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How to Start Homeschooling in Minnesota (Even If You Work Full Time)

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My grandmother supporting my daughter with an assignment. How to Start Homeschooling in Minnesota: A Step-by-Step Guide for Parents Deciding to homeschool your child is a big step—one that brings both freedom and responsibility. In Minnesota, families have the legal right to educate their children at home, but there are a few important requirements you’ll need to follow. Whether you’re just getting started or moving districts, this guide will walk you through each step, share important deadlines, and give you direct links to the forms and resources you’ll need. Step 1: Know Who Must Be Homeschooled In Minnesota, homeschooling is for children between ages 7 and 17 . If your child is younger than 7 and not yet enrolled in school, you aren’t required to register. But once they turn 7, the law applies. Read more on Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) Step 2: Understand Who Can Teach Most parents qualify automatically! Minnesota law allows parents to be the primary instructor ...
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Whispers and Wisdom: Talking to Our Children About the Unspoken Rules and Taboo Topics in Our Culture

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As parents and homeschoolers, we often strive to give our children the best education—one that nurtures their minds, spirits, and sense of self. We teach them math, reading, science, history. We guide them through social skills and personal growth. But there are parts of our culture that we carry in silence—lessons that are rarely found in textbooks, yet shape the way we move through the world. These are the unspoken rules and taboo topics —the things we don’t always say out loud, but our children still feel. And at some point, if we want to raise whole, wise, and conscious human beings, we have to bring those things into the light. In many African American families, unspoken rules have historically served as tools of survival. Don’t draw too much attention. Speak properly in certain spaces. Don’t challenge authority. Keep your emotions in check. These rules were often passed down with love—meant to keep us safe in systems that were never built for us. And in some ways, they worked. ...
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Creating Space for Autonomy: Nurturing Critical Thinkers in African American Homeschooling

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As homeschooling parents—especially those raising African American children—we have a powerful opportunity to nurture not only academic excellence but something far more transformative: our children’s ability to think for themselves. In traditional systems, this kind of independent thinking is not always encouraged in Black children. In fact, the opposite often occurs. Black children are more likely to be disciplined for challenging authority, more likely to be viewed through the lens of adultification (treated as older or more responsible than their peers), and less likely to be seen as needing emotional or intellectual support. These realities, supported by research from the Georgetown Law Center on Poverty and Inequality (2017), limit opportunities for our children to develop confidence and autonomy in how they learn and engage the world. The history of African Americans and formal education is complex. Throughout the 20th century, scholars like Carter G. Woodson critiqued traditio...
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Quick Self-Care Practices for Parents in Survival Mode

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Hey, friends! Welcome back to Grace in the Grind: The Empowered Nest . Today, I’m opening up about something that’s been a challenge for me lately—self-care. As parents, we all know how easy it is to put everyone else’s needs before our own. But sometimes, when we’re constantly giving and giving, we forget that we need to recharge too. I’m no stranger to this. In fact, I’ve been in “survival mode” lately, and self-care has been something I’ve struggled with—so much so, I ended up in the hospital recently due to stress. It’s been a tough season, and while I’m still navigating it, I’ve learned some subtle, small practices that have helped me take better care of myself. I hope these will resonate with you and help you find moments of peace and nourishment in your busy life. The Reality of Financial Struggles and Mental Health Like many of you, I’ve been dealing with some financial struggles that add an extra layer of stress to the everyday grind. When you’re worried about how to make en...
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Grace in the Grind: The Empowered Nest- How My Homeschooling Journey Began

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My homeschooling journey didn’t start with a grand plan, a Pinterest-perfect curriculum, or even much clarity. It began in the middle of the 2023–2024 school year, in a whirlwind of fear, frustration, and a fierce love for my children. The public school system failed us—mentally, emotionally, and physically. As both a parent and a former employee of that system, I felt betrayed. My trust was shattered, and the only thing I knew for sure was that I could no longer allow my children to stay in an environment that made them feel unsafe. Public schools work for some children, but it didn't for mine. So, I made a move. According to the law, I had 15 days to either enroll my kids elsewhere or file to homeschool. I didn’t know what I was doing, and honestly, I still don’t have it all figured out. But what I did have was the heart to try. I chose to homeschool, and I chose to start—messy and all. With a background in child development and family science, I knew that kids thrive in str...
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