The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast

Welcome back to the Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! We are glad you’re joining us this week.

We are getting closer and closer to the start of a new school year, and over the next few weeks, we’re going to be doing a little series talking about some of the things that homeschool families are thinking about as they get ready to jump back into another year of homeschooling. And today, we’re talking about homeschool co-ops and how to pick the best one for your family.

Co-ops are one of those things that can be a really great part of homeschooling for some families, but they can also bring a lot of questions. Should we join one? What are the benefits? What are some of the downsides? How much time are we really going to have to commit? And maybe most importantly, is a co-op actually a good fit for our family?

We’ve had our own experiences with co-ops over the years, and today we want to talk through some of the things we’ve learned, some of the things we love about them, and some of the things you probably want to think about before signing your family up for one. We hope you are encouraged by our conversation, and if you know a mom who is on the fence about co-ops or new to homeschooling, maybe share this episode with them!

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 at https://samaritanministries.org/familyman

Lastly, don't forget to take advantage of the 60 free days of World Watch News by clicking this link and using code Todd30 at checkout! https://app.worldwatch.news/checkout/new?o=203231&coupon=TODD30

Have a great week and don't forget to smile!

Welcome back to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! We are so glad you're here!

This week we're tackling a question that I think just about every homeschool parent has asked at one time or another: Am I doing enough? If my kids never are taught chemistry or calculus, or they don't become fluent in a foreign language, have I somehow failed them?

There can be so much pressure to check every box and keep up with everyone else's expectations. But is that really what homeschooling is about? Today we're talking about how to handle those doubts, and how to have confidence in the education you're giving your children, and why sometimes the bravest thing you can do is trust the unique path God has called your family to.

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 at samaritanministries.org/familyman

Lastly, don't forget to take advantage of the 60 free days of World Watch News by clicking this link and using code Todd30 at checkout! https://app.worldwatch.news/checkout/new?o=203231&coupon=TODD30

Have a great week and don't forget to smile!

Hey 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!