A few years ago, I met Rhonda in the Mahogany Homemakers Google Plus group.  It was place that quite a few moms of color who homeschooled gathered daily to chat about motherhood, homeschooling, and often times we would share a recipe or two.  Rhonda McKnight homeschools her youngest son, and she is an author, speaker, writing coach, and publication manager for Brown Girls Faith.

Meet Homeschool Mom, Rhonda

How long have you home educated?

I have homeschooled for 3 years.

How did your family decide to become a homeschooling family?

My son has some special needs. I quickly realized a traditional school was not the right setting for him. I tried public and several private schools. He was mainstreamed in public school but the classroom sizes were too large. Private schools were too advanced. He was struggling with reading. I had to become his teacher. I realized it was the only right option for him.

What is your favorite part about home schooling? What helps you to keep going?

I have control over what my son learns and when he learns it. My faith keeps me going. I find homeschooling very challenging at times.

What are your struggles with being a home schooling parent?

I'm divorced. I quit my job of 20 years with the state government to home school my son. So now I work full-time as an entrepreneur at possibly one of the hardest careers to actually make a living. I am a writer and a free-lance editor. I write Christian fiction. This adds a layer of stress. It makes it even harder to balance the challenges of homeschooling when I have to work as much as I can to meet our needs.

Share a few words of encouragement with other moms who home school. What is your tip for keeping atmosphere joyous in your home?

Have faith in yourself and your ability to educate your child/children. Figure out your child's learning style and the way you like to teach so you can meet both your needs in this process. Children learn in different ways and from different sources. Books are great, but there are many other resources that are just as effective. Open your mind and heart to engaging your child in thoughtful exploration of his/her interests. I have an advanced degree in education. I've always believed traditional curriculum was best, but now I'm working with my own child and we're nearly unschoolers. Library books are our textbooks and so are films. Your homeschool doesn't have to look like traditional school. Don't forget the fun.

Rhonda offers daily encouragement on her Instagram feed at A Faith Worth Living because she knows the value of encouraging others while encouraging herself.