Who knew one of the hardest parts of homeschool mom life would be letting the kids do things “the slow way” instead of just jumping in and doing it yourself? (Confession: Guilty as charged.) But here’s the thing—passing along real life skills isn’t just a time-saver for the future, it’s a serious gamechanger for kids’ confidence and independence, too.

In today’s episode, I’m joined by Katie Kimball—TEDx speaker, blogger at Kitchen Stewardship, and founder of the annual Life Skills Now virtual camp for kids. Katie’s a pro at helping families make cooking, home maintenance, financial basics, and even soft skills like communication and stress management both accessible and fun.

We talk all about why home and life skills matter more than ever in today’s busy families, how to make them central to your homeschool without losing your mind (or spending all summer nagging), and the countless ways learning “basic adulting” truly empowers our kids for the real world. Plus, why “outsourcing” some of this learning to expert mentors can lift a load off homeschool moms’ shoulders without any guilt whatsoever.

If you find yourself thinking it’s just “easier to do it yourself,” or if you want your kids to launch with confidence (and maybe cook dinner once in a while), this conversation will remind you WHY life skills deserve a starring role. Long after math facts fade, shoe-tying, tire-checking, and meal-makin’ will stick.

Listen to the Podcast:

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

  • Why teaching life skills has gotten lost—and why that needs to change
  • Why it’s so hard to slow down and let kids do things (even when it’s messier)
  • Why learning from non-parent experts can make all the difference (and is not “cheating”)
  • Practical ways to work life skills into your homeschool, from Littles to Teens
  • Strategies for blending “hard” skills (cooking, car maintenance) with “soft” skills (communication, stress management)
  • How life skills build real self-esteem (hint: not tied to grades or trophies)
  • Why teaching and learning life skills is as much for us parents as for our kids

Links and Resources:

Want to build more confidence, independence, and real-world savvy in your homeschoolers? Check out the Life Skills Now Camp and give your whole family a chance to learn something new together.

Why Home & Life Skills Still Matter More Than Math (And How to Actually Teach Them in Your Homeschool)

Let’s play a fun game called “What Was YOUR Most Embarrassing ‘I Have No Adult Skills’ Moment?” Maybe you tried to assemble IKEA furniture with scissors, or realized you could program a robot but not cook a pot of rice.

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What is a morning basket?

As homeschool parents, we get so hung up on math facts and grammar worksheets that we sometimes forget the biggest lessons—like how to feed yourself or avoid blowing up the washing machine—aren’t on anyone’s checklist. I mean, have you seen the “adulting” memes out there? We laugh so we don’t cry, folks.

Why Life Skills Got Lost (It’s Not Just You)

Once upon a time, most kids learned life skills by…well, living. Whether on a farm or in a busy household, everybody had work to do, chores to master, parents and aunts and grumpy older siblings teaching you to sew a button or scrub a floor. But somewhere along the way, our culture decided “childhood should be all fun, no work,” and basic life training got lost in the shuffle. (Oops.)

Suddenly, we started hearing about 22-year-olds who can diagram a sentence but can’t make a phone call to the dentist. Or bright, ambitious teens who freeze up when asked to cook noodles or sort out a bank deposit. And let’s be honest: half of us adults are still winging it, one YouTube tutorial at a time.

Here’s the good news: you can do better for YOUR kids. Homeschool isn’t just a second chance at education—it’s a second chance to train actual life skills, too.

Why “Do It Myself” Doesn’t Work (and What to Do Instead)

If you’re anything like me, letting your kids fumble through cracking eggs or folding shirts TAKES FOREVER. You’d rather just swoop in, get it done, and move on. (Raise your hand if you’ve ever edited something after your child “finished.”)

But let’s be honest, playing the perpetual superhero isn’t doing our kids any favors. It’s like the parenting equivalent of doing their algebra for them—except with more broken eggs.

Learning to slow down, show first, and then let them struggle is the key. Katie Kimball (our favorite healthy cooking enthusiast, TEDx speaker, and mastermind behind the Life Skills Now camp) reminded me in our latest podcast chat: It’s not about making life messier; it’s about teaching your kids “you’ve got this.” Real confidence is built in the doing.

The Case for Outsourcing Life Skills (and Why It’s Not Cheating)

Here’s something else: you don’t have to be an expert. Katie’s virtual camp hosts dozens of real-life pros—mechanics, bank managers, chefs, you name it—teaching the next generation everything from flower arranging to how (and why) to check tire pressure. Let them take the lead for once. Your role? Get curious, get involved, and then get out of the way.

Guess what: Sometimes kids only listen when a stranger says exactly what you’ve told them fifty times. That’s not a failure on your part. That’s just parenting.

Life Skills for All Ages (Not Just Littles)

Life skills aren’t just for the elementary crowd. Teens need these lessons most—especially the “soft” stuff like communication, coping with stress, leadership, and managing their own money (without swiping your card).

The good news is, with the right mix of grown-up mentors and a little Mom know-how, you can sneak these lessons into your homeschool all year round. Host a “kids cook dinner” night, do a DIY car check, let your teen schedule their own appointments, or work through some of Katie’s camp workshops as a family challenge.

How to Actually Make Life Skills Stick—And Enjoy It

The trick is to build life skills into your family culture, not just your planner. Try:

  • Assigning regular “family jobs” (cooking, home repair…trust me, even making the bed counts)
  • Letting kids struggle (and sometimes fail)—that’s where the grit happens
  • Outsourcing to experts you trust (including online resources and community mentors)
  • Modeling lifelong learning (learn right alongside them if you need to—no shame)

Key Takeaways (Because You Can’t Remember Everything)

  • Real independence comes from contribution, not just achievement.
  • Confidence grows when kids see themselves as capable—not just “smart.”
  • Outsource the skills you don’t know (or hate) to community experts—and watch your kids thrive.
  • It’s not about the fastest way. It’s about working yourself out of a job (the parenting dream).
  • Home “ec” is for everyone—including you.

Your Next Steps:

Join our homeschool community for more encouragement, ideas, and “you-can’t-make-this-up” stories.

Listen to this week’s podcast episode for the full conversation with Katie Kimball—you’ll leave encouraged and ready to start.

Save your family’s spot at Life Skills Now virtual camp—bring everybody (even the teens!) and learn together.

Share this post with a friend who’s always complaining her teens can’t boil water (we all know one).

Download our free homeschool planning forms.

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