Confident Homeschool Mom Podcast

Teresa Wiedrick
  • 4.4 (14)
  • Parenting
  • Updated Weekly

A Homeschool Mom Podcast to Build Confidence & Clarity Navigate the real challenges of homeschooling with mindset strategies, perspective shifts, and practical support tailored for homeschool moms. In this podcast, we tackle the emotional and mental load of homeschooling—perfectionism, doubt, overwhelm, and all the human feels—so you can show up authentically, purposefully, and confidently. Join Teresa Wiedrick, a seasoned homeschool mom and life coach, as she helps you shed what’s not working, set boundaries, manage stress, and cultivate a homeschool life that aligns with your values.Because when you get clear on your homeschool, you get clearer on who you are. And you can show up in your homeschool (& life) authentically, purposefully, and confidently.🔔 Subscribe now for new episodes!

  1. 1d ago

    13 Things Mentally Strong Homeschool Moms Don’t Do

    Mentally strong homeschool moms are not born that way. They are built — one honest, uncomfortable, growing moment at a time. And this book by Amy Morin is one of the best tools I have found for that building work. How This Book Found Me It found me in an airport bookshop — you know that thing you do when you’re killing time waiting for a boarding call, and you wander the shelves because there’s nothing else to do and you’re not ready to sit yet? The title stopped me cold: 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do by Amy Morin. I picked it up. I could not put it down. When I read the list on the back cover, I thought — I could have written this book. These are things I’ve learned and am still learning in my own life. And I have absolutely learned most of them in the context of homeschooling my four kids. This is how Amy Morin informs my homeschool. https://youtu.be/YBriRqHTffI Amy Morin helps us get clear on how to show up on purpose in our homeschools… What Amy Morin Says About Mentally Strong People “Mentally strong people have healthy habits. They manage their emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in ways that set them up for success in life.” — Amy Morin Mentally strong homeschool moms do the same. They manage their emotions, their reactions, and their patterns — not perfectly, but intentionally. And they keep showing up even when it’s hard. Amy lists thirteen things that mentally strong people don’t do. I’m going to walk you through all thirteen — but I want to go deeper on the seven I see come up most consistently in my coaching work with women who home educate. These are the ones that come up over and over and over. The ones that quietly make homeschool life harder than it needs to be. And the ones that — when you shift them — change everything. How Mentally Strong Homeschool Moms Show Up Before we get into the list — here’s what I want you to hear. Every single thing on this list is something I have had to work on myself. Some of them I’m still working on. So there is no judgment here. Just honest conversation between two women who are trying to do this homeschool life well. Alright. Let’s get into it. 1. Mentally strong homeschool moms don’t waste time feeling sorry for themselves. Mentally strong homeschool moms don’t waste time feeling sorry for themselves. That would be easy to do this year. We have to determine how we’re filling our days as homeschool parents, and we get to do it. March forward, despite all the challenges. 2. Mentally strong homeschool moms don’t give away their power. When we react to stuff or people going on around us, we aren’t choosing. We’re giving away our power. We need to be proactive, not reactive. And girlfriend — I did not understand this for a very long time. If you are getting heated — yelling, or consistently nagging — I want you to hear this gently: you are giving away your power. I want you to hear this gently: you are giving away your power. You are not convincing anybody. You are trying to convince them with your intensity or your overpowering energy. And I say this with so much compassion because I have done this a thousand times. At least a thousand. Here’s something I say to moms a lot — and I know this doesn’t represent every partnership or every family dynamic, but it represents enough that I’m going to say it. Mom wonders why the kids won’t listen to her — but the moment dad walks into the room they immediately comply. Here’s my take on that. Why Mom and Dad Get Different Results Mom is deeply aware of what’s going on. She really wants the kids to do the thing — because she wants the best for them. And she really, really wants them to buy in. Whereas dad walks in, sees that the kid didn’t do the thing, says — hey, you gotta do the thing — and walks out. He’s not thinking I hope you comply. He expects them to. And they do. That right there is what it looks like to not give away your power. So here’s what I’d offer you: believe first that you mean what you say — before you say it — so that they can believe it too. Don’t ask for their buy-in before you’ve committed to your own expectation. And sprinkle your expectations lightly — because too many at once exasperates kids and makes them feel like they’re never doing good enough. 3. Mentally strong homeschool moms don’t shy away from change. Change is a guarantee in this life. Consider it life’s way of preventing boredom. 4. Mentally strong homeschool moms don’t focus on things they can’t control. Because if we haven’t learned that we aren’t in control of everything about our lives — we probably have finally learned it by now. 5.  Mentally strong homeschool moms don’t worry about pleasing everyone. When we let go of listening to other people’s expectations of us and our kids’ education, we can do our homeschool our way — the way that fits us and our specific children. People pleasing seems to be a thing amongst homeschool moms. But I’m pretty confident it’s a thing amongst women in general. And from a reformed people pleaser — it ain’t working for you. The Hidden Cost of People Pleasing You think you’re avoiding conflict? Sure. Except that you’re taking on the internal conflict of avoiding that external conflict. So the conflict is just happening inside of you instead. The resentment builds. Frustration sets in. You feel uncertain — like you have to dance just to keep everyone happy. People pleasing doesn’t work. And also — it isn’t really you showing up. The truth of yourself gets buried underneath what you think everyone else needs from you. I had a profound moment in a passport office in 2004. I was waiting for my passport — me, my husband, and my third daughter who was presently inside of me in early pregnancy — getting my passport a week before we were heading to Mexico. And I was reading a book called The Normal Christian Life by Watchman Nee — a study of Romans, which in the Bible is all about grace. And reading that book it was like the heavens opened and light shone on me. I got real, real clear that grace was a gift — not something I needed to earn first. And in that one moment everything shifted. Because I realized — if I didn’t need to earn grace, why in the world was I spending my life trying to earn the grace of the people around me? I’m going to leave that there because I know that not everyone will follow that rabbit trail with me. But for those of you who did — I hope you heard it. You were created and put on this planet to do something remarkable. And it requires you to be authentic. People pleasing is not authentic. It is not you. And it is not working. 6.  Mentally strong homeschool moms don’t fear taking calculated risks. Whether you realize it or not, if you took up homeschooling, you already took up a calculated risk. So own it. And enjoy it. 7.  Mentally strong homeschool moms don’t dwell on the past. The way things used to be — it is what it is. Today is a different day, a different year. How will you show up this day? Now here’s where I want to add some nuance — because people say the differentiation between coaching and therapy is that coaching focuses on the future and therapy focuses on the past. In my personal experience — both as a coach and as a client — I don’t actually see it that way. I am not a therapist. I am not trained to diagnose or engage in clinical therapeutic tools. But I am unquestionably a trauma-informed coach. And I am very clear that your attachment tendencies and the stories you carried before you were a mother are deeply influencing how you’re showing up in your homeschool today. The little girl who was hurt. A teenager who felt bullied. The child who never felt truly seen. She is showing up in how you homeschool. In how you engage your kids. In how you understand your partner. So I don’t think we should dwell on the past — but I absolutely think we need to be honest about it. Own it. Accept it. Because your past is not back there. It’s happening in you right now. When we do that honest work — we can move toward the life and the homeschool we actually want. 8. Mentally strong homeschool moms don’t make the same mistakes over and over. Except you will, of course. But mistakes are there to teach you something — so you don’t have to keep hitting your head against the same wall. Listen to what the wall is telling you. And here’s the truth: noticing our patterns requires self-awareness. Because sometimes we are making communication errors — showing up in unhelpful ways — and we don’t even know it because we can’t see ourselves. A Self-Awareness Practice That Actually Works Build self-awareness practices. Set an alarm on your phone for the time of day when you are most heated or most frustrated. And when it goes off — pause. Put your hand on your heart. Ask yourself what is really going on in there. I worked with one mom — mother of twins and a preschooler — who found this tool extraordinarily effective. Over the course of a few months she noticed her own intensity decreasing simply because she was paying attention. Another mom practiced it so consistently that one day — without saying a word to her kids about it — her children noticed. The alarm went off. They stopped what they were doing, put their hands on their hearts, took a long, slow deep breath, and asked themselves how they were feeling. She wept. Not just she — but her kids — were learning emotional regulation. Together. That is the work. 9.  Mentally strong homeschool moms don’t resent other people’s success. Keep in your lane. Do your own thing. You have your specific children, your specific experience of education, your specific way of homeschooling. Enjoy your family, enjoy your Instagra

