This goes out to all those homeschooling older children and those of us who are “seasoned” homeschoolers, as a call to action: those young homeschooling parents need you! Remember those days when you had interrupted sleep, extended families whose opinions weighed heavily on you, and you were feeding the baby while teaching phonics to your six year old? Pull out your phone and write down the top three things you needed in that season. Here are my top three:

First, I had no clue what I needed. Those early years of homeschooling and parenting I was honestly in survival mode. I was excited for the years ahead. I knew I wanted to teach my children, and I knew I had many options . . . so many options! It felt like I was visiting a new campground. There was so much to see and I needed recommendations. I was blessed in my early years of homeschooling to have a few moms with older children who saw my enthusiasm and wide eyes and pointed me in the right direction. They encouraged me to take my time on the journey, they shared their recommendations without being pushy, and they walked beside me. They were my flashlights along the path. Be someone’s flashlight.

Second, I needed more information. Admittedly, I am a fierce researcher and left to my own devices, I WILL find the answer. My big sisters in homeschooling saw that and showed me a better way. They invited me for tea, brought me to their homeschool meetings, and shared their knowledge of all things homeschool as we skated around the rink and I pushed the baby in his stroller. They told me about homeschool conferences. They were my search engines long before there were search engines.

Third, I needed to not forget about my marriage or myself. I can be intensely focused on my children, and I’m ashamed to say sometimes my hubby became the last one on the list in those early years. He was gracious about it always but when your family is hours away who do you find to watch your children so you can go on a date night? My sweet homeschool friends understood the struggle I had with leaving my children and my concerns. They brought their teens and chased my toddlers. They invited us over to get to know their families, and we learned from them how to build a healthy marriage and guard each other’s sanity. They were our mentors. Be someone’s mentor.

Last, and most importantly, I needed God. Somewhere along the path of becoming a mommy, I forgot that I too needed to grow in my faith. One of the most challenging parts of being a homeschool mom of littles was not feeling comfortable at mid-week Bible studies with my school-age children in tow. As I got to know the homeschooling community, I also began to learn where the homeschool parents gathered and what groups could handle my homeschool quirks. I saw the mom whose son helped with her in the nursery. I saw the children colouring on the floor and I thought, I can do this, too. They showed me how to live a faith-filled life. Be someone's example.

So, open the calendar on your phone or the one in your purse and make some time for that family of young one that is just beginning their homeschool journey. Invite them over, be in their lives, and give them the gift of living your life with them—all the good and all the messy and everything in between. You will all be stronger for it.