everyday conversation.
Do you get time alone?
Occasionally! My mother-in-law tries to watch our kids on Saturday mornings so that’s my only alone time (if I’m not with Jimmy) during the week. Sometimes I’ll slip out of the house on a weeknight for 30 minutes to an hour to zone out at the grocery store or run errands, but honestly… I usually end up bringing a kid with me!
What does self-care actually look like for you?
It’s hard in this stage of motherhood. Right now, it looks like a shower by myself or going to the grocery store alone. 😂
What’s one small habit that has made a big difference in your daily peace or productivity lately?
Bible time every morning and family walks when the weather is nice! Productivity-wise, completing a task the moment it arises. Instead of setting the coat on the couch, I hang it up. If I notice crumbs on the floor, I try to vacuum them up right away. When the kids are finished playing with toys, they know they have to pick them up before they move on.
How do you handle screen time for the kids (or do you limit it at all)?
We don’t have any set rules but try to keep screens to a minimum. Mordecai likes to watch an episode of Spidey and His Amazing Friends before bed, we often watch kids movies in the hot tub, and Sadie loves to play video games with Jimmy on Friday nights.
Do you meal plan? If so, what does that look like in a busy week?
Nope! I buy ingredients at the store and prep them as we need them. We then reheat things when it’s mealtime. It takes away the stress of getting food on the table in time for dinner. So for example, I might buy chicken, ground beef, asparagus, rice, potatoes, and brussels sprouts at the store. I’ll grill the chicken, make meatloaves with the beef, roast the vegetables and potatoes and cook the rice. When mealtime comes, we heat up the prepared food that we want to eat.
What are you currently working on personally?
All sorts of writing projects! I’m hoping to have my first children’s book published this year.
Coffee or tea? How do you take it?
Coffee! I like it with half and half.
What’s a small thing that brings you joy lately?
Delving into random projects! Sadie and I recently painted squishies together (a squishy is like a stress ball, lol). I am also loving learning things like cheese making and soap making. I so enjoy decorating our home for different holidays, too. Basically, anything creative and just for fun brings me a ton of joy.
How do you make time for personal creative projects while homeschooling and homemaking?
Early mornings! I like to read my Bible and then spend as much time working on projects, especially computer-based ones like writing—before the kids wake up. If it’s something like cheese making, painting, baking, or soap making, I always involve the kids. We all get to learn together!
Do you have any tips for other moms who want to pursue a small passion project on the side?
Do it! It’s so nice to have something for you. Also, involve your kids if you can!
What are you currently watching or reading?
Fun fact… I don’t watch TV. Like ever. I never get a chance in the day, and by the time night rolls around and the kids are in bed, I’d rather read a book in my bed! I’m currently reading The Baking Games.
Current favorite snack?
A bowl of a bunch of different cereals and granolas + almond milk! Lately, I’ll mix together chocolate peanut butter granola, coconut almond granola, Peanut Butter Chex, Leapin’ Lemurs, Cinnamon Chex, Honey Bunches of Oats, Maple Waffle Bites, and Bunny Grahams. Do my husband and kids look at me like I’m nuts when I do this? Yes. It’s so good though!!
📚 Homeschool Q&A
Why did you choose homeschooling?
I wanted to spend as much time as possible with our kids and be able to teach them Godly values.
What curriculum do you use?
Language Arts: All About Reading
Math: The Good and The Beautiful
Spelling: All About Spelling
Handwriting: The Good and The Beautiful
Bible: We read the Bible or devotional books
Science: We bake, read, and do experiments
Do you follow a strict schedule?
No! That’s the beauty of homeschooling. We stick to the state-required 180 days of schooling and mandatory subjects, but beyond that, I love having the freedom to pursue what sparks the kids’ interest, teach about what is important to us, and work at our own pace.
How do you teach with littles around?
Sometimes we do school during our youngest child’s nap time. If everyone is awake during school time, we keep our baby busy by feeding her while we do lessons or giving her toys to play with. Mordecai (our three-year-old) joins in with some lessons and plays with play-doh or toys when he loses interest.
