The Busy Homeschool Mom's Guide to Romance: Nurturing Your Marriage Through the Homeschool Years

by Heidi St. John

Homeschooling offers parents the best opportunity to shepherd their children both academically and spiritually. Yes. It's worth it. But do you ever feel as if your life is all homeschool all the time? Do you ever wonder where the girl your husband married went? This book is for every mom who has collapsed into bed at the end of the day, looked into the eyes of her husband and promised tomorrow, she'd have time for him. Trouble is, tomorrow finds her more exhausted than the day before. If you have ever felt caught between the demands of homeschooling your children and meeting the needs of your husband, you're not alone. Read and discover how even a busy homeschool mom can make time to nurture her marriage. It s not as hard as you think and more important than you may realize.

Genres: Marriage, Parenting, Family, Christian Living

176 pages, Paperback

First published February 18, 2010

About the author

Heidi St John is a mother, a grandmother, and a wife of 25 years. She is a popular conference speaker, radio personality, author and blogger whose message of returning to God’s Word and embracing our ministry as mothers has resonated with several hundred thousand followers in social media, through books, and radio appearances. Her refreshingly transparent, vulnerable style allows her readers to identify with her and invites them to join as fellow pilgrims on a journey rather than idolizing the author as someone who has “arrived”. Her calendar regularly has her speaking across the United States over twenty times in front of audiences as large as 20,000. Heidi lives in Battle Ground, Washington with her husband and five of their seven children ranging from age kindergarten to adulthood. When she’s not writing, traveling or speaking she loves to spend time with her grandchildren.
You can also connect with Heidi on Facebook
and Instagram

Reviews

[Andrea Balfour · Rating 3 out of 5]

These are good reminders to keep your husband and relationship first throughout the years of raising & homeschooling your children. It's helpful to know that others experience similar feelings. And it's good to be helped in understanding that closeness and love need to be kept up despite the other loads on your schedule. Your husband shouldn't be an extra item on your "to do" list. He needs to continue to feel needed and wanted too.

[Ross Blocher · Rating 1 out of 5]

Detailed review to come.

[Mandy J. Hoffman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Overview

Heidi St. John writes this book to the busy, homeschooling moms who desire to heal or help their marriage. It is a friend-to-friend conversation about ourselves in the role of "wife" as well as our marriages. Within these pages you will find real hope and help for both a floundering marriage and one that just needs a "dose of energy". Heidi addresses some of the main struggles that we all face as we try to balance being wife, mother, teacher, and more. She then offers practical suggestions that will help you figure out a solution for your own life - no one size fits all answers in this book!

The Readability

Not only is the tone of this book that of a heart-to-heart conversation with a best friend, but it is also in simple words that are easy for your exhausted mind to grasp as you read in your late night, free moments. It is also what I call an "easy pick-up and put-down" book - making it a great one to read when you only have a few minutes here and there to read. Being only 10 chapters long, you could easily read this in less than two weeks at a chapter per day, or perhaps 3 hours if you have that chunk of time to do so.

The Highlights

I greatly appreciated Heidi's honesty and faithfulness to the Word of God when she explains that it is not worth (nor Biblical) to homeschool your kids at the sacrifice of your marriage.

The Downside

There really is not a downside to this book. However, if you know without question that your marriage is on the rocks, you should probably read other marriage books that deal more with the heart issues of marriage as this one is a bit more surface level.

The Recommendation

This is a great encouragement for any homeschool moms or moms who plan to homeschool.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book by answering a question by the Author. It was a quick read; I could have read it in one setting but made myself split it into two.

This book really encourages you & reminds you that you can do it. You can be a home schooling mom but to not forget about your marriage. Remember being that "girl" when you & your husband first met or got married and make time for each other despite the business of teaching the children, caring for the home, etc. Make dates with one another & make your bedroom a sanctuary.

Enjoy!! Great book & she's a great speaker in person!!

