This is so beautifully said. My biggest takeaway? Just because I can do it all doesn’t mean I should. Slowing down feels like failure at first… until you realize it’s the only way to make space for joy. Thank you for the reminder to pause and nourish.
Thank you. I’m so grateful you enjoyed it. Thank you for taking the time to let me know - it’s hard to know what resonates otherwise. My sincere appreciation.
This is so beautifully written! I love all those lesson you and your girls learned this year and the habits and routines you've established...sounds like many of ours too! I do agree that finding the right community is important, I hope you're able to find what works for you : ) Happy summer!
I am interested in hearing more about the university job you left. Did you work part time or full time? What did you teach? I am an adjunct at a university.
I was a tenured university professor in Biomedical Engineering - though I specialized in neuroscience and stroke rehabilitation. At the tail-end, I was also doing research in psychology-based techniques to improved academic and classroom outcomes for students with mental health disorders (which is 50% of engineering students). I was a reviewer for NIH and a journal editor (which are both very common in my field). I received tenure about 6 months before I decided to quit.
I wasn't planning to homeschool at all, but we were struggling soooo much when covid happened. When the kids came home from daycare (they were 5 and 3 at the time), it became clear that the life we were living wasn't working in so many ways. I say often I was healed by the presence of my children. That's how it felt. I know that they needed me too. Everything was better - in every way. I would go onto homeschool and work full-time (as a pre-tenure prof) for 3 years before finally quitting a year ago. I can't tell if you it'll be right for you, but I will tell you I didn't even recognize how toxic the environment was until I was walking out the door. I'm happy to talk more to you about if it it would be of value to you. It was an incredibly painful, hard decision - lots of tears. As you are aware, there's no going back (unless you start over at the beginning). But as I say above, I haven't regretted it even a moment.
Hi Claire! Thanks for sharing about your professor position! I am sorry the environment was so toxic at the university, but I am happy homeschooling your children is helping to heal you! Homeschooling is one of the best decisions I have ever made! I can’t imagine my life without it!
My situation is a little different. I have been homeschooling for 22 years. When my oldest went to college, I decided to start teaching part time at the local branch campus in addition. Because I am an adjunct, I almost exclusively interact only with my students. Also, since it is a branch campus, there is no research going on. I keep my hours on campus to no more than six hours a week. I do struggle sometimes with whether I should continue teaching. Because I only have a BS in Mathematics, I can only teach two out of the 9 math classes the college offers. Therefore, now I am very slowly taking online classes towards an MS in mathematics. My experience homeschooling my children has made me perfect for working with remedial math students. However, after teaching the same classes 30-40 times now, I am ready to move onto trig or calculus!
I am very interested in your findings that 50% of engineering students have mental health issues. Two of my sons are studying engineering and one is computer science. I very much believe that homeschooling has helped them to avoid burnout in college.
Thank you Latham. So well said - it was hard and then it wasn't. I'm reminded about how much we have in common. I'm grateful for your voice and writing in my life.
This is so beautifully said. My biggest takeaway? Just because I can do it all doesn’t mean I should. Slowing down feels like failure at first… until you realize it’s the only way to make space for joy. Thank you for the reminder to pause and nourish.
Beautifully said. I needed to hear this today too. Thank you so much for leaving me this message. It truly means the world to me.
Love hearing revelations like this!
Thank you. I’m so grateful you enjoyed it. Thank you for taking the time to let me know - it’s hard to know what resonates otherwise. My sincere appreciation.
This is so beautifully written! I love all those lesson you and your girls learned this year and the habits and routines you've established...sounds like many of ours too! I do agree that finding the right community is important, I hope you're able to find what works for you : ) Happy summer!
Thank you Mollie. I appreciate you saying this so much. Happy summer to you and yours too.
I am interested in hearing more about the university job you left. Did you work part time or full time? What did you teach? I am an adjunct at a university.
I was a tenured university professor in Biomedical Engineering - though I specialized in neuroscience and stroke rehabilitation. At the tail-end, I was also doing research in psychology-based techniques to improved academic and classroom outcomes for students with mental health disorders (which is 50% of engineering students). I was a reviewer for NIH and a journal editor (which are both very common in my field). I received tenure about 6 months before I decided to quit.
I wasn't planning to homeschool at all, but we were struggling soooo much when covid happened. When the kids came home from daycare (they were 5 and 3 at the time), it became clear that the life we were living wasn't working in so many ways. I say often I was healed by the presence of my children. That's how it felt. I know that they needed me too. Everything was better - in every way. I would go onto homeschool and work full-time (as a pre-tenure prof) for 3 years before finally quitting a year ago. I can't tell if you it'll be right for you, but I will tell you I didn't even recognize how toxic the environment was until I was walking out the door. I'm happy to talk more to you about if it it would be of value to you. It was an incredibly painful, hard decision - lots of tears. As you are aware, there's no going back (unless you start over at the beginning). But as I say above, I haven't regretted it even a moment.
Hi Claire! Thanks for sharing about your professor position! I am sorry the environment was so toxic at the university, but I am happy homeschooling your children is helping to heal you! Homeschooling is one of the best decisions I have ever made! I can’t imagine my life without it!
My situation is a little different. I have been homeschooling for 22 years. When my oldest went to college, I decided to start teaching part time at the local branch campus in addition. Because I am an adjunct, I almost exclusively interact only with my students. Also, since it is a branch campus, there is no research going on. I keep my hours on campus to no more than six hours a week. I do struggle sometimes with whether I should continue teaching. Because I only have a BS in Mathematics, I can only teach two out of the 9 math classes the college offers. Therefore, now I am very slowly taking online classes towards an MS in mathematics. My experience homeschooling my children has made me perfect for working with remedial math students. However, after teaching the same classes 30-40 times now, I am ready to move onto trig or calculus!
I am very interested in your findings that 50% of engineering students have mental health issues. Two of my sons are studying engineering and one is computer science. I very much believe that homeschooling has helped them to avoid burnout in college.
Wonderful lessons Claire. Your experience leaving your job reminded me so much of my experience leaving the Navy. It was so hard, and then it wasn’t.
We too haven’t found our co-op or learning community either. I hope whatever should happen emerges for you all.
Thank you for sharing
Thank you Latham. So well said - it was hard and then it wasn't. I'm reminded about how much we have in common. I'm grateful for your voice and writing in my life.
My friend Joshua Dolezal and I talk regularly about the similarities between academia and the military.
I'm grateful to have you in my life as well.
Beautiful lessons learned! Homeschooling is all about family. 🥰
Thank you Brooke
So inspiring! Keep up the great work!
Thanks Danny
What a wonderful inspiring post!