The Moms I Know Podcast

Are you worried about the new CDC guidelines for the reopening of schools in the United States? Are you wondering what's going to be best for your family? Are you considering the possibility that there may be other alternative ways to educate your children?

"Learning is not the product of teaching; learning is the product of the activity of learners." - John Holt

With the recent release by the CDC of their guidelines for the reopening of schools, we sit down to discuss all the options that are available to families during this time. How can we grapple with the effects this will have on the learning that is able to happen within those 4 walls? How can we diminish the stress and anxiety of everyone involved?

Considering the impact all of this will have on the learners, the educators, and all of the households affected by this new paradigm, let us offer you some alternative options to consider and help mobilize you to become an active participant in designing your child's learning environment.

From getting in touch with your local school administrators to the many options available to you through the umbrella of homeschooling, we want to encourage and empower you during this unprecedented time to, above all else, remain focussed on and to do what is best for your family.

Resources From This Episode:

Shannon Hayes, Radical Homemakers: http://theradicalhomemaker.net/books/

Kym John Payne, Simplicity Parenting: https://www.simplicityparenting.com/

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For a time such as this... It is now more important than ever that we raise the next generation to be the bold leaders of tomorrow. This episode features an exciting episode with Sabrina Ann Zielinski, aka Mama Z, of Natural Living Family.

The 5 P's: Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance

When you listen to this episode, you'll really see how the 5 P's really define life in the Z House.

In this exciting interview with Mama Z, author of the bestselling book The Essential Oils Diet, we talk everything from family wellness and time management as a mother of 4 with a baby on the way to being a guardian of childhood and homeschooling during the events of Covid-19.

We love the unique perspective that Sabrina shares in this interview. Her passion for family wellness and her heart for serving others shine through in everything she puts forward. There's sure to be something in this episode for everyone!

Resources From This Episode:

Sabrina Ann Zielinski & Dr. Eric Zielinski, Natural Living Family: https://naturallivingfamily.com/

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SABRINA ANN ZIELINSKI is the author of the bestselling Essential Oils Diet book, and has pioneered natural living since 2014 when she started the blog NaturalLivingFamily.com with her husband. A certified group fitness and martial arts instructor, health coach, lactation consultant, and a DIY guru, "Mama Z" is also the reigning Mrs. Georgia America and has used her natural health platform to inspire millions across the world through regular radio, podcast, documentary & TV appearances.

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How can we, as the "guardians of childhood," protect, strengthen and nurture our children?

"Watch over our child. Guide him safely from the ways of harm. Keep happy his heart, brave his soul, and rosy his cheeks. Guard with your life his hopes and dreams, for he is all that we have, all that we are, and all that we will ever be." - William Joyce, The Man in the Moon

Family schooling is all about living and learning together as a family with a focus on relationships and building a strong sense of connectedness, belonging, and family culture.

"Guardians of Childhood" is our first tenet of Family Schooling because we firmly believe that it is imperative to protect, preserve, and honor childhood if we are going to give our children all that childhood has to offer them.

The early years of life are where children can cultivate their sense of creativity, collaborative play, problem solving, and learn about the world by experiencing nature.

In this episode we dive deep into what this might look like as a part of daily family living with lots of examples to help you begin or grow this practice within your own family.

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If you've heard us talk a little bit about family school and you're interested in learning more about how you can bring this philosophy into your home, this episode is for you.

"While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about." - Angela Schwindt

In this episode, we answer your questions about what family school includes, what are the benefits, and why we believe so strongly in this philosophy.

We began this conversation about family schooling before the events of Covid-19 took place. It grew organically for us out of years of working with homeschool families and conversations we've had together over the past decades.

Now, perhaps more than ever, it is essential that we turn our focus to this way of living and learning together.

This episode is an introduction to our 5 tenets of Family School. Listen now to learn more!

Resources From This Episode:

The Moms I Know, Homeschool Resources: https://www.themomsiknow.com/homeschool

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With so many families being forced into homeschooling situations right now, we want to share our take on how families of all kinds can craft their own unique homeschool situations by simply living and learning together, a concept that we call Family Schooling.

This episode was recorded prior to the events of Covid-19. but even before so many of you began asking, we were feeling energetically pulled in this direction and recorded this episode to begin sharing our passion and a series of resources designed to help you navigate the choices you face when you are planning your own homeschool environment for your family.

If you're wondering what Family Schooling is, listen to this episode now! If you're wondering if there is a way for you to figure this out, yes there is! If you're looking for resources, recommendations, and support, we are here to help you!

Resources From This Episode:

Check out the resources we have for you at https://www.themomsiknow.com/homeschool, follow us on Instagram @themomsiknowpodcast, and feel free to send us a DM or email with your personal questions!

Bruce H. Lipton, PhD, The Biology of Belief: https://www.brucelipton.com/books/biology-of-belief

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Please Note: This episode was recorded before the events of Covid-19 took place. We decided to release this episode to you as it was originally recorded because, although we had no idea what was right around the corner for families all across the globe, we believe the content is relevant and may be especially helpful during this time. We hope you and your loved ones are well. You may find additional resources to help you during this time at our individual websites: thefutureoffamily.com and purplebeetfamily.com.

