Published by The Smiling Homeschooler
This is the best podcast for homeschooling moms who need encouragement! Our goal is to help you smile more! Whether you are a new homeschooler or a veteran, we are positive you will feel encouraged!
Listen on Apple PodcastsHey everyone, welcome back to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! We are so glad you decided to join us this week. We're talking about the fact that some of the most valuable education our kids receive doesn't happen while sitting behind a desk. Whether it's playing sports, working a part-time job, cooking, volunteering, learning a trade, or pursuing a hobby, there are so many opportunities for our children to grow in ways that go far beyond academics. We're also excited to be joined by Tatton Strassheim from World Watch News. With so much information coming at us every single day, it can be difficult to know what really matters. We'll be talking about how to cut through all the noise, stay informed without living in fear, and help our kids develop wisdom and discernment as they learn about what's happening around the world. If you would like to sign up for a free 60 days use this link and use code Todd30 at checkout! But before we start, we want to thank Teaching Textbooks for all of their support of the Smiling Homeschooler. They are one of the best math curriculums around, and we believe they help more homeschoolers smile, and you should use their math curriculum for this school year. So go check them out at teachingtextbooks.com. Today’s show was also underwritten by Samaritan Ministries and Redeem HealthShare. Where Members are committed to honoring Christ and serving one another through health care needs. As Todd likes to say, "We use, love, and recommend Samaritan Ministries." You can learn more about REDEEM HealthShare at samaritanministries.org/familyman. Have a great week and don't forget to smile!
Welcome back to the Smiling Homeschooler Podcast. This week, we're talking about something that is true for almost every homeschool mom, and that is doubt. Whether it comes from social media, well-meaning friends and family, or even the voice in your own head, it's easy to wonder if you're doing enough or making the right decisions for your kids. The truth is, we all have voices competing for our attention. The real question is: which ones are we choosing to listen to? This week, we're talking about how to feed hope instead of fear, how to respond when others criticize your homeschooling journey, and how we can encourage not only ourselves but the families around us. We'll also share a listener's email that perfectly captures the struggle so many homeschool parents experience and why choosing confidence over comparison can make all the difference. As always, our goal is to leave you encouraged But before we start, we want to thank Teaching Textbooks for all of their support of the Smiling Homeschooler. They are one of the best math curriculums around, and we believe they help more homeschoolers smile, and you should use their math curriculum for this school year. So go check them out at teachingtextbooks.com. Today’s show was also underwritten by Samaritan Ministries and Redeem HealthShare. Where Members are committed to honoring Christ and serving one another through health care needs. As Todd likes to say, "We use, love, and recommend Samaritan Ministries. You can learn more about REDEEM HealthShare by Samaritan Ministries and get a free quote over at samaritanministries.org/familyman Have a great week and don't forget to smile!
Hey everyone, welcome back to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week is a special Todd epsidode as he tackles a question many parents ask themselves: Is it really possible to do it all? He shares his thoughts on the stress of trying to juggle homeschooling, family life, work, and everything else that fills our days and offers some practical encouragement about focusing on what matters most instead of trying to keep every ball in the air. We want to thank Teaching Textbooks for making The Smiling Homeschooler possible. They're the math curriculum that helps homeschoolers smile—and the one our family uses! You can learn more and support them at TeachingTextbooks.com. Today's show was also underwritten by Samaritan Ministries and Redeem HealthShare. Their members are committed to honoring Christ and serving one another by sharing one another's healthcare needs. As Todd likes to say, "We use, love, and recommend Samaritan Ministries." You can learn more about Redeem HealthShare by Samaritan Ministries at SamaritanMinistries.org/FamilyMan. Have a great week, and don't forget to smile!
Welcome back to the Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week, we're talking about something that every family has, whether they realize it or not, and that is a family culture. Every home has its own personality. Some families revolve around sports, others around academics, work, or adventure. The real question isn't whether you have a family culture; it's whether you're intentionally building the one you want. What values are your kids picking up from your home? What traditions are shaping them? And what kind of family do you hope they'll remember years from now? Join us as we discuss why family culture matters, how it impacts your children, and some practical ways you can begin intentionally building a home that reflects the values you want to pass on for generations. But don't worry, as always, this is going to be an encouraging conversation! We want Teaching Textbooks for all of their support of the Smiling Homeschooler. They are one of the best math curriculums around, and we believe they help more homeschoolers smile, and you should use their math curriculum for this school year. So go check them out at teachingtextbooks.com. Today’s show was also underwritten by Samaritan Ministries and Redeem Healthshare. Where Members are committed to honoring Christ and serving one another through health care needs. As Todd likes to say, "We use, love, and recommend Samaritan Ministries." You can learn more about REDEEM HealthShare by Samaritan Ministries at www.samaritanministries.org/familyman Have a great week and don't forget to smile!