  2. Aug 4

    7 Questions Homeschool Moms Are Afraid to Ask Out Loud

    If you’ve ever lain awake wondering what’s wrong with your homeschool, know this: you’re asking one of the same questions homeschool moms are asking every single week — you’re just doing it alone, at midnight, with a search bar instead of a friend. After two decades of homeschooling my own four kids, and six years coaching the women who do this work every single day, I can tell you this with complete confidence: the questions that keep homeschool moms up at night are almost always the same questions. Over and over. In every coaching conversation. In every Collective session. And in every message I receive at midnight from a mama trying to figure out what’s going wrong and why she can’t seem to fix it. So this summer on the Confident Homeschool Mom Podcast, I decided to address them directly. Seven episodes. Seven books. And seven questions that deserve more than a quick fix. Watch the video below — and then keep reading for the full breakdown. https://youtu.be/zkxm-irxoMQ What You’ll Learn in this Video: Why your child’s behaviour is almost never actually about you — and the personality framework that can explain it How the way you talk to your kids might be creating more friction than you realize — and what healthy homeschool communication actually sounds like The personal mental habits that are quietly making your whole life harder, whether you’re homeschooling or not Why your child needs to feel truly seen by you — and why that starts with feeling seen yourself What it actually means to let your child lead their own learning — and why that’s harder than it sounds Why so many homeschool moms feel like they’ve lost themselves — and how to find their way back Why you feel constantly in conflict with the way your life feels right now — and what radical acceptance actually means for your homeschool The 7 Questions Homeschool Moms Are Asking— And The Books That Answer Them: These aren’t random questions. They’re the same questions homeschool moms are asking — out loud and not out loud — every single week. 1. Why do I keep reacting the same way to my child — and is it actually about them or about me? The Road Back to You — Ian Morgan Cron & Suzanne Stabile What looks like defiance is almost always a collision between two completely different core motivations. Yours and theirs. The Enneagram helps you understand both — and once you do, everything shifts. 2. Is the way I talk to my kids making things worse — and what does healthy homeschool communication actually sound like? Nonviolent Communication — Marshall Rosenberg Not just how you speak to your kids — but how you listen to them. How you hear what’s underneath the behaviour instead of just reacting to the behaviour itself. 3. What do mentally strong homeschool moms do differently — and how do I get there? 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do — Amy Morin This one isn’t just about homeschooling. These are the personal mental habits that are quietly making your whole life harder. And homeschool moms are particularly vulnerable to several of them — because we carry so much and ask for so little help. 4. Does my child feel truly seen by me — and do I even feel seen myself? Feeling Seen — Jodi Carrington Kids don’t need us to be perfect. They need to feel seen. But how can we help our children feel seen when we ourselves have never felt truly seen? This episode goes there. Still with me? Good — because these are exactly the questions homeschool moms are asking most, and getting through four of them without flinching means you’re already doing the hard, honest work. 5. What does it actually mean to let my child lead their own learning? The Gardener and the Carpenter — Alison Gopnik A carpenter shapes wood into a specific, predetermined form. A gardener creates the conditions for growth — and then trusts what emerges. Most of us were taught to be carpenters. This book helps you become a gardener. 6. Why do I feel like I’ve lost myself in homeschooling — and how do I find my way back? Stop Losing Yourself — Teresa Wiedrick This is the question underneath so many other questions. You started this journey with such intention. And somewhere along the way — between the lesson planning and the sibling conflict and the never-ending needs of everyone around you — you lost the thread back to yourself. This episode is drawn from my own coaching work with homeschool mamas, and there is a whole course built around it. 7. Why do I feel constantly in conflict with the way my life feels right now? Radical Acceptance — Tara Brach Radical acceptance isn’t about giving up or lowering your standards. It’s about stopping the war with reality long enough to actually see it clearly. And from that place of clarity — choosing what to do next. So if any of these are questions homeschool moms are asking themselves at 2 am, take it as a sign: you’re not behind, you’re not alone, and you’re not the only one wondering. Not Sure Which of These Questions Homeschool Moms Are Asking Is Yours? If none of these seven quite fit, and you’re still asking your own version of “what’s wrong with my homeschool,” that’s exactly what the free Homeschool Overwhelm Quiz is for. 👉 Take the quiz and find out exactly where to start. Take the 5-Minute Assessment More Ways to Feel Supported Whichever question is yours, you don’t have to sit with it alone. So, here are a few more ways to stay connected: Join the Collective — Before joining, Michelle felt completely alone in her homeschooling journey, constantly second-guessing herself. But now, every Friday feels like a reset — no competition, no judgment, just compassionate women who have her back. Join the Confident Homeschool Mom Collective → Get weekly book reflections — Because reading alone isn’t the same as reading together, sign up for Reading That Restores You, the free Homeschool Mama Book Club newsletter, delivered every Wednesday. Talk it through with me — And if you’d rather talk it out than read your way there, 📅 book a free Aligned Homeschool Reset Session to work through what’s coming up for you personally. Book your free Aligned Homeschool Reset Session Want to Go Deeper? No Homeschool Group Near Me? Find Your Community Here! frequently asked homeschooling questions 1st-Year Homeschool FAQs: Top Questions every New Homeschooler Asks How to Develop Boundaries in Your Homeschool Life You’re Invited to the Homeschool Mom Book Club 2026 How to Improve Homeschool Communication with the Best NVC You’re Invited to the Confident Homeschool Mom Collective Stop Asking These 6 Homeschool Questions (That Sabotage Your Life) Homeschool Mom Book Club for Inspiration, Growth & Clarity Dive into 10 Helpful Books for Homeschooling Moms! How to Stop Taking Your Child’s Behaviour Personally 5 Creative Ways to Design a Homeschool Mom Personal Vision Reclaim You: Rediscover Life Beyond the Homeschool Mom Role The Homeschool Mom’s Planning Workshop Latest episodes 13 Things Mentally Strong Homeschool Moms Don’t Do August 11, 2026 7 Questions Homeschool Moms Are Afraid to Ask Out Loud August 4, 2026 How to Improve Homeschool Communication with the Best NVC August 4, 2026 How to Stop Taking Your Child’s Behaviour Personally July 21, 2026 You’re Invited to the Homeschool Mom Book Club 2026 July 14, 2026 Post-Partum Overwhelm in Your Homeschool: 12 Ways to Cope July 12, 2026 A 2023 High School Graduate’s Thoughts on her Homeschool Life July 11, 2026 What It’s Like? The Homeschool to High School Transition July 11, 2026 Navigate Homeschool High School (What You Need to Know) July 7, 2026 How to Set Realistic High School Expectations? Learn Human Development July 3, 2026 Declutter Your Homeschool Mama Mind: Overwhelm to On Purpose July 2, 2026 How to Handle Homeschool Criticism With Confidence June 29, 2026 How to Create a Personalized Homeschool High School That Fits Your Teen June 23, 2026 The Real Cost Of Being The “Good Girl” Who Became The Good Mom June 16, 2026 What Is an Education Anyway? Your Answer Changes Your Homeschool June 8, 2026 5 Reasons Your Homeschool Child Won’t Do Work & How to Motivate Your Child June 2, 2026 Crush 1st-Year Homeschool Frustrations and Plan a Smooth Year 2 May 30, 2026 Encouragement for Homeschool Moms in the 1st Year May 30, 2026 Transitioning into Homeschool High School: What We’re Really Talking About May 26, 2026 Registered Homeschooling vs Online Learning BC: What Really Matters May 19, 2026 Homeschool Year End Review: Celebrating your Success & Growth May 12, 2026 When You Buy New Homeschool Curriculum: 5 Clever Suggestions May 6, 2026 The Truth About Homeschooling the “Right Way” — But What Works May 5, 2026 9 Steps to Thrive: Confident Homeschool Mom in Year 1 April 28, 2026 What If Your Unrealistic Expectations Are Actually Your Greatest Asset? April 21, 2026 Overcome Imposter Syndrome: How to Build Confidence as a Homeschool Mom April 14, 2026 How to Get Started Homeschooling in 2026 April 11, 2026 9 Mistakes That Make Your 1st Homeschool Year Stressful (& How to Avoid Them) April 9, 2026 How to Make Confident Homeschool Decisions (Without Seeking Permission) April 7, 2026 How to Homeschool When Everyone Has ADHD (And You’re Exhausted) March 31, 2026 Exhausted Homeschool Mom? 8 Things That Will Give You Hope March 24, 2026 Stop Second-Guessing as a Homeschool Mom (& Use Your Magic) March 17, 2026 “You’re Not Falling Apart. You’re in the Winter Homeschool Slump.” March

