Normally, I keep my opinions about most homeschool topics to myself because we all need to come to our own conclusions. We each need to do what is best for our child, knowing there is no right or wrong way to homeschool, as long as each family is being true to their vision and goals. But now that we've been chatting here on the podcast for over 2 years, I thought a little candid breakdown of my thoughts on a few "controversial" homeschool topics would be fun. Remember, we're all friends here...

As a homeschool mom, it can often feel intimidating to hear the jargon of the academic world. It can make you feel like you don't know enough to home educate your child. I felt that same way too. And it's my goal in today's episode to give you clear explanations for skill and content subjects. Then, we'll talk more in-depth on what this looks like in your homeschool family. Why does this matter? Because I know that your confidence will build when you begin to learn the terms and definitions...

The first question most homeschool families ask is something about curriculum and the academic part of home education. Sure, that has it's place. But, what if it isn't the most important thing about these years with your children at home? Today's guest, Yvette Hampton, of Schoolhouse Rocked is sharing what she discovered on her journey as a new homeschool mom. Her encouragement of shifting your why and focus, along with her candid answers about the ups and downs of being a homeschool mom is...

So much about homeschool has to do with our children. And rightly so. But, did you know that when homeschool parents have the right perspective, it trickles down to their children? And then homeschool becomes more enjoyable for the entire family! One of the major sticking points for moms and dads is the relearning of what education really can be. We have years of indoctrination and conditioning to work through. But, today's episode is going to give you the place to start...along with where to...

24 hours in a day, 7 days a week for 365 days a year and that is a lot of time to fill up, but also not a lot of time as a homeschool mom.  The home education of your children is a priority, but how can that fit into a family's daily life? And how does it become a center block to the day? If we fail to plan, we plan to fail. And this is so true for homeschool. Without a plan, you simply could easily neglect and forget about your educational goals and curriculum. You've taken the time to...

Being a stay at home homeschooling mom is a lot of fun, but it isn't without it's challenges. One of those being the keeping up with all of the chores and housework. It is never ending and can make us feel like giving up altogether. There is hope though! And it doesn't have to be all or nothing. A manageable chore system is within your reach. And today's episode in the back to homeschool series is all about helping you create realistic goals in order to keep up with the housework while you...

One of your top concerns, if not the top one, is which curriculum should you use to homeschool your children? And there are a ton out there to choose from, which I'm sure you have discovered. In this week's series all about back to homeschool, let's tackle the elephant in the room: curriculum. I have a very specific method for choosing curriculum and resources for your family and we're going to scratch the surface of that today. Grab your homeschool mom notebook and a pen because you're...

It's well known how important reading is for your homeschool children. But, as a parent, you know that each of your children is different and an individual, which comes with challenges as you home educate. You really want them to learn to read well and enjoy reading so that they continue with it beyond their homeschooling years. But, there is also the question of what to read, when to read it, and how to go about getting better with reading comprehension. Today's guest, Jamie Erickson, of The...

From the outside looking in, most people {homeschoolers included}, look at just the academics and measure success by that standard. But, really, homeschooling is an entire lifestyle. Every part of your life can be knit together with the home education of your children. Sure, homeschoolers can go to college, be entrepreneurs, get great jobs, achieve levels of success. But what if, at the same time, there were lifelong benefits to these years at home with parents? I know there are. And today,...

Ah, the age old question all moms ask themselves. Sometimes it's out loud. And other times, it's a little voice in the back of your mind. "Is it possible to do it all?" Homeschooling kicks this question up a notch and often leaves moms feeling defeated. And you know that isn't the right mindset to have day in and day out with your family. Let's examine this question and I'm going to give you my honest answer. But, I promise to follow it up with the exact steps that will equip you to stop...

The concern over patience...and the lack of enough of it...holds parents back from homeschooling all the time. And once you begin homeschooling, it's what makes you question if it really is best for your children to be home with you all day. Is it possible to grow in patience as a stay at home homeschool mom? I think it definitely is as I've seen my own level of patience increase over the years. And I'm sharing 5 tips to help you grow in your patience so that you and your children can see the...

Do you ever wonder if your homeschool kids are going to turn out okay? You're on the "road less traveled," so it's easy to wonder what the outcome will be.  Monica Swanson had a similar thought when she began homeschooling her boys. And now, she's graduated 3 from high school and is enjoying continuing the journey with her 13 year old. From all the years of homeschooling, she has grace and wisdom to encourage the next generation of homeschool moms: that's you! She didn't step into this...

As a mom, you want the best for your children. They mean so much to you and this draw to homeschool is so strong in your heart. You know that it is the best educational path for your kids, as well as the life you want for your family. Often, there are doubts and questions that creep in. These can be planted due to cultural norms that are screaming at you to take another path. This episode is all about encouraging {and challenging} you to dig deep, expose the doubt, fear, and lies, and replace...

