This week on the podcast, Colleen revisited one of the most common, sometimes thorny, and always essential homeschool topics: finding your people and creating a support system , especially when you're parenting and homeschooling neurodivergent, gifted, or otherwise outside-the-box kiddos. After 17 years on this journey, she can assure you: you're not alone if building community feels overwhelming at times—whether you're coming back from a pandemic pause, have tricky past experiences, or your kids just don't "fit in" with typical local groups. Here are some highlights and key takeaways: Community Matters: Having people around who understand the joys and challenges of homeschooling differently-wired kids is more than a luxury—it's essential fuel for thriving, not just surviving. Our kids (and we as parents) need spaces where it's okay to be quirky, creative, or intense—where someone else says "me too!" and everyone feels genuinely seen. It Can Be Hard: Maybe the co-ops near you are too rigid, you've faced past exclusion or judgment, or (like me) you're just plain exhausted trying to do it all. Sometimes your kids resist group activities, or you don't have "joiner" personalities in the house. These are all normal feelings and totally valid struggles. You May Need to Rethink What Community Looks Like: Community doesn't have to be a massive co-op or weekly field trip group! It could be a micro-community, supportive online spaces, interest-based activities, or supportive adults who "get" your kids, from librarians to mentors to hobby group leaders. Take Some Action This Week Grab a notebook (or the free printable) and reflect on: What kind of community are you craving most right now—support, social time, academic help? List three possible places or people you might reach out to this week for connection (library, therapist, other homeschool families, online groups, etc.) Is there a family you could invite to connect more regularly and start your own small community? You don't have to do this alone. Even if you're the "burned out mom who's always holding it together" or you've tried and been hurt, please know: I see you. The right people are out there, and sometimes you simply need to widen your lens and try again when the time feels right. If you need a soft place to land, join us inside the Learner's Lab—where our quirky, creative, and wonderful community is always waiting for you. And if you're already in a good spot? Reach out to someone else who might need your invitation. Links and Resources from Today's Episode Thank you to our sponsors: CTC Math – Flexible, affordable math for the whole family! Night Zookeeper – Fun, comprehensive language arts for ages 6-12 The Homeschool Advantage: A Child-Focused Approach to Raising Lifelong Learners The Homeschool Advantage: A Child-Focused Approach to Raising Lifelong Learners Audiobook Raising Lifelong Learners Membership Community – The Learners Lab Raising Resilient Sons by Colleen Kessler, M.Ed. The Anxiety Toolkit Finding Your Community as a Neurodivergent Family Why Community Is So Important For Gifted And Twice Exceptional Kids Finding Homeschool Community (for our children and ourselves) Finding Community: Building a Support System Online and In-Person Building Flexible Thinking Skills in Your Neurodivergent Child Why Decision Making Feels Overwhelming for Neurodivergent Kids and How to Help Creative Summer Activities to Strengthen Family Connection and Boost Learning
