I recorded this episode with Rea Berg all the way back in May. It was originally supposed to air over the summer, but life got busy, I took some time off and then due to other contracts I wasn’t able to air it in the fall. So, we are going to get it out there now. Better late than never right? Rea Berg loves organic gardening, farmer’s markets, rich espresso, yoga, Paris, and English literature. Rea has brought many classic children's books back into print, such as the D’Aulaire biographies, the...
Dec 06, 2019•59 min•Ep. 82
One question I get a lot from moms is how to deal with homeschool criticism. This is particularly hard when their family is against homeschooling. I have some experience with this and am sharing my heart today about how to deal when your family is against homeschooling. And, how sometimes, even though we want things to change, the family never comes on board with homeschooling. This was a difficult episode to record, but one that needs to be discussed. I hope it leaves you encouraged and ready t...
Nov 29, 2019•19 min
This episode is going to be a little different compared to most of my other episodes. I am chatting with my real-life friend about what is working and what is NOT working in our homeschool. In episode 69 , I introduced you to Davonne and we talked about how different we were now compared to when we first started homeschooling. BUT, how are things now that we are in the throes of high school? We are both chatting about what is working, and what is NOT working when it comes to homeschooling teens....
Nov 22, 2019•35 min•Ep. 81
Today’s episode is with Felicia Johnson from The Zoo I call Home. Felicia is a daughter, wife and mama who has been homeschooling for 17 years. She has 8 kiddos ranging in age from 1.5-20. She believes Every child is unique and special, just the way God made them. I just happened to be blessed with a deaf child, a couple ADD kids, a sensory kiddo, 2 dyslexics and two more incredibly unique individuals. I share about getting organized, curriculum reviews, and embracing the chaos. I may cover a lo...
Nov 15, 2019•29 min•Ep. 80
Today we are chatting with Leah Courtney about the pros and cons of homeschooling. Leah Courtney is a child of God, wife, mother, and homeschooling mama. She’s homeschooled four children since birth, and is now the mother of two homeschool graduates. In her (very rare) free time, Leah loves to read and color complicated pictures while listening to audio books. You can find her blogging at As We Walk Along the Road where she’s posting literature-based homeschooling resources and encouragement for...
Nov 08, 2019•29 min•Ep. 79
Today, I am answering a question from one of my podcast listeners, Dawn writes, My daughter has some special needs that have not been diagnosed but are apparent. I’m listening to your podcast on friendships and would love a podcast on children that have “needs “and friendships... theirs and ours as moms. Even in the same homeschool community and church family. Would you do a podcast on special needs children being left out AND the family being left out... how to handles the isolation when we are...
Nov 01, 2019•35 min•Ep. 78
In today’s episode, Meredith and I chat about her 5 kids, all of whom have graduated from her homeschool. She truly feels that who her children have become are her best accomplishment, and gives us some amazing advice and encouragement to help us find joy right where we are on our homeschool journey. Meredith Curtis is a pastor’s wife, homeschooling mom of five amazing children, and grandmother to 3, loves Jesus, leads worship, homeschools, writes, mentors ladies, and sometimes even cooks dinner...
Oct 25, 2019•34 min•Ep. 77
In today’s episode, I am chatting teenagers and their transition to adulthood with Dachelle McVey. Teens can be rough. VERY rough. And I feel we lack mentors in how to parent teens. Many people are ready to give advice when it comes to babies, toddlers, and even young school-agers. But teens? No one wants to go there. And I think it is because we don’t feel very confident in how we are parenting our teenagers. They mess up. We mess up. And we all wonder whether or not we are doing things the rig...
Oct 18, 2019•44 min•Ep. 76
As I recorded I was a few weeks into our school year. Chances are you all are a few months in by now. And, how many days have you missed already due to over-scheduled days, or unplanned circumstances? How many times does something in your day distract you or your kids and lead you all away from school? I guarantee you it has happened to every single person listening to this episode at least once. Guarantee it! I decided to take a look before this episode at our homeschool group event calendar. A...
Oct 11, 2019•23 min•Ep. 75
As many of you know, my grandmother passed away last August She and I were VERY close, and the morning that she passed away was actually the same morning that I had the results of my MRI and the doctor told me that he thought I had cancer. The kick-off to last years Back to School was anything but joyful for me. Instead, it was a time of grief. A time of unknown and just an overall HARD season. Today’s guest, Renee Brown knows her share of grief and homeschooling through it. In this episode, she...