You might be many years away from graduating your child from homeschool, but can I tell you from personal experience that the time will begin to fly by? And before you know: you'll have a young adult stepping out into the world. One of the reasons you have decided to homeschool is to build relationships in your family. And once they are done with their homeschool academic years, that doesn't have to end. It does shift into a new season, but you can still have a great bond with your...

Right about now, you're probably footloose and fancy free when it comes to homeschool. You're on summer break and that time in between school years gives you a chance to breathe. But when you think about next homeschool year, does your chest tighten a little? Do you give out a sigh? All of the juggling done during the homeschool year can make a mom feel a little anxious and overwhelmend. Now is the time to begin getting yourself mentally and emotionally ready to begin and carry through with...

Most of us step into the homeschooling world overwhelmed by the terms, curriculum, and methodology. We have so many questions and it feels intimidating to ask them. Today's guest, Cheryl Daley, of The Homeschool How To podcast is asking some amazing questions as she sifts through it all in order to homeschool her children. We talk about unschooling, what the day to day can look like, incorporating math in the younger years, and what to do if you don't feel creative enough to homeschool. Plus,...

The thought of homeschooling the high school years causes parents so much stress and anxiety...years before kids are even at that age. How do I know? Because that used to be me. But what if you could be looking forward to the high school years with your children instead of dreading it? It's completely possible to homeschool the teen years and do it successfully. I promise! Today, we're talking recordkeeping and counting credits for tradtional and non-traditional approaches to subjects. Using...

We've chatted quite a bit lately about making memories with our homeschooled children during the summer. But, it's also a great time for you to catch up on things around the house. With most curriculum lessons put on hold, you may have a little bit more margin in your days. And I know that you can fill that time up very quickly with fun things. But, I have found that it is a wonderful feeling to go into the next homeschool year feeling like my home is a bit more under control. The projects...

There is such pressure in our society to create an over the top experience for every part of our children's lives. And that can feel overwhelming. The FOMO is real. But what if your children could have an amazing summer that filled them...and you...up? One that was reminiscent of an 80's and 90's childhood, but with a 21st century twist. Does that appeal to you? Or maybe you're just intrigued and need some more ideas in your arsenal for the summer. No matter the reason you clicked on this...

It's absolutely no fun to be feeling sluggish, crampy, aggrevated, or even just consistenly off our A game. And as a homeschool mom, you simply don't have time for any of that. But, maybe you are finding that each day finds you dragging and nothing seems to be helping. You dream of great days at home with your children and just want to feel really good. Today, Leisha Drews, of Happily Hormonal is joining the conversation and bringing you a ton of information about female hormones. We're going...

If you heard it once, you'll hear it a hundred more times. The same homeschool myths come up over and over again. It might be the stranger at the grocery store, the neighbor down the street, or even your own aunt. People mostly comment out of ignorance or obliviousness. But, it still can get under our skin as homeschool moms. And it feels degrading and at the very least, annoying. Today, I'm going to fill your confidence up with how to react, respond, and move on when others feel that they...

If we got a dollar every time someone suggested putting our kids in school, we'd have a good chunk of change by now, right? But I also have a sneaking suspicion that the thought of it being easier to just put your kids in school has crossed your mind a time or two. Or maybe quite a few times. No shame though. This was a thought in the back of my mind for many years as well. However, once you see the truth about this statement, the whole idea and premise behind where our kids are educated...

As a homeschool mom, you made that intentional decision to educate your children at home, which means, everyone is home with you...all the time. And when summer comes, it can be very easy to disengage a little bit. This usually happens because the curriculum is completed and you are mentally and emotionally drained. But, you've got that mom guilt hanging over your head too. "Everyone" seems to have an opinion about how you should spend your summer. And I'm not here to give you a list that...

Like most homeschool moms, you probably doubt your ability to homeschool your children all the way through high school. Not only that, but friends, family, and even strangers attempt to influence your decision. Today's episode, with former teacher, Carrie DeFrancisco from Coffee With Carrie, is going to be just what will empower you to homeschool long-term. She shares what you need in order to homeschool your teens, along with giving you the reality of what that can look like. Grab your cup...

Do you want to look back on this summer and feel good about how you and your homeschool children spent their time? Now, I'm not saying there isn't room for rest, refreshment, and even a lot of fun. But, what about all the time in between? Maybe it's the days you are just home. Or maybe it's the free time your kids will have in between activities. No matter if you like a jam-packed summer or prefer one more relaxed, there is something to coming alongside our kids and showing them how to be...