Susan K Stewart

 

I’m Susan K. Stewart and my passion is to inspire you with practical and real-world solutions for your family.

How do I do that?

Homeschooling

My husband and I began homeschooling in 1981 and two weeks later was handed a leader’s hat. Through failures and successes I learned real-life homeschooling. Although our youngest child graduated in 2000, we didn’t leave the homeschool community. I share practical ideas for teaching your children in the way God leads you.

What is socialization?

Being Ready

Our family has found it practical to ready for any unexpected situation. Two years into our homeschooling adventure, my husband lost his job. It was another two years before he found full-time work. We lived in California at the time and were always ready in case of an earthquake. We found those preparations helped us maintain our homeschool and our sanity.

Being ready for those unexpected situations is practical and important. It doesn’t have to cost a lot of money, you don’t need an underground bunker full of MREs, or a hidden mountain hideout.

Practical preparedness list

Mental Health

When a parent gets the call that says your child is hospitalized with bizarre and unexplained actions, your whole world and life suddenly change. After the initial shock, like any other long-term illness, your family begins to settle into a new life.

Our family has been living this real-life situation since 2002. While it can be a sudden and traumatic change, it is possible to move forward with solutions that fit you, your loved one, and your family. I share our ups, downs, and what we’ve learned on our journey.

If I’d only known

Mission Statement

I serve God and others by offering real-world solutions based on my real-world experiences. I strive to be open, honest, and practical to inspire others to move forward.

Random Factoids About Me

  • I went to 14 different schools, including 3 high schools, before graduating.
  • When I graduated from college, I was eight months pregnant with my second child when I waddled on the stage to receive my diploma.
  • I have three pencil drawings from the Civil War era. My great-grandfather drew them.
  • I love doing research. I was the kid who got excited about doing a term paper.
  • I trained to dance in the San Francisco Children’s Ballet.
  • I am a Jesus lover.
  • I’m a chronic planner. My children say I plan spontaneous activities.
  • I was raised in California urban areas (i.e. San Francisco Bay Area) and love living on my rural acreage in Texas with three dogs, three cats, five chickens, and a peacock. (Oh yeah, and a husband.)
  • I have three incredible and successful children and five of the smartest, cutest, and best grandchildren – ever.
  • I love to travel by train.
  • I began my writing career with a neighborhood newspaper that I wrote and copied by hand, generally with a pencil because I make so many mistakes.
  • I ran for a local elective office. That’s off my bucket list.
  • I’m an introvert, but I love sharing practical ideas as a speaker.

Affiliations

  • Christian Writers Guild International
  • Christian Proofreaders and Editors Network
    • Teacher: Introduction to E-books
      • Creating an E-book
  • National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI)
    • NAMI Family-to-Family teacher
    • family support group facilitator
  • Christian Home Educators Association of California (CHEA)
    • Charter Member
    • Certified Parent Educator Certificate (CPEC) teacher
  • Advanced Writers and Speakers Association
    • 2016 Silver Scroll Non-fiction Award winner
  • Non-fiction Writers Association
  • Electronic Publisher Industry Coalition (EPIC)
    • Vice President
    • New Voices, Young Writers Competition (judge)
    • EPIC’s E-book Competition (judge)
  • CLASS graduate, 2004

Presenter

  • CHEA of CA Conventions, Bay Area and Annual (multiple years)
  • California Homeschool Network Conference, 2007
  • Home Schoolers of California Expo (Multiple years)
  • How To Homeschool Online Conference (2012)
  • Ultimate Homeschool Expo (2011)
  • Writers of Kern (multiple years)
  • Muse Online Writer’s Conference (multiple years)
  • Catholic Writers Online Conference (multiple years)
  • Christian Proofreaders and Editors Network Convention (PENCON) (multiple years)