Happy, Holy Mama

This week's episode truly feels like going on a Catholic homeschooling retreat! My client Robin, Happy, Holy Mama of 4, joins me on the podcast this week and, oh my, what a wealth of wisdom and goodness she is! Robin shares her story that did not start out as a homeschool journey, but that once God called her family to homeschooling, it's been a source of growth and learning, not just for her kids, but for her as well. She generously shares about her struggles with dyslexic children, fighting a scarcity mindset of not feeling adequate for the job of teaching her own children, and how God brings her back to the path He wants her on over and over again through our work together. Join us today and take a deep, relaxing breath as Robin describes the incredible joy and goodness that homeschooling can be, even through trials. Grab your earbuds and listen to this inspirational episode: Cultivating Joy and Freedom in Education! Join the Happy, Holy Mama Membership HERE to join us this Thursday, June 13, 2024 for our next monthly workshop where we'll be diving into how to not absorb your children's behavior!

Worried about your homeschooled kids losing their knowledge or skills during the summer? What you might be more worried about is what you might have to go through this fall, if your kids slide backwards in their knowledge and skills... ...both of which you worked very hard to help them earn this year! If you're looking at making some decisions about whether or not to do some school work over the summer, then I'd like to invite you to spend a little time with me in today's podcast episode where I'll walk you through a different way to think about it, so you're making that decision with clarity instead of worry. I'll also walk you through the steps to take to avoid the summer slip, if you decide to do some school, so you can keep making progress toward educational goals and still take a much needed summer break! Click here to get Catholic Homeschool Essentials

One of the most infuriating things moms go through is trying to problem solve without knowing what the actual problem is or what to work on. This is even more challenging and frustrating when there's an internal issue that you're unaware of and so it feels like nothing you do works. In today's podcast episode I talk a little about my own experience before I made some significant changes and how homeschooling, though it was an answer to God's call for our family, didn't magically solve my problems. I explain what I learned over years of trial and error that I now each my clients how to do faster with life coaching tools so that you can work on the areas you need to work on and implement solutions that are right for you...not just what worked for me. In today's episode I'll walk you through the top three areas to work on to drastically improve your homeschool experience and share with you the eight essentials I teach my clients to help them have the biggest transformations with the fastest results. Results like feeling calmer, connecting more, not absorbing other people's emotions, and stewarding the precious time God gives them, better. All of which help you have more awareness of what's going on and problem solve at a higher level, to serve God better, through your family. Grab your earbuds and listen to dive into: What to Work on to Drastically Improve Your Homeschool Experience. And because I believe so deeply that these eight essentials tools, concepts, and skills can help you, too, I put my best teachings into a brand new digital course to help you get started with the work I do, in this struggling economy. And to celebrate the launch of this new course, Catholic Homeschool Essentials is $100 OFF for this week only! Which means that until June 2, 2024 you can learn these essential life coaching tools for only $97!! Find all the details for Catholic Homeschool Essential HERE!

Want a chance to win a FREE ticket to this year's Catholic Homeschool Conference?! All you need to do is share the Happy, Holy Mama Podcast with your friends, family, on social media, wherever you feel good to do so! You can also leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any of your favorite listening platforms. This does not have to be a glowing review, just an honest one, please! If you love it, though, please throw in as many stars you believe the podcast deserves as this helps others find and be served by the podcast a little easier! THEN, please shoot me an email to [email protected] to tell me all the ways you shared or where you left reviews and I will enter your name into the drawing for each of the ways you supported the podcast! This is entirely on the honor system and is just my way of saying THANK YOU for being an incredible listening community and get a chance to serve more Catholic homeschool mamas at this year's incredible event! I will draw the winner THIS FRIDAY, May 24, 2024 at 9pm PDT and I will email the winners shortly thereafter. Speaking of which, today's episode is such a treat! This week I welcome back Maureen Wittmann, one of the co-founders of Homeschool Connections, who also founded and continues to run the Catholic Homeschool Conference! As always, we had such a delightful conversation about being Catholic homeschoolers and how the work she does for both platforms got started and how they continue to meet the needs of thousands of Catholic homeschoolers every single year! If you're looking for excellent resources, make sure you check them out. If you'd like to guarantee you have a ticket to the conference and want a discount, please use the code HSC10OFF at checkout to receive $10 off your ticket price. And then you share your free ticket with a friend if you're a raffle winner!

