make joy normal: cozy homeschooling

send us a text via Fan Mail! Elizabeth and I talk about the end of the school year.  What to finish, what to put on hold...what to forgo!  We have a lot of good conversation about what "done" actually means and about what education actually is.  We also talk a little about the importance of keeping records, so I've included some resources from my website here in the show notes.  1:3...

send us a text via Fan Mail! Today we interview Maureen Wittmann and Walter Crawford, of Homeschool Connections.  I came across HSC three years ago, and my high schoolers have taken several courses through them, and have been blown away by the quality of courses and professors, the speed and efficiency of meeting the needs of my children and myself, and the commitment these delightful souls have t...

send us a text via Fan Mail! Today we interview the lovely Jena Love of Rooms Need Love…she’s organizing specialist who teaches women efficient homemaking and organizing systems. In 2019, she traded in her corporate spreadsheets to become a full-time homemaker and homeschooling mom while supporting women in their pursuit to create peaceful homes for themselves and their families. We get some insig...

send us a text via Fan Mail! Is it your dream?  It’s certainly the dream of many homeschool families…to pack up their homeschool life as they know it, move to the country and start farming.  I had the blessing of having our guest move just up  the road from me, and friendship was born. Her family farm is right here on Vancouver Island, so have a listen! Today we talk to Rachel, former city dweller...

send us a text via Fan Mail! Elizabeth and I chat today about some thoughts on meal strategies to make life sail a little smoother! 4:50 - How do you handle meals during pregnancy? 11:25 - How do you deal with everyone's different taste in food?  20:11 - Cheap and hearty go-to meals 26:41 - How to make mealtime easier  42:00 - Special meals and where to find recipes https://www.halfbakedharve...

send us a text via Fan Mail! ⚠️ Trigger warning:  In today's interview with Sarah, we talk about the challenges she's experienced, which include pregnancy loss, for those sensitive to this topic.   Sarah is an army wife...life has taken her on perhaps more adventures than she ever imagined possible.  Through challenges aplenty, Sarah shares how she railed, found peace and continues to st...

send us a text via Fan Mail! We discuss the various ways that mom guilt gets us, how it manifests and ways we can manage it.   1:40 - The struggle is real  6:22 - Respect for every family  13:34 - The worry that we're not patient enough  19:01 - The guilt that our house is not clean enough 23:45 - Finding order  31:47 - The guilt of not spending enough time with our kids  41:36 - The guilt of...

send us a text via Fan Mail! Wow.  Today’s podcast brings to the forefront mental illness and homeschooling.  “If you suffer from depression…can you homeschool, should you?” It’s such a great question and we so appreciate this beautiful interview with Kileah.  She shares her perspective, her struggles and her advice and her management tools.   She blessed Elizabeth and I richly,  we are so gratefu...

send us a text via Fan Mail! In today’s podcast we talk about the ways that this time of year can get us down, and kick around some ideas on what we can do about it.  We discuss value of community and our longing for it, especially in this COVID environment.   4:55 - How do you avoid the woe-is-me attitude?  6:01 - Missing community and planning outings  10:52 - Covid blues  15:18 - We always feel...

send us a text via Fan Mail! Today we sit down with the lovely ladies from Latte and Laundry, our biggest fans! We hear about their podcast, Latte and Laundry, in which they discuss the importance of being both Mary and Martha and we learn a lot about friendship. I hope you enjoy today’s episode with these wonderful ladies, and give their podcast a listen! Link in bio. 5:27 - Journey and start in...

send us a text via Fan Mail! Today we interview Drew Vernon, marketing guy for an unbelievably unbelievable product for families and my mind is totally blown.  You might want to consider watching this on YouTube, because there are some visual examples of what Drew is telling us about, that would not want to be missed.  I get requests all the time to review products, which I don't.  However, t...

send us a text via Fan Mail! Today we interview Trent Horn, Catholic apologist, famous guy and  recovered homeschool skeptic.   With three young boys, he recognizes the joy of participating in their education, and the value of the parent's role in this. Trent shares the reasons and process that brought him to an appreciation of homeschooling.  His family has started their homeschool journey,...

