Curious about how one mother manages a demanding career while homeschooling eight children, seven of whom are adopted? Join us this week on The  Homeschool How To as Melissa from Texas shares her incredible journey. Discover the emotional complexities of adoption, the unique challenges and rewards of managing a large, blended family, and the strategies she used to transition from school to full-time homeschooling while working as a railroad engineer.Melissa highlights the importance of community and resourcefulness, revealing how she balances work and homeschooling through innovative solutions like sharing childcare responsibilities with other parents. We discuss the surprising benefits of homeschooling, including fostering an understanding of free market economies, property rights, and entrepreneurship, all while debunking the myth of extensive daily hours required for effective learning. We also dive into the intricacies of choosing the right homeschooling curriculum, with insights on various educational programs and the importance of aligning curriculums with family dynamics and teaching styles. Hear about the transition from Easy Peasy's online curriculum to the Charlotte Mason-inspired A Gentle Feast, and why Melissa believes in the flexibility and dynamic nature of homeschooling. This episode is packed with encouragement and practical advice, making it a must-listen for any parent considering or currently navigating the homeschooling journey.Easy Peasy CurriculumA Gentle FeastTriad Math - all the math your middle and highschooler will ever need! And more math than what 90% of all high school graduates ever get!FlipFlop Spanish - Learn Spanish as a whole family!!The Tuttle Twins - use code Cheryl40 for 40% off ages 5-11 book seriesJIBBY MUSHROOM COFFEE - try today with code CHERYL20 for 20% off!Earthley Wellness -  use code HomeschoolHowTo for 10% off your first orderTreehouseSchoolhouse for your Spring Nature Study Curriculum- use promo code: THEHOMESCHOOLHOWTOPODCAST for 10% off entire orderPLEASE SHARE the show with this link!Interested in helping me cover the cost of running this podcast? PayPal, Venmo, Zelle (thehomeschoolhowto@gmail.com), Buy Me A Coffee or Ko-Fi  (no fee)Support the Show.Instagram: TheHomeschoolHowToPodcast Facebook: The Homeschool How To Podcast