Homeschooling has brought so much joy and purpose to our family. But there’s a quieter side to this life that isn’t often talked about:

Sometimes, it’s lonely.
Sometimes, friendships change.
And sometimes… people disappoint us.

Whether it’s a friend who suddenly pulls away, a lack of support where you hoped for connection, or a careless comment that stings far more than it should, friendship in this season can feel tender. Complicated. Wounded in ways that are hard to name.

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🕊️ “It’s Not Always About You”

Today, I found myself sitting with a truth that quietly settled into my heart:
It’s not always about you.

So often, when someone treats us with coldness or carelessness, our minds go inward.
What did I do wrong?
Was I too much? Not enough?
Should I have texted first? Said something different? Been a different version of myself?

But here’s the truth I’m learning, slowly and gently:
Sometimes the way people treat us has far more to do with what’s going on inside them than anything we’ve done.

Hurt people hurt people.
Distracted people forget to follow through.
Overwhelmed people pull away.
And some people simply don’t know how to show up in the ways we hoped they would.

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💛 Forgiveness, Even Without Closure

I was recently watching an interview with Kristen Chenoweth when she shared something that stayed with me—
She said that when someone is mean to her in public, she looks them in the eye and says,
“I forgive you.”

And if they get angry, she gently follows up with,
“I’ll pray for you.”

There’s something almost radical about that.
Not in a condescending way, but in a “this is how I’ll keep my heart soft” kind of way.
It’s not about being a doormat. It’s about choosing not to carry what isn’t yours.

Forgiveness doesn’t mean you weren’t hurt.
It doesn’t mean what happened was okay.
It just means you’re not letting the weight of someone else’s unhealed story stay strapped to your own.

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🌼 Friendship in the Homeschooling Years

If you’re a homeschooling mom, chances are you’ve felt the ache of loneliness at some point.
Maybe you’ve longed for a deeper friendship—one that understands the nuance of this life.
Maybe you’ve walked through subtle rejection or felt like the odd one out.

You’re not alone. So many of us carry invisible stories of friendship wounds—especially in a season where time, identity, and priorities shift.

But here’s the quiet invitation I hear in it all:
What if we stopped blaming ourselves for every relational fracture?
What if we stopped assuming that being left out means being unworthy?

What if, instead, we said:
“That hurt. But I’m not going to carry shame for it.”
“I’ll forgive you—not because it didn’t matter, but because I do.”

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✨ What We Can Do Instead

If this resonates, here are a few gentle ways to reflect and reset your heart in this season:

• Pause the Self-Blame
  Ask yourself, “Is this really about me?”
  And if it is—if there’s something to apologize for—then do that with humility. But if it’s not, let it pass through, not stay with you.
• Set Boundaries with Grace
  Forgiveness doesn’t mean access. You can wish someone well and protect your peace.
• Pray for the Ones Who Hurt You
  Not because they “deserve” it—but because you do. Carrying bitterness is heavy. Prayer lightens the load.
• Look for the Quiet Friendships
  The ones that don’t need to be loud to be meaningful. The ones found in shared library trips, or a knowing glance at co-op, or a friend who checks in without needing a reason.
• Let God Fill the Gaps
  He knows every ache, every unanswered text, every moment you felt unseen.
  And He whispers: “I see you. I’m not going anywhere.”

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🕯️ A Final Thought

Sometimes the friendships we hoped for don’t grow.
Sometimes people walk away, and we never really know why.
But it doesn’t mean you are too much, or not enough.

It doesn’t mean you have to twist yourself into someone else to be loved.
And it doesn’t mean you’re alone.

So the next time someone’s actions leave a sting, may you hear this in your spirit:
“I forgive you. I’ll pray for you. And I’ll keep walking forward—with grace in my hands and peace in my heart.”

With heart,
Patricia