Well This Wasn't The Plan!

Carson and Teran Sands
  • 5.0 (33)
  • EDUCATION FOR KIDS

We never expected to homeschool...but here we are! Life is funny that way, ya know? After 4 years in public school, we've made the unexpected leap into homeschooling our 3 kids--while still working full-time! On this podcast, we're documenting the journey in real time: the good, the hard, the hilarious, and everything in between. Whether you're a curious parent, a fellow homeschooler, or just here for the chaos, welcome! Let's figure it out together--because sometimes the best things start with, "Well, that wasn't the plan..."

  1. DEC 15

    20. We finished our FIRST semester homeschooling + working!!!

    Send us a text We finish our first semester of homeschooling and share what worked, what didn’t, and how we balanced real jobs with real learning. Honest wins, hard pivots, and a few surprises changed our mornings, our kids’ confidence, and our plans for next term. • routine that protects work blocks and quiet hours • pen-and-paper curriculum improving writing speed and focus • testing revealing gaps  • tailored pacing for Slate’s math acceleration • life skills growth in cooking, chores, and money habits • travel learning and bravery lessons in Costa Rica • adding formal science and history next semester • using OutSchool to cover busy work seasons • refocusing on one-to-one time with each child Please send us your questions. Also, please go leave us a review and give us five stars!!! Support the show Follow us on IG Find Our Free PDFs! The reading app we LOVE! The phone we have with NO social media and NO internet browser!

    45 min

  2. DEC 8

    19. Bumps in The Road

    Send us a text A holiday road trip, a house full of flu, and deadlines stacking up—then the realization that our “get back on track” grind was making everything worse. We decided to slow down, skip a day when fevers hit, say yes to hot chocolate and a matinee, and rebuild our rhythm around what actually makes our family feel good. The shift was simple and powerful: less pressure on perfect routines, more focus on presence, movement, water, sleep, and small, consistent moments that keep us close. We open up about a blind spot that crept in as the kids got more independent: one-on-one time. Our fix is a private calendar packed with tiny 15-minute hangs—nails in a bedroom, a quick board game, a bike ride, a walk. These micro-moments are easy to keep and big on connection, making room for real talks without needing a whole afternoon. We also get honest about December burnout, messy counters, and the myth that chores must come before connection. Spoiler: the mess will wait. If you’re craving a reset, this conversation offers permission and a plan: honor your energy, protect small moments, and use tools that fit your season.  Support the show Follow us on IG Find Our Free PDFs! The reading app we LOVE! The phone we have with NO social media and NO internet browser!

    35 min

  3. DEC 1

    18. Homeschool, Holidays, and Why This Year Feels Different

    Send us a text We unpack why we chose homeschool over private school, how we juggle work with learning, and what actually changed in our home life. From winter routines to Outschool wins and cutting December chaos, we share what’s working, what isn’t, and what we’re adding next. • letting go of pressure during holidays and keeping daily reading • handling family reactions and setting screen boundaries with cousins • adapting routines for cold, windy weather and morning focus • accelerating math while protecting foundations and confidence • adding family-style history and science on Fridays • using Outschool for creative, independent classes • private school costs, rigor, and homework vs our priorities • why hybrid programs wouldn’t solve workload or logistics • mental load relief from ditching constant school “optional” tasks • feeling confident after seeing both systems up close Support the show Follow us on IG Find Our Free PDFs! The reading app we LOVE! The phone we have with NO social media and NO internet browser!

    27 min

  4. NOV 24

    17. Leaving Public School the Million Little Reasons Why (Replay)

    Send us a text EPISODE RERUN FOR THANKSGIVING BREAK! We walk through the million little reasons we left public school to homeschool three kids while running a business, trading rushed mornings and rigid schedules for slower starts, focused learning, and family time. Nothing against teachers; this is about fit, values, and the lives we want to build. Support the show Follow us on IG Find Our Free PDFs! The reading app we LOVE! The phone we have with NO social media and NO internet browser!

