Writing a Children’s Book During Our Homeschool Days

This is what it looked like for me to write a children’s book during our homeschool days, right in the middle of normal family life.

This is the time of year when the birds are so busy.

They’re building their nests, creating their little homes, preparing for what’s coming next.

For several years, we’ve watched robins return to our yard and get to work preparing for nesting season. Last year, we even had the chance to watch a pair of robins build their nest right on our rain gutter just outside our kitchen window.

We’d be in the middle of our homeschool day, and then we’d pause because we’d notice them busy at work. We’d just sit there for ten minutes… watching, taking it all in.

When Learning Turns Into Something More

As we watched, questions started to come up. Does the dad help build the nest, or is it just the mom? What roles do they each play?

Once the eggs were laid, we noticed something else. The mom settled in on the nest and stayed almost constantly. When she needed to leave to eat, the father would come and stand guard, watching over the nest until she returned.

And then one day… we saw those tiny beaks peeking up over the edge of the nest. It was one of those moments you just don’t forget… completely wonderful and captivating. How is there even room for all of them in there?

Later, we watched those same birds out in the yard—what felt like little “flight lessons” happening right in front of us.

All of this unfolded during normal homeschool days. Nothing fancy. Just paying attention.

Somewhere over the years, I started jotting down notes.

Those small observations eventually became the foundation for Made to Fly Free. If you missed the earlier post where I shared more of the story behind this one, you can read it here.

The Myth: “I Need More Time”

I think a lot of us carry this underlying belief:

I’ll start when things slow down.

Or…

Once I have a better routine in place.

Or…

When I finally have more time.

But we already know the reality… life doesn’t really slow down.

And if we keep waiting for the perfect setup—the quiet, the structure, the long stretches of uninterrupted time—it’s easy to keep putting the story off.

Not because we’re not capable, but because our expectations don’t match real life.

What It Actually Looked Like (Messy, Slow, and Real)

If I’m honest, writing this book didn’t look polished or efficient.

It looked like:

• Writing in 15-minute pockets of time
• Jotting notes after lunch
• Capturing ideas while the kids ran outside
• Losing my train of thought… and starting again

It was kids asking questions, interruptions, snacks, noise… and progress that felt really slow.

But it was steady, and that matters more than it feels in the moment. Those small pockets of time add up.

Your Kids Don’t Have to Be Separate From the Process

Whenever I sat down to write, I would try to be intentional about letting the kids know what I was doing. I wanted them to know I was setting aside those fifteen minutes to dedicate to my story. There were also moments when the kids were part of it. If I got stuck, I’d ask them questions:

What do you think Little Peep is feeling right now? Is he scared? Is he impatient? Does he just want to jump out of the nest because everyone else is already “flying”? Their ideas added a layer of childlike imagination I wouldn’t have come up with on my own.

Even when they weren’t actively helping, they were watching. They saw the process unfold. They saw that creativity isn’t just for “experts.”

They saw that meaningful work can happen right in the middle of everyday life.

Why This Matters More Than the Book

Yes, at the end of this, there’s a book. A real, tangible book that families can hold onto for years.

But honestly… that’s not the most important part. What matters is what your children are seeing.

When you choose to pour yourself into creative work, they’re watching you:

• Take an idea seriously
• Act on something God placed on your heart
• Stay faithful even when it’s slow
• Trust God with the outcome

That’s one form of discipleship. And that’s the kind of thing that creates legacy.

Over time, your family begins to form an identity around it. This is what we do. We create. We try. We trust God with the results. And we keep learning how to make it better.

When your kids see you step forward in confidence, even when it feels vulnerable, it builds something in them, too.

A belief that maybe… someday… they could do the same.

You Don’t Need a Perfect System to Begin

If there’s anything I hope you take from this, it’s this:

You don’t need a perfect system to start.

You don’t need hours of quiet.

You don’t need everything lined up just right.

You just need to begin… right in the middle of the noise, in the beautiful, messy, ordinary moments of your day.

Maybe it’s:

• A few notes in the morning
• A voice memo while the kids play
• A quiet moment on the porch
• A sentence or two in your journal

Just capture the idea when it comes, because those little story seeds matter.

The story growing in your heart is yours. It doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s. It’s something God placed in you, and I truly believe it’s worth sharing.

A Simple Invitation

Right now, as Made to Fly Free is getting ready to release, I’ve been thinking a lot about how this story makes its way into the world.

If you’ve been following along and feel even a small nudge to be part of it, I’d love to invite you to join the launch team.

It’s really simple.

You’d get to read the book ahead of time, share it with your friends or family in whatever way feels natural, and just be part of helping this story reach other homes.

Even a few encouraging words along the way mean more than you might realize—because I’ll be honest, putting something like this out into the world can feel a little vulnerable.

There’s no pressure here. Just an open invitation.

But if something in you is saying, “I’d love to be part of this,” I’d be so grateful to have you join.