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How often do you wish you could have a homeschool do-over? Well, now you can, and in the best way possible - without having to make mistakes of your own! This episode is sponsored by FORM Fitness! Take my quiz, What's Your Homeschool Mom Personality? This year I'm doing monthly Then and Now Reflections on the podcast - looking back over my 15 year homeschooling career and sharing what I've learned along the way. In Episode 124, listen in with me and my son Jonathan (currently 19) as we chat about the past, specifically re: 2011 in our homeschool (when he was six-years-old)! What we remember fondly, what we'd rather not remember (LOL), and what we might do differently if we could have a do-over. To read the original post I wrote in 2011 and/or check out links mentioned in this episode (including that circle time video, which is a doozy!), head here. In this episode, you'll hear: I welcome Jonathan back to the podcast after he's been away touring with the Jonas Brothers my initial homeschooling philosophy of focusing on relationships rather than academics as top priority, and what I think about that now looking back our daily homeschool rhythm from 2011 including morning routines, books, a few structured activities, "sections" time, and what Jonathan remembers fondly (or not!) we reminisce about highlights of their 2011 days: walks, circle time, and the library how we used screens, quiet time, and outings to make it through the days what Jonathan thinks now about how our homeschool style has influenced him as a young adult Listen in and be encouraged!

Note: If you'd prefer to read instead of listen to this episode, head here. This episode is sponsored by My Fun Science and Oak Meadow! Fifteen years ago as a new, insecure homeschooler, one thing comforted me like no other: Clinging to the words of a few veteran homeschool mothers who I followed online. Now I want to be that voice for you!! Listen in to discover what I have planned...I'm excited about it! Take my quiz, What's Your Homeschool Mom Personality?

This December Jamie is taking a break from podcasting, so we are revisiting top episodes from the podcast's history - enjoy your winter break! This episode was written by Kari Patterson, and if you'd prefer to read instead of listen, head here.  Check out Kari's personal site, podcast, and book - Sacred Mundane! * Today's episode is sponsored by Dyslexia Connect and Sonlight's K-12 Curriculum. * What's Your Homeschool Mom Personality? Take Jamie's quiz and get your free personality report at simplehomeschool.net/quiz/    "I can feel my body tense up as I say the words with forced enthusiasm: “Ok, time for school!” They say what I know they’ll say: "Do we have to?!" And if I’m honest, that’s exactly what I’m saying in my own mind: "Do we have to?!"

This December Jamie is taking a break from podcasting, so we are revisiting a top episode from the podcast's history - Merry Christmas to you and yours! ***** If you'd prefer to read this post instead, head here. And for more current snapshots of how this hack has worked in our family, check out my day in the life posts over the years.  Today's episode is sponsored by Ivy Kids and the Young Stateswomen/Statesmen Society from Thomas Jefferson Education! What's Your Homeschool Mom Personality? Take Jamie's quiz and get your free personality report at simplehomeschool.net/quiz So I don’t know if you have noticed, but kids can be LOUD. Confession: I don’t particularly care for loud. Desperate times call for desperate measures, and I knew I had to make life at home at least a little quieter if I was going to survive it, as well as add homeschooling to the mix. My own conundrum led to an idea. One that’s gone on to save my sanity and allowed me to continue homeschooling for 15 years - listen in and be encouraged!

This episode was written by Kari Patterson, and if you'd prefer to read instead of listen, head here. Check out Kari's personal site, podcast, and book - Sacred Mundane! Today's episode is sponsored by Buddy Books and Write the World's College Essay Course! ***** What's Your Homeschool Mom Personality? Take Jamie's quiz and get your free personality report at simplehomeschool.net/quiz/    This year I ditched most of what we’d done before, and decided to take a Homeschool Experiment Year. That is, a year to try new things, refuse to stress, return to JOY, and recover our lost love of learning. Listen in to find out what happened next!

This episode was written by Erin Vincent of Nourishing My Scholar, and if you'd prefer to read instead of listen, head here.  Today's episode is sponsored by My Fun Science and Generous Students Curriculum! * What's Your Homeschool Mom Personality? Take Jamie's quiz and get your free personality report at simplehomeschool.net/quiz Hyping myself up to make a phone call is not out of the norm for this introvert. I’d much rather be trampled by wild rhinos. Bravery is acting even when fear is present. Acknowledging the fear and moving past it into action is what bravery is all about. And oh was I fearful to homeschool... Listen in for an uplifting reminder of just how brave you are!