  3. Aug 4

    How to Improve Homeschool Communication with the Best NVC

    This episode is all about nonviolent homeschool communication — specifically, the patterns that make it harder than it needs to be. Nonviolent homeschool communication starts here — with understanding these old patterns. And there is one book that has shaped how I think about this more than any other. I’ve read a lot of books on relationships, parenting, connection, and attachment over the years — more than I can count. But Marshall Rosenberg’s Nonviolent Communication is the one I keep coming back to. For me, it is the bible of relationships and communication. And it has changed how I show up in my homeschool in ways I didn’t expect. Here’s what it taught me. https://youtu.be/J7kN_HHX52c?si=jZyaiXFDGyilrnsw But first, how does Marshall Rosenberg define nonviolent communication? NVC (aka Nonviolent Communication) is a language of life that helps us transform old patterns of defensiveness and aggressiveness into compassion and empathy and to improve the quality of all of our relationships. (Definition provided by the Center for Non-Violent Communication). We all have old patterns that need to be transformed. And we definitely notice we have reactive, defensive, and aggressive patterns when we attempt to create relationships. Certainly, we notice this when we saturate ourselves in the homeschool parenting role. The 4 NVC Components That Transform Nonviolent Homeschool Communication Observation: Observation without evaluation consists of noticing concrete things and actions around us. We learn to distinguish between judgment and what we sense in the present moment and to simply observe what is there. Feeling: When we notice things around us, we inevitably experience varying emotions and physical sensations in each particular moment. Here, distinguishing feelings from thoughts is an essential step in the NVC process. Needs: All individuals have needs and values that sustain and enrich their lives. When those needs are met, we experience comfortable feelings, like happiness or peacefulness, and when they are not, we experience uncomfortable feelings, like frustration. Understanding that we, as well as those around us, have these needs is perhaps the most important step in learning to practice NVC and live empathically. Request: To make clear and present requests is crucial to NVC’s transformative mission. When we learn to request concrete actions that can be carried out in the present moment, we begin to find ways to cooperatively and creatively ensure that everyone’s needs are met. (Definitions provided by the Center for Non-Violent Communication). Here’s how each component transforms homeschool communication in real life. Lesson One — The Homeschool Communication Shift That Changes Everything “What I want in my life is compassion, a flow between myself and others based on a mutual giving from the heart.” ― Marshall B. Rosenberg, Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life This is what we all want: we want a flow within ourselves and between us. But we’re not all trained to enable that flow. We have walls built up to defend ourselves; sometimes we even have spikes and landmines built up to defend ourselves. Either way, those defenses don’t build relationships. Vulnerability and authenticity allow relationships to expand and grow. Nonviolent homeschool communication requires this foundation first — self-compassion. And that is an easy thing to say and a less easy thing to do. Big Emotions Journal for the Homeschool Mom Are you a homeschool mom navigating the ups and downs of daily life with your kids? Introducing the Homeschool Mama’s Toolbox—a powerful resource to help you manage big emotions like anger, guilt, or overwhelm with clarity and intention. $9.99 Original price was: $9.99.$6.99Current price is: $6.99. Shop now Lesson Two — Homeschool Communication and Grace “All violence is the result of people tricking themselves into believing that their pain derives from other people and that consequently, those people deserve to be punished.” ― Marshall B. Rosenberg, Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life We do what we do because that is what we know to do in the scenario at the time. And in the words of Maya Angelou, “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.“ If we have a growth mindset about life and relationships, how we show up will shift over time. Growth changes everything. Over time, we show up differently in the same scenarios — five, ten, or twenty years later — if we choose that path. Looking back in regret and shame is one option. Forgiving ourselves and growing is another. And when we grow humble and self-aware enough, we realize that others aren’t trying to intentionally cause us pain or friction either. Punishment didn’t teach us when we simply didn’t know better. It won’t serve the people engaging us wrongly now either. So we choose grace — the same grace we’d want extended to our own growing selves. This shift in perspective is at the heart of nonviolent homeschool communication. Lesson Three — What Anger Is Really Telling You “At the core of all anger is a need that is not being fulfilled.” ― Marshall B. Rosenberg, Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life Anger is that mighty sharp tip of an iceberg that protects our fragile hearts. It’s a useful tool to self-protect. But it also protects or keeps us from connecting with others if we self-protect too hard. Under the mighty iceberg of anger’s sharp tip is a whole lotta other big emotions. You name the emotion, it’s there. And those emotions are always fueled by our unmet needs. Nonviolent homeschool communication asks us to address those needs directly rather than react to the emotion on the surface. So we need to address our own needs and respectfully request that others meet our needs, so that we don’t spend our lives reactively, angrily demanding others meet our needs, and/or never connecting with ourselves or others. Lesson Four — The Danger of Not Knowing Yourself “We are dangerous when we are not conscious of our responsibility for how we behave, think, and feel.” ― Marshall B. Rosenberg, Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life You know when you’re not a parent and you have heaped judgments on your own parents parenting approaches BUT THEN you have kids??? And all you can think to yourself is DANG, this parenting thing is only easy when I’m not doing it. (& also, I can see now that my parents were doing the best they could do with what they knew to do in their parenting years, no matter how unhealthy things were). Because parenting is SO CHALLENGING at times. Every parenting book I’ve read had something to say. And I’ve appreciated most of them for something. But this core point, that we need to grow in self-awareness and self-compassion has had the most impact on my parenting approach. I’ve made the gamut of parenting mistakes. I really have. Which means I have regret. (& lest you try to console me for my perfectly imperfect parenting, I will go to my grave regretting them, but I also don’t fuel them with self-contempt). Self-shaming won’t change how I engage my kids now. Mistakes were made — I’m human. Healthy examples weren’t always available to me, and no matter how many parenting books or hours in a therapist’s office, I was bound to struggle with this one relationship: the relationship with myself. My defenses and my reactiveness towards things that hurt me or offended me or confused me were my instinctive armour and battle gear that I brought into my family life, as a wife, and as a mother. I wish this weren’t true. But it is. I had (& still have) armour and battle gear. Do I like that? Hell no. Will it serve me to pretend that these patterns weren’t mine at the beginning of my family journey? Again, hell no. I’ve learned that including practices in self-awareness has helped me see me a little more clearly (a little more, because there will always be room for more self-awareness, I’ll never see myself clearly). Or in the words of Carl Rogers, “The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change.” Self-awareness is the foundation of nonviolent homeschool communication — and this is where it starts. Lesson Five — You Are Not Vanilla “My theory is that we get depressed because we’re not getting what we want, and we’re not getting what we want because we have never been taught to get what we want. Instead, we’ve been taught to be good little boys and girls and good mothers and fathers. If we’re going to be one of those good things, better get used to being depressed. Depression is the reward we get for being “good.” But, if you want to feel better, I’d like you to clarify what you would like people to do to make life more wonderful for you.” ― Marshall B. Rosenberg, Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life If we don’t acknowledge who we are, that we are separate people, and that we have separate needs, we force ourselves to go underground. Our identity becomes like vanilla ice cream. Vanilla is a flavour of ice cream, sure (aka it’s a personality of ice cream types, though it is a basic personality). But it doesn’t have a specific personality, a particular flavour, or a particular texture. It has an entry-level nothingness. (Clearly vanilla is not my favourite. Bring on the peppermint chocolate chip). But we each aren’t vanilla personalities: we have our own flair, our own flavour, and our own textures. We are unique and are meant to be here for a special purpose. When we put our efforts toward being good or right, enabling ourselves to go undercover, we aren’t really us. And so does our nonviolent homeschool communication.

