The Feast Life

In this episode, Julie Ross, founder of A Gentle Feast, shares four essential tips to help homeschooling moms navigate the holiday season with grace, joy, and sanity. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by holiday expectations, this episode will guide you to a more peaceful and memorable Christmas season.

Key Takeaways:

1. Maintain Some Routine: Children thrive on routine, and completely abandoning it during the holidays can lead to stress and disruption. Instead, keep some parts of your day consistent, like morning time or read-alouds, to create a sense of security for your kids—even if you’re traveling or busy.

2. Set Realistic Expectations: Avoid setting the bar too high. Unrealistic holiday expectations often lead to disappointment. Rather than trying to create a picture-perfect holiday, embrace the reality of your family’s needs and simplify traditions to make them manageable and meaningful.

3. Focus on Love: Amidst the busyness, remember that what matters most is the love and warmth your family feels. Create a loving atmosphere by being present, patient, and compassionate—both with your kids and with extended family members, showing them the true spirit of the season.

4. Prioritize Self-Care: Julie’s bonus tip is vital: schedule time to care for yourself. Whether it’s reading, listening to music, or just sitting quietly with a cup of tea, make this a non-negotiable part of each day to recharge and show up as your best self for your family.

Resources Mentioned: Visit www.thefeastlife.me/blog/54 for additional resources and links

Just Getting Started? Get our FREE Charlotte Mason and You Workshop to see if this powerful approach can transform your homeschool. https://www.thefeastlife.me/opt-in

Subscribe & Review: “ I love Julie and the Feast Life.” If this sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing the show on Apple Podcasts. This helps more people- just like you- find out about the show. CLICK HERE AND SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM to leave a five star reviews. Also, please subscribe so you never miss an episode. FOLLOW NOW

Connect with Us: Website: A Gentle Feast Facebook: A Gentle Feast Community Instagram: @agentlefeast

Prefer video or closed captions? Watch all our episodes on YouTube. http://youtube.com/@TheFeastLife 

Today’s episode is sponsored by the award winning Charlotte Mason curriculum A Gentle Feast. Get started with smooth and easy days at https://www.agentlefeast.com.  Sign up for our “Peaceful and Joyful Holidays” course http://www.thefeastlife.me/holidays 

In this inspiring episode, host Julie Ross chats with Rachel Marie Martin, author of the powerful new book, ‘Get Your Spark Back: How to Find Happiness and Reignite Your Life.’ As homeschool moms, it’s easy to lose our joy in the busyness of life, but Rachel shares her journey of rediscovering her spark. From personal challenges to practical tips on how to live a fully engaged life, this episode will leave you encouraged to prioritize yourself and create a life you love. Tune in to hear how you can reignite your joy and inspire your family and community along the way.

5 Key Takeaways:

1. The Power of the First Step: Finding your spark starts with acknowledging that it’s missing and being willing to take small, manageable steps to rediscover it. Even simple actions like putting on your shoes can lead to big changes.

2. Self-Care is Essential: As homeschool moms, it’s easy to put everyone else’s needs first, but prioritizing self-care isn’t selfish—it’s necessary. Taking care of yourself teaches your kids the importance of personal well-being.

3. Consistency and Effort: Progress doesn’t come overnight. It requires both effort and consistency. Start small and build habits over time, even when it feels uncomfortable.

4. Embrace Your Identity: Stop minimizing your achievements. Own the roles you step into, whether it’s as a mom, homeschooler, runner, or writer. How you speak to yourself shapes your reality.

5. Find Your Tribe: Life is better with support. Surround yourself with fellow travelers who will encourage and uplift you, and be willing to open up and be vulnerable to form those deep connections.

Connect with Rachel:

Website: http://findingjoy.net

Facebook: www.facebook.com/FindingJoyBlog

Book: ‘Get Your Spark Back’ available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, and independent bookstores.

Resources Mentioned: Visit thefeastlife.me/blog/53 for additional resources and links

Peaceful & Joyful Holiday Course

Just Getting Started? Get our FREE Charlotte Mason and You Workshop to see if this powerful approach can transform your homeschool. https://www.thefeastlife.me/opt-in

 Subscribe & Review: “ I love Julie and the Feast Life.” If this sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing the show on Apple Podcasts. This helps more people- just like you- find out about the show. CLICK HERE AND SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM to leave a five star reviews. Also, please subscribe so you never miss an episode. FOLLOW NOW

Connect with Us: Website: A Gentle Feast Facebook: A Gentle Feast Community Instagram: @agentlefeast

Prefer video or closed captions? Watch all our episodes on YouTube. http://youtube.com/@TheFeastLife

Today’s episode is sponsored by the award winning Charlotte Mason curriculum A Gentle Feast. Get started with smooth and easy days at https://www.agentlefeast.com. 

