The Convivial Homeschool: Gospel Encouragement for Keeping Your Sanity While Living and Learning Alongside Your Kids

by Mystie Winckler

Thirty daily readings to build up your confidence and cheerfulness as you homeschool.

Homeschool days can be long and hard. It's easy to lose sight of what's actually happening in the midst of the day to day. Even when we lose our vision, God does not lose His. While we attempt to teach and disciple our children, we find that it is ourselves needing the instruction and discipleship. We also find that God provides both, using our decision to homeschool to draw us closer to Himself. To continue with love and perseverance, we need confidence not in our work but in God’s. These thirty readings will lift up your eyes and spirit so you can focus on what truly matters while doing the daily work of educating your kids.

"This volume is a wonderful resource of wisdom for moms everywhere who struggle and wonder if they are doing enough.” —Cindy Rollins, author of Mere Motherhood

Genres: Education, Parenting, Nonfiction, Book Club, Christian, Audiobook, Faith

224 pages, Paperback

Published November 24, 2021

About the author

Mystie Winckler married her high school sweetheart, Matt, at nineteen; together they have five children, two of whom are now grown men, but all of whom have been homeschooled from the beginning.

When she’s not teaching, cleaning, cooking, or reading, Mystie publishes articles, podcast episodes, and videos on homemaking cheerfully on her website, SimplyConvivial.com. Her community, Convivial Circle, is a treasure trove of mother-mentors engaged in the work at home to which they’ve been called.

Mystie is also a co-host of Scholé Sisters, a podcast for classical homeschooling moms who are educating themselves while educating their kids.

Whether we’re talking about personal lives, homemaking duties, or homeschooling days, Mystie seeks to return to and live out the motto, Repent. Rejoice. Repeat.

Reviews

[Cindy Rollins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mystie is a refreshing change to all the voices out there encouraging us but not really offering truth.

Practical, encouraging, and important.

[Mystie Winckler · Rating 5 out of 5]

HARD HOMESCHOOL DAYS ARE NORMAL.

In fact, those hard days might actually turn out to be the best days because that's when the real learning happens.

WHAT IS CONVIVIAL?
(of an atmosphere) lively, festive, friendly, enjoyable

A cheerful, happy homeschool happens when we as homeschool moms put first things first: our walk with God through all the daily mundane trials. Our job isn't to make everything easy or perfect, but to walk in faithfulness before God no mater what.

[ladydusk · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a bit of a slacker in reading this one. I knew it would be amazing and helpful and convicting, but had a hard time getting it into the queue. I decided to do so with the beginning of the school year and it was the perfect time to realign thinking, to repent, and to dust off the pants and try again with God's help.

Mystie is clear and thoughtful and faithful. Her writing is tidy and elegant and packs a punch. All those years of blogging have borne fruit.

I'm glad she's my friend and that what is here is what she is. Encouraging, helpful, and willing to give a needed kick in the rear - but with compassion because she's been there, is there in the muddle, too. She always points to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and, really, that's what I need most.

[Stacy Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was very skeptical to start this when it was chosen as my book clubs choice. Having read so many homeschool books in the past they seemed to all say the same thing in different ways. This book was a pleasant surprise! Mystie’s message is different and has a fresh take. She reminds us of our mission in motherhood as we parent AND homeschool our children. That it is a worthy, hard and dare we say joyful cause. She makes you check your motives and your own sins before you jump right to judging and harshly correcting your children’s. Mystie, if you ever read this review I want you to know this book convicted me on a deep level and renewed my commitment to homeschooling and parenting. Thank you.

[Sarah Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is at once both a sip from a soul-satisfying, refreshing stream, and a torrent from a fire hose of needed truth.

Mystie is so kind and wise to break this up into small readings to take a dose at a time and dwell on.
Use it as a daily devotional, a weekly attitude adjuster, or just glean as you are able. Read it alone at your own pace or with a friend or small group to encourage each other.

I would highly recommend this to any homeschooler or even just parent (or person). It is saturated with gospel truth, generous grace, calls to repentance and holy living, and practical approaches to “take home” today.

This is a book I will be returning to, possibly even putting into rotation.
I didn’t even answer the discussion questions this time, but those would make great journaling prompts, or conversation topics with a spouse, even if not used in a group discussion.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This could (and probably should) become a yearly summer listen. An excellent balance of encouragement and conviction, keeping the focus on what we as homeschool moms can control - our own attitudes and responses (and even that only with God's help!).

[Carrie Brownell · Rating 5 out of 5]

It has been a very long time since I've read a book about homeschooling. A very long time.

I'm very glad that when I went to pick up a book on the topic, this was the one. Mystie does an excellent job chatting with her readers about what is required of Mom and how to handle everything that might come your way over the course of your homeschool career by first turning to Christ.

An excellent read and I would highly recommend it.

[Lois · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounding down. I really really liked most of this book but there were a couple chapter’s I had qualms with. Overall I found it to be a scripture saturated and encouraging book as I prepare to enter my first year of homeschooling.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5, would read again. Immediately. Probably will read again immediately. So good I ordered her other book halfway through this one. Straight talk from someone in the trenches--full of the hope of redemption.

I am so glad I grabbed this on Audible, too. The chapters divide neatly into 10-minute segments, and each can stand alone. I can fully see myself listening to one chapter a day like a little mini-podcast until this book sinks deep into my bones.

The chapter "Kindness" convicted me deeply and has already changed our lives.

[Michelle Fournier · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite modern homeschool book, no doubt. So encouraging and practical and needed. This should be much more widely read. I have been telling everyone I know about it.

