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Kelly Edwards, a homeschool parent and creator of the 90 Minute School Day framework shares how early in her own homeschooling journey, Kelly's insights from podcasts and social media were a guiding light. We dive into Kelly's unexpected beginnings with homeschooling, the challenges she faced as a foster and adoptive parent, and how her journey evolved from recreating a traditional classroom at home to gradually letting go of rigid expectations. Kelly opens up about navigating the unique needs of her neurodivergent children, the process of deschooling, and the internal work necessary to truly embrace homeschooling freedom.

You'll also hear practical strategies for self-care as a homeschool parent, balancing sibling relationships, and what a day in the life looks like using Kelly's 90 Minute School Day approach. Whether you're brand new to homeschooling or looking for reassurance and inspiration, this is full of honesty, encouragement, and actionable advice.

In this episode you'll hear about:

• The start of homeschooling: Not originally planned.
• Early exposure to homeschooling through a friend.
• Becoming foster and adoptive parents in West Virginia.
• Specific family needs leading to the decision to homeschool.
• Daughter's academic, social, and emotional needs not fully met in traditional school.
• Desire to build stronger family bonds and attachment.
• Attempt to replicate traditional school at home (gradebooks, schedules, pledge, etc.).
• Realizing the Need for Flexibility
• Letting go of unnecessary routines and structures.
• Dropping unneeded activities (e.g., spelling tests).
• Navigating self-doubt and seeking validation from others.
• Advice from Akilah Richards ("resistance is the roadmap") and what that means in practice.
• Identifying and responding to resistance points in homeschooling.
• Transition Toward Deschooling
• Understanding "behavior as communication."
• Gradually dropping what didn't work; picking up what did.
• Moving from strict frameworks to intuition and permission.
• The importance and discomfort of making individualized choices.
• Challenges of Homeschooling
• Navigating neurodivergence within the family.
• Evolving as a parent and the grief of changed expectations.
• Managing Parental Needs and Self-Care
• The 90 Minute School Day Philosophy
• Explaining skill areas (reading, writing, math) and content areas (family time, activities, exploration).
• Emphasis on layering and reinforcing learning as children grow older.

Links and Resources From Today's Show

• Why Should I Seek Occupational Therapy?
• Homeschool Daily Set Up: Parental Planning Guide
• Join Me At The BRAVE 2025 Conference Online
• Akilah Richards- Raising Free People: Unschooling as Liberation
• How To Integrate The Zones At Home
• Structure, Schedules, and Unschooling?
• Episode 30: Sensory Processing and Co-Regulation: Insights for Parents
• Episode 33: Dyslexia Demystified: Marianne Sunderland's Approach and Homeschooling Tips
• Episode 53: Redefining Rest: An approach to Spiritual, Physical, Cognitive, and Emotional Rest
• Episode 61: Mindful Moments: Supporting Focus and Calm in Children
• Connect With Sarah On Instagram
• 90 Minute School Day
• Connect With Kelly On Instagram

Connect With Our Guest, Kelly Edwards

Kelly Edwards is the founder of The 90-Minute School Day™, a framework that helps parents transition from a school-based mindset to natural learning. She helps families create a thriving homeschool by prioritizing felt-safety, connection, self-awareness, while honoring biological rhythms and neurodivergence. Through her Day in the Life community, Guide Training™ program, and The 90-Minute School Day™ podcast, Kelly supports parents in unlearning school-based conditioning, trusting natural learning, and redefining success by focusing on strengths, not setbacks. A wife and long-time homeschooling parent of three girls, she is also a parent coach, educator, and trauma-informed foster care advocate. Learn more at 90minuteschoolday.com