Welcome back to The Feast Life, the podcast where we support homeschool moms on their journey to creating a life-giving education. In today’s episode, we’re talking about how to build strength, confidence, and resilience in homeschooling—even when the daily grind gets tough. We’ll cover real-life strategies to handle resistance from kids, balance expectations, and keep joy at the center of your homeschool.

Key Takeaways: 1. The Power of Observing Coaching in Action Julie opens the episode by sharing insights from her coaching programs. Observing other moms being coached can be incredibly powerful, as it often reveals solutions to shared struggles. Sometimes, hearing another mom’s journey helps us find our own answers or feel reassured that we’re not alone.

2. Handling Resistance with Calm Confidence We dive into practical strategies for dealing with children’s resistance to homeschool routines. Julie shares tips on how to stay calm and compassionate, even when met with pushback. Learn how to replace frustration with resilience and guide your kids toward cooperation without losing your peace.

3. Redefining "Strength" in Homeschooling Julie addresses common misconceptions around strength in parenting. Homeschool moms often feel torn between discipline and connection, and we’ll discuss how true strength comes from finding a balance between the two—rooted in confidence, not harshness.

4. Managing Interruptions and Chaos Balancing the needs of different kids (and the inevitable interruptions of younger siblings!) can feel overwhelming. In this episode, Julie explores practical tools to embrace the gains amid interruptions. Whether it's diaper changes or quick breaks, these moments don’t have to derail the day. Instead, they’re part of the beautiful, real-life homeschool experience.

5. The Habit of Appreciation Throughout the episode, Julie emphasizes the importance of celebrating small wins. Training our brains to recognize the gains—like completing a subject or engaging our children in a rich discussion—shifts our focus from what we “should” be doing to celebrating what we’ve already achieved.

Why This Episode Matters: If you’ve ever felt that homeschooling has to be perfect to be effective, this episode is a must-listen. Learn how to ditch unrealistic expectations, find strength in vulnerability, and create a homeschool experience filled with resilience, connection, and joy.

Resources Mentioned: Visit www.thefeastlife.me/blog/52 for additional resources and links

Just Getting Started? Get our FREE Charlotte Mason and You Workshop to see if this powerful approach can transform your homeschool. https://www.thefeastlife.me/opt-in

Subscribe & Review: “ I love Julie and the Feast Life.” If this sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing the show on Apple Podcasts. This helps more people- just like you- find out about the show. CLICK HERE AND SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM to leave a five star reviews. Also, please subscribe so you never miss an episode. FOLLOW NOW

Connect with Us: Website: A Gentle Feast Facebook: A Gentle Feast Community Instagram: @agentlefeast

Prefer video or closed captions? Watch all our episodes on YouTube. http://youtube.com/@TheFeastLife

Today’s episode is sponsored by the award winning Charlotte Mason curriculum A Gentle Feast. Get started with smooth and easy days at https://www.agentlefeast.com. 

In Episode 51 of The Feast Life, host Julie Ross chats with Jenifer Breaux, owner of JB Travel Pros, about traveling with neurodivergent children. Jenifer shares her personal journey as a mom of two children with special needs and how she learned to make travel a possibility and even a joy for her family. With her expertise as a travel agent and author, she offers practical advice on planning trips, accommodating sensory needs, and creating stress-free routines for your next family vacation. If the idea of traveling with neurodivergent children feels overwhelming, this episode is full of tips and encouragement to help you feel empowered and ready for adventure.

Key Takeaways: Start Small: Ease into traveling by beginning with short, local trips and single-night stays. This helps both you and your children get comfortable with the travel experience before tackling larger trips. Prepare with Social Stories: Create a social story for your child, showing pictures of the trip destination, transportation, and activities to reduce anxiety and provide a sense of familiarity. Routine is Key: Establish a vacation routine similar to what your children are used to at home. Balance high-energy activities with downtime to avoid sensory overload. Special Accommodations: Many resorts and travel services, like Royal Caribbean cruises and Beaches resorts, offer special accommodations for families with neurodivergent children. Take advantage of these options to make your trip more manageable. Empower Yourself as a Parent: You are already an advocate for your child in everyday life—extend that advocacy to travel by starting small and celebrating each victory along the way. Just get started, and you'll find travel becomes easier with experience.

