Called To Homeschool

When should you start homeschooling a toddler? One of the biggest misconceptions about homeschooling is that it starts with curriculum. It doesn't. At 18 months old, your child doesn't need worksheets or a structured school day. They need you. Read together. Go on nature walks. Let them help you cook, clean, and do life alongside you. Build good habits. Foster curiosity. Fill their days wi...

Is your homeschool room overflowing with books, curriculum, and supplies? In this episode, I answer a listener's question about how to declutter your homeschool curriculum without regret. We'll talk about what to keep, what to let go of, and why the goal isn't to collect curriculum—it's to educate your children. If your homeschool space is feeling overwhelming, this episode will he...

A mom wrote in asking whether she should send her 4-year-old to preschool during a difficult season of life, even though she wants to homeschool. As we unpack her question, we discover that the real issue isn't preschool—it's fear. Fear of making the wrong decision. Fear of difficult seasons. Fear of what might happen in the future. In this episode, I share why fear is terrible at making d...

Let's talk about a relationship that often gets overlooked during the homeschool years—your marriage. In this episode, I'm sharing lessons from The Empowered Wife by Laura Doyle and discussing self-care, respect, gratitude, vulnerability, and why you only need one person to start creating positive change in a relationship. Because homeschooling is temporary. Your marriage is forever.

Are you focusing so much on academics that you’re forgetting the bigger picture of education? In this episode, we talk about what Charlotte Mason meant by “raising the whole child” and why homeschooling is about so much more than grades, curriculum, and checking boxes. We discuss:• character and habits• emotional regulation• life skills• home atmosphere• meaningful work• raising capable, responsib...

What happens when a child leaves traditional school… and suddenly loses all motivation to learn? In this episode of Called to Homeschool, we talk about: • deschooling • perfectionism and fear-based motivation • helping kids rediscover curiosity • living books and hands-on learning • why homeschool should NOT look like school at home • habits, connection, and family culture If you have a resistant...

If you’ve ever wondered if your child is actually listening—or worried you’re doing something wrong—this episode is for you. Today we’re talking about what’s really going on when young kids don’t respond the way we expect, and how to gently teach listening in a way that builds confidence instead of pressure. In this episode, we cover: What’s actually age-appropriate (especially for little ones) Wh...

From Broken to Building: How I Created the Family I Always Wanted—and How You Can Too In this deeply personal episode, I’m sharing the story I don’t tell lightly. There was a time when I was an overwhelmed, reactive mom—trying to control everything in my home, struggling with my mental health, and searching for peace in all the wrong places. And yet… today I homeschool, I lead my home with calm an...

What if the most powerful force in your home… is you? This Mother’s Day, we’re talking about the quiet, often unseen influence of a mother—and why it matters more than you think. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why your presence shapes the entire feeling of your home How to stop giving your power away to your kids’ behavior The small shifts that create big change in your family And how taking care...

How much homeschooling is actually enough ? If your days feel long, overwhelming, or like you’re not doing enough—this episode will give you clarity and peace. We’ll talk about: How the amount of school changes as your child grows Why homeschool takes far less time than you think The 4 stages of learning and what matters most in each phase Simple guidelines for how much structured learning you rea...

If your homeschool days feel rushed… repetitive… or just a little “bleh,” you are not alone. In this episode, I’m answering a question from a homeschool mom of five who is feeling the weight of doing all the things—morning baskets, independent work, piano, toddlers, and everything in between—and wondering how to slow down and actually enjoy it again. We talk about:Why your homeschool might feel ru...

Math can feel overwhelming—for you and your kids. If you’ve ever felt like you’re explaining the same thing over and over and it’s just not sticking, you’re not alone. In this episode, I’m sharing a simpler, more effective way to approach math—one that helps your kids actually understand it and even enjoy it. I also answer a listener question about teaching math in the early years and share what I...

