What Homeschooling is like now…

Living a nomadic lifestyle while homeschooling six kids is part educational experiment, part logistical puzzle, and always an adventure. Here’s a glimpse:

1. Herding Cats... In a Mini-Van.
   Homeschooling on the road means explaining multiplication while simultaneously fielding backseat complaints like, “He’s breathing too loud!”

2. Mom, The Hotel Hopper Extraordinaire.
   I’m the teacher, tour guide, and packing specialist. Bonus points if I can fit all our belongings into one luggage cart without toppling it.

3. The Mystery of the Missing Pencils.
   We start each day with a full pencil case. By the time we reach the hotel, half are gone, and at least one is found in the mini-van cup holder.

4. The Snack Dispensary on Wheels.
   “Here’s your granola bar, now let’s talk about the George Washington Carver!” Teaching while road-tripping means snacks are the real curriculum.

5. Science on the Go.
   We learn biology by observing wildlife at rest stops, chemistry by mixing bath products in hotel sinks, and physics every time we pack the mini-van trunk.

6. Recess = Hotel Pool Time.
   Nothing burns off energy like cannonballs into a lukewarm hotel pool. Bonus: recess doubles as P.E. and bath time.

7. Crayons in the Mini-Van.
   We’ve found crayons in every crevice of the mini-van, from under the seats to inside cup holders. At least they haven’t melted (yet).

8. Our Mobile Classroom in Pajamas.
   The kids might do history lessons in their pajamas one day and geography in the laundry room the next. We call it flexibility; others might call it chaos.

9. Shoeless Across the Ohio.
   Every time we unload at a museum, trailhead, or hotel, one kid inevitably steps out barefoot. We’ve just accepted it.

10. Minecraft Meets Geography.
    Sometimes lessons happen through Minecraft villages; other times, they involve learning about landmarks in person, like the Clippers Stadium—“Does it have Wi-Fi?”

11. The Mini-Van Q&A Sessions.
    Nom-schooling means constant questions like, “Why is the sky blue?” and “How much longer?” shouted from the third row while I try to explain both.

12. History... With Hotel Interruptions.
    Discussing the Civil War is fascinating until housekeeping knocks, and we all scramble like we’re hiding state secrets.

13. Math on the Move.
    Teaching fractions in the McDonalds drive-through? Yes, it’s possible. Bonus challenge: solving long division in the backseat of a mini-van.

14. Packing & Unpacking: The Never-Ending Loop.
    Packing six backpacks, three stuffed animals, and an unholy number of socks is a lesson in advanced Tetris. Unpacking it all in yet another hotel room? That’s when I wonder if minimalism is the way forward.

15. The Luggage Cart Olympics.
    Every time we check into a hotel, we attempt to pile everything onto one cart. It’s part engineering challenge, part relay race to keep the toddler from climbing on top of it.

And That’s the Nom-schooling Life!

Homeschooling six kids in a mini-van while hopping between hotels might sound like chaos—and it is—but it’s our chaos. It’s a wild mix of snack breaks, backseat debates, and unforgettable moments of learning and laughter. Sure, we may lose a pencil (or ten) along the way, but we’re finding joy in the journey, one hotel room at a time.

So, whether we’re tackling math in a mini-van or turning a hotel pool into recess, we’re proving that learning can happen anywhere—because home is where the mini-van is parked. 🚐✨

What about you? Could you handle this much adventure… and how do you keep track of all the pencils? Let us know in the comments!