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In this episode, we share our 3 simple tips for homeschooling to support you wherever you are in your homeschooling journey.

"The human capacity for burden is like bamboo, far more flexible than you'd ever believe at first glance." - Jodi Picoult

Whether you are homeschooling your children by default during the Coronavirus pandemic or considering the possibility of homeschooling your children for other reasons, it is going to require a great deal of resilience, inner strength, and intention.

In this episode we want to inspire you with 3 simple steps to help you flip the script and make learning at home fun.

Resources From This Episode:

Outschool: https://outschool.com/

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We've all been thrust into this new normal and many of us feel like we're trying to keep our heads above water. For those of you who may be feeling like homeschooling your children is not something you signed up for, this episode is for you.

"The oak fought the wind and was broken. The willow bent when it must and survived." - Robert Jordan

We want to invite you to pause, breath, and realize that perhaps the water isn't actually as deep as you thought it was, perhaps there is time and space to pause.

How are we responding to this new challenge of educating our children at home? We may be receiving lesson plans, worksheets, and deadlines from our beloved classroom teachers, but once we are educating our children at home, the objectives have to shift.

The goal of doing school at home is not to recreate the classroom, but to create a loosely structured system that works for your family that meets the objects and works for your children and your family as a unit.

Resources From This Episode:

The Moms I Know, Homeschool Resources: https://www.themommsiknow.com/homeschool

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Having a daily experience with nature has countless benefits for our mental and physical wellbeing. For this episode we welcome Linda McGurk, author of the book There's No Such Thing as Bad Weather, to share with us how this simple wellness routine has impacted her journey through motherhood.

"We have such a brief opportunity to pass on to our children our love for this earth and to tell our stories. These are the moments when the world is made whole." - Richard Louv

The importance of outdoor play is something that we've talked about on this podcast many times, but until now, we haven't really touched on the ways that nature benefits us as well, as human beings and as mothers.

We're delighted to have Linda McGurk join us for this episode's conversation about motherhood. Linda's book, There's No Such Thing as Bad Weather, has been an inspiration to us while raising our own children and in this episode she shares with us how her own parenting journey inspired her to write the book as well as how she has chosen to take her own life lessons and apply them to her parenting and lifestyle choices.

We are excited to share this episode with you, we hope you enjoy Linda's inspirational journey, and that you will find a way to get yourself outside today - no matter the weather!

Resources From This Episode:

Linda McGurk, There's No Such Thing as Bad Weather: A Scandinavian Mom's Secrets for Raising Healthy, Resilient, and Confident Kids (from Friluftsliv to Hygge): http://lindamcgurk.com/book/

Linda McGurk, Rain or Shine Mama Blog: http://www.rainorshinemamma.com

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Linda Åkeson McGurk is a Swedish American journalist, blogger and author of the parenting memoir There's No Such Thing As Bad Weather: A Scandinavian Mom's Secrets for Raising Healthy, Resilient, and Confident Kids (from Friluftsliv to Hygge) which was published by Touchstone in 2017 to critical acclaim. Her writings about Scandinavian parenting have appeared in newspapers, magazines and online publications across the world, including Time.com, Parents.com, Outdoor Families Magazine and more. McGurk is a fierce advocate for the Nordic outdoor tradition and believes that the best childhood memories are created outside, while jumping in puddles, digging in dirt, catching bugs and climbing trees. In 2013, she started the blog Rain or Shine Mamma to chronicle the adventures of her own two wildlings and to inspire other parents and caregivers to get outside with their children every day, regardless of the weather.

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When the going gets tough, we look within ourselves, within our faiths, and within our families for strength, guidance, comfort, peace, and love. If we are able to draw on our best practices and solid foundations, we find ourselves emerging from these times with a greater sense of both self and community.

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world indeed it's the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead

In this world we are living in, a new paradigm has emerged. We have been thrust into new challenges and are now trying to define our new roles and responsibilities as parents and as citizens of the world.

For this episode, we have invited, friend and colleage, Dr. Sarah L. Shulman, to join us for a conversation all about parenting in this new dynamic.

Whether you are listening to this episode during the events of 2020 and Covid-19 or you are coming to this episode later on down the road, you will find ideas and inspiration for conscious parenting in the face of anxiety, fear, and uncertainty that stand the test of time.

Resources:

Dr. Sarah L. Shulman, The Resiliency Project: https://sarahlshulman.com/

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No matter where or how you are educating your children, the most valuable thing is that we are coming together with our children so that we can learn and grow together.

"Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved." - Thomas S. Monsen

Regardless of where and how you choose to educate your children, there will be ups and downs. There will be triumphs and struggles. There will be lessons to learn and accomplishments to celebrate.

In this episode we invited a friend, mentor, colleague, and mother of 4, Roxane Rybee, to join us in this conversation about parenting and family schooling.

This episode is full of ideas and inspiration to help you through whatever challenges you may be facing in your family's educational journey.

Drawing from Waldorf Education philosophies, we invite you to breathe in, breathe out, and enjoy the simple things.

Resources

For more ideas, inspiration, and resources for family schooling, visit https://www.themomsiknow.com/homeschool

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