The Stay-at-Homeschooling Mom Podcast

Is your homeschooling experiencing the “End of the Winter Blues?” Are you frustrated that you and the kids have been cooped up way too long? Ginny and Mary Ellen have the tonic for that. Their formula is simple, and their solutions are straightforward. Their insight, ideas, and effective routines will help you manage everything.   How to Homeschool and Not Lose Your Mind (PART II) This is part two...

Sometimes, homeschooling can feel like the most overwhelming, frustrating, impossible thing to do, especially at the end of winter. You and the kids have been stuck in the house, and the work seems never-ending. It just feels gloomy. We've all been there.    But it's a new day, and Ginny and Mary Ellen are here with ideas and a plan that includes humor, smiles, and simple, effective method...

Are you considering homeschooling your child with special needs? Are you already in the trenches and feeling like you aren’t doing well? This show could be a lifesaver. Mary Ellen has been there, and Ginny has a wealth of knowledge to bring to the subject. Let’s tackle the five things you need to know about homeschooling a child with special needs.   Five Things You Should Know About Homeschooling...

Sometimes, situations we might have avoided if given a choice are the greatest blessings. Today's guest has written an inspiring book about a little boy who brings joy to all who know him. Today's podcast will touch your heart, bring a smile, and open a gift of unexpected proportions. Life-changing inspirations can come wrapped in unexpected ways.    Super J and the Power of Love          ...

For homeschooling moms seeking to advance in the spiritual life, the Church offers many opportunities, including the Rosary, Daily Mass, Spiritual Reading, and Liturgy of the Hours. But as a homeschooling mom with limited time, how do you choose from among these excellent practices? In today's podcast, author and moral theologian Fr. Jeffrey Kirby is here to help you prioritize your choices to...

Music Appreciation There is lots of music beyond Disney! An excellent place to start is encouraging your children to listen to fine music. One good thing about the World Wide Web is you can find excellent classical music. You can also find explanations of the various pieces if you are interested.    Teaching music in the home (for the non-musical mom) Carnival of the Animals  (Camille Saint-Saens)...

Join Ginny and Mary Ellen in a lively, joyful discussion on the saints, our great friends and allies on our homeschooling journey. And as always, they share their experiences with their unique blend of humor, love, and practical advice.  Prepare for dozens of examples from the saints to inspire and guide your homeschooling family in faith formation and education. - Welcome to the lesson book from...

Mary Ellen and Ginny introduce to Emily Malloy, whose floral design career began as an apprentice who swept petals and leaves off the floors of a rapidly growing floral shop in Philadelphia.  She rose to manager and floral designer. Her work has appeared in Elle Décor, Green Wedding Shoes, the National Catholic Register, and the Ember Journal. Emily is the food and floral design editor at Theology...

Teaching and learning do not have to be dry and boring. In fact, for homeschoolers, it can be quite the opposite. We are free to expand our studies beyond the text and be creative. Today, Ginny and Mary Ellen take us on a journey to a world of ways to expand your studies with lapbooking, notebooking, novels, videos, you know, the fun stuff. There's a treasure chest of resources for you and the...

Homeschooling with small children in the home will, at times, push you to the end of your patience. But these times will pass.  For now, take a breath as Ginny and Mary Ellen discuss tips, insights, and lessons on turning trying times into life-shaping opportunities. Learn how to lighten your load while training the kids to be big helpers and prepare them to be better students and caring adults. Y...

When talking about homeschooling, the elephant in the room is socialization. Naysayers insist that homeschooling isolates children, but the reality, as experienced homeschoolers and those who know them praise, is that their kids are the most socialized, as well as the most thoughtful and considerate kids around. But how do you get there initially, or how can you improve things? Ginny and Mary Elle...

Fr. Ken Geraci, of the Fathers of Mercy, joins Ginny and Mary Ellen today and fills us in about his latest book, Spiritual Warfare and Divine Mercy, the Weapon for Our Times. Father is a friend of homeschoolers, having spoken at many of our conferences.   Father is an engaging speaker with a gift for converting complex spiritual matters into simple, understandable lessons. And our hosts take advan...

