Ok, so the above quote really doesn’t have anything to do with curriculum or resources, I just like it. Homeschooling can be stressful at times but overall if you can stay home and be with your kids, learning together, playing together, imagining together, I’d say that’s pretty awesome. I’ve been doing this a long time, and did I do it perfectly? Nope. Could I have done more? Maybe. But honestly, I have and am doing my best. And I am thankful that when I started I had some great books that encouraged me, challenged me, and taught me about this lifestyle of learning at home.

More important than learning about the mechanics of home learning i.e., curriculum planning, record keeping, etc., is laying the proper foundation with your marriage, training your children to be obedient, and managing your home. Here is a list of books I love that helped me do just that.

Marriage and Family

The Shaping of the Christian Family by Elisabeth Elliot

The Christian Family by Larry Christenson

For Women Only by Shaunti Feldhahn

The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman

Child Training Tips by Reb Bradley

A Woman after God’s Own Heart by Elizabeth George

To Train up a Child by Michael and Debbi Pearl

Hints on Child Training by R. C. Ryle

The Surrendered Wife by Laura Doyle

If I had to pick just one marriage book, it would The Five Love Languages and if I had to pick just one child training book it would be To Train up a Child. Do I agree with everything written in To Train up a Child? No. The greatest thing that I took from that book was to be consistent in my discipline, to be firm and always follow through, and to make sure that there were many opportunities to strengthen the cord of love between myself and my children. If you have never read it, don’t quit halfway. Read it in its’ entirety and it may help you as much as it did me!

Home Management

The Hidden Art of Homemaking by Edith Schaeffer

Tightwad Gazette by Amy Dacyczyn

The Messies Manual by Sandra Felton

Confessions of an Organized Homemaker by Deniece Schofield

Clean Team’s Speed Cleaning by Jeff Campbell

Sink Reflections by Marla Cilley

Debt Free Living by Mary Hunt

“How to” Homeschool

Dumbing Us Down by John Gatto

How Children Fail by John Holt

Beyond Homeschooling, Abundant Living by Diana Waring

The Three “R’s” by Ruth Beechick

For the Children’s Sake by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay

Learning in Spite of Labels by Joyce Herzog

Home Style Teaching by Raymond and Dorothy Moore

The Successful Home Schooling Family Handbook by Raymond and Dorothy Moore

Educating the Whole Child by Clay and Sally Clarkson

You Can Teach Your Child Successfully by Ruth Beechick

The Christian Home School by Gregory Harris

Homeschooling for Excellence by David and Micky Colfax

The Christian Home Educator’s Curriculum Manual by Cathy Duffy

Mary Pride’s Big Book of Home Learning Series

The Ultimate Guide to Home Schooling by Debra Bell

Anyhoo, this is my list of oldies but goodies. I pray 2014 is great year for you and your family!