JH101: Sibling Struggles while Homeschooling with Lynna Sutherland

Sibling struggles are real, and as homeschoolers, our kids are together a LOT. How can you beat the sibling blues? We are chatting this topic with a mom of 8, Lynna Sutherland from Homeschooling without Training Wheels.

Thank you to Book Shark for sponsoring the Joyfully Homeschooling Podcast.

As you may know, podcasting takes a lot of time. I typically mass record 3 months’ worth of episodes in one month. This gives time for editing, show notes to be written, and for me to record introductions beforehand and solo episodes. Therefore, this episode will of course not address the current COVID19 pandemic. It may also reference homeschool conventions or other events that are now closed. I apologize in advance, however, the content and advice given in the episode is something we can all learn from regardless of the time it was recorded.

Today’s podcast episode with Lynna Sutherland, Lynna and I chatted way back in episode 12. Today, I am bringing Lynna on to answer a listener question. But, first, let’s learn more about Lynna, shall we?

Lynna Sutherland blogs at Homeschooling Without Training Wheels, where she loves to remind moms (and herself!) of the freedom and flexibility that come with homeschooling!. I consider Lynna the sibling expert because she is a momma to 8 and host of the new podcast Sibling Relationship Lab. She also offers sibling courses, devotionals and more through her site.

And we are going to chat with Lynna today about sibling relationships and parenting and child relationships, and whether or not we should be afraid of homeschooling hindering those relationships instead of strengthening them.

Christy writes,

Hi Misty, I am hoping you can help combat a fear I have about homeschooling. My kids are 12, 8, 6 and 4. I have wanted to homeschool for a long time, and brought my 12 year old home last year. I am now considering bringing my other children home as well. My concern is that while homeschooling has strengthened my personal relationship with my daughter, I am afraid of having ALL of them home together will have the opposite effect. Have you found that homeschooling has strengthened your relationship with your kids, and their relationship with their siblings? Or has it hindered it. Please talk me off of the ledge.

Lynna shares her advice and also answers these questions on sibling struggles.

How do you handle sibling disagreements during the day?
How can we as parents help in these close quarter situations?
How can we as parents nurture our relationship with our kids while homeschooling? It is hard playing both roles sometimes.

I am sure, if we are honest, that these questions are ones many of us have had at one point or another, so let’s talk about it!

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Sibling struggles are real, and as homeschoolers, our kids are together a LOT. How can you beat the sibling blues? We are chatting this topic with a mom of 8, Lynna Sutherland from Homeschooling without Training Wheels.

Lynna shares her advice and also answers these questions on sibling struggles.

Disclosure: