Called To Homeschool

Have you ever looked around and thought, “Where are the other families like us?”You're not alone.This week on the podcast, I'm talking about something so many homeschool parents struggle with—how to find like-minded homeschool families.The kind of friends where your kids click, your values align, and you don't have to explain why your 10-year-old is doing algebra at the park.In this episode, I'm answering questions like:• What if there aren't many homeschoolers near me?• How do I find families who share our faith and lifestyle?• Is it even possible to build community when everyone's busy?If you've ever felt isolated or just wished for a few good friends to do life with, this episode is for you.

This week on the podcast, I sat down with Matt Bowman, author of Open Education, to talk about something that's been on the minds of many parents and educators:What if the problem isn't your child—but the system itself?Matt brings deep insight and experience to the table as we dive into why standardized education often fails to meet the needs of real learners. We talk about the history behind one-size-fits-all schooling, what's broken in today's classrooms, and how we can imagine something better—especially for homeschool families.If you've ever felt like your child is being left behind, boxed in, or simply bored in the current system, this conversation will challenge and encourage you.

As homeschool moms, we often feel like we're carrying the full weight of our children's education. But the truth is—dad is teaching, too.He's teaching through his work ethic.He's modeling how to treat others.He's shaping their view of faith, family, and what it means to be a man.In this episode, I share:5 powerful things kids learn by watching their dadEncouragement for moms whose husbands aren't deeply involved in homeschoolingA reminder we all need: your marriage matters tooBecause one day, our kids will move out—and we'll still be here, husband and wife. Let's not forget to nurture that relationship in the midst of it all.❤️ This episode is full of grace, perspective, and practical encouragement—just in time for Father's Day.

In this Q&A-style episode, I'm answering real questions from homeschool moms about some of the most common (and frustrating!) parenting challenges—like how to help your kids listen without yelling, what to do when toys are left out again, and how to handle sibling rivalry with more peace and less drama.Whether you're in the thick of toddler messes or navigating squabbles between older kids, this episode is packed with practical, grace-filled strategies to bring more calm and cooperation into your home.

In this special episode, I sit down with my daughter Tess—my fifth homeschool graduate—to reflect on her journey through homeschooling from kindergarten to graduation. Tess shares what she loved, what challenged her, how homeschooling shaped her identity, and what she's planning next. Whether you're a veteran homeschool mom or just starting out, this candid mother-daughter chat offers encouragement, perspective, and a glimpse into what it's all about when the homeschool years come full circle.

This quote is adapted from the famous saying from Nietzsche.Some homeschool days are going to feel hard.Some days you are going to wonder if you are doing everything wrong.And some days you are going to want to give up.But when you have a strong enough why, you can bear almost any how.In today's podcast episode, I am going over this to help you push through when things don't feel like they are going right.

What if the secret to a thriving homeschool isn't in the perfect curriculum — but in the strength of your connection with your child?In this episode, we unpack the powerful truth that homeschooling is 80% connection and only 20% curriculum. You'll learn why building trust and emotional safety is the true foundation of learning, what “connection first” looks like in everyday homeschool life, and how to stop stressing over unfinished lessons.If you've ever wondered, “Am I doing enough?” — this episode will breathe fresh encouragement into your heart and remind you that you are the greatest gift your homeschool has.✨ You'll hear:Why relationship is your most powerful teaching toolWhat to let go of in your curriculumHow to create connection moments that shift your homeschool atmosphereThe one mindset shift that can change everythingLet's trade burnout for peace, checkboxes for connection — and rediscover the joy of learning together.

Homeschool moms—we mean well. We love deeply. But sometimes… our love turns into control.

If you want your homeschool to be amazing, you have to start with the family. Restoring the family — building strong marriages, raising loved and secure children, and teaching children to be hard workers— is how we lay the foundation for real, lasting change. In today's podcast, I am giving away a simple guide to help you on the road to restore your family. It's called, Happy Habits, and it's an easy step by step guide to help your children learn appropriate behavior.  You can download it for free HERE. Inside the guide, you'll find simple, proven strategies to teach your child positive behavior without yelling, nagging, or constant reminders. The next step? Start small. Pick one habit to focus on this week and use the tips to build consistency and confidence. If you're looking for more support in restoring your family, then please come and join us in Mama's Members. The course starts this Tuesday, May 6th, and I can't wait to see you there. P.S.- The membership has a free 7 day trial! Come and check it out with no risk.

Did you try something last year in your homeschool and it worked really well, but now it's not serving you?Do you hold onto it because it used to work?In today's podcast, I am talking about being willing to change and adapt and I am also going over the lesson plans for May.

Have you ever wondered why parenting is so hard?It's not the amount of kids you have, or even your child's behavior that makes it feel so hard.In this episode, I am going through the real reason why parenting feels so hard, and what you can do to help it feel easy. You are not going to want to miss this one.

