Back To School Fashion Report–Homeschool Edt.

THANK YOU to all the Mama’s who have shared photos of your kids wearing their Daydream Believers Designs to school! I love waking up to new photos in my inbox and on instagram.
It is always an honor when someone chooses to wear DB handmade and I LOVE to see photos, so keep ‘em coming! Add #daydreambelieversdesigns to your pics on IG and/or tag @daydreambelieversdesigns (but please know, I can only see posts that are marked PUBLIC unless you add me as a friend.)

We started our 4th year of homeschool today. My girls participate in a virtual-school program, so we school September – June just like the brick & mortar public schools do. Since I love seeing your kid’s back-to-school pics, I thought I’d share a few personal snaps of my girls from this morning.

One of our back-to-school traditions is that my girls each design, sketch, then help sew their first-day outfits. I love getting my girls involved in the design process! They each have such a distinct style; it’s fun to see what they come up with!

Vivian chose a vintage baby-doll dress pattern, that we turned into a modern, twirl, tunic. She is a skirts and dresses gal and has never before chose a pant/short/legging for a special day; so it was really cool that she asked to wear these ruffle capris. They are handmade from the softest chambray and feature an elastic waist band so they are COMFY! I love that she chose blue and yellow and explained “so I can wear this top for Michigan Saturdays too!” 

Iyla’s outfit was SO fun to make! The applique was handcut and sewed on. The “HOMESCHOOL RULES” embellishment was created by stamping twill tape with rubber stamps painted with fabric paint. Iyla had a lot of fun stamping and already has a list of ideas for other tees she wants to make! Her skirt is a hybrid of three skirt patterns and a little innovation. She has already declared it as her new favorite! It features a fold-over yoga waistband, two extra large POCKETS, and is a full enough to please a tween who still wants to twirl! Her fabric combination is perfect for Fall – featuring a mod apple print, denim chambray, and a crisp grey lattice print. I love the way it came together! (If you love it too, I could be swayed to replicate this one! Just comment here or message me! xx)

*And shoutout to my husband who made the kids those “Smiling Student” waffles & fruit! It was a fun surprise for us all! Gotta love a man who gets creative to make his kiddos smile on the first day of school!

Cheers to a great start to the school year! xx

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW WHEN CONSIDERING HOMESCHOOL

In my personal life, I am often asked about homeschooling. Most people are curious and just want to know how it works. But sometimes, the person asking is on their own journey trying to seek out if homeschooling is the best option for their family. I’ve been in that place and I understand how overwhelming it can be! So today, I want to share five things that I tell people who are considering homeschool.

1.  Homeschooling is life changing. It is a huge commitment that will have a profound impact on you and your children; on your relationships, on your lifestyle, and on your family’s future.

2.  You can do it! You are qualified to homeschool your children if you are committed, patient, flexible, and organized. If you love reading to your children, love seeing them learn new things and love exploring with them. If you are serious about the commitment and have a good understanding of WHY you are home educating; then you can do this! No one will be more invested in your child’s success than you!

3.  Homeschool is not conventional (but that is ok!)  Educating and caring for our children can not (and should not) be a “one-size-fits-all” program.  Each child learns differently and we need to respect and nurture them in a personalized way. There are MANY ways that families can home educate!  You will need to find out what works best for your family.

4.  You will spend a lot of time with your kids. A lot. It is imperative to find a balance between teacher, parent, and independent person.  People talk often about socialization of home educated children; I’m telling you to consider how isolating a path of home education can be if you try to go at it on your own. You need people! Your spouse/family need to support this lifestyle. You need to find a local homeschool social group and/or co-op where you and your children can socialize with people who “get it” and can help you along the way.

5.  I want you to know, homeschool may not work for you. I am a firm believer in the uniqueness of each family and that we are not all called to the exact same thing. For us, at this time, homeschool is the best fit for our family.  For you, maybe that is homeschool, maybe it is public school, or a private school. Perhaps a University Model or a Waldorf Montessori. Whichever you decide, I want you to know that you are the best person to make the decision of how to educate your children. Do your research, talk to people, explore your options, then trust your decision. I encourage you, as you are considering homeschool, to focus on what is best for your family.

xx