Maddy Korth
"Our family has been a part of Rooted Grove for nearly six months, but in the best way possible, it feels like longer. My children have formed close bonds with their friends and facilitators and I enjoy the ability to socialize with the other moms in a relaxed setting.
I love that the "child-led" philosophy allows my kids the freedom to use their imaginations, explore endlessly, and spend plenty of time outside. It's just kids being kids without any pressure or expectations. "
Lacey Lester
NO FAULT WITH THE FLOWER
“I can’t go in.”
My daughter sat in the passenger seat of our minivan, tears streaming down her face. She gripped one strap of her backpack as a blonde curl fell across her puffy eyes.
“My legs won’t let me go in.”
We were parked outside the brick middle school. Each minute ticking on the digital radio display reminded me I was late for work. And we were at a breaking point. No learning was happening for her there. She was in constant fight-or-flight mode, trying to survive. I was heartbroken for her, and she was overcome with shame.
Day after day she had been standardized, measured, and compared. It weighed on her tender nervous system. She tried so hard to force herself to sit down and sit still, overwhelmed by the noise, the transitions, the sheer number of people.
I often felt, when advocating for her within the system, that she was like a little wildflower, unable to bloom. And no matter how much I insisted there was no fault with the flower—that she simply needed sunlight, water, and rich soil—the system kept pressing harder on the parts of her not yet in bloom. Leaving her even more hurt.
For years, I watched my sweet, compassionate, creative child grow quieter. Her light dimmed. Her nervous system edged toward shutdown. And for what? I will never forget that day.
Today, my daughter came home with mud and hay stuck to her boots, her hair wild and sun-kissed. She laughed as we scrolled through photos from her day—her grubby hand measuring an inchworm, a baby goat cradled in her arms, and a circle of younger children gathered around her as she read to them.
Later, she put on her headphones, turned on a podcast, and got to work making stickers for the children’s market she’s preparing for.
Rooted Grove has been an oasis for our family. A place where my daughter’s nervous system can finally exhale. Where she gets to be herself. There is so much learning, but it doesn’t feel like school. Curiosity and connection lead the way.
The shift from being tolerated to being celebrated has changed everything.
My little wildflower is settling in.
And wouldn’t you know—now that she has the sunlight, air, and soil she needs, she’s growing stronger and deeper each day, almost effortlessly.
Because that’s what wildflowers are meant to do.”
Mandee Peterson
Choosing an alternative path for our girls’ education came with both clarity and a quiet kind of fear. We knew deep down that the traditional route wasn’t for us, but the idea of carrying the full weight of their learning on our own felt overwhelming, almost impossible to hold.
Then we found Rooted Grove Collective, and everything softened into place.
What started as a hopeful step has become something truly transformative for our family. Over the past few months, we’ve watched our girls not just learn, but come alive in their learning. They spend their days outdoors, following curiosity like a compass, asking big questions, dreaming up wild ideas, and discovering who they are alongside the world around them.
Rooted Grove is more than a homeschool co-op. It’s a space that feels both grounding and expansive, where children are trusted, where creativity isn’t an extra but a foundation, and where their spirits are nurtured just as much as their minds. It holds that beautiful balance we were searching for: freedom and support, structure and wonder.
There’s something powerful about watching your children feel safe enough to be fully themselves while also being gently guided toward growth. Muddy shoes, bright eyes, endless stories, and a deeper sense of confidence have become part of our everyday rhythm.
We didn’t just find an educational path, we found a community, a philosophy, and a place that honors childhood in the way we always hoped existed.
And for that, we are endlessly grateful.