Homeschooling For Catholic Parents

Maeve and Mat Jemison
  • 5.0 (27)
  • Parenting
  • Weekly

You’re wondering if homeschooling is for you. But your inner critic is telling you you’re not enough. How can I teach my kid when we can’t get through homework without tears and yelling?  How would the daily routine look? What curriculum will you use? Your house is already a wreck. You don’t want to feel isolated, like you’re on an island where everyone wears long dresses and raises goats. Plus, aren’t homeschoolers weird? I am so excited you're here! This podcast will give you peace of mind as you raise successful adults who understand their Catholic faith and how to defend it. I’ll help you find the routine that works for you, you’ll still have community, if that’s what you want, and even a clean, organized home is possible (sometimes).  I’m Maeve Jemison, and I host this pod with my handsome husband, Mat. We’re Catholics who prioritize worship and apologetics through our homeschool journey with our five kids.   I’ve made many mistakes along the way. As a young adult, I left the Catholic church because I didn't understand what was going on. I was a government school graduate and high school teacher so I thought homeschooling meant replicating government school at home. (I was wayyyy off!) When I finally learned the depths and truths of Catholicism, I was adamant that I would teach my little cradle Catholics about the history and beauty of the religion that Jesus started. No way would my kids be as oblivious as I was. Our homeschooling became a delightful adventure, with the Lord guiding us in tailoring our children’s education. I knew I had found my calling!  If you’re ready to thrive as the domestic church through worship, apologetics and homeschooling, then this podcast is for you! Thanks for stopping by because home is where the truth is!

  1. 2d ago

    142 A Powerful Marian Devotion Every Catholic Family Should Pray

    Death has a way of waking us up to what matters most. And sometimes, in the wake of tragedy, we begin to see something extraordinary: people returning to church, young people boldly proclaiming their faith, and conversations about God happening in the most unexpected places. But what about those who have already gone before us? Does our responsibility to love them end at death? Absolutely not! As we enter November, the month dedicated to the Holy Souls in Purgatory, Maeve revisits a powerful Marian devotion that transformed her family's prayer life: the Flame of Love Rosary. From an unexpected discovery on a family camping trip to a chalkboard that brought the reality of purgatory to life for her children, Maeve shares how Catholic families can put their faith into action, pray for the faithful departed, and teach their children that love reaches beyond the grave. Because death may end our earthly lives, but it doesn't end our responsibility to love one another. Published, Nov. 1, 2026 Show Notes:  https://flameoflove.us/rosary-meditations/ Promises of the Flame of Love Rosary Subscribe and watch on YouTube @maevejemison Grab the 2026-2027 Catholic Homeschool Planner here. Isn't it hard to find Catholic friends?! I've got a solution. Hop on over to the Homeschooling for Catholic Parents Facebook community. Where we share about apologetics, homeschooling, and family life! https://maevejemison.com/ Purchase Home Is Where The Truth Is: https://www.amazon.com/Home-Where-Truth-Should-Homeschool/dp/B0CSWJ2QXC/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1705863918&sr=8-1

  2. Oct 25

    141 Rick Grinstead: When Your Best Parenting Is Just "Mid"

    You planned the Bible study. Bought the snacks. Brought your A-game. And your teenager's review? "It was mid." Sound familiar? Catholic youth ministry veteran and father of eight Rick Grinstead returns to Homeschooling for Catholic Parents with more of his trademark wisdom, humor, and hard-earned parenting perspective. What happens when the children who once begged for our attention suddenly seem to want nothing to do with us? How do we remain relationally relevant when we're no longer the center of their universe? And what if our very best efforts to pass on the faith just aren't impressing anybody? Rick reminds us that parenting isn't about delivering spectacular experiences or getting immediate results. It's about showing up, loving steadily, and trusting God with the hearts of our children. This conversation is full of practical encouragement, some hilarious parenting confessions, and a few moments that might just change how you see your role as a parent. Because sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is remember that we are not our children's Savior. Subscribe and watch on YouTube @maevejemison Grab the 2026-2027 Catholic Homeschool Planner here. Isn't it hard to find Catholic friends?! I've got a solution. Hop on over to the Homeschooling for Catholic Parents Facebook community. Where we share about apologetics, homeschooling, and family life! https://maevejemison.com/ Purchase Home Is Where The Truth Is: https://www.amazon.com/Home-Where-Truth-Should-Homeschool/dp/B0CSWJ2QXC/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1705863918&sr=8-1

