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What happens when you don't homeschool and your idea of homeschooling comes mostly from the loudest and most extreme examples? I understand the skepticism. After 10 years of homeschooling, I've seen things in the homeschool world that concern me too—including educational neglect and rejection of science. But that's not the whole story. In this episode, I'm talking about what our secular homeschool actually looks like, why I don't think homeschool parents need to be experts in every subject, and why one of the most important parts of my job is knowing what I don't know. My kids learn from scientists, specialized instructors, experts, curricula, museums, and experiences that I couldn't possibly provide by myself. I don't have to know everything. I have to be willing to find the people who do. And ultimately, my homeschool isn't about building taller walls around my children. It's about opening doors.   Links: Non-educator Superintendent: https://www.cga.ct.gov/2002/rpt/2002-R-0945.htm Teacher Stats: https://learningpolicyinstitute.org/product/state-teacher-shortages-2026-factsheet

Introducing Give Yourself a Year to Try 12 New Things and Embrace Change from The Oprah Podcast. Follow the show: The Oprah Podcast BUY THE BOOK! 'Give Me a Year' by Shonda Scott https://amzn.to/4xGhu7i When is the last time you tried something new? Entrepreneur and author Shonda Scott, whose book Give Me a Year: 12 New Things to Embrace Change and Live Your Best Life chronicles how she stepped outside her comfort zone, embraced change and challenged herself to try something new every month for a full year. Shonda shares how those experiences helped her find joy, overcome fear and keep moving forward even when life took some unexpected turns. Then, Oprah meets writer Jason McBride whose viral article “How to Create a Life You Love: No Magical Thinking Required” struck a chord with its message that building a fulfilling life isn’t about having the perfect job, relationship or circumstances it’s about taking responsibility for the life you’re creating. They talk about what it really means to stop living by someone else’s blueprint, learn from things that don't go as planned and create a life we actually love. Chapters: 00:00:00 - Welcome Shonda Scott, author of ‘Give Me a Year’ 00:03:20 - Why she wrote the book 00:08:00 - Write it down and vision birds 00:09:48 - Overcoming fears 00:11:20 - Pull up a seat to the table 00:12:40 - Imposter syndrome 00:16:30 - How to show up for ourselves 00:22:00 - Put yourself at the top of your list 00:24:30 - Shonda’s top 3 things 00:27:44 - Small changes to create big ones 00:29:00 - Welcome Jason McBride 00:32:00 - The three things you can control in your life 00:34:30 - Failure is part of the process Follow Oprah Winfrey on Social: https://www.instagram.com/oprahpodcast/ https://www.facebook.com/oprahpodcast/ https://www.instagram.com/oprah/?hl=en https://www.facebook.com/oprahwinfrey/ Listen to the full podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0tEVrfNp92a7lbjDe6GMLI https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-oprah-podcast/id1782960381 DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to [email protected].

I've been homeschooling for 10 years, and I don't love homeschooling every day. I know that's probably not what you're supposed to say when you have built an entire life around homeschooling—but it's true. In this episode, I'm talking honestly about the hard homeschool days: the pressure, the stress, the lack of sleep, the cost, the mess, the expectations, and those days when you simply do not want to homeschool. But I'm also talking about what we can actually do about it. Sometimes we change the schedule. Sometimes we have a pajama day. Sometimes we go to the beach. Sometimes we do math and call it a day. Sometimes we outsource. And sometimes we need to admit that homeschooling may not be working for our family anymore. Because I don't believe homeschooling is something we should suffer through just to prove that we're committed. You can love homeschooling without loving every day. You can put it down and pick it back up. You can pivot. You can change your mind. And if you're in a hard homeschool season right now, maybe you don't need another productivity system or another curriculum recommendation. Maybe you just need permission to admit that today is hard. The days are long, but the years are short—and that applies to homeschooling, too.