  4. Jul 21

    How to Stop Taking Your Child’s Behaviour Personally

    If you’re struggling as you learn how to stop taking your child’s behaviour personally, girlfriend, I get you! That feeling — that your child is doing something to you — is an easy one to fall into. Not just being difficult, but somehow, specifically, deliberately difficult, aimed at you. You’ve had the thought before, even if you didn’t say it out loud: why does he do this to me? First of all, I want to admit, I have most definitely been there. But I want to offer you a different question to reframe that. Not because your frustration isn’t valid — it is — but because that first question keeps you stuck. It keeps you reacting instead of understanding. And once you swap it out, something in the whole relationship starts to shift. “Why Is He Doing This to Me?” vs. “This Is Just How He’s Wired” In a recent coaching conversation, one of the moms I work with was working through exactly this. Her son has a hard time sitting still, gets bored fast, and constantly needs something new to stay engaged — and she’d been reading that as defiance. As him pushing back against her, specifically, was on purpose. But that constant need for stimulation, that low tolerance for boredom, that instinct to keep moving toward the next interesting thing? That could also be reframed as a personality thing. That’s a recognizable Enneagram Type 7 pattern — a child whose core wiring orients toward possibility and away from anything that feels confining. He’s not doing it to her. He’s doing it because that’s how he’s built to move through the world. That distinction changes everything about how you respond. A defiant child needs a consequence. A Type 7 child who’s drowning in boredom needs variety, movement, and a shorter runway between tasks. Same behavior. Completely different parenting response — and you can only get to the right one once you stop making it about you. A Quick Note on ADHD A quick caveat: trouble sitting still, low tolerance for boredom, always chasing the next stimulating thing — that can also be part of an ADHD profile, not just an Enneagram 7 pattern. The two aren’t mutually exclusive, and this isn’t a substitute for an evaluation, and it’s a separate conversation from learning how to stop taking your child’s behaviour personally — both can be true at once. The Enneagram points to motivation; ADHD is something more neurological. A child can be both — and understanding one doesn’t rule out the other. If this is showing up across settings, not just during school time, it may be worth a conversation with your pediatrician, who can guide you toward an evaluation if needed. And if ADHD is already part of your homeschool reality, you might also like How to Homeschool When Everyone Has ADHD (And You’re Exhausted). It’s Not Just About Kids This same shift showed up for two other moms in a Confident Homeschool Mom Collective conversation, both talking about their husbands. One had spent years frustrated that her husband seemed to avoid conflict at almost any cost — going quiet in arguments, smoothing things over instead of hashing them out, seeming to just… ignoring the conflict instead of addressing it. And she read that as him not caring enough to address the unmet needs under the conflicts. Once she understood he was a Type 9, whose deepest instinct is toward peace and away from friction, she wasn’t excusing the pattern — but she stopped taking it personally. It wasn’t about her. It was his wiring, doing what it’s always done. Enneagram coaches often see 9s and 8s pair up in marriage — and 8s aren’t afraid of conflict at all. So imagine how he was receiving her in those moments: not as someone smoothing things over peacefully, but as someone withholding, someone who wouldn’t engage. (If you want to see this dynamic from the other side, I loved this Enneagram 8 mom’s story of growth — it’s a great window into how an 8 experiences conflict, connection, and homeschooling.) Kids, partners — the pattern is the same. The behaviour that used to feel like a verdict on you turns out to be almost entirely unrelated to you. It’s wiring. And wiring isn’t personal. How to Stop Taking Your Child’s Behaviour Personally When You Think in Black and White If you’re someone who tends to see things in black and white — this behaviour is good, another behaviour is bad — this shift can feel disorienting at first. It’s not that boundaries stop mattering or that behaviour stops having consequences. That is certainly not my goal here. However, it IS that you stop assigning motive where there isn’t one. Your child avoiding boredom isn’t defiance — in fact, there’s a bounty to boredom when it’s handled well (I go deeper on that in how to deal with your kids’ homeschool boredom). Your partner avoiding conflict isn’t apathy. Once you can separate the behaviour from an imagined motive aimed at you, you’re free to respond to what’s actually happening instead of reacting to a story you’ve built around it. And if it’s you who’s the bored one some days — bored of the routine, bored of the sameness, bored in a way that feels a little taboo to admit as a homeschool mom — that’s real too, and worth naming (here’s a whole post on being the bored homeschool mom). What Changes When You Stop Taking It Personally You start responding instead of reacting. You start getting curious instead of assuming offense or hurt. Instead of why does he do this to me, you start asking: What does this behaviour tell me about how he’s wired? What does he actually need right now? Is this about me at all, or is this simply him? That question — is this about me, or is this just them — is one of the most useful tools I know for a homeschool mom learning how to stop taking her child’s behaviour personally. It doesn’t make the hard moments disappear. Your Type 7 son will still get bored mid-lesson. Your Type 9 husband will still go quiet when things get tense. But you’ll stop absorbing those moments as a referendum on you, and that alone changes how much of the day you carry home with you emotionally. Where to Begin You don’t need to become an Enneagram expert overnight to make this discussion valuable. Start small: the next time your child’s behaviour sends you into a spiral of why does he do this, pause and ask instead, is this wiring, or is this really about me? If you do that, you’ll find it’s the former — and that single shift in framing can be enough to bring you back to curiosity instead of hurt. Certainly, if you want to go further, understanding your child’s — and your partner’s — Enneagram type is one of the fastest ways to build this reframe into a daily habit rather than something you have to remember to do in the moment. If this resonated, I’d love to help you think through it. Book a free Aligned Homeschool Reset Session and let’s find out what’s really driving the dynamics in your home — and how to stop carrying what was never yours to carry. Book your free Aligned Homeschool Reset Session Two Ways to Join the Homeschool Mama Book Club 2026 The Homeschool Mama Book Club 2026 is the one thing I wish someone had offered me in my early homeschool years. 1. Join the Book Club Newsletter — free, every Wednesday Every Wednesday morning, a warm, thoughtful email lands in your inbox drawn from the books we’re exploring together. Reflections, journaling prompts, and practical takeaways — even if you haven’t read the book. Sign up for the free Book Club Newsletter here → 2. Join us live in the Confident Homeschool Mom Collective Every Friday at 10am Pacific, a group of homeschool mamas gathers to talk about the things that actually matter — roundtable conversations, book club discussions, Writer’s Room sessions, actionable strategy sessions, and real talk about what it actually feels like to do this every day. Your first Friday is completely free. Join the Confident Homeschool Mom Collective here → Come Talk Through How to Stop Taking Your Child’s Behaviour Personally With Us This is exactly the kind of conversation we have, every single week, in the Homeschool Mama Book Club. A place where you say the thing out loud — why does he do this to me — and a room full of women nod because they’ve thought it too. We read together, we talk it through in book club discussions, we bring our real questions to Writer’s Room sessions and strategy conversations, and in the middle of all that, you get tools to really support your homeschool mom life. The women who show up every Friday will tell you it feels like a reset — a space where they’re actually seen, understood, and encouraged, without competition or judgment. If you’ve been carrying how to stop taking your child’s behaviour personally all on your own, this is where you bring it instead. You’re Invited — Join the Book Club → Get My Weekly Book Reflection Want to Go Deeper? Understanding the Enneagram for Homeschoolers Enneagram For Homeschool Moms: A Self-Awareness Tool That Makes You a Better Educator, Mom & Partner Sibling Bickering in Homeschool Families: What’s Normal & How to Handle It The Guilt Journal for Homeschool Moms You’re Invited to the Homeschool Mom Book Club 2026 How to Reimagine Your Homeschool Support: 7 Essential Lessons How to Create a Personalized Homeschool High School That Fits Your Teen Tired of Homeschool Sibling Fights? Try These 3 Simple Strategies! Understanding the Enneagram for Homeschoolers Interest-Led Homeschool for Confident Moms: An Enneagram 8 Mom’s Story of Growth 5 Reasons Your Homeschool Child Won’t Do Work & How to Motivate Your Child Child-Led Learning Benefits Your Kids (& You) Will Love How to Facilitate Child-Led Learning in Your Homeschool Latest episodes 13 Things Mentally Strong