If you are ready to:* Eliminate family conflicts* Learn to communicate in your home without yelling* Strengthen bonds between siblings* Create a positive home environment* Learn how to have your kids help around the house* Promote personal growth for you and your kids* Learn to teach your kids without yelling* Build unity as a familyand to actually enjoy being together as a family, then it is time for you to join me this year in my Restore the Family course.This is going to be a part of Mama's Members and we are starting in May. Get weekly group coaching calls with downloads to help teach you the skills you need and also you can get weekly private coaching calls (at no additional cost) to help you maximize everything that you are learning!I am going over what the course is in this week's podcast episode, so make sure to check it out, and if you're ready to get your family from surviving to thriving, please come and join us in Mama's Members.

I work with a lot of parents who understand that strict parenting doesn't work.The yelling, fighting, and coercion starts to negatively effect relationships, and they want to stop being so strict.But then they swing to the other side into passive parenting, and they quickly realize that that doesn't work either.In today's podcast episode, I want to give you a simple tip of how to start finding balance between being a strict and passive parent.Click the link in my bio to listen.

History is interesting because it is usually written from the point of view from the victor.Have you ever looked at the other side?It really helps you to see the full story when you can do that. It also teaches your kids critical thinking skills because now they can look at both sides and form their own opinions.In today's podcast episode, I talk about looking at both sides of history and I go over the lesson plans for next month.

Do you ever feel like you are living in a never ending loop of diapers, messes, and homeschool? It's easy to get frustrated, overwhelmed, and worn out when that is all you have going on. In today's podcast episode, I am talking about why it's important to keep dreaming big even while you have little kids at home. I have some questions for you to ask yourself to find your dreams, and I also cover why it is important for you to dream big.

If you have kids, chances are they are going to break something.Plates, cups, crayons, and holes in the wall.What do you do when that happens?How should you respond and help them to be more careful?Make sure to check out this latest episode where I help you to know what to do when your kid breaks something.

How do you legally homeschool?Do you need a teaching degree to homeschool?What is the best curriculum to use?How do I help my kids make friends?How long should I homeschool each day?I am answering these, and so many more, of your frequently asked homeschool questions. Make sure to listen to this episode to get all your questions answered!

This podcast episode is titled Exciting News!!Why?Because I have some exciting news to share with you. You are going to want to make sure you click the link in my bio and go and listen to this week's episode.

A while back I had someone ask me how has homeschool changed since I started. I am in my 17th year of homeschooling, and a lot has changed since then. For one thing, homeschooling has more than doubled since 2008. Isn't that amazing! Today is a fun episode to highlight some of the changes of homeschooling through the years.

Ariane is an awesome of three girls and had the chance to live in Europe for a full year. They really wanted to take advantage of their time their and were able to visit 36 countries!I am interviewing her today, to show you what her homeschool looked like while they were traveling.Even if worldschooling doesn't speak to you, this episode will inspire you to create whatever homeschool you want to create.

Your homeschool mindset shapes everything—from your daily rhythm to your child's love for learning.    In this week's episode, we dive into why your perspective matters, how to overcome common mental blocks, and ways to build confidence in your homeschooling journey. 

With internet and social media, it is easy to get distracted with all the possible homeschool options out there. In today's podcast episode, I want to talk about focusing on what matters and say no to the things that don't.

Whether you are helping a little one unlock the magic of reading their first words to trying to figure out what to do with a reluctant reader, I've got you covered. In today's podcast episode, I go over the step by step instructions of how to teach a kid to read. I also cover what to do with a reluctant reader, and how you can help them love reading!

Who is ready for a better marriage? A deeper connection with your kids? Skills to get your kids to listen without yelling? Tools to create an amazing family? If you answered yes to any of these, you need to check out today's podcast, Unlocking a Year of Growth. I am sharing with you how to create success in all these areas, and I cannot wait to share it with you!

When I was in the middle of homeschooling with seven kids at home, I never imagined that I would eventually be homeschooling only one kid. But somehow, my babies grew up on me, and I am finding myself homeschooling only one child. It can be tricky to navigate how to homeschool only one child, so in today's podcast episode I am covering some tips, obstacles, and strategies on how to do it.

Feeling overwhelmed by lesson plans, resources, and activities? You're not alone! In this week's podcast episode, we're diving into why simplicity is the secret to homeschool long term. I will also be covering the lesson plans for January. You are not going to want to miss this!

Ever feel like you're running on autopilot as a mom? It's time to hit pause and embrace the power of an intentional mama! Discover how being an intentional mama isn't just a gift for your family—it's a transformative superpower for you, too. Check out today's episode, Unlocking the Superpower of an Intentional Mama, and celebrate how amazing you are!

Are you ready to transform your homeschool? Discover why a holistic approach could be the game-changer your family needs! In this episode, I dive into:

I had the opportunity to interview the wonderful Karen Bates on the podcast this week. She is an intentional Mama who helps families create homes of learning and leadership, and she does it all in a very natural way! She has recently followed her path of helping orphans in Mexico, and you are not going to want to miss all the amazing things she is doing with her family. Make sure to go to www.findyourpathmission.org to learn more.

Anyone find it a bit odd or weird when adults start quizzing homeschool children of what they know? Do you feel lost at how to handle this, or what to do to help your kids handle it? In today's episode, I am going to be covering why adults do that, how to prepare your children of what to if it happens, and tips for you on how to handle it in a positive way. You are not going to want to miss this one!!