[Brittany Lindvall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, convicting and centering, this may be my new favorite homeschooling mom book. It is full of so much truth and what we all need… the Gospel! Thanks Mystie!

[Annie Hogue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whether you are homeschooling or not, this is a great read for wisdom and encouragement in day to day life. Mystie leads you through honest dealing with your own heart by sharing what she has learned over the years. She helps you apply this wisdom—she knows where you’ll hit the wall, and she has help for you because she’s walked and is walking the same path, receiving help from the Lord too. What I am learning from this book is helping to change my responses from the inside out. I am so thankful for this teaching on life in Christ! I listened to about a chapter a day of the book—the audio is well done by Mystie herself.

[Bobbi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first time I read this book a few years ago, I read through slowly with a friend, and it was amazing. One of the most helpful and encouraging books on being a homeschool mom. I loved it just as much this time around! Highly recommend!

[Naomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mystie is a refreshing voice in the online homeschool community. I think this book is best read as a daily or every other day read. When I read multiple chapters in a day I got less out of each one. There's a fair bit of repetition across the book, but it's the good kind like highlighting my need to depend on the Lord and not my plans, being quick to apologize for my own sin and bad attitude, praying for my kids, taking ownership of the people and responsibilities before me, running to the Lord for grace and help. As a fellow lover of the Heidelberg Catechism I gave a little yay! that she built the devotional off the three fold structure of guilt, grace, and gratitude. That right there is worth meditating on during a school day- along with her repent, rejoice, repeat. I appreciate that she doesn't veer into the overly fluffy language, which I find annoying in many "hey Mama" type books. She focuses on the truth we need, but with the wisdom and experience of real life struggles of homeschool and homemaking.

[Alyssa Bohon · Rating 5 out of 5]

To the point

All the title says it is. Lots of meat, little sugar. Scripture, anecdotes, hymns, questions all push the reader toward reckoning with the truth and moving onward in stabilizing the spiritual foundations of mothering, teaching, and being a lifelong learner. It is a book to strengthen resolve. Not particularly cozy, but extremely to the point and grounded in God's truth.

[Tessa Emelander · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a gift. I recommend this to any mom on a homeschool journey. So many tears were shed and lots of understanding giggles as I read this book. I will go back and re read sections over and over. I plan to gift this to all my homeschool mom friends.

[Brittany Schwind · Rating 5 out of 5]

The perfect book to read in the middle of our school year when we're cooped up in cold weather. Could not recommend this more! Even if you don't homeschool, any parent will benefit from Mystie's wisdom and encouragement. Repent, rejoice, repeat!

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed and benefited from The Convivial Homeschool. Probably one of the best homeschool books I've read. Misty gets to the heart of what homeschool and family life is all about, growth and sanctification for us and our children. I'll likely reread this one.

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second reading. With Cindy Rollins’ Morning Time for Moms Summer Course.

I loved it even more the second time! So much to think about in each chapter. It would be great to read one chapter a week and intentionally journal through the provided reflection questions.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a gift. I’ll be re-reading with every new school year.

[Hannah Hammer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good. Lots to think on.

[Jessica Kirsch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really appreciated this book. Written in short devotional-style, it was easy to ready a bit each day during the hussle and bussle. But the content was fantastic. It consistently pointed me to the Word and to my own responsibility, even in the hardest parts of homeschooling. It reminded me almost daily of the sanctifying that is being accomplished in the monotony and struggle. I was encouraged and reproved and then given hope. I find most homeschooling books, even Christian ones, to be a bit shallow and better suited for the new homeschooler, or the mom of littles. I've been doing this homeschool thing for 10 years and am in the "middle years" now, so I find most of them unhelpful. This book, in contrast, was exactly what I needed in this season. I was have been overwhelmed by it 10 years ago, but it spoke directly to my heart today.

[Jordan Carlson · Rating 5 out of 5]

In God’s Providence, I was soaking in The Convivial Homeschool in January and February of a school year flanked by a new baby and a cross country move - in other words, just when I was needing it most! Her relatability and clear application of the gospel to the specifics of homeschool life was inspiring, convicting, humbling and encouraging. This is full of truth, helpfully explained. I really appreciate getting the sense that the author understands the hard work, but also that she doesn’t pat readers on the head and let us off the hook.

I listened on Audible but will be picking up a hard copy as well (and maybe a few for friends). The 30-days format was very accessible.

I love Mystie Winckler and find her to be a huge help in homemaking, homeschooling and my own spiritual journey.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Convivial Homeschool offers meat for the hungry mind and soul of a seasoned homeschool mom. Each chapter though short offered excellent thoughts and ideas that deeply probed the root of my heart.

[Zaira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mystie is the same as a writer as she is a podcaster, very clear and precise. I really enjoyed this book!

[Lizze Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was outstanding gospel centered short chapters with precisely the right questions for our family. It was frequently just as good for my husband’s work.

[Breanna Suhoversnik · Rating 5 out of 5]

This just may become a yearly read along with 'Teaching From Rest'
So encouraging, convicting & practical.

[Meghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend, not just for homeschooling, but for parenting in general.

[Jessica Saltsgaver · Rating 5 out of 5]

My new favorite homeschool book. Will probably need to reread it every school year.

[Rita L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lives up to its title—true gospel encouragement for every stage and season of the blessed gift of motherhood. Keep this one within reach because you’ll want to come back to it again and again.

Highly recommend (and adding this one to our mom’s reading group list)!