We're entering our 10th year of homeschooling, and with a 9th grader and a 5th grader, I'm starting to think about what life looks like when my kids need me less. Not because I'm done being a mom. Because I'm still a person, too. In this episode, I'm talking about learning new things, being a beginner, and figuring out what comes next. And apparently, that currently means learning the art of wig making and wig styling. I have a cosmetology background, a child pursuing theater, and a lot of curiosity. It's creative, flexible, and something I can pick up when I have time. But this conversation is about more than wigs. It's about remembering that you're allowed to have interests, you're allowed to want things, and you're allowed to do things just because they make you happy. I'm also sharing a little about the other things I'm figuring out right now, including planning our hopefully soon Parisian trip, building our own homeschool resources, and my ongoing pursuit of maximizing the value of the dollars we spend. Because apparently, even when I'm trying to relax, I'm still trying to figure out how to get the most out of everything. What are you working on right now? What's your next thing? I'd love to hear what you're learning, what you're excited about, or what you're thinking about for the next season of your life. Let's grow this list. ❤️

There is one phrase I come back to over and over again in homeschooling, parenting, relationships, business, and honestly... life: What you tolerate, you endorse. And I know that might feel a little uncomfortable. Because sometimes the things causing chaos in our homeschool, our homes, and our relationships aren't things we actively chose. They're things we let slide. One more late bedtime. One more skipped lesson. One more meltdown that ends with us giving in because we're tired, embarrassed, or simply do not have the energy to deal with it right now. But what happens when "just this once" becomes the pattern? In this episode, I'm talking about consistency, boundaries, parenting, homeschool habits, people pleasing, and why being firm doesn't mean being unkind. From bedtime routines and homeschool expectations to relationships and the comment section, we're looking at the bigger picture. Because sometimes doing the hard thing now is really about doing later you a favor. You don't have to control every person around you. You don't have to be harsh. You don't have to become a jerk. But you do get to decide what you will and will not tolerate. And if you're tolerating something that is creating an outcome you don't actually want, it might be time to address it. Kindly. Firmly. Consistently.

I don't want my kids to have a normal childhood. After 10 years of homeschooling, I'm realizing that I'm not trying to recreate the childhood I had—or the childhood society tells us our kids are supposed to have. I'm trying to build a family life that gives my girls room to learn, explore, play, ask questions, and become the people they're meant to be. In this episode, I talk about what "normal" means to me, why I'm proud of the ways our homeschool and family life are different, and why I want my girls to grow up knowing they can build a life that fits them. I also talk about the things I want them to have—and the things I want them to learn to live without. Because exceptional doesn't mean spoiled or the center of the universe. It means having opportunities, developing compassion, and knowing you have a safe place to land while you figure out who you are. If you're homeschooling, parenting differently, or simply questioning something that everyone else seems to accept, I hope this gives you a little room to think about what you actually want for your family. What is one thing that's accepted as "normal" that you've decided is just not for you? Find me on Instagram: @makingeverydaymagic #Homeschooling #IntentionalParenting #MakingEverydayMagic

What happens when you stop trying to recreate traditional high school at home and start building an educational experience around the actual learner? In this episode, I'm talking about our first year of homeschooling high school and how we're creating a custom, magnet-style experience for our daughter. She's pursuing performing arts, but we're not choosing between passion and academics. We're building both into her education: advanced academics, Algebra 2 in ninth grade, a future dual-credit path, serious performance opportunities, real-life learning, and the flexibility to bring in experts and resources as needed. I'll also talk about why I think homeschool parents don't have to know exactly where their children are headed before they start building the foundation—and why I think following a child's interests and maintaining high academic expectations can coexist beautifully. This is what customized education looks like for us after ten years of homeschooling. It's not about doing less. It's about intentionally building something that fits the learner.

What did you think homeschooling would look like before you actually started? Because I can tell you... mine did not look like this. In this episode, I'm talking about the space between our ideal homeschool and our real homeschool—and why I think that space is where so much homeschool guilt lives. We see the curriculum, the classes, the field trips, the beautiful homeschool rooms, the art projects, the co-ops, and all the things our kids could do. And before we know it, we've planned approximately 14 years of homeschooling into three days. Meanwhile, reality is over here asking for snacks. And bathroom breaks. And free time. And flexibility. And reminding us that we are trying to be humans, mothers, and homeschoolers all at the same time. After nearly 10 years of homeschooling, I'm still learning this: we do not need to drag our real lives toward some impossible ideal. We need to bring our ideals closer to reality. Your homeschool doesn't have to do everything to be enough. If you have happy people, making progress, with some consistency? You might already be doing better than you think. So before you add another curriculum, activity, class, field trip, or beautifully ambitious plan to your homeschool year, maybe take one thing off instead. Let's talk about homeschool idealism, realism, overwhelm, guilt, and figuring out what actually works for your family.