One of the things I love to do is help make life easy for you which is why I have created some pretty amazing Christmas lesson plans!! These lessons are designed to keep your life simple while still giving your child a great education.   Lesson plans include- read aloud, memorization, arts, book of poems, science, history, and writing. Make sure to check out today's episode about keeping it simple and to hear more about my Christmas lesson plans.

Do you want an amazing home life? Focus on relationships first. Do you want an amazing homeschool? Focus on relationships first. Relationships are everything, and in this episode I share some wins from a client and her experience from No Yell November of how focusing on relationships is completely changing her home.

What is the difference between memorizing information and learning information? That is what I want to explore in today's podcast episode. I also give you some steps to help your kids to become lifelong learners.

What do you do when your children are getting their chores done regularly? What do you do with homeschool as your kids get closer to their teen years? You take your homeschool to the next level. Check out this episode to hear how to do that and what it looks like. Also, I am going over November's lesson plans, so make sure to check those out.

I've shared this month of what the negative effects of yelling are, and I have shared what are the positive benefits of stay calm. In this episode, I am sharing tools of what to do instead of yelling. It's not count to 10, or deep breathing, but actionable steps of what to do when your kid is behaving in a way where you normally yell. This is a game changer, and I hope you enjoy it as we get ready to kick off No Yell November.

I'm on a mission to find the absolute best homeschool curriculum out there! After homeschooling for 17 years, I've sure learned a lot, and I want to share it with you in today's episode.

Who here wants more joy in their homeschool?? In this week's episode, I go over some simple things you can do to find and create joy in your homeschool. I am also sharing what benefits come from being calm with your kids. You are not going to want to miss this!

It's almost November, and time to get ready for another No Yell November challenge. In today's episode, I share three long term effects of yelling and what it does to your kids. I am also sharing ideas of how to stop the desire to even yell. Go and check out the challenge here: https://www.coachmegthomas.com/product-page/no-yell-november-challenge

Next month's lesson plans are ready to go!  In today's podcast episode, I not only cover what your kids will be learning, but I also give you some homeschool tips to help you to create success without feeling completely overwhelmed. https://www.coachmegthomas.com/category/lesson-plans

You've often heard that comparison is the thief of joy, and I couldn't agree more. Comparing your weaknesses to someone else's strength is a quick way to beat yourself up, and think that homeschool isn't for you. But what if instead you focused on your strengths? In today's podcast episode, I want to dive into this topic and help you see how awesome you really are.

I get the opportunity to talk to thousands of homeschoolers all over the world. I get to hear their concerns and their worries for their homeschool. One of the things I hear is that they have no idea how they can homeschool longterm. In today's podcast episode, I want to share with you two simple things you can start doing to get on the road of longterm success. If you are feeling like you can't do one more thing, don't worry, one of the things you can start doing is less. Go and check out the episode.

With homeschool on the rise, more and more resources are starting to become available. One of those resources is AI. In today's episode, I am going over the pros and cons of AI, and if I am planning on using it in my homeschool.

Do you remember how you learned to read? What method was used, or what books you read? Maybe bits and pieces, but chances of you remembering all of it is pretty slim. I know as homeschoolers we can spend so much time worrying about if we are using the right or the best curriculum out there. I want to address that in today's podcast episode, as well as how to keep your homeschool consistent.

Today is a very special episode with my friend, Joey Mascio. Joey was a former public school middle school teacher and got the opportunity to work with a lot of teens. He got to see a lot of the common issues and concerns that they had. Since then, he has become a life coach and specializes in helping teens build confidence and help them to be resilient to all of lives ups and downs. If you have a teen, or kids who will eventually be teens, you need to listen to it!!

In this week's podcast episode, I am going over our homeschool plans for 2024-2025. I am also sharing with you September's lesson plans. This is our 17th year of homeschooling, and I am excited to share what we do with you!

I am so excited to have Leigh on today's podcast. She has three children and over a decade of homeschool experience. We dive into the topic of homeschooling on a budget. Leigh gives some great ideas of how to not break the bank while homeschooling. We also dive into the topic of homeschooling and having extra funds. We can find out more about Leigh here.

I often see parents swing between being too passive with their children, or being too strict. There is a happy space in the middle that I call being an intentional parent. In this space, we work on connection, AND we also have loving boundaries. In today's podcast episode, I want to show you why we want to give our children boundaries and how to do it. Click the link in my bio to listen. #homeschoolpodcast

I am always trying to give as much help as possible to my amazing homeschool families. In this episode, I talk about the 30 days to ease into homeschooling, and a free class I'll be teaching where I will really dive in to helping you create a super successful homeschool. Register for the free class HERE.

I recently read an article that was 5 arguments against homeschooling. I thought the arguments were concerns that I have heard frequently, so I decided to go through each of the arguments and give my thoughts on them. You are going to want to check out this episode.

Today is a very special day at our house. My son is getting married!! Also, next week my husband and I will be celebrating our 24th wedding anniversary. Because babies grow up and homeschooling doesn't last forever, I thought it would be great to share some ideas with you on how to make sure you are building a strong relationship with your spouse.