[Cheralyn Raymer · Rating 5 out of 5]

RELAVENT

I have read many marriage books, but as a busy homeschooling mom this has been one of the most relatable. Heidi has inspired me to strive for a marriage that will leave a legacy long past my life on earth.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really good book and a easy but insightful read. It is hard to scavenge time for reading print books sometimes as a “busy homeschool mom” to quote part of the premise of the book haha! But this book was extremely encouraging and digestible even with my constrained time. This was a really good book reminding me and pouring fresh light on the homeschooling moms need to remember to put marriage and love in its proper first place above all the “stuff” that crowds our lives and that even “good” activities can take time we may not have to spare. A few typos, missing words and less polished places in the book but overall did not significantly impact my enjoyment of reading it. Very good and needed!

[Jenny Hartfelder · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

It was short. And sweet. And short. And while yes, it laid a pretty good foundation for the whys of prioritizing your marriage during the homeschool years, I didn't really feel like it offered much of a "guide to romance." And had I been able to borrow it from the library, I might have rounded up the extra star, but since I had to buy it to read it... And I'm not really sure I got my money's worth out of it, I'm knocking it down the half star.

#2020intentionalreading

[Rachel W · Rating 5 out of 5]

From a homeschool mom's perspective this is a must read. Heidi St. John shares her personal experience to help encourage and equip. She knows circumstance will change, but we should work on keeping the relationship with husband priority. She has chapters such as Virtual Reality and Homeschool Headache. One quote that I have marked is "It is not that we are busy, but we get busy doing the wrong things."

[Cynthia Stacks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heidi gives timeless advice for homeschooling moms who want to add that spark back into their marriage. Practical tips, honest experiences, and biblical guidance for how to be “that girl” your husband married before you were drowning in the homeschool routines and the new identity we think we picked up somewhere along the way.

[Erika · Rating 3 out of 5]

“If we educate our children in the academics but fail to live out the principles that are laid out in God’s word for our marriages, we have missed the most amazing part of homeschooling. That opportunity... the greatest benefit is discipleship”

[Jenn Huddleston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved her perspective. It’s is easy to fall into a trap of lies, that we homeschool moms hade to be everything to our kids and their schooling takes over. Heidi does a great job helping us see the truth and she has a great way with words.

[Laura Baareman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great practical advice for homeschool moms!

I liked how Heidi wrote as if she was talking to a friend, sharing personal stories and conviction from the Bible. This book was encouraging, Biblical and motivating.

[Crystal Pollard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick easy read. Good reminders to prioritize the marriage relationship and not get sucked into the "homeschool vortex".

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was such a good book and very insightful. Balance is key.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

[Lynette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book, quick read, very encouraging

[Emmie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good reminder of marriage and the importance of giving preference to your marriage at all times, especially when you have kids at home. Though geared toward homeschooling families there is practical advice for everyone. It is an easy read and straight forward, 2 things I greatly appreciate. She takes a very personal approach and deals with heavy issues in a gentle way. Most of all I appreciate the focus on the sanctity of marriage and how to succeed in marriage from a Biblical standpoint. I highly recommend this book.

[Jenifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gives a gentle and practical look at nurturing your marriage in the midst of homeschooling. Heidi encourages readers to be "That Girl". "That Girl is...Real. Passionate. Godly. Steadfast. Beautiful. Committed to the pursuit of God's heart for her marriage." This is a quick read that will prompt you to put your husband and your marriage first, and watch your children as they witness (and eventually pass on) the legacy of love that you've created.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful, quick read, (I finished in under 24 hours, what?!), and hard to put down. I've been following Heidi's blog for a few years and just love her Podcasts. This was the first book of hers I've read and really enjoyed it. I'm not homeschooling yet, but this fall I will be beginning to homeschool twins and this is good information to keep in my back pocket.

[Angie Schott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book.

Every homeschool mom should read this. However, I would recommend a few chapters be read by all moms. Whether in a happy or broken marriage, there is a lot of truth and wisdom in these pages that all married mothers should read.

[Julia Reffner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good reminder on the importance of putting your marriage first during the homeschool years. A bit light on the practical application.

[Heidi Jo Kemp · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great reminder to homeschool moms who your first priority on this earth is

[Havebooks Willread · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some very good thoughts, many very close to home, easy to read. Good enough I read it again with my husband, just because she helped me express some thoughts and feelings I had been having.

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good, quick read with good advice. I could have done with a little less "Praise Jesus!" sentences, though.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly, this is good marriage advice for any mom-even if you don't homeschool! Encouraging yet practical.

[Dawn Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really Loved this Book.