Connect with Jenifer Breaux: Instagram: @iamjeniferbreaux Website: https://www.iamjeniferbreaux.com/ Resources Mentioned: Visit thefeastlife.me/blog/51 for additional resources and links

Just Getting Started? Get our FREE Charlotte Mason and You Workshop to see if this powerful approach can transform your homeschool. https://www.thefeastlife.me/opt-in Subscribe & Review: “ I love Julie and the Feast Life.” If this sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing the show on Apple Podcasts. This helps more people- just like you- find out about the show. CLICK HERE AND SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM to leave a five star reviews. Also, please subscribe so you never miss an episode. FOLLOW NOW

Connect with Us: Website: A Gentle Feast Facebook: A Gentle Feast Community Instagram: @agentlefeast Prefer video or closed captions? Watch all our episodes on YouTube. http://youtube.com/@TheFeastLife

Today’s episode is sponsored by the award winning Charlotte Mason curriculum A Gentle Feast. Get started with smooth and easy days at https://www.agentlefeast.com.

In this episode, Julie Ross shares a personal coaching call from one of her programs that touches on a theme many homeschool moms can relate to: how to deal with feelings of disappointment, discouragement, or overwhelm when life changes disrupt your routines or ideals. Through the lens of this coaching conversation, Julie explores the emotional intelligence required to be coachable, the struggle between wanting to add fun and meaningful activities into your life and homeschool, and the importance of finding balance so you don’t burn out.

Key Takeaways:

Resources Mentioned:

Visit thefeastlife.me/blog/50 for additional resources and links

Just Getting Started? Get our FREE Charlotte Mason and You Workshop to see if this powerful approach can transform your homeschool. https://www.thefeastlife.me/opt-in

Subscribe & Review: “ I love Julie and the Feast Life.” If this sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing the show on Apple Podcasts. This helps more people- just like you- find out about the show. CLICK HERE AND SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM to leave a five star reviews.

Also, please subscribe so you never miss an episode. FOLLOW NOW

Connect with Us:

Today’s episode is sponsored by the award winning Charlotte Mason curriculum A Gentle Feast. Get started with smooth and easy days at https://www.agentlefeast.com.

Welcome to Episode 49 of The Feast Life podcast! Join your host, Julie Ross, as she chats with Lyndsey Mimnagh from Treehouse Schoolhouse about creating a home-centered life. In this delightful conversation, Julie and Lyndsey discuss their journeys, home education, and balancing home-based businesses with homeschooling. They share practical tips on cultivating a family atmosphere that fosters creativity, learning, and hospitality. Tune in for inspiration and insights on how to make your home the heart of your family’s life.

Key Takeaways:

Define Your Family’s Values: Start with identifying the core values and goals for your family and design your home and routines to reflect those priorities.

Maximize Your Space Creatively: Use small spaces effectively by incorporating versatile and multi-purpose areas for learning and creative activities.

Set Boundaries and Delegate: Establish clear boundaries for work, homeschooling, and family time. Delegate tasks where possible to focus on what matters most.

Prioritize Margin and Play: Ensure your schedule includes ample unstructured time for children to play, explore, and process their learning.

Self-Care is Essential: Make self-care a non-negotiable part of your routine. Taking care of yourself ensures you can sustain and enjoy your home-centered life.

Connect with Lyndsey:

Website: Treehouse Schoolhouse Use code FeastLife15 for 15% off at Treehouse Schoolhouse.

Instagram: @treehouseschoolhouse

Thank you for tuning in! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review.

Resources Mentioned: Visit www.thefeastlife.me/blog/49 for additional resources and links

Just Getting Started? Get our FREE Charlotte Mason and You Workshop to see if this powerful approach can transform your homeschool. https://www.thefeastlife.me/opt-in

Subscribe & Review: “ I love Julie and the Feast Life.” If this sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing the show on Apple Podcasts. This helps more people- just like you- find out about the show. CLICK HERE AND SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM to leave a five star reviews. Also, please subscribe so you never miss an episode. FOLLOW NOW

Connect with Us: Website: A Gentle Feast Facebook: A Gentle Feast Community Instagram: @agentlefeast Prefer video or closed captions? Watch all our episodes on YouTube. http://youtube.com/@TheFeastLife

Today’s episode is sponsored by the award winning Charlotte Mason curriculum A Gentle Feast. Get started with smooth and easy days at https://www.agentlefeast.com. 

