Something shifts in the air when October rolls in. The days grow shorter, the nights stretch longer, and everything around you whispers, “Slow down. Go deeper. Look within.” While the outside world celebrates costumes and candy, something quieter stirs under the surface — the perfect season for shadow work.
For homeschool moms, this season can feel especially poignant. We spend so much of our energy pouring into our children, managing lessons, guiding learning, and keeping the household afloat.
But what about the parts of us we rarely stop to notice? Shadow work is one way to tend to those hidden spaces, so that the love and connection we give to our children grows from a place of wholeness.
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What Is Shadow Work, Really?
Shadow work is the process of looking at the parts of yourself you usually hide, not because they’re “bad,” but because they were once labeled too much, too emotional, too sensitive, or not enough.
For homeschool moms, these shadows often appear when:
- We people-please because we’re afraid of being “too much.”
- We feel guilty for resting instead of “keeping up.”
- We snap at loved ones because it feels safer than admitting how overwhelmed we are.
Shadow work is not about fixing yourself. It’s about reintegrating those hidden pieces and saying: “You belong, too.” When you embrace your own wholeness, you model authenticity, resilience, and compassion for your children.
Why October Is a Perfect Time
Nature is doing its own form of shadow work right now. Trees are shedding what they no longer need. The sun is retreating. The air is crisp with endings.
Autumn invites us, and our children, to release what no longer fits. Just as you watch your child outgrow shoes or handwriting styles, you too are invited to honor the growth happening inside yourself. When your kids see you slow down, reflect, and reset, they learn that life is more than constant “output.” It’s also about listening, letting go, and becoming.
The Practical Energy of Shadow Work
Shadow work doesn’t have to be dramatic. It can be deeply practical and gentle:
- Leaning into the natural quiet of fall evenings.
- Noticing emotions that arise during a hard homeschool day.
- Asking yourself what you’ve outgrown in your routines, and where you can soften.
When you model this process for your children, you show them that learning is not just about books and lessons, it’s also about self-discovery, courage, and honesty.
Getting Started (No Ceremony Required)
You don’t need special tools to begin shadow work. What you need is curiosity, honesty, and a willingness to pause.
But if you want to create a small “ritual” that grounds you, try:
- Brewing tea and journaling while your kids do their own quiet activity.
- Sitting outside together and noticing the leaves, then taking a few private moments to write your reflections.
- Putting on calm music and letting everyone sketch or doodle, you included.
This way, shadow work not only nourishes you, but also becomes something your children witness as part of daily life.
Reflection Prompts for Homeschool Moms
Here are some gentle prompts to explore this October:
- What am I afraid my children (or others) will see if I show up fully as myself?
- What expectations have I been carrying that no longer belong to me?
- Where in our homeschool do I pretend everything is “fine” even when it isn’t?
- What part of myself do I feel ashamed of, and what does that part actually need?
- When my intuition whispers about what’s best for my family, how often do I let outside voices drown it out?
- When homeschooling feels hard, where do I abandon myself?
- What would it look like to accept my whole self, messy, moody, tired, joyful, and all?
Want More? I have a set of Shadow Work Prompts for Homeschool Moms I’ll send you as a subscriber to the Happy Hive Homeschooling Newsletter:🌼 The Busy Bees Daily Buzz is an inspiring note that lands in your inbox every morning.
It’s designed especially for homeschool moms who want:
- A quick spark of encouragement to start the day with confidence.
- Fresh ideas tied to the “holiday of the day” to spark child-led learning in fun, easy ways.
- Gentle mindset reminders that help you let go of pressure and comparison.
- A sense of connection — because you’re not doing this homeschool thing alone.
Each message is light, practical, and rooted in the belief that there’s no wrong way to homeschool. It’s not another overwhelming “to-do” — it’s a breath of fresh air that helps you and your kids thrive together.
✨ Subscribe and join a growing community of moms who look forward to their daily dose of encouragement, creativity, and clarity.
