The MumHeart Australia podcast team, Lacey, Corinna and Barb, bring some encouragement for you in this episode.  The beginning of the year is a great time to evaluate what is important to prioritise in your family and the team brings their own perspectives on the importance of creating space in your life for something that fills your soul. 

We would love for you to let us know what you like about 'In Cahoots' and what you would like to hear from us this coming year. Be in touch if you or someone you know has something heart focused to share with our listeners - wholehearted, homeschooling Mum's. Email us on [email protected] or contact us via Instagram or Facebook. We look forward to hearing from you, our listeners.

Join Corinna as she chats with Erin about homeschooling a large family, books, Mum guilt and burnout. Erin shares from her many years of experience homeschooling with a literature focus even giving hints to help non-bookish type children to fall in love with reading. Burnout has been something Erin has dealt with and she discusses this openly, sharing what she has learnt to keep homeschooling for the long haul. 

I recommend you check out her blog at sevenlittleaustralians.com where she has 13 years of blog posts full of encouragement and help. 

Click on the Australian Books tab to go to  her extensive database to help you search for great living books on a many subjects and topics.

Erin is also active on Instagram and Facebook 

Lacey spoke with Anthony from Living Book Press about being a homeschool dad, Ambleside Online and some of his favourite book recommendations. Don’t miss the special discount code that Anthony shares with In Cahoots listeners.

Show Notes:

Living Book Press

Living Book Press on Instagram

Living Book Press on Facebook

Ambleside Online

Oh Peaceful Day

The Little Grammar People

Old Bob’s Birds

Doris Chadwick - John of the Sirius

Richard Halliburton - The Book of Marvels

Seven Little Australians

At the beginning of a new school term, Lacey and Corinna check in and share what's happening with them. Homeschooling in Lacey's family is looking very different for the second half of 2020 while Corinna is just flowing with what's working while tweaking a few things to incorporate some 'extra' subjects in the week. They talk in depth about planning and how they approach it now compared to seasons past and would love to chat with someone who doesn't plan their homeschooling. So if that's you, let us know!

Corinna mentions how much her children love doing a Free Write activity which is a concept she learnt from Brave Writer. She also talks about the Backyard Explorer book and how she has gained inspirations from Melissa Wiley's concept of Tidal Homeschooling. 

Join artist Clare Dunstan as she shares her journey as a second generation homeschooler. She tells about her escapades setting fire to her kitchen while making an engagement ring and how this kick started her career as an artist. We discuss the pros & cons of homeschooling in this age of the internet as both Clare & Corinna (your host) were homeschooled themselves so have experience as both students in pre-internet days and as parents now. 

Clare's most heeded advice is, 'Don't compare your family with others. Gain inspiration from other families then pick and choose what works for your own family.'

You are in for a treat if you check out her gorgeous whimsical art at Tog and Pini. She can be found on her website: Tog & Pini, Instagram, Facebook and Etsy.

Join Corinna as she chats with Jen, the lovely host of the NT MumHeart retreats. Jen shares some keys points from the NT retreat held in March 2020, which was serendipitously themed, 'Redeem the Time' and held just weeks before we all found ourselves with the reality we often wish for - extra hours at home with our families. Jen also shares about her own homeschooling journey straddling two countries and giving her most valued advice to simply relax more in this homeschooling lifestyle. 

Jen can be found on instagram @homeschoolaustralia

We have a very special guest to introduce you to in this episode. Jacqui Wakelam leads Mum Heart

Show Notes:

You can find her blog here Check out her encouraging and timely podcast series

Join Lacey as she uncovers the treasures of the Living Book House with its curator, Catherine McKay. Cathy shared some of her experience with kids who are late readers, and why she’s needed to embrace structure in homeschooling. You’ll need to check the show notes for the fantastic book recommendations she makes as well.

Join the Mum Heart team in a discussion about why it's important to maintain connections with likeminded people during this time when our normal social interactions aren't happening. We share many ways we have been reaching out to others and maintaining friendships for ourselves and our children. We also talk about practical ways to be building relationships within the family while we have time at home. 

Show Notes: 

Our Mum Heart website has a fantastic resource of blog posts with discussion points which you can use to share with a likeminded friend.

Belinda blogs at Live Life With Your Kids and can be found on instagram here.

Ainsley shares her homeschooling journey on instagram here.

The group mentioned WhatsApp and Voxer as tools they use maintain connections at the moment.