148: You've Got This: A Harmonious Homeschool

We see these comments pop up in every homeschool Facebook group: "How do I get my kid to do their work?" "My kid is fighting with me about doing math." "Homeschool is hurting my relationships with my kids." Homeschool doesn't have to be contentious, and burnout isn't the inevitable outcome of homeschooling. So how can we begin to homeschool in harmony? Join us as we explore the ways we're creating a harmonious homeschool experience for ourselves and our kids.    Takeaways -We often feel the tension of playing two roles: parent and teacher. At our best, we're in only ONE role: parent.   -No one is enjoying homeschool if you and your kids are grinding your way through it.   -As a homeschool parent, we have freedom to do things differently from a teacher in a classroom.   -The thing your child is most interested in is the thing they're going to learn the most about.   -There are non-negotiable things we want our kids to learn. But we can let go of WHEN and HOW they learn those things.   -Learn to recognize the signals when a learning experience is taking a negative turn BEFORE it gets to the point of yelling, crying, frustration.    -Our kids need to know that their voice and their feelings matter, and we can listen when they're telling us they need to stop or something isn't working.   -Kids have bad days, too. They might have another need that needs to be met before they can sit down and learn. They might need a new approach/curriculum/time of day for a subject.   -It's our KIDS and their plans/ideas that often create the best and most magical learning moments.   -We want our kids to come into a learning experience with their cups of connection filled up!     Mentions Our bookshop.org book lists! Back to School Summit Personality Classes   This episode is second in a series: You've Got This! We're tackling some of the most common questions and daily dilemmas we face in homeschool and parenting. Listen to our previous episode: The Device Dilemma all about screen time.     Join the Squad! When you join Patreon, you get access to our Patreon Squad Facebook Group -- a fun and fantastic community of like-minded homeschool parents. Plus a bunch of other great rewards like more episodes, extended interviews, and more!   Listener Review myshell726, 09/11/2020 "I always enjoy listening to this podcast. Maren and Angela are funny, and they have a good balance of casual conversation and topical discussion. I also admire them for speaking out on the need for homeschoolers to become more inclusive. There are a lot of homeschool podcasts, but this is one of my favorites!" Leave us a 5-star rating and review here.   Loving This Week Angela: Schitt's Creek Maren: WiZ smart lights   Patrons get a monthly "LTW Extra" episode when you join our $5 Squad. An hour-long chat about the shows, products, podcasts, books, and more that we're loving!      More About Homeschool Unrefined We are an inclusive and nonsectarian podcast. We believe Black Lives Matter, and we are LGBTQ+ affirming (for more, read our piece on Romper). We are listener supported and are donating 10% of all Patreon income and product sales to The Conscious Kid, a Black and Brown-led organization that has been instrumental in our own evolution and in leading the way in both ideological and tangible change with their work in "parenting and education through a critical race lens." Read our full ABAR Statement here and on Instagram.     Connect with us!  Visit our website | Sign up for our newsletter. | Support us on Patreon. | Join our closed Facebook group: Unrefined Homeschoolers | Merch Shop Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Youtube Angela on Instagram: @unrefinedangela | Maren on Instagram: @unrefinedmaren Email us any questions or feedback at [email protected] Visit our Amazon Shop: https://www.amazon.com/shop/homeschoolunrefined We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.