Welcome back to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week we're celebrating America's 250th birthday! As the Fourth of July approaches, we're talking about what makes our country so special, why we should never take the freedom to homeschool our children for granted, and how we can help our kids appreciate the blessings we enjoy. We also share some of our favorite American historical sites to visit and reflect on why this holiday is about so much more than fireworks and cookouts. We hope this episode encourages you to celebrate with gratitude and make some great memories with your family. We want to thank Teaching Textbooks for all of their support of the Smiling Homeschooler. They are one of the best math curriculums around, and we believe they help more homeschoolers smile, and you should use their math curriculum for this school year. So go check them out at teachingtextbooks.com. Today’s show was also underwritten by Samaritan Ministries and Redeem Healthshare. Where Members are committed to honoring Christ and serving one another through health care needs. As Todd likes to say, "We use, love, and recommend Samaritan Ministries. You can learn more about REDEEM HealthShare by Samaritan Ministries here https://hubs.ly/Q03VZL7c0 Have a great week and a Happy 4th of July, and don't forget to smile!
Welcome back to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week we're talking about something that can be really easy to overlook in the middle of homeschooling, parenting, work, and everything else life throws at us, which is our marriage. When the days are filled with lesson plans, laundry, meals, activities, and trying to keep the house from completely falling apart, it's easy for your relationship to become more about managing a family than actually enjoying each other. But a healthy marriage doesn't happen by accident, and it's one of the greatest gifts we can give our kids. On this episode, we are joined by Debbie Wilson to share some practical ideas that have helped us stay connected to our spouses through the busy seasons, along with a few simple reminders that have made a big difference for us. We want to thank Teaching Textbooks for all of their support of the Smiling Homeschooler. They are one of the best math curriculums around, and we believe they help more homeschoolers smile, and you should use their math curriculum for this school year. So go check them out at teachingtextbooks.com. Today’s show was also underwritten by Samaritan Ministries and REDEEM HealthShare. Where Members are committed to honoring Christ and serving one another through health care needs. As Todd likes to say, "We use, love, and recommend Samaritan Ministries. You can learn more about REDEEM HealthShare by Samaritan Ministries here https://hubs.ly/Q03VZL7c0 Have a great week and don't forget to smile!
Welcome back to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! Today we're talking about taking back the summer from technology. We had to reupload this due to an issue with Apple Podcasts. If you already listened to this episode from another source, then you don't have to listen to this version! There are so many things demanding our attention these days, especially social media and technology. We discuss some practical strategies for cutting back on these distractions so we can focus on what really matters this summer: making memories with our kids and spending time together as a family. We also talk about Kids Day, a Wilson family tradition, as well as Father's Day and ways we can encourage and celebrate the dads in our lives. We want to thank Teaching Textbooks for all of their support of the Smiling Homeschooler. They are one of the best math curriculums around, and we believe they help more homeschoolers smile, and you should use their math curriculum for this school year. So go check them out at teachingtextbooks.com. Today’s show was also underwritten by Samaritan Ministries and Redeem HealthShare. Where Members are committed to honoring Christ and serving one another through health care needs. As Todd likes to say, "We use, love, and recommend Samaritan Ministries. You can learn more about REDEEM HealthShare by Samaritan Ministries here https://hubs.ly/Q03VZL7c0 Have a great week and don't forget to smile!
Welcome back to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! Today we're talking about taking back the summer from technology. There are so many things demanding our attention these days, especially social media and technology. We discuss some practical strategies for cutting back on these distractions so we can focus on what really matters this summer: making memories with our kids and spending time together as a family. We also talk about Kids Day, a Wilson family tradition, as well as Father's Day and ways we can encourage and celebrate the dads in our lives. We want to thank Teaching Textbooks for all of their support of the Smiling Homeschooler. They are one of the best math curriculums around, and we believe they help more homeschoolers smile, and you should use their math curriculum for this school year. So go check them out at teachingtextbooks.com. Today’s show was also underwritten by Samaritan Ministries and Redeem HealthShare. Where Members are committed to honoring Christ and serving one another through health care needs. As Todd likes to say, "We use, love, and recommend Samaritan Ministries. You can learn more about REDEEM HealthShare by Samaritan Ministries here https://hubs.ly/Q03VZL7c0 Have a great week and don't forget to smile!
