Homeschooling, Legos, and the Joy of Slowing Down
The past few years have been a whirlwind. Building my photography business took countless late nights, early mornings, tears, missing some sweet moments, and moments of self-doubt. But it was all worth it because now, I’ve reached a place where I can live the dream I’ve held close for so long- not just as a full-time photographer but also as a homeschooling mom who gets to truly be there for the little moments. I finally have the time to not only continue documenting real moments, but to be present in them.
Homeschooling was always part of the vision, even before I had kids. The thought of giving my children the freedom to explore their interests, to learn at their own pace, and to discover the beauty of the world around them was so precious to me! Sure, we do the must-have subjects like: math, reading, history. But once those essentials are done, we get to dive into the kind of learning that happens naturally… the kind that sticks with you because it’s fun and meaningful.
Take Legos, for example. Who knew those tiny blocks could hold so much magic? Recently, I found my kids completely absorbed in a world of their own creation, building castles and crafting stories with their little hands. It hit me then: this is the freedom I always dreamed of for them, and for me. The freedom to take slow days, to pause and just be, to witness their sweet little imaginations.
There’s a quote I love that goes something like this: “Play is the highest form of research.” Watching my children learn through play is a constant reminder that education is more than textbooks and tests. It’s about fostering curiosity and joy. It’s about making space for creativity, exploration, and yes, even a few Lego towers that crumble before they’re complete causing your little anxious boy to freak out.
I’m endlessly grateful for this life. I do not take it for granted. I am so grateful for the chance to homeschool, to work in a career I love, and to create a home where learning feels like living. These moments… a quiet morning working on hand-writing, an afternoon spent building Lego creations, a giggle-filled evening reading together about Serval Cats just because we’re interested. They’re the kind of moments that inspire my photography because they’re real, honest, and beautifully imperfect. This year I told myself I would make time to take more photographs of the kids just being. I am excited to make this a more regular habit in 2025.
Life moves fast, but homeschooling allows us to slow it down just enough to notice the little things that bring us joy. Like for me, it’s the tiny hands assembling tiny blocks, for Luke, it’s the laughter over a history story that somehow turned silly, or for Leia, the joy of learning that a serval can catch up to 30 frogs in three hours while hunting. These are the moments that matter, and I’m so thankful to live a life that lets me soak them in.
I’m going to try to be more intentional about sharing our personal life! If anything, so that I can look back on these details I’ve documented in a few years and thank myself for taking the time to document them. Because I want to remember these moments we’re living out.
Thanks for following along! If you are looking for someone to document your sweet moments, reach out!
Love,
~ Melena
