We recently had the chance to connect with Christal Gamble Banks and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Christal, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
I’m handling being a parent and a teacher – alone. Well, actually that isn’t fair to say. I have a very strong village of fellow homeschoolers, family, and friends that are filling in the gaps wherever they can but it’s a new and unexpected journey to be alone after always having a friend and partner in my husband. He passed away unexpectedly in November 2024 and I don’t think I’ll ever become adjusted to handling so much on my own.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Christal Gamble Banks and I’m a homeschooling mama, school choice advocate and blogger for @Mamasweetbaby. I created my blog because it was hard finding community amongst other homeschoolers – especially during COVID. If you can’t find what you need, others probably can’t either and it’s up to you to build the world you want to live in. Initially, my blog focused on gifted and advanced learners, like my own son, but the need for representation in this space for homeschoolers of color and neurodiverse learners pulled me in additional directions. I write for my own blog, as well as for others, speak on home education and school choice, and represent my home state of Alabama on social platforms. I’m currently preparing for my fourth presentation with the International School Choice and Reform Conference being held this year in Rome, Italy.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
My children really changed the way I viewed education. Each child was different and needed specific things for the intellectual growth and less of the one size fits all model that is often pushed. I love encouraging parents to take an active role in their child’s learning and to foster their interests.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
This year has been really tough after losing my husband but I’ve never lost sight that people are depending on me. I still have a child that I’m homeschooling, adult children that need me, and parents that still need help navigating the sometimes complicated world of school choice. Stopping is not an option.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Is the public version of you the real you?
Because I spend so much time in the public eye and on social media, it’s hard to make every moment authentic. But I try too. I don’t want to be an example of perfection but of reality. Choosing to educate your children is not a light decision and portraying a false ideal can be a setback for other families considering the same path. So long story short – yes, it’s the real me. I’m a little unhinged, overly optimistic, and always tackling too much with a smile. Beware.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What light inside you have you been dimming?
My background is in the fine arts. I teach my child as much as I can about the Arts but coming from years of management in art galleries and an extensive education in fine art, I feel sometimes as if I’ve put my own life on the back burner for my children. I regret nothing so far but in the future I would love to tackle Fine Arts again, not only as an arts professional but maybe an artist as well. I’m not too bad of a painter…
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mamasweetbaby.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mamasweetbaby
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCakllnN7wjesn2uoxBoQYpQ
- Other: TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@mamasweetbaby1
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