Welcome back to a new episode of the podcast - I'm flying solo on this one, since Jonathan is currently on tour as Lighting Director for the Jonas Brothers! If anyone is going to one of their concerts this fall or winter, please head over to the lighting booth if you can and tell him, "Your mom sent me over to remind you that she's proud of you and she loves you." * This episode is sponsored by Night Zookeeper and FORM Fitness! In Episode 118 I chat about: The wonder of seeing Jonathan in action on the Jonas Brothers Tour The Weirdness of Not Having to Get Up Early for the Homeschool Day Our Love for CNN10 back when it was with Carl Azuz - thrilled to find out Carl just began his own news show: The World from A to Z! The stereotype that homeschoolers can't survive in the "real world" as my son travels to a different city each night! My 25th Anniversary Dance with Steve Navigating Seasons of Change and the Unknown Take my quiz, What's Your Homeschool Mom Personality? Would you like to submit a homeschooling question for Jamie to answer in an upcoming episode? If so, email it to jamie@simplehomeschool.net with "Podcast Question" as the subject line. To download an auto-generated transcript of this episode, click here.

Welcome back to a new episode of the podcast - the last one featuring Jonathan for a while, as my buddy has gone on tour as Lighting Director for the Jonas Brothers! If anyone is going to one of their concerts this fall or winter, please head over to the lighting booth and tell him, "Your mom sent me over to say that she's proud of you and she loves you." * This episode is sponsored by Ivy Kids and Florida Virtual School! In Episode 117 we discuss: Spontaneously choosing a topic to discuss together and my love for random auto-generators Our experience with Thomas Jefferson Education (AKA TJEd) The 7 Keys of Great Teaching and how we imperfectly tried to add them to our homeschool Our mutual love of Gilmore Girls Would you like to submit a homeschooling question for Jamie to answer in an upcoming episode? If so, email it to jamie@simplehomeschool.net with "Podcast Question" as the subject line. To download an auto-generated transcript of this episode, click here.

It's hard to believe it, but after 15 official years, Jamie has reached the end of her homeschooling journey! Join me and my 18-year-old son Jonathan as we chat about how surreal this moment is and what we did to commemorate it as a family. * This episode is sponsored by Learn Math Fast and Dyslexia Connect! In Episode 116 we discuss: Jamie's Homeschool Retirement Party and all it included (pop quiz, toast, poetry reading, prayer time) Jonathan reads the letter he wrote to me when he graduated in 2022 Jamie reads aloud the poem she wrote and read at her homeschool retirement (have tissues nearby!) Find pics/video of my retirement party pinned on my Instagram profile Would you like to submit a homeschooling question for Jamie to answer in an upcoming episode? If so, email it to jamie@simplehomeschool.net with "Podcast Question" as the subject line. To download an auto-generated transcript of this episode, click here.

This summer Jamie is on sabbatical for a few weeks this summer, so we are revisiting a couple of the top episodes from the podcast's history! This one originally published in Feb 2022. Today's episode is sponsored by All About Learning and Oak Meadow! ***** If you'd prefer to read this post instead, head here.  What's Your Homeschool Mom Personality? Take Jamie's quiz and get your free personality report at simplehomeschool.net/quiz Homeschooling isn’t all fun and games, as anyone who has been attempting it for longer than one day (or hour?!) realizes. On homeschooling sites we often hear about the benefits of this lifestyle. But what about the challenges? Listen in and be encouraged!

This summer Jamie is on sabbatical for a few weeks, so we are revisiting a couple of the top episodes from the podcast's history! This one originally published in August 2021. Today's episode is sponsored by Ratio 21 and Sonlight! ***** This episode was written by Kari Patterson, and if you'd prefer to read instead of listen, head here.  Check out Kari's personal site, podcast, and book - Sacred Mundane!   What's Your Homeschool Mom Personality? Take Jamie's quiz and get your free personality report at simplehomeschool.net/quiz/    Dinner’s made, but it’s chicken and rice again. Laundry’s done, because I no longer fold. Kids finished school because I told them to skip the math problems (again). Eventually I remind myself of Chesterton’s wisdom and the power of intentional mediocrity. Truth: We can’t be awesome everywhere.

This episode was written by Lusi Austin, and if you'd prefer to read instead of listen, head here. Check out Lusi's personal site, That Homeschool Life here. Today's episode is sponsored by the Young Statesmen/Stateswomen Society and Write the World Summer Writing Workshops!   What's Your Homeschool Mom Personality? Take Jamie's quiz and get your free personality report at simplehomeschool.net/quiz I’ve finished homeschooling three of my five kiddos. Something that caught me off guard when we’d finished was parental-guilt about the things I just didn’t get around to doing. I still have two younger children that I’m homeschooling. In a way, I get to learn a few lessons that will benefit these two (like remembering how quickly the time actually goes!). I’d love to share my reflections with you.