  5. Jul 14

    You’re Invited to the Homeschool Mom Book Club 2026

    Welcome to the Homeschool Mom Book Club 2026 — a year of reading chosen entirely for you. Can I ask you a question? Who is nurturing you? It’s a question most homeschool moms never get asked. We pour everything into our children — our time, our creativity, our patience, our presence — and somewhere in all that nurturing, we forget that we are humans with needs too. Who Is Nurturing You? I’ve been there. I spent years showing up for everyone else and calling what was left of me enough. Occasional Wednesday nights at Starbucks with a latte and a journal were the thing that kept me going. I thought that was enough. It wasn’t. It’s cliche, but it’s true: I was surviving, not thriving. I craved time to read and write and learn for myself — not just enabling it for the kids. And when I began reading for me, I realized I could answer some of the challenges I was noticing in my homeschool family. After nearly two decades homeschooling and six years coaching women who home educate, I’ve learned that books, and their authors, can be incredible resources for us as home educators. I’ve also learned, from my own life, and the lives of other homeschool moms, we consistently DON’T put ourselves on our to-do lists. We leave our needs, our interests, our rabbit trails last on our lists. Our social lives can be abysmal (funny that onlookers are concerned that our kids aren’t socialized, when mom is driving them hither and yon, waiting in the parking lot while they meet new friends and do cool things). That’s why the Homeschool Mom Book Club 2026 exists. And that’s why I want to invite you into the 2026 lineup — twelve books, one per month, chosen entirely for the woman doing this work every single day. A Gift for the Mama Who Keeps Coming Last If you’ve been putting yourself last in your homeschool, I made something for you. It’s called the Permission Slip — 14 daily anchor practices for the homeschool mama who keeps coming last. It’s free and it’s yours. Grab it here: Yes, I Give Myself Permission You Are the Most Important Curriculum in Your Homeschool Before we get to the books, I want to say something I come back to again and again in my coaching work with homeschool moms: You are the most important curriculum in your homeschool. Not the books you choose for your kids. Not the actual curriculum you pull out each morning. And not the co-op or the field trips or the Charlotte Mason inspired nature study either. You. The way you show up. The way you regulate. Even the curiosity you model. The grace you extend — to your kids and to yourself. That is what your children are absorbing every single day. So investing in yourself isn’t something you do when you finally have time. It’s the most important work you can do for your homeschool. And a good book — and a community of women to think about it with — is one of the most accessible ways to begin. How the Homeschool Mama Book Club 2026 Works One book a month. Twelve months. Four quarterly themes that build on each other — so the reading isn’t just a list but a year-long conversation with yourself. When you’re listening to yourself, able to hear two thoughts in a row (because you know that is hard to do with kids afoot), and willing to unpack the challenges in your homeschool mom life, you’ll move toward enjoying the charms of your homeschool family life. And here’s the part I want you to hear clearly: you don’t have to read the book to show up. I know, crazy, right? A book club where you don’t HAVE to read. Of course, you’ll be more deeply benefited if you do. But I know I wouldn’t have been able to read a book a month in my busiest homeschool years and I’m certainly not expecting it of anyone else. Come for the conversation, come for the community, and come because for one Friday morning a month someone is asking what you think and what you need. Every month in the Confident Homeschool Mom Collective we gather for four Friday sessions built around each book: Roundtable Chat — the big question the book is really asking Book Club Discussion — diving into the ideas together Writer’s Room — putting pen to paper on what surfaced for you Actionable Strategies — taking what you learned and building it into your real homeschool life https://youtu.be/WX9ALm-uODU?si=j3xVN-WWRQWkyJWm The 2026–2027 Homeschool Mama Book Club Lineup ☀️ Summer — Your Inner Life June, July, August We start by turning inward. Before we can talk about education philosophy or creative practice we need to know ourselves a little better first. June — Atlas of the Heart by Brené Brown Do you actually know what you’re feeling — or are you just reacting to it? Brown maps 87 emotions and gives you the vocabulary to finally understand what’s happening inside you — and why it matters for every relationship in your home. July — The Road Back to You by Ian Morgan Cron & Suzanne Stabile Why do you parent and teach the way you do? This warm, witty introduction to the Enneagram helps you understand your core motivations, your stress responses, and the invisible rules you’ve been living by without even knowing it. And when you join the Confident Homeschool Mom Collective (where the Homeschool Mama Book Club lives, you’ll have access to a workshop on how the Enneagram works in your homeschool family.) August — The Life That’s Waiting by Brianna Wiest What would your life look like if you stopped forcing it and started living it? Wiest’s newest collection of essays is for the mom who has been pushing herself toward a life that doesn’t quite fit — and is finally ready to choose differently. 🍂 Fall — The Philosophy of Learning September, October, November Why do we homeschool? What do we actually believe about how children learn? Fall is when we go back to the roots. September — Free to Learn by Peter Gray Do you actually trust your child to learn — or are you still operating from a school mindset you never examined? Gray makes the research-backed case that children are biologically wired to learn through self-directed play. Even if you’re not unschooling this book will crack something open in you. October — How Children Learn by John Holt The foundational text of natural learning that reminds you why you chose this life — and gives you permission to trust your child’s curiosity more than any curriculum. We’ll be joined by Pat Farenga, the man who kept Holt’s legacy alive, for a virtual visit. November — Learning How to Learn by Barbara Oakley How does your brain actually learn — and are you teaching your kids in a way that works with their neurology or against it? Oakley draws on the world’s most popular online course to explain focused attention, diffuse thinking, and why rest is not the enemy of progress. ❄️ Winter — How Children & Adults Grow December, January, February Winter is the practical quarter. We get into the how — and we use the quieter season to spice things up and capture a new vision for our homeschools. December — Charlotte Mason Education by Catherine Levinson What would it look like to bring more beauty and intentionality into your everyday homeschool life? This is the clearest, most accessible introduction to Charlotte Mason’s philosophy of living books, narration, and nature study. Cozy and grounding for a December read. January — Mindset by Carol Dweck New year, new mindset — literally. Are you modeling a growth mindset for your kids or are you secretly still stuck in a fixed one? Dweck’s framework is something every homeschool mama needs to sit with — especially in how we talk about failure and effort with ourselves and our children. February — The Self-Driven Child by William Stixrud & Ned Johnson What happens when you give your child more control over their own life — and why does that feel so scary? This neuroscience-backed book validates what many homeschool families already sense intuitively and gives you the research to trust it. 🌸 Spring — The Creative & Writing Self This is my favourite quarter of the Homeschool Mom Book Club 2026. March, April, May Spring closes the year in creativity and honest self-reflection. When a mama feels energized and fueled in her own life she is more energized and fueled for her kids. March — Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg What if writing isn’t about being a writer — what if it’s about finally hearing yourself think? Goldberg treats writing as a spiritual practice not a performance and this book will change how you think about your own voice even if you’ve never considered yourself a writer. April — The Book of Alchemy by Suleika Jaouad What would happen if you kept a journal — not to record your days but to understand them? Jaouad’s gorgeous memoir in essays and journaling prompts gathered from a hundred writers and artists is the perfect companion for building a practice that actually sticks. May — Please Look into the Mirror by Michaela Angemeer What am I still carrying from my own mother — and what do I want to put down before I pass it to my kids? This Canadian poet’s collection of prose and poetry about the mother wound, inner child healing, and cycle breaking is a courageous and fitting close to a year of honest self-reflection. 🎉 June 2027 — Celebration The group votes. We revisit a favourite, celebrate the year, or dream up the next list together. That meeting is a party. What Moms Are Saying About the Homeschool Mom Book Club 2026 “Before joining the Collective I often felt alone in my homeschooling journey, constantly second-guessing my choices and comparing myself to others. But after becoming part of this group I’ve experienced unwavering support and genuine connection like never before. Now every Friday feels like a reset — a space