Oct 04, 2019•57 min•Ep. 74
I've seen the photos of huge curriculum piles. The homeschool rooms that make me think mine is less adequate. I dream of being able to take my kids anywhere they want to go for a field trip. And all these things make me lose sight of the big picture. They zap my joy, steal my energy, and make me want more. Without realizing what I already have. You see, it's not about the material possessions. It's not about what we have to use in our homeschools. The best gift we can give our kids? The answer m...
Sep 27, 2019•17 min
Today’s episode is with my good friend Latonya Moore. Latonya Moore homeschools her two daughters in Middle Tennessee with her husband. She also teaches regularly on Outschool.com while managing her blog and podcast, Joy in the Ordinary. She and I chatted in episode 29 about homeschool planning, struggles, and fears. And today we are talking about a difficult season she had in her life where instead of keeping on homeschooling, her kids attended school for awhile. She talks about what lead up to...
Sep 20, 2019•38 min•Ep. 73
In today’s episode, we are chatting with June Doran about the sensitive topic of postpartum depression. I wanted to talk with her because I feel this is a topic many women don’t talk about. June is a minimalist, homeschooling, work at home mom of 5 kids, ages 9 to 5 months. When she’s not juggling all the things, you can find her in a cozy corner, sipping a cup of a hot beverage and reading a non-fiction book on minimalism, parenting, or homeschooling. You can find June at thissimplebalance.com ...
Sep 13, 2019•37 min•Ep. 72
As part of overcoming obstacles to homeschooling series, we will be discussing Sandwich Generation and Homeschooling. Today, I am chatting with Natalie Mack. Natalie Mack is a mom of five, home educator since 2001, Navy Chaplain’s wife, field trip coordinator, soccer mom, Scouts BSA Merit Badge Coordinator, business owner, and newbie blogger. A graduate of George Washington University and Spelman College, she is an Independent Consultant with Paparazzi Accessories, selling gorgeous nickel and le...
Sep 06, 2019•52 min•Ep. 71
Today we are kicking off a brand new series on overcoming obstacles to homeschooling. This series will be about my guest's stories regarding obstacles that for many, would stand in the way of homeschooling. Hard moments. Emotional ones. Stressful ones. That leads to a family questioning whether or not they should even continue homeschooling. I want to thank each and every one of my guests in advance for being willing to share these difficult topics and moments in order to encourage other homesch...
Aug 30, 2019•13 min•Ep. 70
Hello everyone and welcome to episode 69 of the Joyfully Homeschooling podcast. Today, I am SO excited to introduce you all to my REAL LIFE friend, Davonne Parks. As a homeschool graduate who’s homeschooled her own children for a decade, Davonne Parks is going to help you relax a bit so you can actually enjoy this time with your kids and rest in knowing that God is bigger than your chaotic day. Davonne blogs over at davonneparks.com , but you can find her most often on Instagram (her Instagram h...
Aug 23, 2019•37 min•Ep. 69
I remember years ago when we had the WORST first day of school ever. Since then bad days have come and gone, but how we overcome them have remained the same. Having a bad day of school doesn't mean the homeschool year will be a failure, choose joy moms and things will get better! Resources: Blog post Joy in the Journey T-Shirt...
Aug 19, 2019•8 min
Today’s topic is going to be all about how friendships change between homeschool moms and public school moms. Once you’ve begun homeschooling many of us are so excited to start this journey and can’t wait to share it with your friends…. But, those friends who are NOT homeschooling, they aren’t that excited to hear about all the curriculum options out there. The weekly lunch dates you used to have aren’t happening as often now that your kids are home with you. Those midday phone calls and text ch...
Aug 16, 2019•19 min•Ep. 68
This week I am chatting on the podcast with Marianne Sunderland from Homeschooling with Dyslexia. Marianne’s web site, Homeschooling With Dyslexia, provides weekly articles on homeschooling kids with ADD, ADHD, and Dyslexia that will bless and encourage you. A few things that I want to mention from this episode is how thankful I am for Marianne. I know Marianne online and actually work for her. She has been such an encouragement to me through our ADHD and Dyslexia diagnosis and her site has been...
Aug 09, 2019•54 min•Ep. 67
This week I am introducing some of you to Kaleena from 5Hour School Week. Kaleena was a request from a listener. I had never heard of the five hour school week before, but, began looking into it after my listeners requested. Once I began looking into what it meant, I became enthralled in the lifestyle that Kaleena has built for her family. And I just know that you all will love her as well! In this episode, Kaleena and I chat homeschool joys, struggles, fears and more. I really enjoyed getting t...
