Welcome to the Wild and Free Podcast, Episode 54. I'm Ainslie Ament, and this week, Kristen

Mittler, better known as Old Joy on Instagram, shares a bit of her homeschool story and some

honest thoughts about this unpredictable lifestyle. So it's hard. It's hard to not fall into that trap

of comparing your day to someone else's. I think it's just

so important to remember that everyone is doing their best just like you are. The highs and lows of

motherhood is happening to everyone. Plus, our new love and bundle is available right now. We'll

talk about what's inside in just a minute.

So grab a cup of coffee and join us on the front porch.

Let's get started.

A few years ago, my friend Hannah introduced me to the art of sourdough bread making,

which draws from the ancient

practice of natural leavening.

A simple mixture of flour and water is left to ferment, and over time, naturally occurring

organisms have their way with it.

Lactobacillae bacteria and wild yeast grow and multiply within the mixture until it becomes

light and bubbly, creating the perfect conditions for a wholesome, flavorful loaf of bread

that tastes richer and keeps longer because of the living organisms present in the wild yeast.

I love the simplicity of this organic process, even if it isn't the most convenient.

I love the purity of an uncomplicated list of ingredients, flour, water, and salt.

And I love a practice that comes with beautiful reminders that good things come to those who wait.

The similarities of making sourdough to this homeschool

lifestyle are not lost on me. Much like bread, our homes are built from their wild beginnings.

...