Conversations with Rosemary Elder

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rosemary Elder

Hi Rosemary, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hey there! I’m Rosemary, proud mom to two amazing girls and married to my high school sweetheart. Think of us as a page straight out of a suburban dream! If you take a peek at our Instagram, you’ll get a glimpse into our world: homeschooling, theme park adventuring, nature family. 

Homeschooling! That alone can make anyone say, “uhh, not for me,” and believe me, I felt the same way at first!

Our homeschooling journey actually began seven years ago when the time came to send our girls off to school. We just couldn’t get excited about the idea of them spending over 7 hours a day away from home. That’s when our amazing friend Sally introduced me to the concept of homeschooling. Suddenly, I was hearing words like “PSA” (Private School Affidavit), “Charter” (remote public charter schools), and “PSP” (Private School Satellite Program), terms I didn’t even know existed outside of the traditional “Brick and Mortar” School System. To be honest, I was totally overwhelmed and had no idea what I was getting into. But despite feeling out of my element, I dove in headfirst and gave it my all.

One thing I did know for sure was that I wanted to preserve the magic of childhood for our girls. I wanted to keep them connected to nature, allow for unstructured but structured creativity, and make learning feel like an adventure rather than a chore. Over time, we learned a lot, and we eventually found our flow. We blended Charlotte Mason and Waldorf philosophies to create a learning experience that nurtured their minds, hands and hearts but over the years, our approach blossomed into something uniquely ours.

Around the same time we started homeschooling, I decided to launch an Instagram account to document our journey sort of like an online scrapbook. At first, it was just a way to capture our experiences and keep track of what worked (and what didn’t). But as the pandemic hit, causing a rise in online learning, many people started reaching out, intrigued by our homeschooling lifestyle and looking for ways to implement parts of it into their own homes. I began sharing everything from what supplies we used and why, the crafts we did, and how we adapted to learning at home. One of the best decisions I made was eliminating TV and tablets from the girls’ daily routine. It made a world of difference in how they learned and how they connected with each other and us.

I shared our highs and lows, documenting moments from our year, things we loved and things we didn’t. Over time, our approach expanded to include things like theme park trips, books we love, handwork, nature study, and seasonal holidays learning experiences that aren’t always a part of the traditional school setting. This is when opportunities from brands and theme parks slowly started rolling in.

I never imagined that sharing our homeschooling journey would attract interest from brands and companies we love. But that’s exactly what happened! As the community grew, so did opportunities for collaborations, allowing our whole family to take part.

The girls’ favorite part? The book collaborations. We’re all big readers (not forced, just encouraged!). I used to read mostly homeschool related books, parenting, and everything in between, but one day, I picked up a fantasy novel, something I hadn’t read in a while and it sparked a whole new passion. Watching me read and share our bookshelf (I share them seasonally) inspired the girls even more. Now, they have their own ideas and love to share their thoughts through photos, crafts, and experiences. This unexpected journey has been incredibly rewarding, and we’re so grateful for the chance to share our unique learning style while also participating in paid collaborations. It’s the perfect blend of family, creativity, and learning, and it continues to grow and evolve every day.

Despite all the events we attend and the abundance of experiences available to us, I always make sure our girls stay grounded and connected to nature. Every Friday afternoon, we visit our favorite garden to nature journal, search for wildlife, and simply take in the peacefulness of the moment. We are so fortunate to have places like Mt. Baldy, Chino Hills State Park, Chino Creek Wetlands, and countless trails right at our doorstep. I encourage you to explore your own local area. You’d be amazed by what you can discover!

If you follow us on Instagram, you’ll notice I don’t share the exact locations of the nature spots we love. It’s not about gatekeeping, but rather about preserving the beauty of these places. I used to share every location, encouraging everyone to visit and enjoy. But after reading more about “thinking before you do it,” I realized that many visitors don’t respect the environment or understand how delicate ecosystems function without us disrupting them. If you scroll through my feed, you may be able to piece it together, but I now encourage everyone to get out there and explore California, especially the Angeles National Forest, and find your own personal paradise in the mountains around us.

Please remember to respect nature, stay aware of wildlife, and always bring water and snacks. Most importantly, “Pack it in, pack it out!” Let’s keep these spaces beautiful for future generations to enjoy.

“We are all meant to be naturalists, each in his own degree, and it is inexcusable to live in a world so full of the marvels of plant and animal life and to care for none of these things.” – Charlotte Mason

This quote tends to be the foundation of our homeschool + daily life. I want my girls to document everything, read everything and find magic. I hope you read this quote and feel the inspiration to set out and explore.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No journey is without its bumps, and ours has certainly had its share. It’s easy to have an idea or concept in mind, but actually executing it can be much harder than expected. We are part of an online charter school, funded by the state, which comes with its own set of restrictions on what we can and can’t purchase. Sometimes the brand of paint or pencils I prefer isn’t approved, so I have to advocate for why it’s necessary for them to approve it. This process can be tedious and, at times, frustrating. But thankful the school is there to pay for all their educational needs.

