A "Bone-Deep Freedom" Kind of Friday Ritual

You’re reading The Ten AM, a Friday ritual for the parents who traded the fluorescent hum of the institution for the quiet steam of a French press. Every week, I’m serving up a 1-minute hit of curated finds and field notes to help you remember that you aren’t just 'staying home. You’re building a world. Because coziness is a form of resistance, much like the first cup of coffee before the house wakes up, or my recurring belief that I can solve any existential crisis with a new stack of linen notebooks and a very expensive candle, which usually results in me being 'organized' in spirit while my actual life remains a beautiful, unscripted work of art.

XO,

Kimberly

A shot of soul to start the day.

This is one of my favorite poems to read when I need a reminder that love is enough to make a difference in our beautiful homeschool life.

Trading "system" rules for home truths.

Some studies (like this one and this one) came out years ago that suggested early risers are more productive. As an early riser myself, I love the idea that it’s fueling my productivity, but the reality? It’s not about the time of day at all. It’s about consistency.

This Forbes article debunks the theory that you have to wake up early to power through school and work if you want to be successful in life. Instead, it shares a cozier and more approachable reality. Productivity and success come from:

As a staunch advocate for the Ten AM coziness, these are the exact takeaways I hope more people will lean into for themselves, their children, and their homeschooling. Find what works for you and stick to that routine over a one-size-fits-all approach.

Neighborly finds and homeschool favorites.

Let’s be honest, the world is feeling heavy these days. Today, here in Arizona, we have dozens of schools and businesses closed for the National Day of Action (which is just another reason why I’m so happy we’re homeschooling). It can be hard to talk about these issues with children, but we still want to keep them in the know, right? That’s why we listen to World Watch News.

World Watch News comes on in our car when we’re commuting to midday jiujitsu, when we need an academic break, when the kids want TV in the morning, or on our way to our co-op. It’s a great 10ish-minute episode that touches on the heavy stuff our kids hear us talking about at home, before finishing with feel-good stories that I find fascinating and inspiring. It’s exactly the news we all need more of these days.

Try it free for 30 days and see if your kids get as hooked as mine are.

Sightings of the "classroom" where it shouldn't be

Who needs a desk when you have a driveway? This is a sighting from yesterday of our "classroom" exactly where it shouldn't be—spread across the concrete under an open sky. While my son was deep in the unscripted work of sculpting a mushroom from air-dry clay, he was doing so much more than just "staying home". He was building his own world by strengthening fine motor muscles and engaging his senses in a way that simply doesn't happen within four walls. This low-stress, familiar environment significantly increased his receptivity to the artistic process, demonstrating that learning occurs 24 hours a day through every experience we provide.

It’s a little bit of grit, a lot of fresh air, and a whole lot of bone-deep freedom.

The science and data behind the art of homeschooling.

There is a fascinating psychological phenomenon called The Protégé Effect, which suggests that the best way to truly master a subject isn't to study it, but to teach it to someone else. When we prepare to explain a concept (whether it's the lifecycle of a mushroom or a complex math equation), our brains shift into a higher gear of organization and memory retention. We are actively structuring it to make it accessible to another person.

This aligns perfectly with The Ten AM lifestyle, as our homes are the ultimate low-friction labs for this kind of "soulful" exchange. I frequently see my older son walk over to my younger son to help him with subtraction, and I see the same from my younger son, who teaches us what happened in our science experiments. In a traditional, high-pressure classroom, a child might feel the "fluorescent hum" of anxiety when asked to speak. But in our world, the Protégé Effect happens naturally over a second cup of coffee or while lounging in a favorite armchair.

When your child explains a "Did you know...?" fact to you or shows a younger sibling how to mold clay on the driveway, they are building a neurological "safe harbor". They are trading rigid "system" rules for a deep, long-term understanding that only flourishes when they feel cozy, confident, and "uncaged".

Low-friction, high-magic things to try today.

My kids are absolutely loving learning to draw right now, so we are leaning into that creative spark as a tool for our own peace. This week, we’re introducing the 10-minute sketch as a gentle mental reset for those moments that feel tense, overwhelming, or frustrating.

Instead of a formal lesson, I’m planning to simply prop open a high-quality, illustrated book, like a vintage botany guide or their science encyclopedia, to a particularly striking page and leave it near where we gather on our carpet for morning devotionals. When the house needs a calming shift, I’ll set a timer for ten minutes and draw together. There is no "look at this" required; it is just a quiet, high-magic way to find center again and spark the kind of "Did you know...?" conversations that happen naturally when the pressure is off.

A little something sweet for your weekend.

Last week, I shared my favorite new homeschooling soul sister and asked for you to name this happy lady. Meet, Clementine (the name you collectively chose)!

She has energized herself straight off the coffee bean plant and saddled up for a life of bone-deep freedom. She’s tired sometimes, but she’s also ready to ride into this beautiful, unscripted life.

Clementine knows there will be grit, but she also knows there will be fresh air, sunshine, movement, energy, and a whole lot of love in the process. Since she truly is "all of us," I’m working on some fun swag so we can take that spirit with us wherever we go.

I’ll be back next Tuesday with my weekly ‘lil love letter from our homeschool to yours. Until then, I’m sending you all the cozy vibes to close out this week.

~ Kimberly