  6. Jul 12

    Post-Partum Overwhelm in Your Homeschool: 12 Ways to Cope

    Post-partum overwhelm in your homeschool is the exhaustion, emotional overload, and loss of routine that many moms feel while trying to homeschool after having a baby. It’s caused by sleep deprivation, hormonal shifts, and the demands of caring for a newborn alongside older kids’ schooling — and sometimes it’s post-partum depression, not just tiredness. It’s manageable with rest, support, simplified routines, and — when needed — professional help. If you’re dealing with post-partum overwhelm in your homeschool, I have a story to share with you. Hard to believe that someone so pretty, our third baby, a baby who hardly cried, slept through the night by 3-4 months, loved sitting on daddy’s lap while daddy studied federal election results, had a mama who felt overwhelmed. My Story of Post-Partum Overwhelm in My Homeschool This is my story of post-partum overwhelm in my homeschool. Somewhere after this deeply dimpled, curly-haired cutie was a few weeks old, my husband suggested I might not just be “normal” overwhelmed; I might be experiencing post-partum depression. (I was a post-partum nurse pre-mothering, so I taught moms about these challenges before moms left with their babies from the hospital — but to identify it in me was a whole new thing. And my husband was a baby delivering physician fyi.) Not sure whether what you’re feeling is “normal” overwhelmed or something more? That’s exactly why I built the Overwhelm Assessment — a quick, honest gut-check for homeschool moms. 👉 Take the Overwhelm Assessment Get your Overwhelm Assessment I sure didn’t see it in myself, though. Not even when I cried at the drop of a hat. (That was normal, right?) Not even when I’d lose my temper with my other two girls over inconsequential stuff. (Normal too, right?) And not even when I wanted to sleep all day. (Cause this was my third baby in 4 years after 3 years of night shifts in L&D, so I surely was sleep-deprived, right?) I was getting more sleep than I had with my older babies. I had a high school student helping me clean the house. And yet… I was still not coping. I would discover within a few weeks that antidepressants have their place in a post-partum world. (Oh, I knew that in theory; I just didn’t know it personally.) Unquestionably, there was a shift in my emotional wherewithal. (Gradually. Not immediately.) Journaling for Post-Partum Overwhelm in Your Homeschool It was a tool, not a magic potion. Because I still needed therapy. Not just because I was overwhelmed with babies, hormones, and lack of sleep — but because I had a whole lotta other stuff unresolved in my life. I’ve seen in myself and a whole lotta other people that there’s never a “one and done” approach to depression or overwhelm. It’s not just one session with a coach or counselor. It’s not just one self-coaching journaling workbook and it’s not just an antidepressant or natural supplement. Or psychiatrist, psychologist, or therapist. Or prayer or mindfulness or “thinking the right thoughts.” But that first step — naming it — was profoundly useful. The first step, though, the hardest step. The step where I declared: I have a challenge. This was the hardest step. If journaling is where you’re at right now, this is the tool I wish I’d had: Overcoming Homeschool Overwhelm Journaling Workbook You don’t need more tips. You need clarity. This workbook helps you work through post-partum overwhelm in your homeschool by digging into what’s really behind it — unmet needs, strained relationships, and expectations that were never realistic to begin with. Work through it at your own pace and walk away knowing exactly what needs to change. $12.99 $9.99 — Shop now Overcoming Homeschool Overwhelm Journaling Workbook You don’t need more tips. You need clarity. This journaling workbook helps homeschool mamas dig into what’s really behind the overwhelm — unmet needs, strained relationships, and expectations that were never realistic to begin with. Work through it at your own pace and walk away knowing exactly what needs to change. $12.99 Original price was: $12.99.$9.99Current price is: $9.99. Shop now What Are Some Ways to Address Post-Partum Overwhelm in Your Homeschool? Alter your expectations. Create a routine, not a schedule. Create routines that can be flexible — you’ll be required to do it. Routines include things your family wants to do. Routines create predictability. Ask for Help With Post-Partum Overwhelm in your Homeschool Women weren’t designed to do the pregnancy, birthing, and post-partum period alone. Women need women, and this is one of the most pivotal moments we need each other. If you can ask your mom, mother-in-law, cousin, best friend, or new friend from down the street to help you cook, clean, take the kids for an hour, or do anything during this important period of your life, you will feel like you’re not doing it alone. Hire help. Is there a homeschooled teen who could help you cook, clean, or look after your older kids so you can take afternoon naps or just play with your older kids at the park while she cares for your younger kiddo at home? This was something I did before I was even homeschooling. I hired a homeschooled teen who was looking for a summer job. Two bonuses if you hire a homeschooled teen: they’re usually well accustomed to hanging out with kids of all ages, they’re accustomed to taking someone’s lead, and they’re often familiar with earning their own money and know the value of a well-earned hour. They’re remarkable hires. Learn to say no. Now’s the time. Since your time is about to be relegated to a sofa or your bed for a few weeks, your time will shrink dramatically (before, but if you have a kiddo already, you’ll probably know that). Add readalouds (& fun) to nursing on the couch. Make readalouds a larger part of your homeschool. Make fun an essential part of your routine. Poetry teatime. Have your oldest set up tea each day at “whatever time you want it” o’clock, then leave a poetry book there so you can have him or her read you a poem, or you can read one to them. Nature study. Help them burn off tension by going outdoors. You might benefit the MOST, especially if you’re sleep-deprived. Gameschooling. Pay attention to how games help them learn. Now is the time to experiment with games as school, or lean into unschooling for a season. Pinschooling. If you have time, do fun stuff. Keep the crafty, messy stuff in a room with a door so you don’t have to organize for a few months — yes, I said months. Kitchen schooling. Spend time prepping together, and make all the meals simpler. (In fact, ask other people to feed you for a few weeks.) Readalouds allow for a little eyeball-to-eyeball time. Prevent kid conflict? Give them you. Note: Siblings adjust to a new sibling differently — some don’t notice; others notice a lot. More conflict than usual? That’s entirely normal and unpreventable. Get out of the house to ease post-partum overwhelm in your homeschool A change of pace is required, so even if it means you walk around the block or head to the shopping mall with a stroller and active toddlers in a winter storm, you will benefit. Or better yet, drop the kids off at your mom’s and go by yourself — even if it’s just to pick up milk. Keep to a predictable routine. Time block now. If you don’t like to be out of routine or order, know that it will happen. For sure. So assess what matters most before you’re post-partum. Encourage your older kids’ independence. And be okay with that. Whether we like it or not, the oldest child becomes our right-hand girl or guy. If there’s more than one kiddo in the house, the oldest learns how to help you. This is normal — not bad parenting. (I know this experience as the oldest child in my family-of-origin, too.) Teach your kids to help you when you need them. You can’t do it all. You assume you’re permanently responsible for doing all the things when you first begin mothering, but you soon learn you either have to let some expectations go or ask for help. Some responsibilities don’t require an adult. If they don’t, ask your child to help. Sometimes those kiddos absolutely love doing things when it’s understood as something mom would normally do. So show your kiddo how to help you, and invite them to help. Plan, plan, plan. Your prepartum health plan… Stock pads, mesh panties, bedside snacks & a cooler/fridge in your room with midnight snacks. Ask people to make meals for a month, and stock your pantry. Plan for a shower a week — then if you do more, you’ll see what a remarkable accomplishment you’ve achieved! (Or put a small bag with a brush and toothbrush under the sofa pillow where you’ll be feeding your baby.) Include exercise, supplements, antidepressants, and sleep routines as part of your Post-Partum Sanity Plan. Hire a support person. Not coincidentally, I hired a homeschool graduate who was super helpful to me in every way. Homeschool high schoolers are your go-to support people. Your daily activity… Sit on a couch, feed a baby, change a baby, make sure older kids stay alive, invite someone for a visit (but only if she/he likes folding clothes or washing dishes while you chat). Your transition time back to your “pre-baby routine” is as long as feels normal and natural to you. Whatever you do is good enough! (P.S. It won’t go back exactly.) Create special party days (& celebrate)! 100 Day Party 1st day back to homeschool Baby month celebrations (& figure out how many months old your bigger babies are) Baby doctor visits and trips to parks, then your favourite food stop Give yourself a 6-month hiatus. Incorporate hygge — candles, tea, and quiet afternoon time. Stop doing studies. Ebb into slow mode. There