send us a text via Fan Mail! 1:38 - How to deal with burnout 9:52 - Practical things to do when you're heading on a downhill 15:14 - How do we motivate ourselves? 23:33 - How do I motivate my kids? 27:39 - How to find a groove as a new homeschooling family Tim Hawkins (for fun) Science Is… Low days  Gretchen Rubin (what motivates you) Good books for Catholic kids Contact On Instagram at @make...

send us a text via Fan Mail! If you would like to support this podcast, click HERE.   ALSO, masterclass coming up on dictation  This week we address some of the common problems or challenges that families experience while homeschooling.  Building community, time to ourselves,  being present and letting go of an agenda when necessary.   1:11 - How do you develop a social life when you struggle find...

send us a text via Fan Mail! We're back with season two of Make Joy Normal! "Having a baby or not having a baby could be equally risky." When and how do we decide it's the right time to have another baby?  Elizabeth and Bonnie discuss the various stages and concerns we go through when we're thinking about adding to our families.   One of the things we have to consider is t...

send us a text via Fan Mail! In our last episode of this season,  before we break for Christmas, we get started on a discussion that will require some furthering in future episodes!  How can we make the most of the books we read?  How can we get education naturally derived from our walk with reading to our kids?  How we approach reading can really open up some many ways for education to be amazing...

send us a text via Fan Mail! If you would like to support this podcast, click HERE.   We discuss a few different things this episode.  Starting with technology and it’s place in homeschooling, we share experiences and ideas for managing what’s good online and avoiding the crap.   We also talk about when kids interrupt while you are trying to get things done with other kids.  What’s going on?  How...

send us a text via Fan Mail!   If you would like to support this podcast, click HERE.   We interview Michael P. Foley, author of Drinking With The Saints:   The Sinner’s Guide to a Holy Happy Hou We address the topic of why a niche book like this matters for busy parents!  Michael and his wife homeschool their six kids, AND like a nice cocktail, so definitely experts on this particular topic.   Mi...

send us a text via Fan Mail!   If you would like to support this podcast, click HERE.   This episode we chat with the lovely Kelly Briggs, aka Simple Home Mom - Kelly brings such helpful gifts to the table for moms.  Simple is her modus operandi, and helping moms do the same…we share her journey, struggles and successes.  What do we value?  What matters to us?  How do we do it all?  Or do we…? The...

send us a text via Fan Mail! If you would like to support this podcast, click HERE.   This episode we take a few questions on different topics.  We discuss a question from a dad…the varieties of the father’s role in homeschool, and what is the best way a dad can support his family in the homeschool endeavour.  We also address an age old question…what DO I do when my family or friends are opposing...

send us a text via Fan Mail! If you would like to support this podcast, click HERE.   In today’s episode, we interview Lauren Power.  She’s a mom and entrepreneur.  We’ve brought her on the show this week because we receive questions about working and homeschooling.  Her homeschooling days are done, as her kids are grown, but she worked all through those homeschool years.  But it’s her approach th...

send us a text via Fan Mail! If you would like to support this podcast, click HERE.   This week, we talk about discerning our family’s activities and our involvement in parish and community life.  Including extra curricular activities, we delve into how to decide how much is too much and what our family needs most.  How do we fit it all in?  And more importantly, what SHOULD we be fitting in? Over...

send us a text via Fan Mail!   If you would like to support this podcast, click HERE.   Catch Janelle’s fire!  A natural cheerleader, Janelle will pick up your wellness game because she’s just so darn lovely…so grateful to have her on our show.  Where do we find the balance with faith, fitness, homeschool and family life?  Let’s see what Janelle has to say, in all her beautiful realness.  4:00 - J...

send us a text via Fan Mail! If you would like to support this podcast, click HERE.    Interview with Matthew and Esther of Veritas Current Events This episode we interview Matthew and Esther, a young couple who have started a Christian world view current events curriculum Veritas Current Events that homeschoolers should absolutely be dialled into, particularly for middle school and high school.  ...

send us a text via Fan Mail! Today we discuss a beautiful book by Sally Clarkson about kids who don't fit into our expectations.  Kids who think differently, learn differently, respond differently in life.   In the context maintain our relationships, we also discuss kids who lie...the different types of lying and the different reasons kids might lie...and, most importantly  - what we can do a...