Summers with teens and tweens can feel... scattered. That’s the only word I can think to describe it. First jobs, summer camps, family visitations, traveling (and unexpected medical issues) can cause our stress to skyrocket instead of wind down like we hoped it would…
I've been reading through Thessalonians lately, and I’ve been hanging onto this verse:
"Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands... " (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12)
A quiet life.
That has always been the heartbeat of Simple Studies. My goal was never to compete. It was to offer a solution for our own family and then it became an outlet for other overwhelmed families who are looking for simplicity in their homeschool.
If you're looking for something gentle to pick up this summer or as you head into fall, these might be a great fit for you:
Simple Studies: America, a beautiful fit as we celebrate 250 years
Simple Studies: Marvels and Wisdom, our two newest guides
Simple Studies: Poetry + Color, one of the simplest guides we offer for the entire family to enjoy on a picnic blanket.
Simple Studies: Membership (Simple + Fresh Monthly Guides perfect for summer that cost less than a cup of coffee).
A few things that have helped carried me through some heavier moments this summer:
🍋 Turning inward and loving my family well. When things get heavy, I put my phone on silent. I let the emails fade to the background. A mom was recently astonished (and maybe a little annoyed?) when I told her I keep my phone on silent regularly.
The world should not have access to my soul on a daily basis.
🍋 Enjoying simple bike rides and nature outings with my kids. We don't need a ton of money for God's creation to offer a balm to our overstimulated hearts. Then coming home, drinking a cold drink (summers in south Florida are HOT) and playing games together. We recently pulled out our sweet bingo games - they’re simple, beautifully created and bring back so many great memories. They have brand new ones now too including Trees and Endangered Animals (My daughter will be receiving these for her upcoming birthday)
🍋 The Pour Over recently shared these short Biblical daily devotional voice memos by John Piper. I’ve been treasuring them from my pillow before I rise for the day.
🍋 Gifting myself books: Yes, you read that correctly! I order a lot of books from used shops. However, I do sometimes order a new release using my credits from Book of the Month (I sometimes skip the selections because they don’t always align with my values. However, I grabbed June’s book Land by Maggie O’Farrell because I really enjoyed her other titles Hamnet and The Marriage Portrait. Join here for only $5.
🍋 Setting aside time to read lots of books for my imagination and my own education like The Justice of Kings, Vainglory, Nine Goblins, The Battle of the Bookshops and How to Read Novels Like a Professor.
🍋 Chatting with a few sisters in Christ who get it. Having friends and mentors who also run businesses AND homeschool, who I can lean on for prayer and wisdom?
Absolutely life-changing.
🍋 A few cellular supplements here and here to help keep my nervous system regulated.
🍋 See You This Summer?
I’m humbled to be invited to host a fireside chat at the 2026 Charlotte Mason Institute Conference in Georgia (just down the road from Chattanooga, Tennessee) July 23–25.
I’ll be leading a discussion on Building Community and Opening the Door to Families Inspired by Mason's Vision — Even if They Don't Follow it Perfectly.
This is something I've been passionate about for years. So much so that I started, directed and taught at a Charlotte Mason / Classical inspired homeschool community with over 100 students for several years.
Not a single family in our community would have called themselves purist CM or Classical families and our community was richer for it.
If you love Mason's methods and have longed for community but wondered if there's a place for you and your children, I want you to know there is.
God made it happen for our family and homeschool friends and I believe He can for yours too.
This year's conference theme is Faithfully Present and I would love to see you there.
