What If Summer Didn’t Need a Schedule?
Embracing a Gentle Preschool Summer in the Season of Wonder Are you staring down the summer wondering what to do with your preschooler now that co-op is out and library storytime is on hold? Summer with a preschooler can feel like a wide-open road… or a long list of “what do we do now?” The rhythm shifts. The outside world slows down—or sometimes disappears entirely. And you’re left holding this magical, untamed season in your hands, wondering how to fill it with meaning without overfilling your days. Here’s the good news: a gentle preschool summer doesn’t require a rigid routine. It doesn’t need worksheets, tight schedules, or a school-at-home setup. What it does need is a posture of presence, a little intention, and the freedom to follow your child’s natural curiosity. Simple Ways to Embrace a Gentle Preschool Summer Whether or not you use a structured guide, these ideas can help you make the most of your time together in a way that feels life-giving for both of you. 1. Say yes to curiosity.Sometimes we say no out of habit—because we’re in a hurry, or we don’t want to deal with the mess. But when we pause and say yes to the mud kitchen, the finger paints, the “can I help?” moments—we give our kids permission to explore, create, and grow. The mess can be cleaned. The memories stay. 2. Create simple invitations to learn.Set out a tray with scoops and dry rice. Offer a basket of clean rocks with a few brushes and washable paints. Leave a stack of books near a cozy corner or place magnifying glasses and leaves near the window. These gentle invitations don’t require instructions—they invite imagination. 3. Step outside and slow your steps.Take walks as often as the weather allows. Let your preschooler lead. Stop to watch a beetle cross the sidewalk. Feel the wind. Smell the rosemary. Ask, “What do you see?” The world is full of living lessons—no curriculum needed. 4. Weave learning into your day.Count apples as you put them in the cart. Read labels out loud at the store. Clap syllables while setting the table. Spell your child’s name in sidewalk chalk. Real life is rich with literacy, math, science, and faith—when we choose to notice. 5. Embrace seasonal rhythm.Summer has its own pulse—slower mornings, sun-soaked afternoons, drowsy evenings. Let your days breathe. Anchor them with small rituals: breakfast on the porch, afternoon quiet time, a walk after dinner. These rhythms form the framework for memory and security. When You’re Ready for a Little Structure… If you’re craving a little more intention but still want to keep things slow and soul-nourishing, I created something just for you. God Made the World Around Me is a four-week summer resource designed for preschool-aged homeschoolers. Each week centers on a theme in God’s creation: You’ll find printable devotionals, hands-on nature-based activities, coloring pages, gentle learning prompts, and a flexible rhythm that works with your summer—not against it. Use it in any order, or just pull pieces that fit your week. It’s a guide, not a checklist. A Final Word of Encouragement However you choose to spend your summer—whether you follow a plan or follow the butterflies—I hope you find rest, wonder, and connection. Gentle preschooling isn’t about doing more. It’s about noticing more. Saying yes a little more often. Slowing down enough to really see. You are already what your child needs most. Everything else is just icing. Want to know when the others release? This is just the beginning. I’ll be releasing the next three units in the God Made the World Around Me series soon—each one filled with simple, faith-filled ways to learn and explore together.Sign up for emails and you’ll be the first to know when they go live!