How do you incorporate faith and Bible into your daily homeschool rhythm beyond just reading?
I really love to do unit studies around holidays like Easter, Christmas, Passover, etc. where we do special crafts and activities. Sometimes we do character studies on important people of the Faith like Daniel, Moses, Esther, and Noah.
Do you keep any records, portfolios, or do standardized testing? Why or why not?
Yes, all of the above! The state of Pennsylvania requires it for homeschooling.
How do you handle burnout for your child?
When Sadie is hitting her limit with something new or challenging, we take a break from that subject by “game schooling.” Game schooling might look like playing Zingo or reading a book for fun instead of pushing through a tough reading lesson. Sometimes we pull out Math Island or bake a recipe where Sadie does all the measuring with our kitchen scale when she’s hitting a wall with a math concept. If she’s struggling with her handwriting curriculum, we might write a letter to a family member or draw a picture. Basically, we try to pause and do something fun within that subject. Sometimes, we just take a break from the lesson if it’s too tough. We all have bad days and kids are allowed to have bad days, too. Our relationship is far more important than pushing through a frustrating lesson. I always find that we are both fresher later on or the next day.
What’s your favorite subject to teach?
Reading! It’s so rewarding to watch your child learn to read.
What’s your least favorite?
Math. It was never my strongest subject.
Do you worry about socialization?
Never! My kids are way more social than me, hah. They play with their neighbor friends, see their friends at church, and spend time with their cousins. We are always out and about in public (the library, grocery store, etc.), too.
What about sports and extracurriculars?
At the moment, we don’t do any sports or extra curricular activities and I kind of love it. It’s nice to have some breathing room in our schedule.
How do you stay confident in your choice?
Knowing deep down inside that this is the right choice for our family right now. I keep my head down and try not to take rude comments or questions to heart!
What would you tell a mom considering homeschool?
Give it a try! Take it day by day and year by year. That’s what I do! You can always change your mind.
What’s one myth about homeschooling you’d love to bust?
That homeschooled kids aren’t socialized.
🍰 Baking and Hospitality Q&A
What’s your go-to crowd dessert?
Cupcakes! They’re already pre-portioned, fun to decorate, and flavor options are endless.
What’s always worth making from scratch?
Pie crust. It’s easier than you might think, too.
What do you do when hosting feels overwhelming?
I remind myself that people don’t come to our house for food or a perfect-looking home. They’re there to spend time with my family.
What’s your favorite thing to bake?
Cookies. They’re always a fun challenge for me.
What’s your biggest kitchen fail?
That time I accidentally baked a cupcake storage container. 😅
How do you keep your kitchen manageable?
We have a small kitchen, so I try to keep things minimal. We have exactly what we need and use and that’s it!
What’s your signature dish?
Spicy chicken thighs.
How do you involve your kids in baking or cooking without it turning into total chaos?
Start them young! The more they’re accustomed to baking or cooking, the more they know how to act. I also just expect some level of chaos as well! It’s half the fun. 😉
What’s your favorite make-ahead or freezer-friendly recipe for busy weeks or hosting?
Mini Meatloaves, Slow Cooker Pulled Italian Chicken, and Southwestern Slow Cooker Chicken.
What’s one kitchen tool or gadget you couldn’t live without right now?
A danish dough whisk. It’s perfect for mixing doughs and batters when I bake.
👶🏼 Marriage, Motherhood, and Life Q&A
How do you divide responsibilities with your husband?
We both deeply respect what each other does. Jimmy is the breadwinner and I care for the kids and home while he’s at work. I do the cooking, laundry, and kids’ doctor’s/dentist appointments and he does the car and home/yard maintenance. We share pet care duties and obviously share parenting!
Are you glad Dakota had ear tube surgery?
Yes! While she did have clogged tubes and a double ear infection a month after the surgery, it was easily treatable with ear drops instead of oral antibiotics. You would not believe the stuff that drains out of her ears now. 😂
How much did the ear tube surgery cost?