One of the biggest challenges I’ve found in homeschooling is learning patience, a word I’m still coming to appreciate. It’s definitely a “trust the process” kind of thing, letting the children come into it at their own pace. Much like nature, learning takes time, and sometimes you just have to step back and enjoy the slow, steady progress. Teaching a child to read is humbling one child may get it instantly, while the other stares at you, thinking, “Okay, and…?” Teaching a child to write is another moment of patience. A simple “X” or “+” can suddenly feel like a test of your own understanding, as you wonder how something so basic can seem so challenging for a 4- or 5-year-old.

As they grow, the curriculum becomes more difficult, but time seems to slip away. The carefree days of arts, crafts, and playing in the garden eventually fade. But now, the garden has become a quiet classroom, where the girls often sit, drawing, journaling, or doing handwork. It’s a new kind of challenge watching them grow and knowing that, as they do, I have to adapt to their changing needs. Thankfully, they still find joy in crafts and activities they haven’t outgrown. And I hope they never do!

I’ve learned that the obstacles and challenges in this journey are really what you make of them. I try to stay optimistic about the educational process, embracing the ups and downs as part of our unique homeschooling experience.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’ve always had a creative spark, and from a young age, I developed a deep love for crafts. As a kid, I would organize art clubs on our street with all the neighborhood girls, and I spent my allowance at Michaels, buying as many paints and felt sheets as I could. My grandma, who shared my love for making things, would give me buttons and fabric and taught me to sew. I always found so much joy in creating, and art felt like an essential part of who I was.

As I grew older, my passion for art and making things only deepened. This love led me to start an online business making handmade leather accessories for kids. My girls were my inspiration, and everything I created was designed with them in mind as functional, everyday items. I used high-quality leather sourced from Italy to South America and handcrafted each piece from home. Every item was named with the spirit of “explore” woven into it. I wanted to encourage kids to get outside, use their imagination, and be whoever they wanted to be. I documented my life as a stay-at-home mom, creating these items for children all over the world. Before I knew it, my brand exploded, and I found myself sewing late into the night often until 3 a.m.

I took my girls on nature walks, showing them how to collect leaves, rocks, or sticks along the way; and they used their purses for storage like a nature basket. We spent evenings at Disneyland, where the little purses I made were perfect for holding snacks or a Tsum Tsum. The versatility of the purses made them ideal for adventures, designed to grow with the child. Over time, my brand expanded to include items that my girls could use not just for adventures but also in our homeschooling journey. Unfortunately, when the pandemic hit, my business came to a standstill, and I shifted my focus to homeschooling.

Even though my business paused, you can still spot my leather goods in our photos and reels as my girls continue to use them in our everyday life and learning adventures.

As for what I’m known for… it’s a little bit of everything. From sipping coffee with my camera always in hand, to raising our “Irish Twin” girls who are 10.5 months apart, and spending endless time outdoors as a family. I’ve often been called the “Modern Day Laura Ingalls” you know, Little House on the Prairie style. I’m the one baking bread, making nutritious meals that are clean, making meaningful crafts, and going on nature walks, while also reading poetry, or books  from fantasy to mushrooms, all alongside my girls. My husband isn’t a reader.

I’ve gone from being a leather accessory maker, designing for children worldwide, to a stay-at-home mom who homeschools with a focus on nature and handwork. I’m proud of the way we’ve transformed our daily lives, embracing a simpler, tech free routine. As a family, we find joy in the little things, and our no-screens rule Monday through Friday is a cornerstone of that. Weekends are for movie nights though it usually takes us 3-4 days to finish one, and we love every minute of it. These are the moments we treasure.

When we’re not at home, you’ll find us exploring nature, hitting up theme parks, getting lost in libraries and bookstores, or grabbing my coffee fix. We’re all about making memories, one simple joy at a time.

In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
Homeschooling will always be here, but right now it seems to be portrayed as this “trendy” and fun way to educate. Don’t get me wrong, it is fun, but it’s not quite as trendy as many online accounts make it seem. I can’t help but wonder what education will look like in 5 to 10 years, especially with technology becoming such a central part of our lives. I know I use the internet to reach people and communicate, but I hope that, despite all the tech, children are still inspired to spend time outdoors, to create with their hands, and to experience the true wonder of nature.

I hope that kids find genuine peace in the outdoors, not just for the sake of posting a picture online, but to truly appreciate how these small, intricate ecosystems are constantly thriving and rely on us to care for them.

There’s definitely been a shift toward appreciating nature, but I want kids to dive deeper learning about the local plants and wildlife, finding joy in being outdoors with their peers, whether it’s discovering a king snake on a hike or watching a rattlesnake slither by. I want children to experience the outdoors for what they truly are, not just as something to capture for social media, but as something that can teach, inspire, and ground them in ways technology never will.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.homeschoolingmoonchildren.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/homeschoolingmoonchildren
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/homeschoolingmoonchildren
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/homeschoolinmoonchildren

Image Credits
Rosemary Elder Photography