I'm Karen Morrison , homeschooling mom of 4 daughters ages 13, 16, 21 and 24. Yes, life is very full around here and honestly, I wouldn't have it any other way!
Just a little about me- I am a midwestern girl at heart although I have lived in Southern California since I was 12 years old. My parents and my brother (who has 5 kids!!) live within 15 minutes of us which is so nice with with such a busy and active family.
We are incredibly blessed to live in a gorgeous coastal community just a few miles from the beach- and I love it so much! My favorite days are spent collecting sea glass , searching for dolphins and breathing in the salty ocean air.
In the years before I had kids, I attended Pepperdine University and received a Masters Degree in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy. I've always been the one that friends came to for support and advice so I thought I would make a career of it. After I had my first child, I worked full time for a year but missing all her firsts nearly broke my heart. I longed to be home with her so I left the therapy world for the freedom and flexibility of coaching.
It was an exciting time!! I could meet with clients over the phone- all over the world and still be with my kids during the day. Since 2001, with a few breaks in between as my family grew- I have worked as a life and business coach supporting thousands of women ( and a few men!) in both starting and growing businesses but also in thriving in their individual lives.
Before you start to think that things have been all rosy over here, let me tell you it's not been an easy road. My kids were a handful as babies and toddlers and it seemed that what worked for one didn't work for the others. I read ALL the books. Like serious all!! (maybe you can relate?) As soon as they started school, life became a constant struggle and it was pretty obvious that they didn't fit inside the box. Honestly, when I look back it feels like we spent all our time in parent- teacher meetings. Our kids complained about school constantly. Homework was a battle that we never won. Anxiety and behavior problems were rampant . We advocated as best we could for our kids needs to be met but were told that hands were tied. Well meaning experts tried to give us advice but it never really made sense. We were so lost.
It hurts to look back on that time when we felt isolated and alone as other parents and even our own family didn't seem to understand.
So finally in 2012 after having my oldest daughter tested and discovering she was gifted, my journey to a spacious life and learning without limits would begin. That year, after fighting the system in 3 different schools for 3 years, after lost of F’s and literally failing ins school we finally found our mojo and said enough is enough. We pulled her out of school !! We were homeschoolers!!
As a former people pleaser and follow the rules kind of gal, I felt like such a rebel!!
What an amazing gift!! It was as if a giant weight had been lifted off my oldest’s shoulders (and of course ours!!) and we once again had our curious, interested, happy daughter back again. We went back to living our lives as we had when our girls were little. We read voraciously , explored museums , visited parks, libraries, baked, traveled, and learned what we wanted to learn and when we wanted to learn it. It was such a relief.
That next school year I brought all of my children home and have never looked back. Now at over 10 years of homeschooling neurodiverse and emotionally intense children though the pain of that suffering is never far from our minds, our days in school are a distant memory.
For our family, homeschooling was the answer we had been seeking all of these years and has been the miracle we were looking for!! It's been so awesome to create a wonderful, vibrant, customized education and family environment and see my kids thrive. I had no idea that after years of stress and conflict that being with my kids would be so much fun or that I would feel so passionate about sharing my story with others.
Trust me I get that you are still wary and unsure. I understand your fears and worries. I know it because I was the one saying that I could never teach my kids and that they would never listen to me. How could they when trying to get them to do what the schools wanted was such a battle and we were in crises on a daily basis?
How wrong I was!. Our family relationships have grown so much over these past years- we are incredibly close . My girls are each others best friends even with a huge age range. My oldest daughters excelled at home and have become confident young women who have graduated from college and started their own businesses. They are living their lives with passion and purpose. My younger two girls are still homeschooling and will likely follow their sisters paths or who knows maybe they will chart their own. Whatever they desire I will be here for it all!!
Honestly I cringe to think of the psychological and emotional damage that we would have faced and cannot even imagine what things would be like if we had not left school. And just think of all the amazing experiences I would have missed if we had stayed with what was safe and known?
After I started homeschooling I started a local group for parents of gifted and emotionally intense kids. It grew into a vibrant community where for almost 10 years we enjoyed weekly park days, field trips, campouts , mom's night out, parent workshops, and more. Our group has evolved over the years and we are still finding adventure whenever and wherever we can.
Also, I'm back to coaching again and am loving every moment!! These days I work with parents who are suddenly and unexpectedly faced with the decision to homeschool as well as mamas who have been homeschooling for some time but are feeling overwhelmed or frustrated with how things are going. These parents know that life with kids is not meant to be this hard and I am here as a friend, a mentor and a guide- to offer hope and inspiration- and practical tips. There really is a light at the end of the tunnel- I promise!!.
