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Hey there, happy Monday! Between book deadlines and Silobration prep, we're learning to savor the slow moments…. like 45-minute color hunts and cozy autumn movies. Here's what's on my heart this week.

This past week in a minute:

Busy season.. We're right in the middle of it, y’all! I have a book launching this week, wrapped up another large wholesale order and a benefit concert for Lacey's homeschool co-op, I'm staring down book deadlines, and we'll be at Magnolia Market in Waco next week for Silobration (come see us)…. oh, and we have two of the kids’ birthdays at the end of the month 😅.

It's kind of a whirlwind, honestly. It's also kind of awesome seeing the whole family working together and pulling in the same direction. But we're definitely ready for a break when this season passes.

Jordan keeps reminding me that this is what we built our life for… the freedom to say yes to these opportunities, to create together, to involve the kids in what we do. And he's right. But also? I'm already dreaming about slow December mornings with nowhere to be.

How do y'all handle busy seasons? Do you lean in or try to dial back?

Quick side note: If you recently purchased Our Little Adventures Volume III, I'm doing a giveaway and would love to include you!

Please reply to this email with a screenshot of your review. I'll enter you in a drawing to receive a free bundle (three books of your choice)… my way of saying thank you!

It means so much to our small business, and I truly appreciate you taking the time to leave an honest review.

❤️ Tabitha

Homeschooling with a Toddler Underfoot

If you know me, you know I don't believe in pushing learning and reading too early.

However, little sister syndrome is so real. Every time we sit down to do homeschool with Lacey, Evie wants to join in. So this past week I tried something new, and it worked out really well.

Keeping toddlers and young children busy while you're homeschooling can be tricky. I often have my nine-year-old focused on lessons while my three-year-old wants to be right beside us, doing everything her big sister does.

At this age, though, I really try to encourage play. When we sit down for schoolwork, I like to have something fun ready for Evie; something creative and hands-on. Sometimes it's coloring or drawing, other days it's a simple craft or a puzzle that builds her imagination and fine motor skills.

The other day, while we were working on math, Evie asked if she could do math too. She has Lacey's old math box from last year, which holds ten little colored stars. So I told her, "Of course we can do math!" I placed the ten stars in her hand and gave her a mission: go on a color hunt around the house and find something to match each star.

Her eyes lit up. For the next 45 minutes, she played this game over and over—running back to show me her treasures, proudly matching her stars to all the colorful things she'd found around the house.

If you're a homeschooling mom like me, you might notice that your younger ones want to join in with the "schoolwork." But sometimes, we take that a little too literally. The most important thing for our threes, fours, and fives isn't worksheets…it's play, movement, creativity, and connection.

There will be plenty of time for all the math and reading later. But right now, let's give them the space to build those beautiful foundational skills first.

What do your little ones do while their siblings are doing schoolwork? I'd love to hear your creative solutions!

 — Tabitha Paige, Author/ Illustrator, Speech Therapist & Mom

What you loved this week

My fall screen time post on Instagram really struck a chord with y'all. Turns out a lot of families are looking for cozy, gentle autumn movies & shows that skip the spooky stuff. The Julia Donaldson collection and classic Disney shorts were your top picks, and I got so many sweet messages about rediscovering these peaceful, slow-paced favorites with your littles.

Our Little Adventure at Christmas launches tomorrow!

So many of you messaged me after I shared about my new Christmas book on Instagram, and I can't even tell you how much that means. It officially launches tomorrow, and I am so proud of this one, y'all.

For those of you who've been asking for a little more storytelling (not just vocabulary building), this book is for you. It's gentle, it's magical, and I hope it becomes part of your family's Christmas traditions for years to come.

Mark your calendars…. tomorrow's the day!

Sometimes I make books & other pretty things…