Teaching our children to set priorities, complete assignments on time, and achieve their goals are essential life skills we must teach them. After all, no child is born knowing how to manage their time effectively.    Ginny and Mary Ellen discuss why mastering these skills can be challenging for homeschoolers. But, as expected, our hosts have a plentitude of practical solutions, literally dozens o...

In today's podcast, Ginny and Mary Ellen talk with Kimberly Begg about her new book  Unbreakable, Saints Who Inspired Saints to Moral Courage . Kimberly describes her work, published by TAN, and its unique perspective of not just telling the typical saint story but also the saint behind the saint.   Kimberly explains the importance of knowing how and why other saints inspired each saint, how t...

Meet Arlena Brown, a Seton Mom with four kids who found stability in times of change and chaos through homeschooling. Lena is a Traditional Roman Catholic wife of 14 years to her husband, Robert, and mother of four children ranging from 2 to 13 years old. The Browns had three children in elementary school when the pandemic occurred. They discovered homeschooling amid layoffs, relocations, and othe...

Today, we are pleased to speak with an experienced homeschooling mom in the Philippines, Therese Habana, fondly known as Mommy T., to her homeschooling community. In this warm, engaging discussion, you’ll learn along with Ginny and Mary Ellen as “Mommy T.” details the Filipino homeschool environment and culture and how she got started. She also shares her experience utilizing “Partner Centers” and...

**The following podcast contains information on homeschooling and the law. The content provided in this podcast is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional legal advice, consultation, or representation. For specific information about the law where you live, we suggest you contact the Home School Legal Defense Association, a local homeschooling support...

You want to start but wonder how much homeschooling will cost? The wait is over, Mary Ellen and Ginny share the cost, the budget, and how to maximize your benefits.  Learn about different homeschooling styles, where to find free placement tests and samples, budgeting tips and tricks, and much more. And as always, you're guaranteed to smile with their humorous yet practical, common-sense approa...

Training our kids to be financially responsible is a skill set that is terribly important but too often overlooked. If these skills are not mastered, their road ahead will be rocky at best. Ginny and Mary Ellen expertly manage this challenging subject in depth and with a treasury of practical tips. With age-appropriate lessons for your children, youngsters to young adults, these lessons will last...

Getting Dad on board for homeschooling is critical to succeed. A house united, with a common goal of educating children in the Faith and academics, is essential for starting and maintaining. Mary Ellen and Ginny have a tried-and-true plan for you to win Dad's approval and cooperation. Their step-by-step approach is simple and manageable and, as they always do, presented to you with humor, good...

The utter failure of public schools to teach phonics has led to terrible illiteracy rates. Too many modern reading programs have been a disaster. But there is a better way and Ginny and Mary Ellen explain why teaching phonics to your elementary students should be mandatory in your homeschools. Our hosts explain why a rigorous Language Arts curriculum of phonics, spelling, reading, vocabulary, and...

If raising your children in the Catholic Faith is your goal, then living a liturgical life could help you achieve that in a simple and fun way. Ginny and Mary Ellen are your guides for the journey that might change your approach to family Faith Formation. Their Faith-enriched immersive step-by-step approach makes it easy as they show you how to take your family’s activities to a supernaturally enh...

With cultural change and confusion swirling, Mary Ellen and Ginny take on the timely topic of protecting our children's innocence in our increasingly crazy culture.     Their advice, steeped in love and tested through experience, can build your confidence and help steer your decisions to the moral high ground in today's most challenging times. Join them as they help you chart a virtuous pa...

Colleen Billing is an expert on decluttering, organizing, and bringing peace to client’s homes. She has worked as a professional organizer for 18 years with her business Peaceful Interiors.    She also is a homeschooling mom, a spiritual director-in-training, and a longtime friend of Ginny and Mary Ellen, all of which which makes today’s conversation so personable, relevant, and fun.  If you’ve ev...

Ginny and Mary Ellen have eye-opening news that may worry you. On today's Podcast, they discuss the "Nation's Report Card" on Eighth Graders. In Geography - only 25 percent of U.S. students scored at or above the Proficiency level. Scores in U.S. History and Civics are subpar as well. But the good news is that homeschool families are best positioned to turn those numbers around....