Happy, Holy Mama

When my kids were younger my home and homeschool felt entirely out of control. Between the constant pushback, repeated directions, "forgotten" chores, and math nobody wanted to do, I was overwhelmed, exhausted, and on the verge of sending everyone to 'real school' on a daily basis. If we could just get through these lessons, then we could do the things I've been looking forward to! is a thought I...

I used to use TV as our go-to calm down method when my kids were little.  My parents used to call it the "Electronic Babysitter." It's what I grew up doing to relax and so it's all I knew how to do in my early parenting career. And honestly, in the thick of babies and toddlers, it was a lifeline. But it wasn't actually teaching my children (or me) what they (ahem…we) truly needed to learn: emotion...

When my seven kids were all under 14 years old I felt completely overwhelmed by their big feelings. It seemed like they were happening constantly and that I was just running to put out one fire after another. Every time I tried to help them handle their big emotions, I would just end up getting frustrated because it seemed like it either wasn't working, or I just couldn't figure out what they need...

Why is it sometimes so hard to simply ask for what you want? You need more help around the house during the day. You want to ask your husband for some time together when he's done with work. You need support from family or friends. Or maybe there's something you've wanted to do for yourself for a long time, but every time you think about asking, you talk yourself out of it. What if they say no? Wh...

Have you ever snapped at your child and wondered, why did I get so angry so fast? Maybe the kids are arguing again. Maybe the schoolwork still isn't done, or you've asked someone to do the same thing three times.  One more little moment happens, and suddenly you're raising your voice—even though you promised yourself you wouldn't. I know how discouraging that feels. When my children were younger,...

Parenting teenagers can sometimes feel like learning an entirely new language. The child who once told you everything might suddenly seem harder to read. Conversations can turn into misunderstandings, emotions can run high, and sometimes you're left wondering what your teen is actually thinking, and what they need from you in this season…or do they even need me anymore? Recently, I had a conversat...

Interruptions.  Repeating yourself for the hundredth time. Kids who don't listen the first time. Plans that get derailed. People who just keep needing things from you. Sometimes it's not one big thing that causes us to lose our peace, it's the constant accumulation of little annoyances all. day. long. In this episode, I'm talking about what's really happening when those everyday moments push you o...

I made a pretty bold claim last week: connection is the key to making homeschooling easier. Not the perfect plan. Not the perfect planner. Not the perfect schedule. Not the perfect curriculum, school room, or book list. And maybe you know that, intellectually, but do you believe it down into your bones? Do you believe it enough to actually practice it? Especially in the tough moments like when kid...

Have you ever looked at everything your homeschool requires and thought, there's just not enough of me to go around! The lessons. The laundry. The activities. The relationships. The needs that seem to come from every direction—sometimes when you're already running on empty. I know that feeling all too well. But I've also discovered that homeschooling doesn't have to feel like you're white-knucklin...

What if you could get to the end of this homeschool year, look back, and genuinely think, We did this one well? Not because everything went according to plan. Not because your kids always cooperated, you stayed perfectly on schedule, or you never had a hard day.  But because you know you showed up for the year God gave you in the way you truly wanted to. In this episode, I'm talking about what it...

As I drop my two biggest boys off at college this week, I'm reflecting on the transition of letting go and trusting the work we've done at home, while also preparing to begin the new school year with our next five children still at home. This season has me thinking deeply about how we start our homeschool year in general, and how it's prepared our oldest children to feel confident in their decisio...

Have you ever wondered if God might be calling your family to homeschool, or wondering if you should continue homeschooling… but fear keeps talking louder than confidence? Maybe you're worried you aren't qualified.  Maybe you're wondering if your kids will "keep up."  Or maybe you just have that quiet yearning in your heart for something more that won't seem to go away. In this week's episode, I'm...