Are you helping your kids… or accidentally keeping them dependent? In this episode, we talk about a common parenting mistake that many well-meaning parents make—and how it can hold kids back from real independence. You’ll learn: Why independence comes from skills, not age The tension between giving too much freedom vs. not enough A simple shift to help your kids grow in responsibility Because the...

Meet Mandy Davis from @homebuilteducation She is a former teacher and principal turned homeschooler. She has such a fascinating perspective of the public education model and homeschooling. I was excited to interview her and find out why she left, and why she thinks other people are leaving too. She talks about her struggles in homeschooling, socializing, and how can homeschoolers get into college....

What if your homeschool was bigger than curriculum, schedules, and lesson plans? In this episode, I’m sharing something really special—our upcoming trip to England and Ireland , and how this adventure grew out of our homeschool life.  We’ll talk about dreaming big with your homeschool, building a life your children actually get to experience, and why education doesn’t have to stay inside the walls...

From Public School to Homeschool: Managing Downtime Without Screens Pulling your child from public school can feel freeing… and a little terrifying. Because here’s what no one tells you: Homeschool doesn’t take six hours a day. It might only take one or two. So what do you do with the rest of the time — especially when your child is used to constant structure, stimulation, and full-day schedules?...

What do you do when your child just isn’t interested in reading? When phonics feels like a battle, motivation is low, and you’re wondering if something is wrong? In this episode, we talk about reading readiness, child development, and why motivation cannot be forced. I share what actually matters in the early years, how pressure can backfire, and how to tell the difference between a true concern a...

Can you grow your family and homeschool well at the same time? What happens to your routines, your curriculum, and your expectations when pregnancy, newborns, and toddlers enter the picture? In this episode, I share honest hindsight from homeschooling through multiple pregnancies and baby years. We talk about the logistics, the pressure Type A moms often feel, how to simplify during slower seasons...

If homeschooling feels overwhelming or your child is resisting schoolwork, you may not need new curriculum — you may need better timing. In this episode, I explain the first three phases of learning in a Thomas Jefferson Education: Core Phase, Love of Learning, and Scholar Phase. We’ll talk about child development, academic readiness, character training, and how aligning your homeschool expectatio...

Love is the goal. Systems are the tools. In this episode, we talk about using routines and frameworks to support connection — not replace it — and how to come back to love, especially as kids get older.

In this episode, we explore how to raise capable kids by teaching responsibility and life skills before giving privileges. Learn a calm, skill-based parenting approach that reduces power struggles, builds respect, and helps children earn real freedom. This episode introduces the Levels of Liberty framework and explains how emotional, mental, physical, social, financial, and spiritual skills create...

In this listener Q&A episode, I answer common questions about implementing Happy Habits with young children. We talk about avoiding all-or-nothing parenting, what to do when habits regress, how rewards really work, and how to build positive habits without power struggles. If you’re a homeschool mom trying to build routines and habits while already doing so much , this episode will help you foc...

Do you want to be a calm, confident homeschool mom—but feel like you’re constantly reacting instead? In this episode, I answer a listener’s honest question about overwhelm, frustration, and not knowing what to do in the moment, and share why calm is a skill you can learn—not a personality trait. I also invite you to my free training, From Chaos to Calm , where I teach these tools step by step. Lin...

If you’re doing everything you can not to yell—and it still feels impossible—this episode is for you. I’m answering a mom’s honest question about parenting two little boys with big energy, big feelings, and constant boundary-testing. In this episode, I cover:• Why rough play can be healthy• What behaviors you can ignore—and which ones matter• How praising the good changes behavior faster than corr...

What do you do when life has been hard for a long time—and you’re trying to keep homeschooling anyway? In this episode, I respond to a heartfelt question from a mom who believes deeply in intentional motherhood, homeschooling, and building a beautiful life with her children… but has been knocked down by a season of real hardship and healing. We talk about: Why happiness can feel inaccessible after...