Soft Ways to Release What Comes Up
As you uncover parts of yourself, you may feel ready to let some things go. Release can be simple and symbolic:
- Write what you’re releasing and rip up the paper.
- Wash your hands slowly, imagining the old expectations leaving your body.
- Take a walk, breathe deeply, and let the breeze carry away your heaviness.
- Dance in the kitchen with your kids, laughter and movement shake things loose.
Letting go doesn’t need to be loud. Even quiet shifts ripple outward into your homeschool.
If You’re Not Sure Where to Begin
Most of us don’t know what’s in our shadows right away. Pay attention to triggers:
- When you feel jealous of another homeschool family.
- When you deflect a compliment about your teaching.
- When you admire someone’s freedom and immediately think, “I could never.”
These moments are breadcrumbs, leading you toward the pieces of yourself waiting to be seen.
Shadow Work Is an Ongoing Practice
This is not a one-and-done project. You’re not “behind” if things still surface later. In fact, just as your children revisit math concepts at deeper levels as they grow, you’ll revisit your own layers again and again.
The gift is not in “finishing” shadow work, but in choosing to meet yourself with softness each time a new layer is revealed.
You Don’t Have to Do It Alone
While shadow work is deeply personal, you don’t have to walk through it in isolation. Sharing your reflections with a trusted friend, spouse, or journaling partner can bring relief. Even your children, in their innocent observations, often mirror truths back to you, which is both humbling and healing.
You’re invited to join The Happy Hive Facebook Group, a safe space for sharing, reflecting and growing all year.
You can also book a FREE 1:1 call with Christy, the Queen Bee, here in the hive. As your homeschool mentor, Christy can help you sort through the worries, name the patterns that keep you stuck, and discover gentle shifts that make both homeschooling and daily life feel lighter.
Sometimes, just speaking your thoughts out loud to someone who understands the homeschool journey brings a new perspective and sense of relief. Together, we’ll explore ways to reconnect with your own strengths, so you can show up for your children with confidence, calm, and clarity.
What Comes After Shadow Work?
The goal isn’t perfection. It’s wholeness. Afterward, give yourself time to:
- Rest more than usual.
- Nourish your body with real food.
- Laugh with your kids.
- Revisit your family’s values and adjust where needed.
- Create something, art, stories, or even new routines, that reflects your growth.
This is how you model a living, breathing homeschool: one where growth is welcomed, even in the hidden corners.
A Reminder for the Season
You are not too much. You are not broken. You are not behind.
You are cyclical, like the seasons. You are strong, like the roots. You are gentle, like the breeze that scatters the leaves.
Let October be your invitation inward, not because you need to fix yourself, but because you deserve to know all of who you are. And when you do, your children will see that the bravest kind of learning is the kind that starts within.
Ready to transform your homeschool experience?
Looking for a way to bring more joy, connection, and ease to your homeschool?
The Busy Bees Holiday Hub is a one-of-a-kind, affordable membership that helps you weave learning into everyday life through meaningful (and fun!) holiday and seasonal activities. Inside, you’ll find ready-to-use printables, a daily holiday calendar, monthly kids’ classes, coaching support for moms, and a growing library of short, practical workshops—all designed to help you create a buzz-worthy learning environment where curiosity, confidence, and connection thrive.
By integrating these resources, you can effortlessly add the holiday of the day to your homeschool routine, fostering a dynamic and enriching educational experience for your children.
Learn more and join the Buzy Bees Membership HERE. Discover how easy and enjoyable it is to celebrate while learning every day!
I’d also like to invite you to join our email list for expert tips, mindset shifts, and creative ideas to navigate homeschooling with confidence and joy. Each edition of The Buzz is designed to inspire and empower homeschool moms like you, featuring practical strategies for organizing, scheduling, and lesson planning—all while embracing the magic of child-led learning to ignite your family’s curiosity and creativity.
The Buzz will help us stay connected and work together to make homeschooling a fulfilling journey for your family.
In the meantime, “Bee” sure to check out the different methods of homeschooling as well as our 3 easy strategies for burnout.
