Joyfully Homeschooling

As I began to prep for this episode, I honestly wasn't really sure what I wanted to talk about. It's my typical start of summer, end of the school year podcast but with everything else going on I didn't really know how I wanted to end the school year. I was honestly going to throw something together on summer and rest, but I wasn't feeling it. You know? And I want these episodes to bring you all something. To have a purpose because I know you take time to listen, and I don't want you to feel like you are wasting your time.

And then, literally, the day before I was supposed to record this episode. I received a comment on my blog that brought tears to my eyes, and I thought, God, THIS is what we need to talk about.

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Show notes: https://www.findingjoyinthejourney.net/imperfect-homeschool-mom/

Today's interview is with Inga Hope from Gentle Guitar. Inga and I are chatting today about music, homeschooling, the importance of introducing our kids to music, how we can do that even when we are not musically inclined and so much more. It is a super fun episode and helpful to me as I have one kiddo who loves music, and I can simply can not carry a tune.

Specific questions we discuss music and homeschooling:

• How can a busy homeschool mom add music into her day?
• What are some ways to teach music to a variety of ages?
• Public schools have band and choir, how can homeschoolers offer their kids traditional music and instrument lessons?

Also, she is offering a giveaway for my podcast listeners. If you have you have a 5 to 12-year-old who's keen to learn a musical instrument, here's your chance to find out whether your child is ready for music lessons!

ENTER TO WIN 3-FREE MUSIC LESSONS FOR KIDS AGES 5 to 12+

Giveaway ends May 30th

Show notes: https://www.findingjoyinthejourney.net/add-music/

Today I am chatting all about homeschool curriculum with my good friend Davonne Parks. We are talking all things curriculum and geeking out over our favorite things. Here are a few things we are chatting about:

• What has been your favorite curriculum?
• What has been your kid's favorite curriculum?
• What is one curriculum you really wanted to work, but it just didn't?
• How has your curriculum changed over the years?
• What do you plan on using next year? (35:27 if you want to skip straight there)

We are also offering some words of encouragement to all of you who may be struggling with the curriculum battle. Here's a hint: There is NO SUCH THING AS A PERFECT CURRICULUM!

Show notes: https://www.findingjoyinthejourney.net/lets-chat-homeschool-curriculum

Last summer my daughter, heard about a camp called Worldview Academy while listening with me to the Heidi St. John podcast. She and I both immediately felt that this camp would be perfect for her and she begin working in various capacities to pay for her tuition. That camp changed her life. I do not say that lightly. I dropped off a teenage girl and picked up a young lady who was even stronger in her faith than she was before.

Because of this change that I saw in my daughter, I reached out to Worldview to see if they would chat with me about raising teens in a time where the Christian culture is highly under attack. Today, I am chatting with Michael DeGroat about the following things:

• Our culture, and what it is like raising Christian teens in today's times. What are some things you are seeing facing our teens?
• As homeschool parents, what can we do to prepare our teens for this spiritually declining climate?
• We have been told by Christian leaders in our community that the best place for our kids is in public schools so they can be the salt and the light. How would you respond to this? What are some ways that homeschoolers and teens today can be the salt and the light in their communities?
• How can Worldview help prepare our teens to be leaders in a culture that seems to be against Christianity right now?

At the time of this recording, Worldview was still planning on having camps. You can use link http://worldview.org/joy to get $100 off your registration for Worldview Academy.

Shownotes: https://www.findingjoyinthejourney.net/raising-teens/

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Today's episode is with Connie Albers and we are talking about emotional overwhelm from mom and kids. I was listening to a podcast episode from Connie that she did with Sherri Seligson and she was talking about moms and them feeling sorry for themselves, and just being overwhelmed with everything going on. And, I cried listening to it because I had legit just had a HUGE pity party. I had been grumpy and just ugh. Not a nice person to be around. So, I asked Connie if she would come onto the podcast and give me a counseling session. Thankfully, she agreed!! Here are a few things we talk about:

• We are living in unprecedented times. As we are recording this we are facing times of uncertainty. How can we as moms maintain the joy in our homes in a time of fear and unknown?
• Our kids tend to take from us, day after day. The questions, the energy, the needs. All. Day. Long. And now, more than ever many of us are overwhelmed. Our field trips, our co-ops, camps, all of the "breaks" we tended to get from our kids have been canceled. How can we give ourselves some peace so we can maintain our sanity?
• I have been a little bit guilty of feeling like I need a pity party. I have felt the disappointment in my kids, and have been disappointed and feeling lonely myself. What can you say to the mom who feels alone right now? Separated from her community physically?
• How can we help our teens? Who have missed out on so many things that they were looking forward to, like proms, and camps, graduation, and getting their permit or license?

