Homeschool Moms Unfiltered

We’re in the midst of a month-long throwback series centered on Normal Sucks by Jonathan Mooney… a powerful, neurodivergent-affirming book that challenges how we define success, intelligence, and worth. Over the next few weeks, we’ll revisit our favorite episodes unpacking big ideas from the book and what they mean for life, learning, and raising kids outside the norm. We’ll wrap it all up with an...

In this episode, we’re talking all about our homeschool plans for the 2025–2026 school year! From navigating middle school transitions and balancing drop-off programs to embracing unschooling flexibility and big-picture life changes, we’re giving you a behind-the-scenes look at how two very different homeschoolers map out the year ahead. Whether you’re brand new to homeschooling, questioning if yo...

We’re in the midst of a month-long throwback series centered on Normal Sucks by Jonathan Mooney… a powerful, neurodivergent-affirming book that challenges how we define success, intelligence, and worth. Over the next few weeks, we’ll revisit our favorite episodes unpacking big ideas from the book and what they mean for life, learning, and raising kids outside the norm. We’ll wrap it all up with an...

We cracked open the Tuttle Twins books so you don’t have to. And wow... they’re somehow even worse than we imagined!!! Marketed as “secular” and “educational,” they’re actually a masterclass in fear-mongering, bias, and political propaganda dressed up as kid-friendly history. We pulled the most jaw-dropping quotes, unpacked the agendas (which are sometimes hidden and sometimes just smack you in th...

We’re in the midst of a month-long throwback series centered on Normal Sucks by Jonathan Mooney… a powerful, neurodivergent-affirming book that challenges how we define success, intelligence, and worth. Over the next few weeks, we’ll revisit our favorite episodes unpacking big ideas from the book and what they mean for life, learning, and raising kids outside the norm. We’ll wrap it all up with an...

This week we’re talking about something every homeschool parent eventually has to figure out… how to get a little time to yourself and still keep life running. We love being with our kids, but homeschooling means a lot of together time.  Even the most devoted parent needs a breather now and then. We’re sharing the real-life ways we’ve managed alone time, tackled appointments, and kept up with day-...

We’re kicking off a month-long throwback series centered on Normal Sucks by Jonathan Mooney… a powerful, neurodivergent-affirming book that challenges how we define success, intelligence, and worth. Over the next few weeks, we’ll revisit our favorite episodes unpacking big ideas from the book and what they mean for life, learning, and raising kids outside the norm. We’ll wrap it all up with an aut...

In this episode, we dive into the messy, meaningful world of social-emotional learning (SEL) and what it actually looks like in a real-life, progressive homeschool. We’re not talking about boxed kindness worksheets or vague “be nice” mantras.  This is about embedding emotional growth, empathy, and self-regulation into everyday moments. We share practical examples, helpful resources, and why SEL is...

We’re continuing our exploration of how secular homeschoolers can approach big, often complex topics—like religion, faith, gods, and belief systems—from a secular worldview. Our goal is to provide thoughtful, age-appropriate resources that help families discuss these subjects with nuance, curiosity, and respect for diverse perspectives. This week we are concluding our review of the Annabelle and A...

Feeling unsure if you're qualified to homeschool your kids? You're not alone!! In this episode, we unpack the myths around teaching credentials, the truth about public school requirements, and why no one is better equipped than you to guide your child’s education. Let's continue the conversation on Patreon! We host live meet-ups 4x/month and can't wait to meet you.  Plus, in Septem...

We’re continuing our exploration of how secular homeschoolers can approach big, often complex topics—like religion, faith, gods, and belief systems—from a secular worldview. Our goal is to provide thoughtful, age-appropriate resources that help families discuss these subjects with nuance, curiosity, and respect for diverse perspectives. This week and next, we’ll be diving into the Annabelle and Ai...

In this episode, we’re diving into the surprisingly powerful role of boredom in our kids’ development. Yep—boredom! We talk about why unstructured time isn’t just okay, it’s actually great for sparking creativity, curiosity, and independence. We share research (including a study from UVA’s Jamie Jirout), practical tips for scaffolding self-directed play, and how to handle common parent concerns li...

