The Homeschool Sanity Show

Show Notes

Hey, homeschoolers! How will you homeschool through the holiday season? There are many approaches that can work for you, but you’re most likely to feel good about the season when you’re intentional about it. I invited guest Katie Trent back to share with us some ideas for adjusting our homeschooling during the holidays. I also asked her about her new book that is a must-add-to-cart title.

Before I get to our interview, I want to thank NOW Programs for sponsoring the podcast.

http://nowprograms.com

How to Homeschool Through a Move with Katie J Trent

A Merry & Bright Adventure

KatieJTrent.com

Katie on Instagram

Katie on Facebook

Have a happy homeschool week!

The post Special Replay: How To Homeschool Through The Holidays appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Show Notes

Why do we put off things we genuinely want to do?

Dana K. White, author of the New York Times bestseller Procrastinators Get Stuff Done:

joins Dr. Melanie Wilson on the Homeschool Sanity Show to explain.

Her answer isn’t “hustle harder.”

If you’re a busy homeschool mom who already feels stretched thin, this episode is for you.

Dana says the opposite of procrastination isn’t productivity. It’s progress. She also shares a simple way to get moving when you feel stuck.

In this episode:

• Why overthinking and perfectionism keep us stuck

• How to keep your big vision and still get started

• Dana’s five-step anti-procrastination process, starting with the smallest step

• How to get unstuck when your motivation fizzles

Melanie also works through a real example: the curriculum she’s been putting off decluttering.

Listen now to find out what you can do today, with zero pressure, to start moving again.

Find Dana online: @ASlobComesClean on Facebook and Instagram, and  @DanaKWhite  on YouTube.​

Teaching Kids to Declutter

The Container Concept

Jesus and Your Messy House

Network Sweet 13

The post Progress Over Procrastination: Beat Procrastination Now appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Feeling overwhelmed by your to-do list? Melanie shares a practical, faith-centered way to make your list more manageable and focus on what matters most—without trying to do it all.Learn how to keep daily tasks realistic, make space for the unexpected, and approach homeschooling with more peace and less pressure.

Show Notes

Watch on YouTube

Network Sweet 13 Promo

Akiflow

A Year of Living Productively

Doing Too Much Episode

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If you’re worried, hurried, and exhausted, there’s a good chance you’re doing too much in your homeschool. You may be homeschooling too many hours, teaching too many subjects, or carting kids to too many activities. When we hoped to escape the traditional school rat race, why do we so often overdo it in our homeschools? I’ll share three common reasons with practical steps for recovering your homeschool happiness.

Watch on YouTube

Grammar Galaxy

5 Signs You’re Doing Too Much

Podcast Network Sweet 13

I’ve been a homeschool publisher since 2015 and recently hit a wall. I didn’t want to do anything. I thought I just needed to buck up and work harder. I created a detailed, packed schedule for myself that didn’t even last a day. The problem wasn’t that I didn’t have a good work ethic; it was attempting to do too much for too long. The reasons I did are the same reasons homeschool moms do it.

In my case, I thought if I didn’t publish a new book every year that my business would fail. So I published at least one a year in addition to publishing podcast episodes, managing customer service, and speaking at conferences. It meant that I had no time to improve other aspects of my business.  I could only respond to urgent tasks like making dinner, cleaning the house for company, and my family’s needs.

In the same way, homeschool moms try to teach long hours, including many subjects, classes, and activities because they’re worried their kids won’t have a good education, have good social and emotional skills, get on a good sports team, or get a good scholarship.

In the middle of my burnout, a good writer friend asked me, “What if you stopped writing for a couple of months?” I stammered. Stopped writing? You mean not have a new curriculum ready for spring conference season? Umm, I couldn’t do that. Could I?

I’m not sure what I would be sharing with you today if my friend hadn’t suggested I get off the writing treadmill. Because she did, I’m going to suggest this alternative to managing fear with more activity: talk to a homeschool mentor. She doesn’t have to be an official coach—just someone who’s further down the road than you. Share your homeschool schedule, routine, and curriculum list with her. If she laughs, you’ll know for sure you’re doing too much. But the best thing a homeschool mentor can do for you is reassure you that you don’t have to do all the things to have happy, successful kids. I don’t even have to see your list to tell you that it’s true.

A mentor can help you determine the priorities. I’ve spoken before about a precious mom who wrote me to say she was dying. She wanted to homeschool her kids with the time she had left so she had more time with them. She asked me what approach she should use to teach her kids. When I thought about it, I realized it was the approach I think all homeschool moms should use. First, teach the most important information and skills. For me as a Christian mom, teaching my kids the Bible and apologetics was vital. Teaching my kids the basics of language arts, math, history, and science was also important. After the essentials were covered, I recommended that she teach what she enjoyed and make memories.

Reading historical fiction to my kids, researching aspects that were of interest to them, and doing fun related activities with friends were the delight of our homeschool. So many other activities were nice but not necessary. What is most important and most joyful to you? Focus on those things.