Welcome back to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week we're talking about something that almost every mom experiences but doesn't always talk about: exhaustion. There are seasons when parenting feels overwhelming. The days are long, the responsibilities never seem to end, and it can feel like everyone needs something from you all the time. Yet somehow, you have to keep showing up day after day. If that's where you are today, we hope this episode encourages you. We want to remind you that God sees your faithfulness, even on the hard days, and that the work you're doing matters more than you know. We think this conversation is something that every mom needs to hear! We want to thank Teaching Textbooks for all of their support of the Smiling Homeschooler. They are one of the best math curriculums around, and we believe they help more homeschoolers smile. Please support them over at teachingtextbooks.com. Today’s show was also underwritten by Samaritan Ministries and Redeem HealthShare. Where Members are committed to honoring Christ and serving one another through health care needs. As Todd likes to say, "We use, love, and recommend Samaritan Ministries. You can learn more about REDEEM HealthShare by Samaritan Ministries here https://hubs.ly/Q03VZL7c0 Have a great week and don't forget to smile!
Welcome back to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week we're talking about what comes after the school year ends. We start by discussing why summer breaks matter so much, the importance of play, and why our kids don't need every moment scheduled. Then we talk about graduates and young adults, and how to help them take their next steps, how much guidance parents should give, and how to encourage them as they move toward adulthood. We had a great conversation, and we think you'll be encouraged. Enjoy! We want to thank Teaching Textbooks for all of their support of the Smiling Homeschooler. They are one of the best math curriculums availible, and we believe they help more homeschoolers smile, and you should use their math curriculum for this school year. So go check them out at teachingtextbooks.com. Today’s show was also underwritten by Samaritan Ministries and Redeem HealthShare. Where Members are committed to honoring Christ and serving one another through health care needs. As Todd likes to say, "We use, love, and recommend Samaritan Ministries." You can learn more about REDEEM HealthShare by Samaritan Ministries here https://hubs.ly/Q03VZL7c0 Have a great week and don't forget to smile!
Welcome back to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week, we’re talking about something every parent thinks about at some point: what are the things our kids are actually going to remember when they look back on childhood? Will it be the family vacations? Learning to ride a bike? Playing games together? Family traditions? Or maybe just those simple everyday moments that didn’t seem all that important at the time. Especially as we’re wrapping up the school year and heading into summer, we think this is a great topic to reflect on. We have some encouragement and thoughts to share as we talk about making memories and enjoying the time we have with our kids. We want to thank Teaching Textbooks for all of their support of the Smiling Homeschooler. They are one of the best math curriculums around, and we believe they help more homeschoolers smile. Go check them out at teachingtextbooks.com. Today’s show was also underwritten by Samaritan Ministries and Redem Healthshare. Where Members are committed to honoring Christ and serving one another through health care needs. As Todd likes to say, "We use, love, and recommend Samaritan Ministries. You can learn more about REDEEM HealthShare by Samaritan Ministries here https://hubs.ly/Q03VZL7Q0 Have a great week and don't forget to smile!
Welcome back to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week, we’re bringing back an episode from a while ago where we talked about how to encourage your child to embrace who God made them to be and to value what truly matters when it comes to success. This is one of our favorite topics, and we think it led to a really meaningful conversation that we hope encourages you today! We want to thank Teaching Textbooks for all of their support of the Smiling Homeschooler. They are one of the best math curriculum around, and we believe they help more homeschoolers smile, and you should use their math curriculum for this school year. So go check them out at teachingtextbooks.com. Today’s show was also underwritten by Samaritan Ministries and Redem Healthshare. Where Members are committed to honoring Christ and serving one another through health care needs. As Todd likes to say, "We use, love, and recommend Samaritan Ministries. You can learn more about REDEEM HealthShare by Samaritan Ministries here https://hubs.ly/Q03VZL7Q0 Lastly, Todd is currently on his way to the Florida Homeschooling convention, so if you are going to be there, make sure to come up and say hi and get your free homeschool personality sticker! Have a great week and don't forget to smile!