There's something so sweet about summer. The rhythms are slower, relationships feel easier, and your home may finally feel peaceful after all the intentional work you've been doing. Which is exactly why so many homeschool moms find themselves dreading the start of a new school year. But what if that dread isn't actually about homeschooling? In this episode, I'm sharing the mindset shift that came...

If you're dreading the transition from summer break back to school, then you aren't alone. This week, I'm diving into how to get ready to start school in a way that feels calmer and smoother than springing the fall semester on your kids. Discover how to treat the end of summer with the same intentionality as the end of a school year, as well as: The Power of Transitions: Why your child's brain nee...

Do you ever feel like you've lost your footing in your homeschool?  Maybe you find yourself questioning your curriculum, battling daily resistance from your kids, or feeling like you simply don't know what's best for your family. In this week's episode of the Happy Holy Mama podcast, I'm pulling back the curtain on why homeschool moms so often slip out of their role as the "expert" on their own ch...

Planning your homeschool year can easily become another task you feel like you have to carry all on your own. But what if the very first step isn't choosing curriculum or making a schedule? What if it's simply sitting with the Lord. In this week's short episode, I'm sharing why the posture of receptivity changes everything when it comes to planning your homeschool and your family life. Before we m...

Planning Season is officially here! I'm talking to clients, mom friends, and random people all over the world via social media and everyone is doing the same thing: Trying to figure out their homeschool for this year. What language arts curriculum is best?  When should we do school? What should we use for religion? What will keep my kids the most motivated and engaged? And these are fine questions...

Have you ever felt that quiet nudge from God to change something in your life, but convinced yourself it wasn't the right time?  Maybe you've been waiting for a new year, a different season, or for life to finally calm down before taking the first step. In this special conversation, I'm joined by my friend and fellow Catholic coach, Denise Jelinek, to talk about what it really means to pursue the...

You've explained it. You've reminded them. You've shown them what to do. And yet somehow you're still repeating yourself, chasing people down, and ultimately wondering why simple things feel so hard. Whether it's chores, schoolwork, attitudes, or just getting out the door on time, unmet expectations can quickly turn an ordinary day into a frustrating one. And, if you're not careful, they can turn...

Sometimes even rest feels like one more thing you're getting wrong. You finally have a quiet moment, the kids are occupied, the house settles down, but instead of feeling peaceful, you feel frozen. You spend your precious rest time wondering what you should be doing, worrying that you're wasting it, or getting caught in the endless loop of "I don't know." I don't know how to rest. I don't know whe...

Something that caught me off guard last year was how hard it hit me that my oldest was graduating from our homeschool and would be leaving in a matter of days, instead of years. Whether your kids are still little, about to start high school, or if graduation is right around the corner, the thought of your baby leaving is likely something that tugs on your heart strings and, if you're not careful,...

Sometimes at the end of the school year I feel completely drained. Sometimes in a good way, because we've done everything I wanted to get to. But sometimes I'm drained because we were so focused on the work that we didn't fit enough of the rest or play that we needed. And honestly, that's completely normal.  You've spent months pouring yourself out for your family, checking all the boxes, managing...

As a homeschooling mom of seven, one of the things I coach on most often is setting healthy boundaries with your children to protect your peace.  So many parents are afraid of their children's push back and negative reactions, so you hesitate to create rules and enforce boundaries. But that only leaves you feeling stuck, trapped, and at the mercy of your children.  In this episode, I'm going to te...

I used to feel exasperated, frustrated, and utterly exhausted almost every time we had to do anything outside of the house.  Everything from getting coats and shoes on to finding the Mass bag was a complete production.  Even transitioning from one task to another within our home felt like herding cats! I was stuck in a cycle of overwhelm, spinning my wheels trying to keep our day flowing and feeli...

My son, Noah, is graduating from our homeschool this week and I thought it would be super fun to have him on the podcast to talk about his journey! In today's very special episode, we talk honestly about the fears, freedom, challenges, and beautiful growth that came from homeschooling through the teen years…for both of us! We share what it looked like to pull him out of traditional school in middl...