The Stay-at-Homeschooling Mom Podcast

Feeling isolated on your homeschooling journey because you live “out in the boonies”? Worried your kids will miss out on friends—or that you’ll never meet another mom who “gets” it? Today Ginny and Mary Ellen tackle the unique challenges of homeschooling with little local support. Drawing on decades of experience, they share concrete ways to build community, keep kids socialized, and stay sane—no...

Remember when you started homeschooling your oldest in kindergarten? People would ask, "What will you do when you have to teach trigonometry?" No worries, that was years away. Then high school arrives. But fear not—Mary Ellen and Ginny homeschooled through high school and produced great adults. Here’s how they did it and how you can, too.   8 Steps to High School Success 1. Set an alarm...

Why do we homeschool?  Don't like the public schools in your district?  Can't afford the Catholic school?  Or there is no Catholic school?  Family togetherness?  Better academics?    All are good reasons, but today, Ginny and Mary Ellen discuss why most of us need to start and keep homeschooling our children. If this were Star Trek, we would call it The Prime Directive.   Show Notes: There...

Isn’t it funny that one meal seems to take up 9/10ths of our brain daily? Dinner or meal planning is one of our most requested topics. We’ll answer these questions and more: ·      What are easy meals?  ·      How do I plan for meals? ·      How much should the children be helping?   Dinner is the big kahuna in terms of time, expense, and general stress but this will help: 8 Rules to Cook By  to o...

Online conversations about how challenging homeschooling can include some version of, "They just don't listen to me," "They dawdle all day" or "They argue constantly."  If this sounds too familiar and is not what you expected from your homeschoolers, join Ginny and Mary Ellen in a crash-course in teaching good attitudes and better behavior. These lessons will last...

Staying healthy as a busy homeschool mom is not easy, mostly because moms put everyone else’s needs ahead of their own. In the hustle and bustle of life, it is easy to neglect your own health, and that will eventually catch up with you. Let’s talk about ways to stay on top of your health and wellness to keep up with your busy life. Show Notes:    Let’s talk about ways to stay on top of your health...

Brittany contacted us.  She has two younger children in primary grades, a toddler and a newborn, and wants to give them a thorough academic education.  She's willing to do the major subjects separately but wondered if she could combine other subjects, like science and history.  Combining students in different grades is a question we frequently get, and we discuss it in today's podcast. Show Notes...

Jennifer contacted us and asked for any tips we have about raising teens. It's a tough time to be raising adolescents, and there is little support for a Catholic lifestyle. In addition, the Internet and video games dominate the lives of many of them.   We thought we were doing a great job homeschooling them, but they roll their eyes like their public school counterparts.  What is a Catholic parent...

So often, homeschool days can devolve into tantrums, tears, and recriminations, and that’s just mom.  Meltdowns and bad days happen, and we have to make our peace with that, but there are ways that you can set yourself up for success. To help you, Mary Ellen and Ginny introduce seven rules to set you up, reduce the bad days, and help your children enjoy their studies more.  Show Notes: A big part...

Angela’s child is an auditory learner, and she wanted some tips to help him.  Her request made us think about how most students have a dominant learning style. And how we can fashion our homeschooling to help them succeed.  Today, we learn about the four major learning styles, how to work with our kids’ styles, and the importance of preparing them not to grow too dependent on their dominant style....

Kimberly asked Ginny and Mary Ellen how to juggle homeschooling when you have a huge family. You'll love every minute of their humorous reflections and insightful advice.  You may have a married kid or two with grandchildren dropping by while you're planning weddings and still homeschooling high school, middle school, and elementary school.  Oh, and you're trying to keep the house clean enough so...

We have discussed institutions of higher learning in another podcast, but today, we will discuss graduating high school students who may have had enough of school—at least for now. A son is not sure if he wants to go to college. A daughter thinks she wants to be a dentist, a hairdresser, or a chef but is unsure what these entail. Today, let's talk about how to help those kids. Show Notes: Some...

This time of year, many homeschooling parents are dealing with high school seniors who are wondering what they will do with their lives. Join Ginny and Mary Ellen in a lively conversation about post-high school educational options—their pros and cons—for young Catholic adults. Your hosts' insight and practical advice are always flavored with their inimitable humor.  Show Notes: Many homeschool...

