You can have the most beautifully organized home, the most efficient schedule, and all the best systems in place—but if your mind is in chaos, it will eventually spill into every area of your life. In this episode, we dive into the power of emotions—what they are, how they shape our actions, and why resisting or numbing them only makes things worse.. However you tend to buffer your feelings, you’ll learn how to shift into emotional adulthood—where you can respond rather than react and create a more peaceful, empowered life.

Key Takeaways: Emotions Are Energy in Motion: Understanding that emotions are meant to move through us rather than be suppressed or feared. The Creation Cycle: How our thoughts shape our feelings, which then drive our actions and ultimately determine our results. Breaking the Three B’s: The dangers of bottling (suppressing), brooding (overthinking), and buffering (numbing) our emotions—and what to do instead. Emotional Childhood vs. Adulthood: Learning to take responsibility for your emotions rather than blaming circumstances or other people. Practical Steps to Process Emotions: Strategies like identifying feelings, allowing them to move through you, and choosing empowering emotions that align with the life you want to create.

Resources Mentioned: Visit www.thefeastlife.me/blog/67  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  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 heartfelt episode, Julie Ross shares how unconditional love can transform your holiday season and relationships. Whether it’s with your children, challenging family members, or even yourself, love is the most powerful gift you can give. Discover simple mindset shifts and practical steps to cultivate peace and joy during the holidays.

5 Key Takeaways: Unconditional Love Starts with Small Moments Your kids, even teens, value simple, intentional time with you—like looking at Christmas lights or sharing a favorite book. Unconditional love means they are loved, even when they’re not at their best. Change Your Thoughts to Transform Relationships When dealing with difficult family members, focus on the “next kindest thought.” Choosing empathy and curiosity can shift your mindset and bring peace to strained relationships. Extend Love to Yourself Show yourself the same compassion you give your children. Treat your heart gently, speak kindly to yourself, and allow space for rest and grace when things feel overwhelming. Protect Your Energy and Joy Don’t let others determine your mood or the tone of your holidays. Focus on what you can control—your mindset, attitude, and actions. Pause and Reflect Take time for a quick reset. Whether it’s five quiet minutes or journaling a gratitude list, reflection helps you focus on what truly matters during the season.

Resources Mentioned: Visit www.thefeastlife.me/blog/58  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:  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 heartwarming episode of The Feast Life, Julie Ross explores the transformative power of learning to receive during the holidays. For many, the season can bring pressure to give endlessly, especially for homeschooling moms. Julie shares her personal journey of shifting from “doing it all” to graciously accepting help and blessings, leading to deeper joy and connection.

Key Takeaways

Resources Mentioned:

Visit thefeastlife.me/blog/56 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. Sign up for our “Peaceful and Joyful Holidays” course http://www.thefeastlife.me/holidays

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 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.

Got a big-feeling, big-opinion, bigger-than-life kid? 👀 This episode with parenting coach and author Mary Van Geffen will feel like a deep exhale. We talk about spicy children (and spicy moms!), nervous system tools, real repair, and why you are not failing—your child is your curriculum.

Resources Mentioned:

Visit thefeastlife.me/blog/99 for additional resources and links

Parenting a Spicy One by Mary Van Geffen (pre-order bonuses include Meltdown Meditations for Moms and Affirming Your Spicy One masterclass). 

Repair PDF: Mary’s step-by-step repair guide 

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.

If you’re pouring from an empty cup, your homeschool will feel harder than it has to. Today we’re flipping that script with simple, do-able habits that run on autopilot—so you feel grounded, creative, and energized (without adding more to your plate).

Julie explores what it really means to nourish you as a homeschool mom—practically, not theoretically. We look at how identity-based habits shape your days, why small changes compound into big results, and how to design habits that are obvious, attractive, easy, and satisfying. You’ll hear Charlotte Mason’s wisdom on “the habits of the good life,” a gentle mindset for starting small, and a practical morning “Powerhouse 30” you can tailor to your season. We’ll also talk about replacing unhelpful patterns, stacking new habits onto routines you already have, and tracking progress for 30 days to build confidence that spreads to every corner of your home.

“Sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny.” —Charlotte Mason

Resources Mentioned:

Visit thefeastlife.me/blog/98 for additional resources and links

Atomic Habits by James Clear

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.

What happens when family, faith, and imagination come together in the life of a homeschool graduate turned author? In this conversation, Julie Ross sits down with Leilani Mueller to talk about her debut children’s book inspired by moving across the country, the role of grandparents, and the beauty of family culture. From Oxford to Waco to Houston, Leilani’s story is filled with wisdom for homeschool moms raising readers, dreamers, and resilient kids.

Whether you’re navigating a big move, building family culture, or simply looking for living books to add to your homeschool, this episode is packed with encouragement.

 Leilani’s book is available wherever books are sold. Add it to your family’s reading stack for a heartfelt story about love, resilience, and making new places feel like home.

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.

Homeschooling can feel like an emotional rollercoaster—one minute you’re overflowing with joy, the next you’re weighed down by frustration, doubt, or fear. What if those emotions weren’t something to fix or fight, but instead the very key to unlocking a more peaceful, joy-filled homeschool? In this episode, Julie shares how to stop being at the mercy of your feelings and start generating the empowering emotions you want to experience.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

Why It Matters:
When you learn to notice, name, and generate emotions with intention, you stop getting stuck in cycles of discouragement and overwhelm. Instead, you create motivation, courage, joy, and peace—emotions that overflow into your homeschool and transform the atmosphere of your home.

Resources Mentioned:

Visit thefeastlife.me/blog/96 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 special episode of The Feast Life Podcast, Julie Ross sits down with the Bryant family—dad Bobby and his three teens—to talk about their homeschooling journey, the power of family discipleship, and their new children’s book Trusting Timothy. Together, they share how faith, honesty, and perseverance shaped their homeschool years and how parents can encourage integrity in their children.

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.