I can hardly believe it, but this is the FINAL episode of the Simple Homeschool podcast with me, Jamie C. Martin...and my son Jonathan joins me to wrap it up!

Don't worry, though, I'm not leaving you Jamie-less :) You can still find me over at Simple Homeschool as well as sharing my quotes and poetry on both Facebook and Instagram!

• This episode is sponsored by FORM Fitness PE/Health curriculum and All About Reading/Spelling!
• Take Jamie's quiz, What's Your Homeschool Mom Personality?

In our final episode, Jonathan (homeschooled K-12) gives those of you feeling worried about your kids' future an encouraging pep talk from his perspective, having spent two years in the real world thus far.

He also gives a shout out to TJEd High, an online mentoring program he was a part of during high school. And I surprise him (& almost make him cry) with a poem I wrote inspired by a scary homeschool moment, as well as my view on it from now, so many years later!

We also recap the most popular episodes he and I have recorded, including:

• 5th most popular - Ep 110: When Your Homeschooler Refuses to Do Something
• 4th most popular - Ep 104: Did you "miss out" because of homeschooling?
• 3rd most popular - Ep 106: The "S" Word, Socialization
• 2nd most popular - Ep 105: What Is Relationship-Centered Homeschooling?
• 1st place - Ep 109: Reasons to Homeschool (There are a lot of them!)

Come listen in and be encouraged, and remember that all of my episodes will remain up for you to revisit whenever you need them!

Welcome back to my newest Simple Homeschool series, in which I’m going back in time to share my thoughts as a retired homeschool mom after 15 years of active duty!

• This episode is sponsored by My Fun Science and Oak Meadow
• Take Jamie's quiz, What's Your Homeschool Mom Personality?

In this month's episode, I decided to chat about an article I wrote back in 2010 called 7 Characteristics of a Charlotte Mason Education.

Obviously I have a LOT more homeschooling experience and thoughts of my own now, many years later, and in this episode I share them all with you!

Listen in for a dose of homeschooling inspiration, and to also relieve yourself of any Charlotte Mason homeschool guilt.

If you prefer to read the original post and check out any of its further links, head here.

This year I'm doing monthly Then and Now Reflections on the podcast - looking back over my 15 year homeschooling career and sharing what I've learned along the way AND what I'd do differently if I could go back. Welcome!
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• This episode is sponsored by Sonlight K-12 Curriculum and Dyslexia Connect
• Take Jamie's quiz, What's Your Homeschool Mom Personality?

In Episode 126, you'll hear me and my daughter Trishna (20-yrs-old, homeschool graduate, special needs) discuss:

• I introduce the special guest who's new to the podcast, my daughter Trishna!
• What I feel I would change about our homeschool routine if I could go back to this point in our family's journey
• We go down the rabbit trail of remembering Trishna's favorite TV shows from this time
• Who used to do all the cooking, compared to who does it these days
• Activities that were NOT Trishna's favorite from our daily routine
• The bedtime routine that the kids loved and I found exhausting (& soon stopped!)
• My advice when it comes to using screen time for moms of littles

To read the original article I wrote in 2013 and/or check out links & photos mentioned in this episode, head here.

Listen in for a dose of homeschooling inspiration!

How often do you wish you could have a homeschool do-over? Well, now you can, through revisiting Jamie's mistakes instead of having to make your own!
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• This episode is sponsored by Ivy Kids and TJEd's Young Statesmen/Stateswomen Society!
• Take Jamie's quiz, What's Your Homeschool Mom Personality?

This year I'm doing monthly Then and Now Reflections on the podcast - looking back over my 15 year homeschooling career and sharing what I've learned along the way.

In Episode 125, you'll hear me and my son Jonathan (19-yrs-old, homeschool graduate) discuss:

• The details of our homeschool routine back with a 6, 7, and 8-year-old, having just moved to a house in the countryside
• Our experiment having "Yes" Day on Mondays
• How having greater access to nature influenced the flow of our days
• When homeschool moms manage to find time to eat
• How bloggers with three young kids have to make sure the photos in a post are "fair"
• What made this one of my favorite years of homeschooling

Come listen in and be encouraged!

To read the original article I wrote in 2012 and/or check out links mentioned in this episode, head here.

How often do you wish you could have a homeschool do-over? Well, now you can, and in the best way possible - without having to make mistakes of your own!

• This episode is sponsored by FORM Fitness!
• Take my quiz, What's Your Homeschool Mom Personality?

This year I'm doing monthly Then and Now Reflections on the podcast - looking back over my 15 year homeschooling career and sharing what I've learned along the way.

In Episode 124, listen in with me and my son Jonathan (currently 19) as we chat about the past, specifically re: 2011 in our homeschool (when he was six-years-old)!

What we remember fondly, what we'd rather not remember (LOL), and what we might do differently if we could have a do-over.

To read the original post I wrote in 2011 and/or check out links mentioned in this episode (including that circle time video, which is a doozy!), head here.

In this episode, you'll hear:

• I welcome Jonathan back to the podcast after he's been away touring with the Jonas Brothers
• my initial homeschooling philosophy of focusing on relationships rather than academics as top priority, and what I think about that now looking back
• our daily homeschool rhythm from 2011 including morning routines, books, a few structured activities, "sections" time, and what Jonathan remembers fondly (or not!)
• we reminisce about highlights of their 2011 days: walks, circle time, and the library
• how we used screens, quiet time, and outings to make it through the days
• what Jonathan thinks now about how our homeschool style has influenced him as a young adult

Listen in and be encouraged!

Note: If you'd prefer to read instead of listen to this episode, head here.

• This episode is sponsored by My Fun Science and Oak Meadow!

Fifteen years ago as a new, insecure homeschooler, one thing comforted me like no other: Clinging to the words of a few veteran homeschool mothers who I followed online.

Now I want to be that voice for you!! Listen in to discover what I have planned...I'm excited about it!

• Take my quiz, What's Your Homeschool Mom Personality?

This December Jamie is taking a break from podcasting, so we are revisiting top episodes from the podcast's history - enjoy your winter break!

This episode was written by Kari Patterson, and if you'd prefer to read instead of listen, head here. 

Check out Kari's personal site, podcast, and book - Sacred Mundane!

* Today's episode is sponsored by Dyslexia Connect and Sonlight's K-12 Curriculum.

* What's Your Homeschool Mom Personality? Take Jamie's quiz and get your free personality report at simplehomeschool.net/quiz/ 

"I can feel my body tense up as I say the words with forced enthusiasm: “Ok, time for school!”

They say what I know they’ll say: "Do we have to?!" And if I’m honest, that’s exactly what I’m saying in my own mind: "Do we have to?!"

This December Jamie is taking a break from podcasting, so we are revisiting a top episode from the podcast's history - Merry Christmas to you and yours!

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If you'd prefer to read this post instead, head here. And for more current snapshots of how this hack has worked in our family, check out my day in the life posts over the years. 

Today's episode is sponsored by Ivy Kids and the Young Stateswomen/Statesmen Society from Thomas Jefferson Education!

What's Your Homeschool Mom Personality? Take Jamie's quiz and get your free personality report at simplehomeschool.net/quiz

So I don’t know if you have noticed, but kids can be LOUD.

Confession: I don’t particularly care for loud.

Desperate times call for desperate measures, and I knew I had to make life at home at least a little quieter if I was going to survive it, as well as add homeschooling to the mix.

My own conundrum led to an idea. One that’s gone on to save my sanity and allowed me to continue homeschooling for 15 years - listen in and be encouraged!