Aug 02, 2019•34 min•Ep. 66
Last year, I was at our homeschool co-op chatting with a few moms about high school, when a mom who was fairly new to homeschooling. Spoke up and said, “I hope one day I am as confident as you are about homeschooling” I laughed because I do NOT feel confident. Even as a seasoned homeschool mom, I still find myself questioning my decisions and wondering if I am doing the right thing. It’s hard. Really hard. Homeschooling is NOT easy, and even though I am more confident now than I used to be, I am...
Jul 26, 2019•15 min•Ep. 65
Today we are chatting with Davis Carman the President of Apologia Educational Ministries . Apologia is the #1 publisher of creation-based science and Bible curricula with over 70 #1 awards. He believes in homeschooling, believes in defending the Christian Faith, and believe that every subject (and I mean every subject) should be taught from a biblical worldview. That is why his mission, and the mission of Apologia, is to help homeschooling families learn, live, and defend the Christian Faith. I ...
Jul 19, 2019•54 min•Ep. 64
In this episode, I am welcoming back Kendra Fletcher, the mother of 8, speaker, author, and podcaster. She is the author of Lost and Found: Losing Religion, Finding Grace , and Leaving Legalism, and she regularly writes for Key Life Ministries. The Fletchers reside in California, where they play in the Pacific Ocean as often as possible. For the second part of our discussion, I chat with Kendra about legalism and homeschooling. Here are a few questions we discuss: When did you become aware of it...
Jul 16, 2019•38 min•Ep. 63
Today’s fess up Friday interview is with Kendra Fletcher, the mother of 8, speaker, author, and podcaster. She is the author of Lost and Found: Losing Religion, Finding Grace , and Leaving Legalism, and she regularly writes for Key Life Ministries. The Fletchers reside in California, where they play in the Pacific Ocean as often as possible. Find her here: www.kendrafletcher.com Kendra and I chat homeschool regrets, joys and so much more. I love her insight as a homeschool mom of graduates, as w...
Jul 12, 2019•20 min•Ep. 62
One of the biggest struggles homeschool parents have is over curriculum choices. Think about it, every spring you see catalogs upon catalogs of curriculum come through your mailbox. There are homeschool conventions and curriculum fairs every weekend across the United States. Through the years, I have used a variety of different curriculum. Today, I am sharing the different homeschool curriculum we have used over the years, what we thought of each of them, and what we plan to continue using in ou...
Jul 05, 2019•20 min•Ep. 61
In this interview, with Cindy Rollins, we chat homeschool curriculum, growth as a homeschool mom, how we can educate ourselves and so much more. Cindy has SO much wisdom to offer the homeschool community and I know this episode will encourage you all to have a joyful homeschool. If you liked this episode be sure to leave a rating or review. These serve as a notice to iTunes that I’m not speaking to myself. It will also give you a chance to have your review read online and win a gift from me Reso...
Jun 28, 2019•42 min•Ep. 60
In this episode, we chat all about language-based learning disabilities, which to me, was a new term. It encompasses many different needs including ADHD, Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, and more. Anything that impedes language. I loved Daniel's story and how he overcame his struggles and is taking what he learned from a very special teacher and is helping and encouraging special needs parents all over the world. Whether you have a child with special needs or not, you will leave this podcast feeling more j...
Jun 21, 2019•38 min•Ep. 59
Hey homeschool mommas! It is SUMMER!! In this episode of the Joyfully Homeschooling Podcast, I am introducing our new podcast sponsor, sharing what summer learning looks like in our homeschool (hint: it is NOT school!), and sharing our summer reads! Dear mommas, if you are still in the books, and don’t want to be, PLEASE give yourself permission to close them. Seriously. Enjoy summer with your kids. Have some poolside development, embrace being an unschooler for the summer. Your kids will thank ...
Jun 14, 2019•19 min•Ep. 58
This is the LAST episode of the season. So, just a reminder to grab your FREE sample of Sonlight at sonlight.com/joyfully I have honestly been dreading recording this episode because it involves me acknowledging failure as a parent. No one likes admitting they failed right? But alas, we are here. Relationships and homeschooling. It is a common fear that parents have before they begin homeschooling, and a topic that has been mentioned over and over again on the podcast. Relationships matter. Rela...
May 24, 2019•22 min•Ep. 57
In today's episode, I am excited to be chatting with Connie Albers, author of the new book, Parenting Beyond the Rules. After 30 years of parenting five children and 20 years of working with teens, Connie Albers has witnessed the negative impact of well-intentioned but misguided parenting styles, all focused on managing teens rather than guiding them. In her book, Parenting beyond the Rules , you will discover how to raise a teen according to his or her strengths, talents, and personality type, ...
May 17, 2019•40 min•Ep. 56