    53 min

  5. NOV 17

    16. Life Skills We're Working On: Part 2!

    Send us a text We share how better sleep, steady routines, and clear expectations made our homeschool days calmer and our evenings useful. Then we dive into kid goal setting, phone etiquette that starts with us, and everyday choices about cleaning products and food that keep balance and sanity intact. • shifting bedtimes to protect 10–12 hours of sleep • using mornings with purpose and avoiding late-night creep • turning big goals into small daily actions • letting kids’ interests drive effort, not parents’ pressure • modeling phone etiquette and delaying smartphones • using a kid watch for safety without the internet • signing a family phone pact at 16 • safer cleaning habits and reading labels • choosing organic staples and explaining tradeoffs • building balance without being rigid Please leave us a review!!! We need some more reviews, guys!!! Support the show Follow us on IG Find Our Free PDFs! The reading app we LOVE! The phone we have with NO social media and NO internet browser!

    41 min

  6. NOV 10

    15. Life Skills We're Teaching Our Kids - Part 1

    Send us a text We share the life skills that we get to teach now that we homeschool! Wins, stumbles, templates, and the small habits that build real responsibility. • moving to a new city and practicing friend-making on purpose • weekly meal planning with kid choices and a shared grocery list • kids cooking and cleaning entire meals to see consequences • balanced nutrition using a simple protein carb fat chart • kids packing their own bags with personalized checklists • family cleaning day with roles, sequencing and teamwork • assigned laundry days with start-to-finish ownership • handling perfectionism and celebrating real progress • reading milestone using TheReading.com app and simple routines Please leave us a review. Even if you just have a couple seconds to scroll down and put five stars, we would love that!!! Support the show Follow us on IG Find Our Free PDFs! The reading app we LOVE! The phone we have with NO social media and NO internet browser!

    59 min

  7. NOV 3

    14. Our Public School Betrayal List

    Send us a text We faced these issues head-on after years in public school with our three kids. Two full-time working parents, zero plans to homeschool, and a growing list of friction points pushed us to try something different. The result surprised us: calmer days, happier learners, and more time for the life skills we thought we’d lost. We unpack the exact moments that tipped the scale: recess cut to minutes and sometimes used as punishment, lunch rushed to the point of waste, and classrooms leaning on candy rewards instead of movement and choice reading. We talk about the mental load of constant school notifications, dress-up days, and sign-ups that turned into a second job. Then there’s technology: one-to-one devices that drift from math to social feeds, creating distractions teachers can’t reasonably police with 20-plus students. And if your kids are thriving in school but you’re nodding along to the pain points, you’ll find simple changes to advocate for: guaranteed recess, protected lunch, less sugar-as-reward, and a tighter focus on creativity and real-world skills. If this resonates, subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review telling us one change you’d make to the school day. We’ll feature your ideas in a future episode. Support the show Follow us on IG Find Our Free PDFs! The reading app we LOVE! The phone we have with NO social media and NO internet browser!

    47 min

  8. OCT 27

    13. Your Questions Answered!

    Send us a text We talk through trading public school for homeschool while traveling Costa Rica, turning delays and detours into life lessons. From family pushback to new friends, movement tech to money talks, we share what’s working and what’s still hard. • why we left public school and what changed • travel setbacks as practice for patience and problem-solving • the Spartan race mixups and what we learned • ziplines, waterfalls, volcano hikes as hands-on learning • low screen, high movement tools that actually help • how we were raised versus how we parent now • family reactions and finding supportive community • practical life skills: chores, cooking, travel navigation • early finance: budgeting, credit, taxes, saving goals • emotional regulation, sleep, water, sunlight, and routines • resilience, discomfort, and building confidence on the road Check out my Life Skills series on Instagram! Support the show Follow us on IG Find Our Free PDFs! The reading app we LOVE! The phone we have with NO social media and NO internet browser!

    36 min
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Trailer

5
out of 5
33 Ratings

About

We never expected to homeschool...but here we are! Life is funny that way, ya know? After 4 years in public school, we've made the unexpected leap into homeschooling our 3 kids--while still working full-time! On this podcast, we're documenting the journey in real time: the good, the hard, the hilarious, and everything in between. Whether you're a curious parent, a fellow homeschooler, or just here for the chaos, welcome! Let's figure it out together--because sometimes the best things start with, "Well, that wasn't the plan..."

Information

  • Creator
    Carson and Teran Sands
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    21
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Well This Wasn't The Plan!
  • Show Website
    Well This Wasn't The Plan!

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