Gentle Homeschooling Starts Here
If you’re looking for a simple place to start… Over the last 20 years of homeschooling, I’ve heard the same question asked in a dozen different ways:“What do I need to buy for my 3-year-old?”“Which subjects should I cover?”“Do I need to start phonics now?”“What curriculum should I use for preschool?” And behind every question, I hear a mama’s heart trying to do the right thing. Often, first-time homeschoolers feel pressure to do all the things — to check every subject box, to buy the big box curriculum, to recreate public school at the kitchen table. It’s no wonder that preschool, of all things, starts to feel heavy. But now, as I find myself in the preschool years again — this time with two decades of homeschooling behind me — I see it differently. This time, I have more wisdom.This time, I have more clarity.This time, I’m choosing a gentler start. Our days are shaped by play, by rhythm, by stories and nature walks. We learn through baking and block towers and chasing butterflies. We follow the wonder. The Gentle Start Guide was born from that shift. When Preschool Feels Too Complicated — Start Here It’s for the mama who’s asking, “Shouldn’t this be easier?”Yes, it should — and it can be. If you’re not sure where or how to begin…If you’re weary of expensive curriculum and rigid schedules…If you want your home to feel more like a safe haven than a schoolroom…If you want to protect the sacred magic of early childhood… This guide is for you. And the best part? It’s free. A gift for every new subscriber. By signing up, you’ll also unlock full access to the Secret Library — a growing collection of gentle homeschooling resources — and you’ll be the first to hear when new support tools are released. You’re already listening to your heart by asking the right questions. Now take the next step. Embrace this journey with gentleness and joy. Subscribe now and download your Gentle Start Guide.Because homeschool beginnings don’t need to be big to be beautiful.
The Big Rebrand Reveal: Meet Wrinkles & Rainbows
To the sweet friends who have read, followed, or visited my blog over the years—thank you. Today is a big day. A gentle one, but a big one. After quietly planting seeds behind the scenes, the full rebrand is official. Classic Housewife has grown into something new. Welcome to Wrinkles & Rainbows. The Story Behind the Shift Last August, I quietly changed the name of my blog to Wrinkles & Rainbows. At the time, I had only a whisper of what it might become. I wasn’t ready to promote it or fully explain it—I just knew something new was stirring. Now I know what that whisper was. It’s grown into a mission. A message. A movement. And today, I’m ready to share it with you. After homeschooling three kids into adulthood, I found myself starting over. A surprise pregnancy in my 40s, followed by a devastating loss. Then, two years to the day, God gave us a rainbow baby—our fourth child, our little light, our new beginning. Now at 46, I’m homeschooling preschool again, but with gentler hands, a softer pace, and a whole lot more wisdom. What worked before doesn’t always fit this season—and that’s a gift. A calling. A deeper way to serve. Introducing: Wrinkles & Rainbows The name says it all. I’m the wrinkles—marked by motherhood, time, loss, and growth.She’s the rainbow—joyful, vibrant, born after the storm. Together, Wrinkles & Rainbows is a place where wisdom meets wonder. It’s where seasoned motherhood and sacred childhood come together. It’s about beginning again—with intention, gentleness, and grace. What’s New & What’s Coming The site has a new address – you can type in wrinklesnrainbows.com to get here. The voice is softer, the message clearer: gentle homeschooling for preschoolers, rooted in faith and wonder. You’ll find devotionals, rhythms, printables, and encouragement for moms who want to homeschool without pressure—but with presence. And if you’re new here? You’re right on time. A Gift for You To celebrate the rebrand, I’ve created two special gifts: Over the years, a recurring question I have been asked by new homeschool moms just starting out on this journey is how to begin, what to do for preschool, and where to start. I feel compelled now to provide that gentle starting point for these precious little ones. One is for subscribers. One is for everyone. Both are offered with love. What’s Next You’ll find refreshed, rebranded products in the shop that reflect this new season—simple, sweet, and faith-filled. And something new is blooming: a gentle preschool curriculum called “A Gentle Start: The Rhythms of Preschool.” It’s rooted in daily rhythms, play, and the wonder of God’s creation. If you’ve ever wished for a soft place to start, you’re going to love it. Want a sneak peek or to help test it out? Stay tuned to sign up for that. Come Walk With Me Whether you’ve been with me from the Classic Housewife days or just found your way here—welcome. This isn’t just a rebrand. It’s a return. A deeper yes to the work God has placed in my hands. Wrinkles & Rainbows is for the mama who is beginning again—with littles, and with herself—and it’s for the mom who is just beginning. I’m so glad you’re here.