  7. Jul 11

    A 2023 High School Graduate’s Thoughts on her Homeschool Life

    Every homeschool kiddo is as unique as their fingerprints. No two of our kids learn the same way, connect socially the same way, or walk the same life path — and that’s exactly why I wanted to sit down with our third daughter, Rachel, and just… ask her. Not “how was homeschool” as a formality, but really ask: what worked, what didn’t, and what she’d tell another homeschool mom who’s standing where I once stood. Rachel is charming and vivacious, quick-witted, the fastest one in our family to blurt out the answer to a mental math problem, and just as fast to make a new friend in a room full of strangers. She graduated high school in 2023, and on this episode of the podcast, she shares her honest, unfiltered take on what it was like to grow up moving between homeschool and public school. “I’ve Enjoyed Both — For Different Reasons” “I’ve enjoyed homeschooling and public school for different reasons. Homeschooling was good when I was little so I could really grow up in a way and be around siblings, and it was a nurturing situation.” — Rachel Wiedrick That single sentence carries a lot. Rachel isn’t telling us homeschool “won” or public school “won.” She’s telling us that different seasons of her life called for different things — and that both settings gave her something real. That’s a message I wish I’d heard more clearly when Rachel was younger and I was quietly convinced that whatever choice we made had to be the right one, forever, for every kid. It wasn’t a single decision. It was a series of decisions, revisited as she grew. What We Actually Talked About Our conversation wandered — the way real conversations with your kids do — through a few different threads: Growing up in a physician’s family, and the travel that came with it. Rachel talks about how our family’s rhythm shaped her own sense of flexibility and curiosity, and how those early experiences abroad stuck with her long after the trip ended. Learning to name and express her emotions. This was one of the more vulnerable parts of our talk. Rachel shares candidly that being understood — not just heard, but understood — was something she had to learn to ask for, and something homeschooling gave her the space and safety to practice. Discovering she actually wanted structure. This one surprised me a little, even as her mom. Rachel explains how she came to realize that testing, deadlines, and a more defined educational framework weren’t things to resist — they were things she genuinely thrived under. Not every homeschooled kid needs a rigid structure to flourish. Rachel did. And figuring that out about herself, rather than having it assumed for her, mattered. What hospitality work taught her about people. Rachel’s time working in hospitality gave her a crash course in reading people, staying patient under pressure, and finding genuine connection with total strangers — skills she traces back to the social confidence she built as an extroverted homeschooler who craved being around others. What comes next. We also talk about her plans after graduation — not as a neatly resolved five-year plan, but as a young woman still genuinely figuring it out, and okay with that. What Rachel Wants Homeschool Moms to Know If you’re in the thick of homeschool high school decisions right now, here’s what Rachel would want you to sit with: Listen to your child — really listen — about whether they want to homeschool or attend school. Not what you assume they want. What they actually tell you, even when it’s inconvenient or doesn’t match the plan you had in your head. Structure and testing aren’t the enemy for every kid. For some kids, deadlines and assessments aren’t stressors to shield them from — they’re tools that help them feel capable and oriented. Rachel needed to discover this about herself rather than have it decided for her. A traditional high school social experience can be exactly right for an extroverted kid. If your child lights up around people, craves the noise and energy of a crowded hallway, that’s real information — not a sign that homeschooling has “failed.” None of this is a formula. It’s one daughter’s honest reflection, offered so you have one more data point as you figure out your own child. https://youtu.be/Hr5hZKmx6l8 Go Deeper: More on Homeschooling Through the High School Years Welcome to the Homeschool Mama Self-Care Podcast (& Why I Homeschool) How to Homeschool Better (& Why Do You Want to?) How to Encourage Happiness in Our Homeschools? The Surprising Transition from School to Homeschool Introducing Rachel Watch Rachel’s Video for the Canadian Online Homeschool Conference Encourage Kids to Develop Their Passions in the Kitchen “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you’ve imagined.” — Henry David Thoreau Mindset Shifts for Homeschool Moms: Thriving Through the High School Years Confidently Homeschool Through the High School Years $12.99 $10.99 Shop now Mindset Shifts for Homeschool Moms: Thriving Through the High School Years Confidently Homeschool Through the High School Years $12.99 Original price was: $12.99.$10.99Current price is: $10.99. Shop now More to Put Your Mind at Ease Advice for High School Homeschoolers with Vicki Tillman Transitioning into Homeschool High School: What We’re Really Talking About How I transitioned from homeschool to public high school Unexpected Feelings When Your Homeschooler Gets Accepted to University How I transitioned from homeschool to public high school How to unschool high school. Why Homeschool High School is Better with Mary Hanna Wilson homeschool high school, grade 8 & 9: the churning Having a high school homeschooler at home. What are the benefits of a homeschool high school? A Letter to My Homeschool High School Daughter Homeschool Teens Perspective: How to Homeschool High School high school options and post-secondary school How to Facilitate Child-Led Learning in Your Homeschool What It’s Like: The Homeschool to High School Transition I’m a new homeschooler. Are you able to walk alongside and mentor me? You’re Not Starting Over. You’re Starting Fresh. If homeschool high school feels like unfamiliar territory — even after years of homeschooling — that makes complete sense. But here’s what I want you to remember: you are not starting over. You are starting fresh. Everything you’ve learned about your child — how they think, how they learn, what lights them up and what shuts them down — you carry all of that into these high school years with you. That knowledge doesn’t disappear. It deepens. The spiral you might be feeling right now isn’t a sign that you’re behind. It’s just your brain catching up to what your gut already knows: this child is worth figuring out. And you are exactly the right person to do it. You’ve already proven that. You just have to trust it. And if you need someone in your corner while you do — I’m here. Book your free Aligned Homeschool Reset Session I help homeschool moms trust themselves, edit expectations, and make intentional choices that create a more confident, connected, and present homeschool life. Book your Reset Session with Teresa Latest episodes 13 Things Mentally Strong Homeschool Moms Don’t Do August 11, 2026 7 Questions Homeschool Moms Are Afraid to Ask Out Loud August 4, 2026 How to Improve Homeschool Communication with the Best NVC August 4, 2026 How to Stop Taking Your Child’s Behaviour Personally July 21, 2026 You’re Invited to the Homeschool Mom Book Club 2026 July 14, 2026 Post-Partum Overwhelm in Your Homeschool: 12 Ways to Cope July 12, 2026 A 2023 High School Graduate’s Thoughts on her Homeschool Life July 11, 2026 What It’s Like? The Homeschool to High School Transition July 11, 2026 Navigate Homeschool High School (What You Need to Know) July 7, 2026 How to Set Realistic High School Expectations? Learn Human Development July 3, 2026 Declutter Your Homeschool Mama Mind: Overwhelm to On Purpose July 2, 2026 How to Handle Homeschool Criticism With Confidence June 29, 2026 How to Create a Personalized Homeschool High School That Fits Your Teen June 23, 2026 The Real Cost Of Being The “Good Girl” Who Became The Good Mom June 16, 2026 What Is an Education Anyway? Your Answer Changes Your Homeschool June 8, 2026 5 Reasons Your Homeschool Child Won’t Do Work & How to Motivate Your Child June 2, 2026 Crush 1st-Year Homeschool Frustrations and Plan a Smooth Year 2 May 30, 2026 Encouragement for Homeschool Moms in the 1st Year May 30, 2026 Transitioning into Homeschool High School: What We’re Really Talking About May 26, 2026 Registered Homeschooling vs Online Learning BC: What Really Matters May 19, 2026 Homeschool Year End Review: Celebrating your Success & Growth May 12, 2026 When You Buy New Homeschool Curriculum: 5 Clever Suggestions May 6, 2026 The Truth About Homeschooling the “Right Way” — But What Works May 5, 2026 9 Steps to Thrive: Confident Homeschool Mom in Year 1 April 28, 2026 What If Your Unrealistic Expectations Are Actually Your Greatest Asset? April 21, 2026 Overcome Imposter Syndrome: How to Build Confidence as a Homeschool Mom April 14, 2026 How to Get Started Homeschooling in 2026 April 11, 2026 9 Mistakes That Make Your 1st Homeschool Year Stressful (& How to Avoid Them) April 9, 2026 How to Make Confident Homeschool Decisions (Without Seeking Permission) April 7, 2026 How to Homeschool When Everyone Has ADHD (And You’re Exhausted) March 31, 2026 Exhausted Homeschool Mom? 8