In this episode of The Feast Life, Julie Ross chats with Brittney McGann, author of Scouting for Wild Ones. They explore the concept of scouting in a Charlotte Mason homeschool, what it means, and how it can benefit families today. Brittney shares her journey from a nature study enthusiast to leading a scouting group and writing a guide for parents. Learn how scouting fits into a holistic education and hear practical advice on how to start, whether you're new to the outdoors or a seasoned nature lover. This conversation will inspire you to cultivate adventure, problem-solving, and confidence in your children through the practical skills of scouting.

5 Key Takeaways:

Scouting’s Educational Value: Scouting combines practical knowledge with hands-on learning. It emphasizes observation, citizenship, and problem-solving, enhancing academic subjects like science and geography.

Confidence and Leadership: Scouting builds children's confidence by allowing them to apply skills in real-life situations, fostering leadership and personal growth in ways that traditional academics might not.

Holistic Learning: Scouting fits seamlessly into Charlotte Mason's philosophy of education, complementing nature study, handicrafts, and geography, while promoting a holistic development of the child.

Getting Started is Easy: Brittney’s Scouting for Wild Ones guide is beginner-friendly and adaptable for both individual families and groups. It makes the process of introducing scouting to your homeschool less intimidating and more accessible.

Flexibility and Long-Term Benefits: Scouting can be done at your own pace, allowing families to tailor it to their schedules. The skills learned, like observation, survival tactics, and teamwork, have long-lasting impacts on children’s personal development.

Tune in to discover how scouting can bring adventure, learning, and confidence-building opportunities to your homeschool!

Resources Mentioned: Visit thefeastlife.me/blog/48 for additional resources and links

Just Getting Started? Get our FREE Charlotte Mason and You Workshop to see if this powerful approach can transform your homeschool.

https://www.thefeastlife.me/opt-in Subscribe & Review: “ I love Julie and the Feast Life.” If this sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing the show on Apple Podcasts. This helps more people- just like you- find out about the show. CLICK HERE AND SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM to leave a five star reviews. Also, please subscribe so you never miss an episode. FOLLOW NOW Connect with Us: Website: A Gentle Feast Facebook: A Gentle Feast Community Instagram: @agentlefeast Prefer video or closed captions? Watch all our episodes on YouTube. http://youtube.com/@TheFeastLife

Today’s episode is sponsored by the award winning Charlotte Mason curriculum A Gentle Feast. Get started with smooth and easy days at https://www.agentlefeast.com.

About our Guest: Brittney McGann is a wife and homeschool mother of three. She loves to spend time in her wildflower garden, has an ever growing pile of books to read, and an endless list of projects to work on. Brittney also helped with the reprints of Sloyd books used in Mason’s schools, Paper Modelling and Cardboard Modelling. Those can be found on Amazon and Brittney has written several articles about sloyd and scouting which can be found on Charlotte Mason Poetry. Instagram: @brittneymcgann Scouting for Wild Ones Waitlist & Wild Robot Freebie: https://agentlefeast.ck.page/64dc484b24 Website: Charlotte Mason Poetry

In this episode of The Feast Life, host Julie Ross dives into the intricate balance of homeschooling while running a home-based business. Julie, the creator and owner of A Gentle Feast, shares her personal journey of managing a thriving business and homeschooling her children. She offers invaluable tips on time management, setting boundaries, and involving your children in your entrepreneurial endeavors. Whether you’re homeschooling out of necessity or passion, this episode provides practical advice to help you thrive in both roles. Tune in for Julie’s insights on turning your homeschooling and business challenges into opportunities for growth and connection.

Julie Ross shares her experiences and tips on how to effectively balance homeschooling and running a home-based business. Drawing from her journey with A Gentle Feast, she discusses mindset, practical strategies, and the benefits of involving children in business activities.

Key Takeaways:

   - Emphasizes the importance of viewing homeschooling and business as complementary rather than conflicting.

   - Encourages listeners to see the blessings and opportunities in combining both roles.

   - Discusses the benefits of teaching children about entrepreneurship.

   - Shares personal anecdotes of involving her kids in her business activities.

   - Tips on how to engage children of different ages in business tasks.

   - The importance of having dedicated hours for work and homeschooling.

   - Strategies for setting boundaries and teaching kids to respect work time.