Welcome back to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week, we are talking about raising capable kids. As homeschooling parents, it can be easy to get focused only on academics, grades, and checking boxes, but at the end of the day, we want to raise young adults who can work hard, solve problems, serve others, and confidently step into the real world. This week, we are joined by Lisa Nehring from Truth North Academy, It's Not That Hard to Homeschool, and Blue Collar Homeschool, and we talk about encouraging kids in their strengths, preparing them for life after homeschool, and why college isn’t the only path to success. We think this conversation will be a huge encouragement to parents who want to raise confident, capable kids. You can find more from Lisa at truenorthhomeschool.academy We want to thank Teaching Textbooks for all of their support of the Smiling Homeschooler. They are the math curriculum our family uses, and it has helped us smile more, and we think it will do the same for your family. Go support them and check out a free trial over at teachingtextbooks.com Today’s show is being underwritten by Samaritan Ministries and Redeem Healthshare, where members are committed to honoring Christ through a community of Christians that pay one another’s medical bill. Redeem HealthShare helps families take a safe step of faith as they feel God’s Leading in career or ministry changes or in bringing mom home. You can learn more about REDEEM HealthShare by Samaritan Ministries here https://hubs.ly/Q03VZL7Q0 Have a great week and don't forget to smile!
Welcome back to the Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week, we’re taking some time to encourage moms as we celebrate both National Teacher Appreciation Day and Mother’s Day. Homeschool moms don’t get nearly the recognition they deserve, so today is all about recognizing you and everything you do for your kids. From wiping runny noses and teaching your children to read, to dealing with attitudes, discipline, discipleship, and the countless other responsibilities that come with motherhood and homeschooling, the work never really ends, and often goes unnoticed. But we truly believe the impact you are making on your children is deep, meaningful, and lifelong. Our goal today is simply to encourage you and remind you that what you’re doing matters more than you know. We hope you enjoy the episode! Before we start, we want to thank Teaching Textbooks for all of their support of the Smiling Homeschooler. They are the math curriculum our family uses, and it has helped us smile more, and we think it will do the same for your family. Go support them and check out a free trial over at teachingtextbooks.com. Today’s show is being underwritten by Samaritan Ministries and Redeem HealthShare, where members are committed to honoring Christ through a community of Christians that pay one another’s medical bills. Redeem HealthShare helps families take a safe step of faith as they feel God’s Leading in career or ministry changes or in bringing mom home. You can learn more about REDEEM HealthShare by Samaritan Ministries here https://hubs.ly/Q03VZL7Q0 Have a great week and don't forget to smile!
Welcome back to the Smiling Homeschooler podcast. We’re having some fun this week talking about the four homeschool personalities and some homeschooling “hot takes.” From planner moms to relaxed homeschoolers and everything in between, we’re seeing just how much our personalities shape the way we homeschool. We’ll read through different homeschool scenarios and decide together which personality they fit best and along the way, hopefully remind you that there’s no one “right” way to homeschool. Whether you’ve mapped out your child’s education through graduation or you’re figuring out school over breakfast, this episode is for you! We want to thank Teaching Textbooks for all of their support of the Smiling Homeschooler. They are the math curriculum our family uses, and it has helped us smile more, and we think it will do the same for your family. Go support them and check out a free trial over at teachingtextbooks.com Today’s show is being underwritten by Samaritan Ministries and redeemhealthshare, where members are committed to honoring Christ through a community of Christians that pay one another’s medical bill. Redeem Health Share helps families take a safe step of faith as they feel God’s Leading in career or ministry changes or in bringing mom home. You can learn more here https://hubs.ly/Q03VZL7B0 about REDEEM HealthShare by Samaritan Ministries. Have a great week and don't forget to smile!
Welcome back to the Smiling Homeschooler podcast. This week, we’re talking about one of the biggest shifts in parenting, which is what it looks like to move from being in control when our kids are little to slowly letting go as they grow into adulthood. We discuss the tension of parenting older kids, learning when to speak and when to stay quiet, and what it really means to “pass the baton” while maintaining the relationship. Even if you don’t have adult kids yet, this is such an important conversation because the way we parent now lays the groundwork for those future relationships. It was a great conversation, and we hope you enjoy! Before we start, we want to thank Teaching Textbooks for all of their support of the Smiling Homeschooler. They are the math curriculum our family uses, and it has helped us smile more, and we think it will do the same for your family. Go support them and check out a free trial over at teachingtextbooks.com Today’s show is underwritten by Samaritan Ministries and redeemhealthshare, where members are committed to honoring Christ through a community of Christians that pay one another’s medical bill. Redeem Health Share helps families take a safe step of faith as they feel God’s Leading in career or ministry changes or in bringing mom home. You can learn more here https://hubs.ly/Q03VZL7B0 about REDEEM HealthShare by Samaritan Ministries Have a great week and don't forget to smile!
