Happy, Holy Mama

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...

Mother's Day is coming… and if I'm being honest, it can feel a little complicated. Maybe part of you hopes it will be beautiful and life-giving… And another part of you is already bracing for disappointment. In today's podcast, I want to meet you in the middle. Because here's the truth: your happiness this Mother's Day doesn't have to depend on everything going "just right." You can have whatever...

Sometimes everything just feels… heavy. Especially at the end of the school year. You're exhausted, you've been up all night, taking care of everyone else all day, and when you finally have a chance to look up all you see are the problems. The house feels out of control, you feel hopelessly behind, and you realize that you're not sure you have the energy for this today (like, any of it). Here's th...

Today I'm opening up a much-needed, hope-filled conversation about neurodivergence in Catholic families with Ginny Kochis, author of Quirky Catholic Kids. Because here's the truth so many moms need to hear: Your child isn't broken. And neither are you. In today's episode we talk about: What neurodivergence actually means (in real life, not just labels) Why behavior is communication—not defiance Th...

Have you ever caught yourself silently keeping score as your husband sits down while you're still going> That quiet resentment starts to rise with every icky thought… "That must be nice…" "I never get a break…" You know it doesn't feel good. You know it's not what you want in your marriage. But you're not sure how to stop. In today's episode, I'm gently unpacking what's really happening beneath th...

Have you ever felt like you're a completely different mom depending on the day? One day patient and present… The next day overwhelmed, overstimulated, and wondering what's wrong with you? Here's the thing: nothing is wrong with you. Today, I'm joined by Elissa Miller, Catholic homeschool mom and hormone coach, and we're talking about something that so many of us experience… but rarely understand:...

As a mother, you are incredibly capable of handling "BIG suffering," from growing and birthing a human, to major tragedy or life-threatening illnesses.  But if you're constantly feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, and that you've hit your limit with all the 'little' moments of suffering each day, then I've got a special podcast episode for you. Because it's not the big events, but the daily, hidden cr...

Sometimes the thing God is asking of you feels… big, scary, or even a little impossible. And it can be really tempting to listen to the fear, especially if you're not sure how to distinguish between God's voice and your own. In this episode, I'm sharing how I've learned to recognize God's voice through the many "calls within a call" in my life.  From widowhood, to motherhood, to homeschooling, to...

Over the past few weeks I have been talking with so many mamas who are teetering on the edge of giving up on homeschooling. They are feeling discouraged and defeated, wondering if their kids would be better off somewhere else. Not necessarily because it's what is best for the kids, but because they are tired.   Tired of fighting with their kids about sitting still or staying focused.  Tired of no...

This week my oldest child turns 19 and I am truly marveling at the man he is becoming. But it didn't always feel like a sigh of relief. I used to lie awake at night worrying that I was messing up my kids.  I used to worry if they weren't learning what they needed, if their behavior meant I had made the wrong choices, or too many mistakes. I would dread the day and would look back and blame me for...

As a homeschool mom it can feel like everything in your home rests on your shoulders. The meals. The lessons. The messes. The schedule. The spiritual atmosphere. It's easy to slip into the belief that if you don't manage everything perfectly, it will all fall apart. In this week's episode, I'm sharing a gentle invitation for the homeschool mom who feels stretched thin and responsible for everythin...

Why is it so hard to choose what to do for Lent? Why do we (me included!) put so much pressure on ourselves to pick the perfect sacrifice… the one thing that will finally move the needle… the one decision that will change everything? If you're a homeschool mama who finds herself stuck in indecision, or piling on five spiritual (or non spiritual!) goals because you're afraid one won't be "enough,"...

The busyness of the semester is in full swing and, frankly, I'm tired!  Not the kind of tired I was when our first six kids were eight and under, but still feeling pretty exhausted.  I know I'm not the only one. There are days when we can absolutely pull ourselves up by the bootstraps and get the things done. And then there are days when everything just feels nearly impossible.  Yes, it might have...

Do you know what makes a great saint?  It's not their patience, kindness, or gentleness that are the hallmarks of great saints (I mean, St. Nicholas was punching heretics afterall!). Being united to God's will for your life is the key to being a great saint…and it is the antidote to suffering. Believing in His purpose and plans for you as His beloved daughter is essential to being united to His wi...

Do you know what impacts every Catholic homeschool mom, especially when we're feeling tender, overwhelmed, or unsure of ourselves? Other people's opinions. Today, I'm talking about what happens in your heart and mind when someone criticizes your parenting, questions your homeschool choices, or simply gives you that look that makes you spiral.  I unpack the truth about how emotions actually work, w...

Feeling better about your homeschool doesn't start with a new curriculum or even a better chore chart. It starts with Right Order: making time for God, hubby, kids, then tasks. Or, at least, that's what we all desire our days and weeks to look like!  The reason you might not be living this in reality is probably because you're honestly not sure how to do that - and make it work. Which is why in th...

I've been noticing on social media over the past few weeks that so many parents were itching to send their kids back to school, which wasn't surprising. But what did surprise me was how many homeschooling parents are feeling tempted to throw in the towel, because it's just feeling so hard to keep going. This has been stirring up a lot for me, especially for the parents who deeply desire to homesch...