Every homeschool parent fervently hopes to raise a child who loves to read. Once they find themselves loving a book, a series, or a subject and choose to immerse themselves in the pages of a book, we have won half the battle.  So, how do we encourage children to read? How do we make it so much a part of life that there is no option but to be a reader? Today, Mary Ellen and Ginny explain ten ways t...

While knowing the Four Rs (reading, ‘riting, ‘rithmatic, and religion) is essential for your child to succeed in life, it is also important to learn certain life skills to function well in the world. Today, Mary Ellen and Ginny discuss ordinary things your children need to know, like how to manage money, how to really clean a room, and how to plan and cook healthy meals.  Show Notes: Did you know...

A recent social media meme asked, "Am I teaching my children for Heaven, or am I teaching them for Harvard?" Ginny and Mary Ellen address these important questions on the minds of many parents in today's podcast, thoughtfully defining the meaning of those destinations and guiding you to find your family's unique homeschooling solution.  Program Notes: First, no parent wants their...

Providing children with a Catholic education was considered so important to Irish, Italian, and Polish immigrants that parishes built the school BEFORE the church.  A lot has changed but Mary Ellen and Ginny remind us that one thing that has NOT changed is the serious obligation of Catholic parents to give their children an authentic Catholic education. Today they discuss how homeschoolers can bes...

Are you considering homeschooling but are not quite there yet? You may have bought a few books, read a few blogs, and followed a few Instagram accounts. It can be really hard to say, "We are doing this!" and jump in. Well, fear not: Ginny and Mary Ellen have helped thousands with their clear and simple practical advice, along with a generous helping of good humor. Listen now at the link...

Who says Catholic homeschool students can't enjoy school spirit and connection with their fellow students? Not Seton Home Study School! Seton has an online forum, Catholic Harbor, to provide just those things and more. Listen to learn more! --- Draper Warren Bio: Draper Warren is the Director of Admissions at Seton and the Admin of Catholic Harbor. He is a Seton alumnus and graduate of Christe...

Venerable Fulton Sheen said. "There are not one hundred people in the United States who hate The Catholic Church, but there are millions who hate what they wrongly perceive the Catholic Church to be."  These words could easily be applied to homeschooling. Too many people react negatively when they hear of a family homeschooling, but these impressions could not be further from the truth....

Do you have a child who is hesitant to try new things? Who would rather sit and stare at a book because they are convinced, they can’t do it, even before they try?  Today, Ginny and Mary Ellen discuss how confidence can be encouraged in even the most hesitant children and chart a map of seven key lessons for building self-confidence in your homeschooled child. The Hesitant Child Do you have a chil...

To Learn Online or Not – That's the Question Online homeschooling programs offer a tempting solution for busy parents. However, it's essential to consider both the benefits and drawbacks.  Today, Ginny and Mary Ellen cut through the noise to provide practical, no-nonsense advice, wrapped, as always, in their unique humor and warmth.   Little kids – preschool and primary grades.    Overall,...

Many of us started homeschooling to pass on our Catholic faith and get our kids to heaven. But in the back of our minds, when we can think past laundry and dishes and driving kids to activities, we hope they can exert a positive influence here on earth.  Our guest offers a career track to fulfill that influence in a Christ-centered manner. Dr. Maura Wenzel’s nursing career satisfies her desire to...

In an enlightening exchange, Mary Ellen and Ginny discuss the remarkable but often overlooked value of a Liberal Arts education.    Michael Yost of Thomas More College joins our hosts today, revealing why a Liberal Arts education may be the wisest, most valuable choice your student could ever make. This conversation could change everything if college is in your family's future.   The Remarkabl...

Let's All Keep Chickens! Dalia Monterroso is the passionate author of  "Let's All Keep Chickens! The Down-to-Earth Guide to Natural Practices for Healthier Birds and a Happier World ," and her enthusiasm for this homeschool-friendly topic is contagious.   She is a popular teacher on the basics of backyard chicken keeping. In today’s show, Dalia talks with Ginny and Mary Ellen abo...