Are you tired of policing your kid's work, checking on them over and over to make sure they've finished it? Are you tired of struggling with a kiddo who doesn't WANT to do the work you've assigned and seems to be entirely unmotivated? Or do you have a teen who doesn't seem to care about what they do or don't do and you're not even sure they'll graduate? If you answered yes to any of those questions, then today's podcast episode is for you! Today I'm going to walk you through four different scenarios of times when your child's goals will save YOU a tremendous amount of effort and heartache. And if your child doesn't have goals yet, I'll walk you through how to help them make their own (which is the secret sauce for those goals actually being acheived)! Grab your earbuds and let's talk about Helping Your Child or Teen Create Their Own Goals AND Reach Them! Check out all the details for the Happy, Holy Mama Membership on my beautiful new website here! Grab your Homeschool Blueprint here!

Whether you are a veteran homeschool, brand new to homeschooling, or considering homeschooling in the near future, today's episode is for you! I have taken my BEST advice for Catholic homeschoolers and put it all into one powerful episode that will serve even the most seasoned mamas with love, support, and a little Catholic truth. Grab my new FREE planning resource for Catholic Homeschool Mamas here: Download The Happy, Holy Homeschool Blueprint! Grab your ticket for the Catholic Homeschool Conference HERE. Check out all teh deatils for how we can work together in the Happy, Holy Mama Membership HERE!

Talking about our bodies is a fairly uncomfortable conversation for most people, but when it comes to talking about what's menstrual cycles and even charting with our daughters, sometimes mamas feel a bit lost. Christina Valenzuela felt similarly unprepared with her own children and that's when God placed on her heart to create Pearl and Thistle, cycle prep courses for Catholic families rooted in St. John Paul II writings on the Theology of the Body. Christina wanted her courses to be something that would bring parents and daughters together. Her courses provide a foundation for families to have a better understanding of the purpose and goodness of our human bodies. And, through our conversation, we revealed that many women find healing of their own early cycle years as they learn alongside their daughters. Please check out Christina's website, make sure you use the coupon code below, and check out her newly released book! pearlandthistle.com @pearlandthistle on IG @pearlandthistle on FB 10% off coupon on CYCLE PREP for your listeners! Use coupon HAPPYHOLY10 at checkout to get 10% off an individual copy of CYCLE PREP: First Period Course for Girls New book, published through Our Sunday Visitor, The Language of Your Body: Embracing God's Design for Your Cycle, release is April 2024 Quick write up: What good can we find in our cycles, especially when we ponder the fact that both men and women are equally made in the image and likeness of God? The Language of Your Body delves deep into this and other groundbreaking questions, using the wisdom of saints like Hildegard von Bingen, Pope John Paul II and Thomas Aquinas to explore this unique, fundamental aspect of God's design for female bodies. Despite menstruation being labeled sometimes as a "woman's curse," the Catholic Church invites us to claim our cycles for good. This book is a beacon to all women searching for positive ways to integrate our menstrual cycles into our sense of self, our relationships, and our prayer.

Have you ever wondered what curriculum writers think about when they are creating the curriculum you use? Ever wanted to get some coffee and pick their brain about how they use it in their own family and apply it to real life? Well, if so, I have a treat for you today. I am joined by Olivia Spears, creator and founder of Into the Deep Catholic catechesis curriculum. Her heart and mission is to help evangelize the next generation through truth, goodness, and beauty. She lives and breathes this Catholic homeschooling lifestyle right alongside all of us and is such a breath of fresh air for your research-frazzled heart. And Olivia is an absolute delight to talk to! Check out Into the Deep here and use the promo code FIAT10 for 10% off her stunning curriculum!

Are you ever afraid to say what you'd really prefer to, because you're worried the other person will be mad at you? Maybe it's how you'd prefer to follow through with your kids when they don't finish their work or chores. Maybe it's what you wish you could say to your husband about how he parents the children. Maybe it's what you wish you could say to friends, but don't want to drive them away with your hot-messiness. Listen, this is a NORMAL human reaction and it's all based in fear. Fear that keeps you stuck and keeps your family from living into the potential of what God is dreaming for each of your lives. In today's podcast I'm going to share how this has been coming up in coaching lately and what you need to do to get unstuck from the fear... ...and start feeling more authentically you. The you whom God created exactly the way He meant to, for a reason, for a purpose in this world. So please grab your earbuds and something cozy and let's talk about when you're afraid of someone else's reactions...especially if you're afraid of them being mad at you. P.S. Do you desire an authentic Catholic community of homeschooling mamas who GET you? Who GET your life and what you're going through? Who will never question your commitment to homeschooling or suggest you 'just send your kids to school,' when you're having a hard day? If so, please join the BEST place on the internet to be an authentically Catholic homeschooling mother and not feel alone on the journey again: the Happy, Holy Mama Membership. If you have questions before you join, just hit reply to this, or any, email I send you and I'll get back to you shortly. You are not alone mama. Don't stay stuck! All you have to do is reach out.

