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Erin and Ben Napier are taking on new roles.
The HGTV couple spoke with PEOPLE for a PEOPLE in 10 video and shared that they’ve recently started homeschooling their daughters, Mae, 4, and Helen, 7. As they spoke about what word or mantra would sum up the past year, Erin shared that 2025 was the year they told themselves they could do hard things.
“The 2025 is when we did the doing. That was the we can do hard things year,” Erin says.
“We went to Scotland,” Ben adds. “Yes! That was a big fear for me. Crossing the ocean,” Erin responds.
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“We started homeschooling,” Ben continues. “The kids. And we’re doing it. [Every time] when we say it, people are like, ‘Oh, did you hire a tutor?’ And we’re like, ‘No, we’re the tutors.’”
Later, the two are asked about if there are any non-negotiables they have as a family to help ensure a slower lifestyle.
“Homeschooling. It’s not a non-negotiable, it’s what we’re trying this year,” Erin responds. “But they’ve never had devices, they’ve never held phones or tablets or iPads. We’re trying to live like it’s our childhood again.”
“We let them watch things on TV, all of us together as a family. We have a movie night like every night, and it’s not like we don’t have TV time,” she continues. “We’re watching like Berenstain Bears, we watched Prancer this week. So living slower.”
Speaking with Today in September, the proud parents opened up a little bit about their home life. At the time, the two shared that when it comes to their kids’ birthday parties, they follow this one rule that might be considered unpopular.
“Our rule is, until they’re old enough to plan it themselves, it’s supper at grandparents,” Ben shared.
“If your 4-year-old’s birthday party looks like a wedding, what do they have to look forward to?” asked Erin. “Maybe this is an unpopular opinion, but I think there’s a lot of moms out there who feel the same way I do.”
Last summer, Erin shared a photo on her Instagram of Mae wearing a teal unicorn costume for the “last time.” In the sweet photo, the toddler could be seen wearing the fuzzy costume with the hood up, posing in a bathroom.
In her caption, Napier took a moment to reflect on how her daughter is getting older, sharing how she knew it was the final hurrah for the costume.
“I saw a ‘last time’ and knew it: the passed down 2T unicorn costume they loved that I got at Dirt Cheap for $3 was worn for the last time this week,” Erin wrote. “It’s comforting to capture it, for some reason. 🙂 We’re losing her babyness but getting real, sweet, thoughtful conversations in exchange.”