Welcome back to the Smiling Homeschooler podcast! In this special episode, we’re celebrating 400 episodes of The Smiling Homeschooler and taking some time to reflect on the journey so far. We look back at the very beginning, including our first episode and talk about what led us to start the podcast in the first place. We revisit the heart behind The Smiling Homeschooler—encouraging families, bringing a little humor to the journey, and reminding parents that they’re not alone. We also spend some time sharing a few of our favorite guests and moments over the years, and how those conversations have impacted us personally Finally, we talk about where we hope to go from here and what we’d love the next 400 episodes to look like as we continue encouraging homeschoolers to smile. Before we get started, we want to thank Teaching Textbooks for making what we do possible. They help thousands of homeschoolers smile every day, and if you haven’t checked them out yet, you can do so at teachingtextbooks.com. Today’s show is being underwritten by Samaritan Ministries and redeemhealthshare, where members are committed to honoring Christ through a community of Christians that pay one another’s medical bill. Redeem HealthShare helps families take a safe step of faith as they feel God’s Leading in career or ministry changes or in bringing mom home. You can learn more here https://hubs.ly/Q03VZL7B0 about REDEEM HealthShare by Samaritan Ministries. Have a great week and don't forget to smile!
Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week, we’re talking about something nearly every mom struggles with at the end of the school year: motivation! As the school year winds down, motivation can be hard to find, and it’s easy to start questioning everything. Are we doing enough? Does this even count as school? Are our kids going to be ready for what’s next? We have a great conversation about those fears, and hopefully leave you encouraged to finish the year with confidence and peace. Before we get started, we want to thank Teaching Textbooks for making what we do possible. They help thousands of homeschoolers smile every day, and if you haven’t checked them out yet, you can do so at teachingtextbooks.com. Today’s show is being underwritten by Samaritan Ministries and Redeem Healthshare, where members are committed to honoring Christ through a community of Christians that pay one another’s medical bills. Redeem Healthshare helps families take a safe step of faith as they feel God’s Leading in career or ministry changes or in bringing mom home. You can learn more here, https://hubs.ly/Q03VZL7B0 about REDEEM HealthShare by Samaritan Ministries Have a great week and don't forget to smile!
Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week we’re talking about something I think a lot of you are going to relate to. We start things off with a message from a homeschool mom who shared that she’s feeling overwhelmed right now—trying to juggle schooling her last two kids, being a grandma, planning a wedding, and everything else life is throwing at her. If you’ve ever felt like you’re spinning a dozen plates at once, you are definitely not alone, and we want to encourage you today. We also discuss something that multiple listeners brought up: how do you get your 10–12-year-olds to actually care about what you’re teaching? Sometimes they just don’t see the value in what they’re learning. We offer some tips and encouragement for that as well. As always, we hope this episode leaves you feeling encouraged! Before we get started, we want to thank Teaching Textbooks for making what we do possible. They help thousands of homeschoolers smile every day, and if you haven’t checked them out yet, you can do so at teachingtextbooks.com. Today’s show is being underwritten by Samaritan Ministries and redeemhealthshare, where members are committed to honoring Christ through a community of Christians that pay one another’s medical bill. Redeem health share helps families take a safe step of faith as they feel God’s Leading in career or ministry changes or in bringing mom home. You can learn more here https://hubs.ly/Q03VZL6M0 about REDEEM HealthShare by Samaritan Ministries Have a great week and don't forget to smile!
Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week, we’re introducing the newest regular member of our podcast crew, Katherine Petgen! Katherine is Todd’s daughter, a homeschool mom, a wife, and a homeschool graduate. She shares how homeschooling has impacted her life for the better, along with some of the lessons she’s carried into her own family. We also talk about her homeschooling personality type and how that can shape the way we approach teaching our kids. Lastly, we dive into the question so many parents wrestle with, when should you start structured homeschooling and how to push back against the pressure to begin too early. Before we get started, we want to thank Teaching Textbooks for making what we do possible. They help thousands of homeschoolers smile every day, and if you haven’t checked them out yet, you can do so at teachingtextbooks.com. Today’s show is also underwritten by Samaritan Ministries and REDEEM HealthShare. Members are committed to honoring Christ and serving one another through healthcare needs. As Todd likes to say, “We use, love, and recommend Samaritan Ministries.” You can learn more about REDEEM HealthShare by Samaritan Ministries here https://hubs.ly/Q03VZL6M0 Have a great week and don't forget to smile!