Every year the thought of the conference season in March had me writing furiously to have books done in time. The deadline kept me writing when I was tired and frankly didn’t feel like writing. If I had to miss a day or two of writing, I felt that I had to make it up. Distractions and changes in plans became more annoying the closer conference season loomed. I couldn’t enjoy the writing process because I was on a deadline.

When the project was done, I was busy traveling and speaking. I wasn’t able to rest, especially because everything else I’d put off to finish the book needed to be handled. Before I knew it, it was time to start the next book project. Deadlines do work for motivation. I’ve published 17 different books in 10 years. But there’s been a cost.

Homeschool moms often want to finish their curriculum books by the end of their homeschool year too. In that desire, getting off schedule can become an annoyance that makes us irritable and robs us of the joy of learning. I think it’s important to say here that few traditional teachers complete an entire curriculum by the end of the year.

Instead of deadlines, I wish I had just had a realistic routine. Writing curriculum four hours a day wasn’t realistic for me if I wanted to be a happy, balanced writer. As a homeschool mom, determine how much time is realistic for you to spend on the most important and joyful activities. You might try doing these activities in the same basic order on regular school days and calling what you accomplish at the end of the year a success. Even if the book isn’t done. Unless you’re part of a program that requires you to finish by a certain date, you can choose to finish later. Amazing, right?

As I neared the deadline on a new book, I would try to eliminate distractions. I wouldn’t chat with my friends before I got my four hours of writing in. I would tell myself “no” to doing anything other than writing curriculum for months. My fear of failure and the deadline allowed me to exert a lot of self-control. Like a power lifter, I forced the weight of the project to completion. But because self-control is like a muscle, I had very little strength left for other temptations. I was more likely to be rude when interrupted. I would eat junk after I finished my writing time. And when my book was finished, I continued to put off unpleasant work that needed to be done. I didn’t have the self-control I needed to tackle it.

Homeschool moms may push themselves to get through the curriculum, complete their co-op commitments, and take their kids to all the activities, sure that when the regular school year is over that they can finally get organized, plan a better homeschool, or start a fitness journey. But they have nothing left in the tank to do those things. They’ve burned through their self-control.

Instead of relying on self-control, I wish I had relied on the Sabbath to renew me so I could be more fruitful. I have not worked on Sundays generally. But I needed a more extensive rest. Like the farmers described in Exodus, I am going to let one field of my life rest this year while I work elsewhere.

I believe that my business will actually improve as I focus my time on areas other than curriculum writing–areas I’ve neglected like social media and marketing.

Homeschool moms don’t have to quit homeschooling for a year to experience renewal. You could switch to unschooling for a season. You could drop a subject or activity you’ve always done. You could cut way back on the amount of time you dedicate to formal schooling. Whatever you consider, your first response may be like mine. You mean stop? Yes, stop.

If you do stop doing too much, you can experience peace and joy once again like I have in creating this content. Which reason for doing too much resonates? Please comment and let me know. If this was helpful, I’d love to have you subscribe.

The post Why You’re Doing Too Much And How To Stop appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

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Melanie came to this network from a blogging conference. Felice met her, heard what she was doing, and invited her on — and the Homeschool Sanity Show has been steadying homeschool moms ever since.

For the thirteenth birthday, every host on the network takes one question. Just one. Here is hers.

Her question: “It is October, you are already behind, and you are starting to wonder if you are the problem.”

The good news, in her words: there is nothing wrong with you. You have run into a thinking error that catches the smartest people — the planning fallacy — and it is fixable. The clip is from Why You’ve Fallen Behind In Your Homeschool Plan.

Also in this episode: Felice Gerwitz on whether to homeschool at all · Hal and Melanie Young on boys who will not sit still · the 7Sisters on the high school transcript · Sue Myers on a fever and a two-year-old · Meryl van der Merwe on teenagers and AI · Meredith Curtis on getting the joy back · Lisa Nehring on life skills before they launch.

The Sweet 13 Giveaway is open. More than $1,500 in prizes, four drawings across October, and a free party favor for everyone who enters. Enter at ultimateradioshow.com/sweet-13 — October 1 through 29. No purchase necessary, US residents 18+, official rules here.

Presented by Eden’s Table, a Bible-rooted herbalism unit study for K–5. Get Week 1 free, or use code EDEN13 for 10% off through October 31.

The post Sweet 13 Bonus: Why You Are Already Behind appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Have you ever wondered how some moms manage to homeschool a large family—when homeschooling just a few children can already feel overwhelming?

Penney Douglas homeschooled all ten of her children, but her homeschool didn’t turn out anything like she imagined it would. Along the way, unexpected challenges forced her to rethink what successful homeschooling really looks like.

In this episode of The Homeschool Sanity Show, Penney shares the lessons she learned through more than 27 years of homeschooling—including what she had to change, what she had to let go of, and what ultimately made homeschooling a large family manageable.

We also talk about the surprising benefits her children gained from growing up and learning together—and the encouragement she would give the homeschool mom who feels like she simply can’t keep up.

If you’ve ever thought, “How am I supposed to do all of this?” you’ll want to hear Penney’s perspective.

