Hi, I’m Michelle — a former public school teacher, now a full-time homeschool mom navigating life with twin boys, one with autism and one with severe ADHD. I’m also a gluten-free baker, chicken wrangler, chaos coordinator, and enthusiastic RV trip planner.

After 14 years in the classroom, a medical leave turned into a new chapter I never saw coming — one filled with garden dirt, backyard chickens, handmade bread, homeschool meltdowns, and a whole lot of love.

🍞 The Teaching Never Stopped — It Just Changed Classrooms

Swapping the whiteboard for a messy kitchen counter and a homeschool table didn’t mean I stopped teaching — it just meant the lessons got a little more hands-on. These days, we learn math with measuring cups, science with eggs from our hens, and reading while wrapped in a blanket fort.

And I’m still grading papers… now it’s just usually smeared with peanut butter.

🐓 Life on the Homefront: Flour, Feathers & Family

We live a life full of heart and hustle — baking from scratch, tending our tiny backyard homestead, and doing our best to raise good humans (and not burn the gluten-free muffins).

Our pets are part of the story too — from a Great Dane/lab mix who thinks she’s a lap dog, to our newest aussiedoodle puppy, to 8 very opinionated backyard chickens.

✏️ What You’ll Find on This Blog

Twins, Tenders, and Teaching is all about the beautiful, messy, real-life moments of motherhood and homeschooling. Here, I share:

• 📚 Tips and honest stories from homeschooling neurodivergent twins
• 🧁 Gluten-free recipes that actually taste good
• 🐣 Backyard chicken adventures and garden updates
• 🛻 RV camping with kids (and surviving it with your sanity)
• ❤️ Real mom moments — the funny, the hard, and the heartwarming

💬 Why I Write

Because someone else out there is doing the best they can — and maybe needs to know they’re not alone. Maybe that’s you. And if it is, I’m so glad you’re here.

So grab your coffee (even if it’s cold), pull up a chair, and let’s figure out this wild ride together.