We’re working our way through David McAfee and Chuck Harrison’s series on world religions.  But don’t worry—we’re still a 100% secular podcast. This series is widely respected in secular and atheist circles for its thoughtful, age-appropriate approach to helping kids understand religion and ask big questions without pushing any belief system. It’s a fantastic resource for curious minds (and their...

In this episode, we’re asking a big question: What the f*ck did we do to kindergarten? From standardized testing to the disappearance of play, we dig into how early education in the U.S. has shifted from joyful exploration to academic pressure... and how that impacts our littlest homeschoolers. We'll break down how public school standards creep into homeschool expectations, why play is essenti...

We’re working our way through David McAfee and Chuck Harrison’s series on world religions.  But don’t worry—we’re still a 100% secular podcast. This series is widely respected in secular and atheist circles for its thoughtful, age-appropriate approach to helping kids understand religion and ask big questions without pushing any belief system. It’s a fantastic resource for curious minds (and their...

Life happens—and when it does, it can throw your homeschool rhythm straight out the window. In this episode, we’re talking about how to keep going (or pause, pivot, and reimagine) when everything around you feels chaotic. Whether it’s grief, new babies, mental health struggles, divorce, or just plain burnout, we’ve been there—and we know you're not alone. We’ll share what’s worked for us, how...

We’re working our way through David McAfee and Chuck Harrison’s series on world religions.  But don’t worry—we’re still a 100% secular podcast. This series is widely respected in secular and atheist circles for its thoughtful, age-appropriate approach to helping kids understand religion and ask big questions without pushing any belief system. It’s a fantastic resource for curious minds (and their...

In this episode, we’re diving into a topic that gets us fired up: audiobooks are real books. Period. From the ancient roots of oral storytelling to modern research on comprehension and accessibility, we’re bringing the receipts. We also unpack the ableist assumptions that still linger in schools and homeschools alike—and we’re not holding back. Whether you're a read-aloud devotee, an audiobook...

We’re working our way through David McAfee and Chuck Harrison’s series on world religions.  But don’t worry—we’re still a 100% secular podcast. This series is widely respected in secular and atheist circles for its thoughtful, age-appropriate approach to helping kids understand religion and ask big questions without pushing any belief system. It’s a fantastic resource for curious minds (and their...

This week we’re diving into the magic of strewing. Strewing is a low-pressure, curiosity-driven approach to learning that invites kids to explore without formal lessons or expectations. We talk about what strewing is (and what it isn’t), why it works, and how it can help shift the energy in your homeschool—especially if you’re feeling burnt out or your kids are recovering from school fatigue. Whet...

We’re working our way through David McAfee and Chuck Harrison’s series on world religions.  But don’t worry—we’re still a 100% secular podcast. This series is widely respected in secular and atheist circles for its thoughtful, age-appropriate approach to helping kids understand religion and ask big questions without pushing any belief system. It’s a fantastic resource for curious minds (and their...

((Apologies for the audio-only this week. Meagan's laptop is misbehaving and the video was wildly out of sync.)) This week, we’re diving into the subtle (and not-so-subtle) ways our words shape how our kids see themselves and the world. From the messages baked into phrases like “when you get married” to how we respond when they mismatch their clothes or struggle through a math problem, the way...

We’re kicking off a brand new book this week, and we couldn’t be more excited! We’ll be diving into David McAfee’s series on world religions, starting with The Belief Book . And don’t worry—we’re still a 100% secular podcast. This series is widely respected in secular and atheist circles for its thoughtful, age-appropriate approach to helping kids understand religion and ask big questions without...

In this episode we’ll explore how your homeschool setup shifts depending on how many kids you have and what their ages are—from solo learners to sibling squads to full-blown age gaps. We’ll tackle common myths about homeschooling only children, break down practical tips for managing multiple kids, and share strategies for making it all work without losing your mind. As always, expect real talk, un...

We have thoroughly enjoyed our DEEP discussion of Debbie Reber’s book, Differently Wired, over the past few months.  But this is it!  We have reached the end!  Join us for a conversation about tilts 17 & 18. If you haven’t grabbed a copy yet, we’d highly recommend it!  You can find it in our  bookshop.org  shop:   https://bookshop.org/shop/HomeschoolMomsUnfiltered   Bookshop.org connects reade...