Connie is just such a breath of fresh air and encouragement and I know she is going to bless you all with this episode.

Show notes: https://www.findingjoyinthejourney.net/emotional-overwhelm/

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Today I am chatting with September McCarthy. I first heard of September at the beginning of the school year. I was looking for a character study and came across her cards. Now, I am a huge fan and listen to her podcast, and can't believe I didn't know about her earlier. She is such a wealth of knowledge and was a huge blessing to chat with.

In this episode, we go back to the basics and do a traditional Fess Up Friday interview. September and I chat homeschool regrets, struggles, joys and so much more. I can't wait to share it with you.

Thank you to our podcast sponsor Minno, use code JOURNEY to get a free trial.

See show notes and links mentioned in this episode here: https://www.findingjoyinthejourney.net/intentional-homeschooling/

Is anyone else having a hard time getting school done, and many of us may be wondering if we've done enough in the midst of chaos. We may be trying to push through despite the feelings and the emotions we are all feeling.

This older episode goes along great with the topic of whether or not we are doing enough. So, I wanted to reshare it with an update from me, because it is relevant to what we are all dealing with today.

In our home right now, the kids are a little bit more agitated with each other. They are agitated with me. I'm more agitated with them. I think that's because we're not getting any other outside social interaction. We're social distancing from everybody else. However, we are not social distancing from our family, and we are with them all the time. This means that we need to give ourselves grace and give ourselves a break.

Because the truth is we are doing enough. Too often times we worry about being too relaxed in our homeschool. We worry about "keeping up" or letting the kids "fall behind" and in doing so we don't actually stop and enjoy our kids.

The bottom line of this episode? YOU are enough. YOU are doing enough and YOUR children are learning EXACTLY what they need to know.

Show notes:

Months ago I recorded this episode with Beth Napoli from Techie Homeschool. I found it very relevant and wanted to push it out now while in the midst of this COVID19 crisis because SO many people are turning to online learning. Especially those who have been thrown into unexpected homeschooling.

In this episode, Beth and I chat the pros and cons of online learning in our homeschool, how it is different from online public school, the best programs and subjects for online learning, and so much more.

Thank you to our podcast sponsor Minno, use code JOURNEY to get a free trial.

Check out the full show notes and links mentioned in the episode here: https://www.findingjoyinthejourney.net/pros-and-cons-of-online-learning/

Who else feels like they have been living in a scientific thriller? MAN, guys, things are CRAAZY. I never thought I would be approached by public school teachers and asked to help them and others homeschool in the midst of a crisis.

However, I truly believe that God is doing something big in the homeschool community. Literally just about every child in the United States is learning at home right now. Who would have ever thought this would happen? But, it has, and it is an opportunity that we may never get again. I have been approached by so many moms who are LOVING this. They are LOVING having their kids at home, and are interested in homeschooling long term now. There are other moms of course who are overwhelmed and don't know where to start.

This is why I was so happy to accept an invitation from Sam Sorbo to talk about homeschooling and a new resource that is being offered for free to parents in the midst of this pandemic.

Sam and I are chatting today about how we can support those families who are now homeschooling, we talk about the benefits of homeschooling and how our prayer is that this whole mess brings about a homeschool revolution.

Thank you to our podcast sponsor Minno use code JOURNEY to get a free trial

See show notes and links mentioned in this episode here: https://www.findingjoyinthejourney.net/unexpected-homeschooling/

Today's podcast episode with Lynna Sutherland, Lynna and I chatted way back in episode 12. Today, I am bringing Lynna on to answer a listener question. And we are going to chat with Lynna about sibling relationships and parenting and child relationships, and whether or not we should be afraid of homeschooling hindering those relationships instead of strengthening them.

• How do you handle sibling disagreements during the day?
• How can we as parents help in these close quarter situations?
• How can we as parents nurture our relationship with our kids while homeschooling? It is hard playing both roles sometimes.

I am sure, if we are honest, that these questions are ones many of us have had at one point or another, so let's talk about it!

Show notes: https://www.findingjoyinthejourney.net/sibling-struggles/