  3. Oct 18

    140 Reading Aloud, Nature & Raising Kids Who Love to Learn with Camila Johnson

    What happens when we stop trying to fit our children into an educational mold and start teaching the unique child God placed in front of us? Former public school teacher, homeschool mom, and Eden Institute founder Camila Johnson joins Maeve for a refreshing conversation about what really helps children thrive--and give us some teaching tips along the way.  From the surprising power of reading aloud and spending time in God's creation to celebrating mistakes and recognizing our children's unique gifts, this episode challenges the conventional definition of educational success. You'll laugh, you'll be encouraged, and you might just discover that some of the best learning happens when we put down the lesson plans and let curiosity lead. Show Notes  Published October 18, 2026 Website: https://edeninstitute.health/homeschool?utm_source=podcast_homeschooling_for_catholic_parents&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_content=website Free week of the curriculum: https://edeninstitute.health/freebies?utm_source=podcast_homeschooling_for_catholic_parents&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_content=freebies Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edenstablehomeschoolcurriculum/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EdensTableHomeschoolCurriculum Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/TheEdenInstituteBoards DISCOUNT CODE MAEVE10 — 10% off MAEVE10 gives your listeners 10% off anything at edeninstitute.health/books, including the printed sets for both Sprouts (K-2) and Seedlings (grades 3-5) edeninstitute.health Camila's first podcast episode-Tales and Table Talk  Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network Thank You, Omu! Children's book by Oge Mora Subscribe and watch on YouTube @maevejemison Grab the 2026-2027 Catholic Homeschool Planner here. Isn't it hard to find Catholic friends?! I've got a solution. Hop on over to the Homeschooling for Catholic Parents Facebook community. Where we share about apologetics, homeschooling, and family life! https://maevejemison.com/ Purchase Home Is Where The Truth Is: https://www.amazon.com/Home-Where-Truth-Should-Homeschool/dp/B0CSWJ2QXC/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1705863918&sr=8-1

  4. Oct 11

    139 Are We Teaching Our Children to Recognize Evil? | Catholic Parenting

    Are we raising children who can recognize good and evil—or simply hoping they'll figure it out? Fresh from a pilgrimage to the National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion, Maeve shares a remarkable message from the Blessed Mother that speaks directly to the mission of Catholic parents today. From Blessed Fulton Sheen's chilling warning about false compassion to the surprising spiritual lessons hiding in our children's favorite books and movies, Maeve and Mat explore what it really means to form a child's conscience in a morally confused world. Along the way, there's a miraculous fire, a little-known Catholic devotion, some confession comedy, and one unforgettable family story about the spiritual battle we cannot afford to ignore. Because raising Catholic children isn't just about protecting them from the world. It's about preparing them to face it. Subscribe and watch on YouTube @maevejemison Grab the 2026-2027 Catholic Homeschool Planner here. Isn't it hard to find Catholic friends?! I've got a solution. Hop on over to the Homeschooling for Catholic Parents Facebook community. Where we share about apologetics, homeschooling, and family life! https://maevejemison.com/ Purchase Home Is Where The Truth Is: https://www.amazon.com/Home-Where-Truth-Should-Homeschool/dp/B0CSWJ2QXC/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1705863918&sr=8-1

  5. Oct 4

    138 - Your Job as a Catholic Parent Comes Down to These 4 Things.

    How much of the outcome is actually up to us as parents? After a mother-daughter pilgrimage to the National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion, Maeve came home thinking about that question—especially as children grow, pull away, and begin making choices of their own. In this episode, Maeve and Mat talk about the changing role of a parent, the temptation to confuse love with control, and some timely wisdom from Blessed Fulton Sheen about what Catholic parents are actually called to do. Along the way, there’s a surprisingly intense story about St. Maximilian Kolbe’s mother, a very specific prayer for basketball parents, and a reminder for anyone who has ever worried, Am I doing enough? Because raising faithful children doesn't mean controlling the outcome. Our job is to faithfully do what God has asked of us—and leave room for grace to do what we cannot. Show Notes:  Published Oct. 4, 2026 National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion — https://championshrine.org/ Tara Bonna’s episode 132  What Are Your Kids Watching? Creating Catholic Media with Tara Bonna of Raising Saints TV 136 You’re the Parent: Dr. Ray Guarendi on Discipline, Faith & Homeschooling Real Moms of Real Saints by Colleen Pressprich — https://www.elevatortoheaven.com/ Catechism of the Catholic Church §§2222–2223 — Blessed Fulton Sheen What Mary Teaches Parents who's Children Have left The Faith. Subscribe and watch on YouTube @maevejemison Grab the 2026-2027 Catholic Homeschool Planner here. Isn't it hard to find Catholic friends?! I've got a solution. Hop on over to the Homeschooling for Catholic Parents Facebook community. Where we share about apologetics, homeschooling, and family life! https://maevejemison.com/ Purchase Home Is Where The Truth Is: https://www.amazon.com/Home-Where-Truth-Should-Homeschool/dp/B0CSWJ2QXC/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1705863918&sr=8-1

