Julie Dunn
Tell us about your family.
My husband, Wesley, and I have been married nearly 13 years and he serves as a minister at First Baptist Owensboro. We have three children — Elliot, 6, Lillie, 4, and Jesse, 2, and another boy due at the end of May! And Lizzy, our loyal Labrador Retriever, completes our family.
Why do you homeschool?
While there are many different reasons people homeschool, we choose to homeschool as a means to invest in our children in the short time we have them in our home. We like the flexibility and family time that homeschooling offers, as well as individualizing our kids’ education. In saying all this, homeschooling works for us in this season of life and we re-evaluate what works best for our family each year.
Did you always know you wanted to homeschool?
Definitely not! I honestly thought homeschooling was bizarre. I love the public schools and was an elementary teacher for seven years. Some of our close friends began to homeschool and I realized my initial assumptions that homeschooled children were weird and unsocialized simply weren’t true. What I observed were families who had intentionally weighed their options and determined that homeschooling worked best for them.
What is the hardest thing about being a stay-at-home mom?
I tell my husband that our kids get the best AND worst of me. We don’t take a break from each other. They get my kisses, hugs, cuddles, and play all day, but they also witness my frustration. My kiddos have a front row seat to see their momma is not perfect and depends on God for love and strength.
Do you feel like there is a homeschool community in Owensboro?
Absolutely. Our family belongs to a Classical Conversations community. There are currently two full communities in Owensboro with a third opening this fall! Walnut Memorial Baptist hosts a co-op that meets regularly and Owensboro also has a United Christian Home Schools group that offers field trips, social gatherings, and educational classes. These groups are easy to connect with via Facebook.
What advice do you have for moms trying to make the decision to work or stay home?
Pray about it and weigh your options, identifying the pros and cons for both. Be ready to give yourself grace with whatever you decide works best for your family. Hold your decision with an open hand and re-evaluate regularly. The best decision for your family in one season of life may not be the best in another.
What is your funniest parenting moment?
My friend and I took our kiddos to the Evansville Zoo. I was pulling my two oldest, ages 4 and 2 at the time, in a wagon behind me. We were trucking it up a steep incline and my friend warned me that the front wheels of my wagon were off the ground. Well, I didn’t realize that was a big deal so I kept going, and seconds later my kiddos flipped out the back of the wagon onto the concrete! Thankfully they were okay, but of course there were witnesses. I was so embarrassed! I laugh about it now. It certainly won’t be my last mom blooper!
What is your biggest mom win?
Getting my family fed and my kids schooled is a daily win!