I recently got a hateful comment about my homeschooling, my parenting, my personality, and apparently my nose ring. And honestly? I thought it was hilarious. In this episode, I'm talking about how I handle internet trolls, homeschool criticism, and the people who become strangely confident experts on your entire life after seeing a tiny piece of it online. But this conversation is about more than one nasty comment. We're talking about boundaries, knowing who you are, sharing your life without feeling obligated to share all of it, and why you do not have to accept every invitation to defend yourself. I also share the unexpected story behind my nose ring and how one decision I made at eighteen eventually connected me to a thirteen-year-old boy who needed a bone marrow transplant. Because people don't know your full story. And they don't necessarily need to.

After a decade of homeschooling, I have learned that sustainability doesn't come from doing more. It comes from building systems. In this episode, I'm sharing the practical systems that help our family manage homeschooling, chores, meals, laundry, planning, and everyday life. We talk about why systems work better than rigid schedules, how we divide responsibilities as a family, and the small routines that make a huge difference in reducing mental load. This isn't about creating a picture-perfect home. It's about creating a home where everyone knows their role, everyone contributes, and there is room for connection and learning.

After ten years homeschooling two children, I'm sharing the lessons that have actually lasted. From learning styles and curriculum to consistency, socialization, college, freedom, and protecting your relationship with your children, these are the ideas I wish someone had told me when we first started homeschooling. Whether you're brand new or years into your homeschool journey, I hope this conversation helps you build a homeschool that works for your unique family.

I'm not an economist, financial advisor, or market expert. I'm just a mom who's paying attention. In this episode, I share the real-world changes I've been noticing that make me wonder whether we're entering a different economic season. From empty tourist destinations and lower theme park crowds to unsold summer camps, changing travel deals, car inventories, rising prices, and shifts in family spending, these are the everyday patterns that have caught my attention. This isn't about politics or predicting the future—it's about observing what's happening in our communities and having an honest conversation about how families are adapting. I also share what I think these changes could mean for homeschooling, travel, family budgets, extracurricular activities, and everyday life in the months ahead. Whether you've been noticing similar patterns or you're simply curious about how other families are navigating today's economy, I'd love for you to join the conversation. In this episode we discuss: The everyday signs that made me stop and pay attention Why I'm seeing changes in travel, entertainment, and family spending How rising costs may affect homeschooling and extracurricular activities What I think could become more affordable again Why sharing our observations can help families prepare for whatever comes next I'd love to hear what you're seeing in your own community. What changes have you noticed that no one seems to be talking about?

As we head into our 10th year of homeschooling—and our very first year of high school—I'm reminding myself of something I seem to forget every single year: I always try to plan a homeschool that doesn't actually fit real life. In this episode, I'm sharing why "less is more" has become one of the most important principles in our homeschool. We'll talk about curriculum overload, homeschool guilt, delaying the start of elective subjects, building consistency, planning a realistic four-day homeschool week, and why creating a sustainable routine is far more valuable than creating the "perfect" plan. If you've ever felt pressure to do more, buy more curriculum, or pack your homeschool schedule with everything you could do, this conversation is for you. We'll also discuss: Why consistency beats intensity every time How we simplify high school planning Delay-starting electives and interest-led learning Combining subjects to make homeschooling more manageable Creating a homeschool that actually works in real life—not just on paper Sometimes the best homeschool isn't the one with the most curriculum—it's the one that gets done.

When we started homeschooling, I knew there would be moments where I had to learn alongside my kids. High school French is one of those moments. In this episode, I'm sharing how we're creating a complete foreign language plan for our homeschool—even though I am not fluent in French. We'll talk about: letting kids have ownership over educational choices building homeschool high school credits combining resources instead of searching for one perfect curriculum why family learning has become such an important part of our homeschool Homeschooling isn't about knowing everything. It's about being willing to keep learning. Rosetta Stone  Evan-Moor

Homeschool parents spend a lot of time looking for solutions. A new curriculum. A better schedule. A different planner. Another resource. And sometimes those things are exactly what we need. But after nearly 10 years of secular homeschooling, I have started to recognize another important piece of the puzzle: the environment where learning happens. In this episode, I share an honest reflection about the role parents play in creating homeschool culture. We talk about stress, routines, expectations, emotional regulation, and the way our children experience education beyond the lessons themselves. This is not a conversation about perfection. It is about awareness. Because homeschooling is not only about what our children learn. It is also about how we learn together. Welcome to Making Everyday Magic — conversations about secular homeschooling, intentional parenting, education, and creating a meaningful family life.