  6. Sep 27

    **Replay** 1 - Socialilzing Your Homeschoolers and Teaching Them The Catholic Faith

    Mat and Maeve discuss pew wars between brothers, the benefits of weekly church attendance, and homeschooling.  Also, who understands the Feast of the Assumption better, a 50-year-old (Mat) or our 15-year-old daughter?  We also highlight the value of homeschooling and dispel the number one misbelief of homeschooling...How will you socialize them? Subscribe and watch on YouTube @maevejemison Grab the 2026-2027 Catholic Homeschool Planner here. Isn't it hard to find Catholic friends?! I've got a solution. Hop on over to the Homeschooling for Catholic Parents Facebook community. Where we share about apologetics, homeschooling, and family life! https://maevejemison.com/ Purchase Home Is Where The Truth Is: https://www.amazon.com/Home-Where-Truth-Should-Homeschool/dp/B0CSWJ2QXC/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1705863918&sr=8-1

  7. Sep 20

    137 When the Homeschool Year Isn't Coming Together; The Best Way Out Is Through: Just Start Homeschooling

    Does your homeschool ever look like a complete mess from where you’re standing? The kids seem aimless, the routine isn’t quite there, and you start wondering if you’re doing enough—or doing any of it well. Maeve found herself in exactly that place at the beginning of another school year. But a recent day of surfing reminded her that sometimes things look very different once you stop standing on the shore and paddle out. In this episode, Maeve and Mat talk about starting before everything feels organized, trusting the small things you’re doing each day, and recognizing the surprising ways God connects the dots in your children’s education—often long before you can see what He’s doing. If your homeschool feels a little disheveled right now, this one is for you. Show Notes:  Published September 20, 2026 MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE The First Friday Devotion & Twelve Promises of the Sacred Heart (taken from Cathedral of the Sacred Heart's Website) Mary, Our Lady of Grace, brings people to Christ and his Sacred Heart. The Twelve Promises of the Sacred Heart to St. Margaret Mary Our Lord Jesus Christ made these twelve promises to those who honor His Sacred Heart to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, a French nun, whom he called “the Beloved Disciple of the Sacred Heart” and the Heiress “of all Its treasures”, in the 1670’s. They show us how much he cherishes this devotion. Considering that the blood that redeemed us at Calvary came from His Sacred Heart and that so much love and light still exude from it, these promises were revealed in one of many private revelations that Jesus gave St. Margaret Mary. Our Lord promised the following: 12 Promises of the Sacred Heart I will give them all the graces necessary for their state of life.I will establish peace in their families.I will bless every home in which an image of My Heart is exposed and honored.I will console them in all their difficulties.I will be their refuge during life and especially at the hour of death.I will shed abundant blessing upon all their undertakings.Sinners shall find in My Heart a fountain and boundless ocean of mercy.Tepid souls shall become fervent.Fervent souls shall rise speedily to great perfection.I will give to priests the power of touching the hardest hearts.Those who propagate this devotion shall have their names written in My Heart never to be blotted out.I promise you, in the excessive mercy of My Heart that My all-powerful love will grant to all who communicate on the First Friday of the month for nine consecutive months the grace of final penitence; they shall not die in My displeasure nor without their last Sacraments: “My Divine Heart shall be their safe refuge in this last moment.”  Robert Frost — A Servant to Servants Episode 131 — Did Homeschooling Work? Our Daughter''s Honest Exit Interview Episode 133 —Work on Your Marriage Hopewell Rocks, Bay of Fundy Emerson Eggerich's Love and Respect — https://www.loveandrespect.com/product/love-respect-book Subscribe and watch on YouTube @maevejemison Grab the 2026-2027 Catholic Homeschool Planner here. Isn't it hard to find Catholic friends?! I've got a solution. Hop on over to the Homeschooling for Catholic Parents Facebook community. Where we share about apologetics, homeschooling, and family life! https://maevejemison.com/ Purchase Home Is Where The Truth Is: https://www.amazon.com/Home-Where-Truth-Should-Homeschool/dp/B0CSWJ2QXC/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1705863918&sr=8-1

