Homeschool Unrefined

We love books, and this is a jam-packed episode of our favorite latest reads.  We include books we're reading on our own, what we're reading aloud, and what our kids are reading.  Plus, we'll hear from some listeners about some of their latest books! You can find links to all the books we mention below OR, just visit our Amazon Shop at www.amazon.com/shop/homeschoolunrefined   Read Alouds Forge by...

Rachel Larson is a counselor and homeschool mom who owns her own practice.   She gives us insight into the mystery of anxiety and shows us how we can best support our favorite people through it.   This episode is for all of us, whether we have a slight bend toward anxiety or an official diagnosis. We'd love if you joined our closed Facebook group,  Unrefined Homeschoolers .  We are going to be ram...

This episode is all about those pesky high expectations we place on ourselves and how we're inevitably not living up to them. Most homeschool parents are not exempt, including the two of us.  We talk about how and why we aren't living up to our ideal, why this is damaging and what we can do combat it. We'd love if you joined our closed Facebook group, Unrefined Homeschoolers .  We are going to be...

Do you want to learn how to speak your child's language?  Do you want to make homeschool easier by developing stronger connections with your kids? The 5 Love Languages are a fun way to get to know your kids better.  On this week's episode, Maren and Angela talk about how knowing these things about our kids and ourselves helps us to navigate our children's hearts. The Five Love Languages by Gary Ch...

You are all going to love this episode!  Today we chat with Emily Carlson, a homeschooling mother of three and an avid adventurer. Emily not only shares with us her love of adventuring, she advocates for a new vision of motherhood where our kids get to witness us do the thing that makes us come alive. This episode is packed with encouragement and inspiration to make that happen. Today's podcast is...

We're so happy to be back from our break and podcasting again!  In this episode, we reflect on how much of the work we do as homeschooling parents is intangible and not easily measured or noticed.  We talk all about why it is important to give ourselves credit for all that we're doing. Parents, you are working so hard and deserve all the acknowledgment and praise! We're here to give that to you. B...

Happy New Year Everyone! While we are on break, we thought you might enjoy this episode we released almost a year ago.  In it, we talk all about making science fun and accessible with our friend, Jenny Schultz.  We look forward to coming back with a new episode next week!   "Sometimes the best way to teach science is to not answer kids' questions." - Jenny Schultz Today our first guest, Jenny Schu...

Merry Christmas Everyone!  While we're one break, we thought you might enjoy hearing some throwback episodes.   Today we dive in to a topic that is very personal to both of us, the Highly Sensitive Person.  We talk about:  What is a Highly Sensitive Person? How are adult and children HSPs alike and different? How to find out if you or your child is an HSP. Things HSPs need to do to take care of th...

Why is taking a break so important?  What do our breaks look like?  Listen in and hear all about why we think being proactive about scheduling breaks is crucial, even if it's a break from something you truly enjoy.  We also chat about some specific breaks we are taking over the holidays and as always, what we are Loving This Week. Today's podcast is brought to you by audible - get a FREE audiobook...

We are so happy to have Jessica Sarchett on the podcast today.  Jessica, her husband and two kids are currently living in and homeschooling from their RV in California.  Jessica shares with us all about how she does it and about her passion for homeschooling on a budget.  You don't have to spend a lot of money to homeschool and Jessica is proof!  She shares tips and many of the free resources she...

We're popping in your feed mid-week to throwback to an episode we recorded last year at this time all about our favorite Christmas books.  This is a quick listen we wanted you to have in time for the season.   We will put links here in the show notes to all of these books but they're all also in one place in our Amazon Page at  https://www.amazon.com/shop/homeschoolunrefined We'd love to hear from...

We all know that stress can have negative effects on our lives, bodies and consequently our homeschools.  We want to create a culture where it's normal to take measures to prevent stress and also to take care of ourselves during those inevitable stressful times.  In this episode, we talk a lot about what's going on in our lives personally and how we manage stressful seasons. Homeschool Unrefined B...

