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

Praise for
The Convivial Homeschool

For the many years I have known Mystie, I have seen her diligently and daily seek first Gods kingdom while meeting the challenges of homeschooling her children. Her faithfulness over the long haul has equipped her to encourage moms in duty, diligence, and joy. This volume is a wonderful resource of wisdom for moms everywhere who struggle and wonder if they are doing enough. Cindy Rollins, author of Morning Time: A Liturgy of Love and Mere Motherhood: Morning Times, Nursery Rhymes, and My Journey toward SanctificationWith humility, dry wit, and wisdom, Mystie Winckler lays a feast of homeschool encouragement that is biblically based and meaty. Skip the fluff and go right to the good stuff. Pam Barnhill, host of the Ten Minutes to a Better Homeschool and Your Morning Basket podcastsMystie Winckler has the heart of a homeschooling mom, and she is generous with it. Youll probably wince in sympathy a time or two when you realize youve had the same experiences she describes, but these short chapters will give you food for thought and fresh insight. This book will help you keep your eyes on the things that matter most, which is exactly what a homeschool mom needs to stay the course on this long journey. Karen Glass, author of In Vital HarmonyGod doesnt just want to inform your kids through homeschooling. He wants to transform them. And whats more, He wants to do the same for you. In her debut book, Mystie Winckler seeks to recalibrate your heart and mind toward the good work God is doing in and through you. As a home educator, youll be encouraged and equipped to continue on in obedience but also to enjoy the journey along the way. Jamie Erickson, author of Homeschool Bravely:How to Squash Doubt, Trust God, and Teach Your Child with Confidence and cohost of the Mom to Mom Podcast

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

Copyright 2021 by Mystie Winckler

All rights reserved.

To request permissions, contact .

Paperback: 978-1-7374517-0-9

Audiobook: 978-1-7374517-2-3

Ebook: 978-1-7374517-1-6

Library of Congress Control Number: 2021917755

First paperback edition: November 2021

Edited by Harmony Harkema

Cover art and layout by Melinda Martin

Photographs by Jordan Edens Photography

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV), 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2016.

To Ilse and Geneva:
Youll thank me
when youre thirty.

Get the accompanying guide
Three Steps to a Convivial Homeschool Day
free at
simplyconvivial.com/3steps

I am a naturally positive and upbeat person, yet nothing has challenged my optimism quite like the day-to-day business of homeschooling a band of children. Tending to the daily tasks of raising and teaching children over days and weeks and seasons and years has tested my mettle and caused me to doubt that Im really cut out to homeschool my six kids.

I met Mystie just before my twins were born. I was overwhelmed (to say the least) by the tasks of mothering and homeschooling my older children while also keeping house, preparing meals, and caring for my little ones. Mystie modeled a commitment to being a cheerful beacon of light in her own home, regardless of her circumstances. That model and her friendship proved to be a steadying ballast for me.

When I wondered if I was cut out for homeschooling at all, when I worried I wasnt doing a good enough job at it, when I doubted that any of my endless mother-work mattered, I needed someone to remind me of the truth.

The truth that my home ought to be, at least sometimes, a small foretaste of heaven. That such a merry, festive atmosphere in the home always starts with me. And that a convivial homeone that is cheerful, bright, and pleasantis about serving with Gods perfect love, not carrying out a perfect plan.

Home education doesnt make promises. But it does offer something equally rewardinga tremendous opportunity to grow, connect, and build deep and meaningful relationships. Its our privilege and honor to do all of these things in a convivial home. Such a home is a foretaste of heaven, indeed.

Right here, right now, I invite you to be merry, to live fully, and to love well. To create a convivial home of your own. And to read this book as a whisper in your ear, reminding you of whats true and good.

The work you are doing in your homeschool matters.

Sarah Mackenzie
Author of Teaching from Rest and The Read-Aloud Family

I t doesnt take long in the homeschooling gig to find yourself feeling overwhelmed, tired, defeated, and failing. We had visions of creating a home where everyone loves to read and learn, speaks with kindness, and does their work without complaining. It turns out our kids never seem to get with that program. Worse still, we find that the program is actually for us as moms, and we daily fall far short of our high hopes and dreams.

Its as if weve been on a bus all our lives. Were reading our newspapers, staring out the windows, checking out the haircuts of the passengers around us, and bumping along pleasantly. We arrive where the ticket said we were going to go, so we get off. It might be different than we expected, but weve made it, so we shrug and move on. Thats college graduation for many of us.

Then we decide to homeschool. Instead of putting our children on the bus (metaphorically as well as literally), we decide to buy a minivan and drive them around ourselves. After all, weve been down the road before, so surely well be able to get to where we want to go, even though weve never driven before, and even though we actually want to end up someplace different.

At first, it seems easy enough. Driving isnt too hard, really. Then theres a four-way stop, and we dont know whether to turn right or left or go straight. Then we realize were about to run out of gas, and we dont know where to fuel up. Then the brakes start squeaking, and so do the passengers.

Then there are speed bumps and roads under construction. Ack! The weather turns cloudy and rainy, and the sun hides. We have no map, no GPS, and no idea how long its supposed to take. Waitdid we even know where we were going in the first place?

Sometimes homeschooling feels like this, and its not just about knowing the destination. The fact is, were now driving when weve only ever been bored passengers before. To drive the car is completely different from hitching a ride. When was drivers ed, and how did we miss it?

When we take on the responsibility of being in the drivers seat of our childrens education, we fall prey to many new temptations and traps. Actually, they arent so new. Theyve been around since the first family: the temptation to doubt that Gods Word is good, to add our own commands and promises as if they were Gods, to compare and envy, to isolate and build our own little kingdoms.

Were generally caught in the trap of these temptations because we are trying to find our own ways to wisdom and perfection rather than submit to Gods way, which is long and difficult, requiring faith and trust rather than sight and formula. Gods way to perfection is through sanctification in this life. Perfection wont come until Jesus returns.

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