Our insurance was billed around $8,500 and we had to pay about $1,500 out of pocket.
What are the best big purchases you’ve made for your home?
A fence and a hot tub. Both are amazing and we have no regrets with them!
What’s been the biggest surprise (or challenge) about having kids close in age?
The fighting! Sadie and Mordecai were born over four years apart and never fought over toys or anything. Dakota and Mordecai are two years apart and I have been shocked that they fight over things like snacks and toys!
What’s one piece of advice you’d give your younger self as a new mom?
Just you wait—motherhood only gets better and better!!
What values are most important in your family?
Our Christian faith is the foundation for our family’s life!
What’s one thing that’s strengthened your marriage?
We took a marriage seminar a couple of years ago and it really helped our communication skills.
How has your faith shaped the way you parent or handle hard days?
My faith has shown me that God already has the ending figured out. And it’s good. Come what may, He is in control. Seeing the big picture helps me get through the tough days.
What boundaries protect your family life?
We don’t let anything come before our commitment to God. We also try not to let ourselves become overly busy so we can spend as much time together as possible.
How do you reset your mindset?
I know it’s cliche, but gratitude changes everything. When I’m in a funk, it helps immensely to give thanks to God for everything in my life. It flips my mindset instantly.
How has becoming a mom deepened (or challenged) your faith?
The level of worry and fear I often feel for the kids can be intense. My faith has taught me that God loves my kids even more than I do and He always has their best interests at heart. When I leave them in His care, I feel less worried and my faith is strengthened.
What’s changed you most in the last 5 years?
Having children. It’s a total lifestyle switch and it has given me so much purpose and joy!
What does a really good day look like for you right now?
Honestly, I don’t set the bar very high! A really good day looks like getting our homeschool lessons done, everyone bathed, the house kept up, and spending time outside.
What part of motherhood feels the most stretching in this season?
Wishing I could give each child the same amount of attention. Dakota gets a lot of medical attention—I feel like I’m taking her to different doctor’s offices constantly. Sadie gets all my focus when we do school, but I often wish I could do more “fun” things with her daily. Poor Mordecai is living the middle child life and often gets smushed between his sister’s needs! He is happy to do anything with me, so I try to take him with me on outings to the car wash or grocery store. Jimmy always includes him in yard work and projects around the house, too.
What’s something you’ve had to let go of since becoming a mom?
Doing things without being interrupted. It just doesn’t happen these days and that’s okay!
What does quality time with your husband actually look in this stage of life?
A walk together where the big kids ride their bikes ahead of us while we push Dakota in the stroller. We get to chat and catch up!
🤷🏼♀️ Assumptions About Me
You have it all together.
Absolutely not!
You enjoy cooking.
Yes, I love to cook.
You don’t get overstimulated.
I get overstimulated so easily. 😂
You’re a morning person.
Yes! I love waking up early.
You rarely argue with your husband.
Correct. We don’t argue much at all.
Homeschooling means your kids are ahead academically (or behind socially).
Definitely not. Each child is different and homeschooling isn’t a blanket thing where all homeschoolers are unsocialized or academically ahead.
You never get tired of being home all day with the kids.
Honestly, I love it.
You have unlimited patience with your children.
My patience tends to run out at the end of the night if I’m tired. 😂
You’re very strict.
I’m definitely the more relaxed parent.
You’re crunchy.
Not quite. While I love things like natural remedies and making things homemade, our kids are up-to-date on vaccines, we order McDonald’s at least once a week, and we don’t hesitate to take medicine.
You never feel guilty.
Wrong. I often feel guilty for not being able to give the kids as much one-on-one attention as I’d like to.
You’re exactly the same online and in real life.
I sure hope so!
That was so fun — thank you for all of your thoughtful questions! I always love getting to share a little more of our everyday life with you.
If you have more questions, feel free to leave them in the comments or send them my way for a future Q&A. I’d love to do this again!
Living My Full Life 