We also discuss Penney’s book, Dear Struggling Homeschool Mom, I See You, written for the mom who needs reassurance that homeschooling doesn’t have to look perfect to be successful.

Watch or listen now for encouragement from a mom who has truly been there.

Homeschooling Preschool

Homeschooling with Babies and Toddlers

The post Large Family Homeschooling: From Traditional Teacher To Homeschool Mom Of 10 appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Are you battling anxiety as a Christian—whether it’s constant nagging worry or a fear that feels like it’s controlling your life?

I can relate. For years, I struggled with an intense fear of home invasion. Even as a clinical psychologist, I had routines designed to make me feel safe, but I could still spend hours awake at night, frozen by fear.

Then one night, while my husband was out of town, someone began pounding on my front door at 2 a.m.

What happened next forced me to face my worst fear—and ultimately changed my relationship with anxiety.

In this video, I share that story along with three keys that helped me overcome anxiety.

And if your child struggles with worry or anxiety, check out Training Aliens, my story-based social and emotional skills curriculum for kids.

Try a free Training Aliens sample lesson: https://funtolearnbooks.com/product/training-aliens-level-1-kit/

If this podcast encouraged you, please subscribe for more practical, faith-based encouragement for homeschooling, parenting, and Christian living.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/et2XEajx7CU

Stop Worrying, Start Homeschooling

Overcoming Anxiety as a Homeschool Mom

What are You Trusting In?

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We want our kids to be kind, helpful, and cooperative. But we also want them to be able to say no when someone pressures them to do something that isn’t in their best interest.

That can be especially difficult for conscientious kids—the ones who want to be good friends, avoid disappointing people, and keep everyone happy.

So how do we teach our kids to set healthy boundaries without encouraging them to be selfish, rude, or unkind?

In this episode of The Homeschool Sanity Show, I share three practical ways to help your child develop healthy boundaries. We’ll talk about why some kids have such a hard time saying no, how other people can take advantage of that tendency, and what we can do now to prepare our kids for situations they’ll face as teens and adults.

You’ll also learn a simple strategy that can make saying no much easier for kids who tend to agree to things too quickly—and what your child needs from you after they’ve enforced a boundary.

These are skills our kids will use in friendships, dating relationships, college, work, and family life for years to come.

You’ll discover:

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Knowing what a healthy boundary looks like is one thing. Practicing it before your child is in a difficult situation is even better.

Training Aliens is my story-based social and emotional skills curriculum designed to help kids practice skills like healthy boundaries through stories, discussion, role plays, challenges, games, and more.

Your kids will meet an alien at Space Camp who struggles with boundaries, consider how the other characters should respond, and practice the skill themselves. Training Aliens is available in both faith-based and secular versions and includes a video course, too.

Download a free Training Aliens sample here: https://funtolearnbooks.com/product/training-aliens-level-1-kit/

Is saying no difficult for you or one of your kids? Share your experience in the comments.

And be sure to subscribe to The Homeschool Sanity Show for more practical strategies for raising competent, capable kids.

How to Establish and Defend Time Boundaries

Conflict Resolution Skills You Must Teach Part 1

Conflict Resolution Skills You Must Teach Part 2

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Want your child to make more friends this year—but aren’t sure how to help?

Friendships are important for kids’ happiness and well-being, but making friends doesn’t always happen automatically, especially for homeschoolers. Simply putting kids around other kids isn’t necessarily enough.

In this episode, I share a simple three-step strategy for helping your child develop meaningful friendships. And surprisingly, it has a lot in common with shopping at a rummage sale!

You’ll learn:

• How to help your child recognize a good friendship fit • Why having time for friendship matters • The importance of shared interests and compatible values • Where homeschoolers can find good opportunities for friendship • Why large groups don’t always lead to closer relationships • The three ingredients that help acquaintances become friends • Social skills your child may need to be explicitly taught • How curiosity and good questions can help kids connect • What to notice when friendship interest isn’t reciprocal

Kids need more than conversation skills to build lasting friendships. They also need practice with teamwork, good sportsmanship, handling frustration, resolving conflict, apologizing, setting boundaries, and responding when someone else behaves poorly.

That’s why I created Training Aliens, my story-based social and emotional skills curriculum for elementary students.

Each lesson uses a funny story, choose-your-own-adventure decisions, realistic consequences, discussion, games, challenges, STEM activities, and more to help kids practice important social and emotional skills.

Both faith-based and secular teacher’s guides are available.

Download a FREE Training Aliens sample: https://funtolearnbooks.com/product/training-aliens-level-1-kit/

If helping your child make more friends is one of your goals this year, remember the rummage-sale strategy: know what you’re looking for, go where real friendships can develop, and teach your child the skills to turn an acquaintance into a friend.

What have you found works well for helping your child make friends? Share your ideas in the comments.

Homeschool Mom Friendships

Hospitality Lies That Keep Us Lonely

Raising Confident Kids Through Homeschool Theater

If this episode was helpful, subscribe to The Homeschool Sanity Show.

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