  8. Sep 13

    136 You’re the Parent: Dr. Ray Guarendi on Discipline, Faith & Homeschooling

    EPISODE SUMMARY  Dr. Ray Guarendi has 45 years  helping parents stop second-guessing themselves—and in this conversation, he brings his trademark humor, straight talk, Catholic faith, and experience as the father of ten homeschooled children. Maeve and Dr. Ray talk about his journey back to the Catholic Church, the heartbreak parents can feel when an adult child walks away from the faith, and why even doing “everything right” can never override a child's free will. They dig into discipline and authority in the homeschool, sibling fighting, why some parents feel they “could never homeschool,” and the surprising psychological advantages homeschooling can offer. They also tackle one of the biggest parenting challenges of our time: smartphones, gaming, pornography, and the level of vigilance required to protect childhood without trying to protect children forever.  And perhaps most importantly, Dr. Ray reminds good parents to stop catastrophizing every mistake. You don't have to parent perfectly. You need faith, common sense, consistency—and enough humor to survive the whole thing. Because as Dr. Ray puts it, “The experts have really taken the fun out of parenting.” SHOW NOTES Published September 13, 2026: Links & Resources Mentioned Dr. Ray Guarendi GRN (Gaudalupe Radio Network) Academy — Dr. Ray’s Seven-Week Parenting Course Dr. Ray Guarendi’s Website & Bookstorehttps://www.drray.com/Living Right with Dr. Ray on EWTNThe Doctor Is In on EWTN RadioBooks by Dr. Ray Thinking Like Jesus: The Psychology of a Faithful DiscipleLiving Calm: Mastering Anger and FrustrationMentioned in the Episode The Logic of Being Catholic by Dr. Ray Guarendi — Lighthouse Catholic MediaThe Logic of Being Catholic — Watch/Listen on FORMEDSubscribe and watch on YouTube @maevejemison Grab the 2026-2027 Catholic Homeschool Planner here. Isn't it hard to find Catholic friends?! I've got a solution. Hop on over to the Homeschooling for Catholic Parents Facebook community. Where we share about apologetics, homeschooling, and family life! https://maevejemison.com/ Purchase Home Is Where The Truth Is: https://www.amazon.com/Home-Where-Truth-Should-Homeschool/dp/B0CSWJ2QXC/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1705863918&sr=8-1

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5
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About

You’re wondering if homeschooling is for you. But your inner critic is telling you you’re not enough. How can I teach my kid when we can’t get through homework without tears and yelling?  How would the daily routine look? What curriculum will you use? Your house is already a wreck. You don’t want to feel isolated, like you’re on an island where everyone wears long dresses and raises goats. Plus, aren’t homeschoolers weird? I am so excited you're here! This podcast will give you peace of mind as you raise successful adults who understand their Catholic faith and how to defend it. I’ll help you find the routine that works for you, you’ll still have community, if that’s what you want, and even a clean, organized home is possible (sometimes).  I’m Maeve Jemison, and I host this pod with my handsome husband, Mat. We’re Catholics who prioritize worship and apologetics through our homeschool journey with our five kids.   I’ve made many mistakes along the way. As a young adult, I left the Catholic church because I didn't understand what was going on. I was a government school graduate and high school teacher so I thought homeschooling meant replicating government school at home. (I was wayyyy off!) When I finally learned the depths and truths of Catholicism, I was adamant that I would teach my little cradle Catholics about the history and beauty of the religion that Jesus started. No way would my kids be as oblivious as I was. Our homeschooling became a delightful adventure, with the Lord guiding us in tailoring our children’s education. I knew I had found my calling!  If you’re ready to thrive as the domestic church through worship, apologetics and homeschooling, then this podcast is for you! Thanks for stopping by because home is where the truth is!

Information

  • Creator
    Maeve and Mat Jemison
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    145
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Homeschooling For Catholic Parents
  • Show Website
    Homeschooling For Catholic Parents

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