   - The value of time blocking and batching tasks to manage workload effectively.

   - The necessity of delegating tasks in both business and home life.

   - Suggestions on training children to handle certain responsibilities.

   - Creative ways to get help, such as bartering or hiring help.

   - Utilizing the Charlotte Mason approach to keep homeschool sessions short and focused.

   - Integrating learning into everyday activities and experiences.

   - The importance of self-care for maintaining energy and focus.

   - Tips on prioritizing nutrition, rest, and exercise.

   - Balancing personal development with family and business responsibilities.

   - Teaching children to manage their own time and work independently.

   - Gradual release of responsibilities to help children build confidence and skills.

By following these strategies and mindset shifts, you can find harmony in homeschooling and managing a home-based business. Listen to Julie’s practical advice and start creating a thriving environment for both education and entrepreneurship in your home.

Resources Mentioned:

Visit thefeastlife.me/blog/47 for additional resources and links

Just Getting Started? Get our FREE Charlotte Mason and You Workshop to see if this powerful approach can transform your homeschool. https://www.thefeastlife.me/opt-in

Subscribe & Review: “ I love Julie and the Feast Life.” If this sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing the show on Apple Podcasts. This helps more people- just like you- find out about the show. CLICK HERE AND SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM to leave a five star reviews.

Also, please subscribe so you never miss an episode. FOLLOW NOW

Connect with Us:

Today’s episode is sponsored by the award winning Charlotte Mason curriculum A Gentle Feast. Get started with smooth and easy days at https://www.agentlefeast.com.

In this episode of The Feast Life, host Julie Ross is joined by Amanda Erickson, known on Instagram as The Flourishing Family. Amanda shares her journey from dealing with infertility and foster care to raising her two children and starting the flourishing homes and families ministry. They discuss the importance of parenting with grace, abiding in Christ, and creating a nurturing environment for children. Amanda’s insights on connecting with children, managing stress responses, and trusting God’s plan over rigid parenting paradigms are both inspiring and practical.

Key Takeaways:

1.Embrace Flourishing Over Surviving:

   Flourishing involves God’s intimate involvement and purpose, even in challenging seasons.

2.Abide in Christ:

   Constantly seek to know Jesus better through scripture to transform personal and parenting perspectives.

   Children often mirror their parents' behaviors and tones; modeling gentleness and compassion is crucial.

4.Growth Over Guilt:

   Focus on learning and growing from mistakes rather than being paralyzed by guilt and shame.

   Establish connection and safety with children before administering correction to foster trust and effective learning.

Connect with Amanda Erickson:

Resources Mentioned:

Visit thefeastlife.me/blog/46 for additional resources and links

Just Getting Started? Get our FREE Charlotte Mason and You Workshop to see if this powerful approach can transform your homeschool. https://www.thefeastlife.me/opt-in

Subscribe & Review: “ I love Julie and the Feast Life.” If this sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing the show on Apple Podcasts. This helps more people- just like you- find out about the show. CLICK HERE AND SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM to leave a five star reviews.

Also, please subscribe so you never miss an episode. FOLLOW NOW

Connect with Us:

Today’s episode is sponsored by The Confident Homeschool Mom. This 12 week course launches September 18th. Create a life and homeschool you love and join our waitlist now. https://www.thefeastlife.me/confidentwaitlist 

In this episode, Julie Ross guides you through the process of setting a clear and intentional vision for your homeschool year. If you're feeling overwhelmed or stuck in the "how" of planning, Julie offers practical strategies to help you refocus on what truly matters. Through calming exercises and thought-provoking questions, she encourages you to move past analysis paralysis and decision fatigue, so you can approach the upcoming school year with clarity and confidence.

Key Takeaways:

Resources Mentioned:

Visit thefeastlife.me/blog/45 for additional resources and links

Just Getting Started? Get our FREE Charlotte Mason and You Workshop to see if this powerful approach can transform your homeschool. https://www.thefeastlife.me/opt-in

Subscribe & Review: “ I love Julie and the Feast Life.” If this sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing the show on Apple Podcasts. This helps more people- just like you- find out about the show. CLICK HERE AND SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM to leave a five star reviews.

Also, please subscribe so you never miss an episode. FOLLOW NOW

Connect with Us:

Today’s episode is sponsored by The Confident Homeschool Mom. This 12 week course launches September 18th. Create a life and homeschool you love and join our waitlist now. https://www.thefeastlife.me/confidentwaitlist