If we got to register for gifts upon becoming homeschool parents, these are the things we'd register for.  These things have made our lives easier as parents whose days are full parenting, teaching and living life.  You don't need to be a homeschool parent to benefit from listening - this is for all parents, grandparents and regular people looking for hacks to help ease stress.  All of these items...

The holidays are coming!  And we're here to give you all the permission you need to skip out on the things that drain you.  The holiday season should be enjoyed and not tolerated.  For that to happen, you literally cannot do all the things.  Listen in as we tell you what makes our Don't Do lists and be encouraged to create a Don't Do list of your own. Cee Lo's Magic Moment Michael Buble's Christma...

Do you need to simplify your days?  Or do you need something easy to get you through a stressful day, week or season? Today Maren and Angela talk about the idea of Autopilot and how they use it to lower stress and simplify their days.  When you use Autopilot, much learning happens and it's easy on the homeschooling parent and child.  There are so many benefits, we wonder why we're not using it mor...

In today's episode, we bring back Vanessa Wright to chat all about raising tweens!  Vanessa is a homeschool mom of 3 (yes, 3) tweens living in North Carolina.  Today we chat about tweens, what makes them special and how to try and make your homeschool fit to their needs and abilities.  You may remember Vanessa from Episode 31 where she talked about homeschooling through hard times.  We're so glad...

On today's episode, we are celebrating our first podcast anniversary and it's full of surprises!  Join us as we reminisce about taking a leap and starting a podcast and chat about what has surprised us this past year in our homeschools. Then, we review our past Loving This Weeks and tell you both what we're still loving and what we've given up on. We end the show with some fun giveaways for you, o...

In today's episode we chat all about the Four Tendencies framework by Gretchen Rubin.  We talk about each of the Four Tendencies - Upholders, Obligers, Questioners and Rebels - and how they tend to show up in people's lives and in our lives specifically.  We would love to hear from you!  What is your tendency and how does it play a part in your life?   The Four Tendencies by Gretchen Rubin Gretche...

In a world where something big and scary happens almost daily, talking to your kids about world events can be unsettling, nuanced and a challenge.  We invite you in to this conversation where we talk all about what we do, what we don't do and our own questions and fears. Today's podcast is brought to you by audible - get a FREE audiobook download and 30 day free trial at  www.audibletrial.com/home...

This is a good one everyone!  We are so honored to have Casey O'Roarty of Joyful Courage on the podcast today talking all about Positive Discipline.  Casey gives lots of encouragement and practical ideas for connecting with your kids and finding solutions to common problems.   Jane Nelson, Positive Discipline Alfred Adler The Whole-Brain Child by Dan Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson Joyful Courage Pod...

What happens after you scale back and lower your expectations?  What about when you come off of a period of deschooling?  This episode is all about what comes next. How do we decide what to add and when?  How do we know when we or our kids are ready for more? Where do we start? If you haven't listened to our Episode 41: Where We Stage an Intervention , you might want to start there.     Today's po...

Sometimes, the homeschool curriculum or philosophy you envisioned isn't working for you or your child.  We give you permission to change it up!  In this week's episode, we bring you an interview from our friend, Melissa Schoenberger, who has lots of experience making changes.  She tells her story and also explains what she has gained from going through many different homeschool curricula and philo...

Are you disappointed in the start of your homeschooling year?  Are you not getting as much done as you'd hoped?  Are your kids resistant to doing work? Do you have a toddler getting in the way of teaching time? Are there tears from anyone involved?  Then we are here to stage an intervention!  And trust us, we need one too.  We created this message because it's the one we need to hear (over and ove...

In this episode we talk all about the ways we can get perfectionistic in homeschooling and parenting. Striving for excellence is one thing but that can easily slide into perfectionism.  We talk about our own perfectionistic tendencies and their consequences.  We also talk about why it's actually a good thing to not complete the curriculum or have a messy house, for example.   Warning: this episode...

In this episode, we dive in to chatting about everything we're using for curriculum this year.  You'll hear what exactly we're using, why, how and how often for all the subjects.  This episode is a bit longer than normal and is jam-packed with lots of information.  We would love to hear from you!  What are you using for curriculum this year? Today's podcast is brought to you by audible - get a FRE...