Interested in coaching with me? Sign up for a free 15 minute no obligation consultation by filling out the form below!
Just a little about me- I am a midwestern girl at heart although I have lived in Southern California since I was 12 years old. My parents and my brother (who has 5 kids!!) live within 15 minutes of us which is so nice with with such a busy and active family.
We are incredibly blessed to live in a gorgeous coastal community just a few miles from the beach- and I love it so much! My favorite days are spent collecting sea glass , searching for dolphins and breathing in the salty ocean air.
In the years before I had kids, I attended Pepperdine University and received a Masters Degree in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy. I've always been the one that friends came to for support and advice so I thought I would make a career of it. After I had my first child, I worked full time for a year but missing all her firsts nearly broke my heart. I longed to be home with her so I left the therapy world for the freedom and flexibility of coaching.
It was an exciting time!! I could meet with clients over the phone- all over the world and still be with my kids during the day. Since 2001, with a few breaks in between as my family grew- I have worked as a life and business coach supporting thousands of women ( and a few men!) in both starting and growing businesses but also in thriving in their individual lives.
Before you start to think that things have been all rosy over here, let me tell you it's not been an easy road. My kids were a handful as babies and toddlers and it seemed that what worked for one didn't work for the others. I read ALL the books. Like serious all!! (maybe you can relate?) As soon as they started school, life became a constant struggle and it was pretty obvious that they didn't fit inside the box. Honestly, when I look back it feels like we spent all our time in parent- teacher meetings. Our kids complained about school constantly. Homework was a battle that we never won. Anxiety and behavior problems were rampant . We advocated as best we could for our kids needs to be met but were told that hands were tied. Well meaning experts tried to give us advice but it never really made sense. We were so lost.
It hurts to look back on that time when we felt isolated and alone as other parents and even our own family didn't seem to understand.
So finally in 2012 after having my oldest daughter tested and discovering she was gifted, my journey to a spacious life and learning without limits would begin. That year, after fighting the system in 3 different schools for 3 years, after lost of F’s and literally failing ins school we finally found our mojo and said enough is enough. We pulled her out of school !! We were homeschoolers!!
As a former people pleaser and follow the rules kind of gal, I felt like such a rebel!!
What an amazing gift!! It was as if a giant weight had been lifted off my oldest’s shoulders (and of course ours!!) and we once again had our curious, interested, happy daughter back again. We went back to living our lives as we had when our girls were little. We read voraciously , explored museums , visited parks, libraries, baked, traveled, and learned what we wanted to learn and when we wanted to learn it. It was such a relief.
That next school year I brought all of my children home and have never looked back. Now at over 10 years of homeschooling neurodiverse and emotionally intense children though the pain of that suffering is never far from our minds, our days in school are a distant memory.
For our family, homeschooling was the answer we had been seeking all of these years and has been the miracle we were looking for!! It's been so awesome to create a wonderful, vibrant, customized education and family environment and see my kids thrive. I had no idea that after years of stress and conflict that being with my kids would be so much fun or that I would feel so passionate about sharing my story with others.
Trust me I get that you are still wary and unsure. I understand your fears and worries. I know it because I was the one saying that I could never teach my kids and that they would never listen to me. How could they when trying to get them to do what the schools wanted was such a battle and we were in crises on a daily basis?
How wrong I was!. Our family relationships have grown so much over these past years- we are incredibly close . My girls are each others best friends even with a huge age range. My oldest daughters excelled at home and have become confident young women who have graduated from college and started their own businesses. They are living their lives with passion and purpose. My younger two girls are still homeschooling and will likely follow their sisters paths or who knows maybe they will chart their own. Whatever they desire I will be here for it all!!
Honestly I cringe to think of the psychological and emotional damage that we would have faced and cannot even imagine what things would be like if we had not left school. And just think of all the amazing experiences I would have missed if we had stayed with what was safe and known?
After I started homeschooling I started a local group for parents of gifted and emotionally intense kids. It grew into a vibrant community where for almost 10 years we enjoyed weekly park days, field trips, campouts , mom's night out, parent workshops, and more. Our group has evolved over the years and we are still finding adventure whenever and wherever we can.
Also, I'm back to coaching again and am loving every moment!! These days I work with parents who are suddenly and unexpectedly faced with the decision to homeschool as well as mamas who have been homeschooling for some time but are feeling overwhelmed or frustrated with how things are going. These parents know that life with kids is not meant to be this hard and I am here as a friend, a mentor and a guide- to offer hope and inspiration- and practical tips. There really is a light at the end of the tunnel- I promise!!.
Interested in coaching with me? Sign up for a free 15 minute no obligation consultation by filling out the form below!