  8. Jul 11

    What It’s Like? The Homeschool to High School Transition

    The homeschool to high school transition is, well, different from what I expected. There’s a bracing moment in every homeschool mama’s world where she realizes her homeschooled kiddos aren’t staying kiddos forever. And though in theory she knew this, she also finds the transition unexpected in its emotional weight. In this article, I share my honest experience of what the homeschool to high school transition actually looks like — the emotional side, the logistical side, and everything in between. If you’re in the thick of this season and feeling the ground shift beneath you, you’re not alone — and you don’t have to figure it out from scratch. The free mini-course below is a good place to start. Get your free mini-course to Reimagine your Homeschool Life Our Homeschool Kids Are Growing Up Our homeschool kids are moving on, moving up, growing into their own persons, and deciding to approach their lives independently — just as they should be. Despite fully acknowledging that I knew I wasn’t going to be “mommy” forever, it always comes as a surprise when every single child shifts how they engage with me differently — yet at about the same developmental phase for each of them. I typically see a push/pull dynamic: them wanting to be separate and showing me that in their unique ways, while also pushing back when I’m too insistent, forceful, or demanding. Gordon Neufeld discusses this beautifully in his book on adolescence. This individuating thing comes as a surprise to my heart — because my heart hasn’t changed. I’m the same mom who pushed them from my womb and clung tightly to them just moments after their entrance into the world. (Hmm, a push/pull dynamic there too.) If the pressure to have your teen’s future mapped out is weighing on you, this is worth six minutes of your time: https://youtu.be/j7MClbBT3Sw?si=bH34KykoaLLtQMht The Emotional Reality of the Homeschool to High School Transition I want the same things for my kids. I want the same closeness. And I’m the same mom. One day I’m tucking them into bed with a routine of hugs, kisses, blessings, and songs — the next, they’re going to bed by themselves. One day I’m mediating sibling arguments, and the next they groan: “Mom, I can figure it out by myself.” Their educational choices shift the same way. One day I’m reading fairy tales and Trumpet of the Swan aloud. The next we’re working through To Kill a Mockingbird and The Great Gatsby. One day I’m teaching subtraction; the next I’m watching a math video lecture, genuinely unsure what language they’re learning. Moving on. Growing up. Individual. Unique. In fits and starts. At this age, they are very much beginning to see their own vision for their lives — or at least becoming aware that they will be the ones doing the envisioning. If you want to hear how this played out for our homeschool high school daughter, I talk through it in more detail here. Homeschool College? My Daughter’s Answer Said It All Like many homeschool mamas, I had a clear educational plan for my kids’ high school years. One of my girls was once asked an odd question: “When will your mom stop homeschooling you?” Her answer: “She probably won’t teach college.” I laughed in surprise. The person asking did not. They couldn’t believe that might even be a consideration. For the record — my daughter was right. She graduated from college this past month. You can hear about her full homeschool to high school experience here. Doing the Homework for Homeschool High School I had to do a lot of homework, of course. Navigating the homeschool to high school transition is a whole different kettle of fish from homeschooling K–9. If the high school student plans to attend post-secondary school, there’s likely an expressed area of interest and some focused work already underway. I attended online courses, read books, and went to workshops on creating high school transcripts, grading, and rubrics. Then I learned about SATs, ACTs, portfolios, and recordkeeping. I studied post-secondary admissions requirements, high school diploma expectations, and spoke directly with university admissions officers about alternative routes to entry. Girlfriend, I was prepared. An Alternate Route to the Alternate Route Then it happened: my first daughter wanted to attend public high school. I shouldn’t have been surprised — but I was. She has always been fiercely independent, and she has always followed her own path. She completed her high school diploma in two years, decided she wasn’t sticking around for a third, saved money to travel independently to Mexico for five months, and then applied on her own to a university across the country to study social sciences and languages — including Latin, which we had started together. My Second Daughter’s Homeschool High School Journey My second daughter entered the homeschool to high school transition differently — she chose to continue homeschooling, even as all her peers moved into public school. Last year she loved her Apologia Chemistry class, BraveWriter Essay classes, and a private Comparative Governments course. This year she’s tackling Apologia Physics, learning French through Rosetta Stone, and working independently through her literature reading list — all while continuing with Math-U-See, working as a hostess at a local restaurant, spending hours in dance classes, and maintaining an active social life. This year’s new addition: a college English class. I took a deep breath before calling our local community college. I presented the situation confidently: I have a focused, engaged homeschooled high school student who is eager to try a college English composition class. We were initially redirected to high school upgrading — not what we were looking for. So I called back, asked for the English department chair, and had an honest conversation about my daughter’s learning goals. The department chair was enthusiastic and invited her to join English 110, pending a placement exam. I submitted her portfolio alongside the application — comparative government essays, persuasive essays, formal lab reports, and more–she was welcomed into the class. She takes on learning responsibilities like a college freshman. Her drive, organization, and consistent effort will absolutely get her where she wants to go. If you’d like to hear her talk through what this year has actually looked like — the college class, the dance schedule, the juggling act of it all — in her own words, you can listen to our conversation here. One of the most surprising things about our homeschool to high school transition? It’s been far less work on a day-to-day basis than K–9 homeschooling. More upfront planning, yes — but once the structure is in place, her streamlined and personalized education runs itself. A plan on paper won’t make the fear go away — but having one still helps. I share the four steps I wish I’d had from the start, plus a simple 8th-to-9th-grade timeline, in this video: https://youtu.be/AG6Aihhjhwo Tips for Navigating the Homeschool to High School Transition Foster independence and time management. High school is a critical time for teens to develop self-discipline, responsibility, and ownership over their lives. Give them as much ownership of their education as possible. Stop dictating. Start collaborating. Work yourself out of the “telling them what to do” role. Plan ahead — then stay flexible. Think about where they might be heading in four years, then plan backward. Then assume they might go somewhere entirely different. Both are true at once. Help them live purposeful lives, not just finish high school on the honour roll. Your real goal — whether you’ve fully accepted it yet or not — is to equip them to live intentionally. Let them start practicing that now. Lean hard into child-led learning, because it becomes adult-led living. Release the control, dear homeschool mama. If you can’t quite hear that yet, at least one of your kids will eventually try to teach you. They arrived on this planet for their own unique reasons — not to become a copy of you. Remember: each child is unique. The homeschool to high school transition looks different for every family and every kid. Deschool yourself from the idea that there is one right way to do this. There isn’t. Never was. If those tips stirred something in you — a quiet “yes, but how do I actually let go?” — that’s exactly where the mindset work comes in. The Mindset Work That Changes Everything in Homeschool High School If the homeschool to high school transition has you questioning yourself, your methods, or your sanity — this journal and workbook was made for you. The Mindset Shifts for Thriving Homeschool Moms in the High School Years gives you the prompts, the perspective shifts, and the space to reset and move forward with intention. Mindset Shifts for Homeschool Moms: Thriving Through the High School Years Confidently Homeschool Through the High School Years $12.99 Original price was: $12.99.$10.99Current price is: $10.99. Shop now FAQ: Homeschool to High School Transition Is the homeschool to high school transition hard? It can feel emotionally heavy — even when you were expecting it. Watching your child individuate and take ownership of their own learning is beautiful and bittersweet at the same time. Logistically, it requires more upfront planning than earlier homeschool years, but many families find the day-to-day teaching load actually decreases as teens take on more independence. Can a homeschooled student take college classes during high school? Yes — and it’s a great option for motivated students. Community colleges are often the most accessible path. Call ahead, ask to speak wit

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A Homeschool Mom Podcast to Build Confidence & Clarity Navigate the real challenges of homeschooling with mindset strategies, perspective shifts, and practical support tailored for homeschool moms. In this podcast, we tackle the emotional and mental load of homeschooling—perfectionism, doubt, overwhelm, and all the human feels—so you can show up authentically, purposefully, and confidently. Join Teresa Wiedrick, a seasoned homeschool mom and life coach, as she helps you shed what’s not working, set boundaries, manage stress, and cultivate a homeschool life that aligns with your values.Because when you get clear on your homeschool, you get clearer on who you are. And you can show up in your homeschool (& life) authentically, purposefully, and confidently.🔔 Subscribe now for new episodes!

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