If you're a Catholic homeschooling mama you ARE, factually, very busy! However, if you are FEELING busy, but not feeling PRODUCTIVE, I can help. Last weekend I recorded a free public masterclass called: How to Get More Time Back in Your Day and it was SO lifegiving, affirming, and USEFUL for those who came, I decided to put the audio of the class so that it can serve you, too! In the class I shared my story of what my life was like when I felt like I had no space or time for myself, being buried under babies, toddlers, and tantrums. I shared insight about our to-do lists as moms and what might be going on, if we feel like there isn't enough time to do everything there is to do in a given day. I also gave the over 120 women who signed up for the class my #1 process to create space interally so they could get more time and LIFE back in their day. I'd be honored to share this class with you now, so please grab your earbuds to take my masterclass: How to Get More Time Back in Your Day! Get the details for the Happy, Holy Mama Membership here! Subscribe to Fiat Life Coaching email list here! Grab your ticket for the Catholic Homeschool Conference here!

It's the most infuriating experience to want to do better yourself, but feel like your own behavior is contingent on what someone else does. Especially if that someone else is your own child and should know better. And then you end up feeling like a bad mom because you can't seem to get yourself under control. Guilt is almost always followed by shame and that one-two punch just makes you want to run and hide from your kids…which of course doesn't teach them how to change their own behavior, either. In today's episode I'm going to give you my one simple strategy to come back from a mistake. And when you are willing to do this one thing, then you begin to lead by example. You become the adult you want them to be someday, even after a mess up. They learn the best things from you, which was the whole point behind homeschooling in the first place. Sign up for my new live masterclass THIS FRIDAY NIGHT here: How to Get More Time Back in Your Day! Details for the Happy, Holy Mama Membership are here.

Have you ever noticed what you spend your time on while you wait for something? ​​​​​​​ A doctor's appointment, a child to go to the bathroom, a pot of water to boil? What about what you're choosing to do while you wait for your children to grow up, wait for them to grasp a new concept, or learn a new skill? What you focus on in the moments of waiting matters because it directly influences how you react or respond to those around you. And right now, during Holy Week, what you focus on while you wait for the resurrection of Jesus will directly impact the way you and your family experience the Easter weekend, and beyond. This week I have a short and sweet podcast episode for you that will help you refocus your attention during this time of waiting so that it becomes more productive. Not just for your homeschooling efforts, but for the kingdom of God. Grab your earbuds and let's talk about making the time that you spend waiting more productive. Sign up for my new live masterclass on April 5, 2024: How to Get More Time Back in Your Day here! Does Time feel like it steals your peace? Or does your children's behavior feel like it steals your peace? These are the two things that most moms lose their peace over every single day. In Happy, Holy Mama we coach on Time, Behavior, Curriculum, and SO much more each week in group coaching. Click here to get the details for the program, including how to join today to have support and Catholic community while you learn how to have more peace and feel more capable and confident in your home and homeschool. Do you have questions you'd like me to answer before you join? Please book a free Consult Call to chat with me face to face!

It's way too easy to go about your day feeling frustrated about the kids, homeschooling, and the house and then take it out on your hubby the next time you interact with him. That could be in an angry text you send him, or throwing a screaming toddler at him when he gets done with work, or even treating him like he's done something wrong to contribute to your own bad day. Today's episode will help you Improve Your Relationships and put your life in Right Order, starting with your marriage. Because when your marriage is feeling stuck and even a bit painful, then everything else feels stuck and painful, too. Including your relationships with your kids and your homeschooling. So today let's start digging into this vital relationship that can help your whole life feel more life-giving when you intentionally support it today. Grab your earbuds and let's talk about how to: Have a Lifegiving Marriage Join the free Podcast Facebook Group. Join the Happy, Holy Mama Membership to support your marriage!

Homeschooling (and Time Management are 80% mindset and 20% strategy. You're probably just trying to do it the other way around, which is why it can feel so frustrating, even infuriating, to want to manage your time better and feel like you just can't. Or like all the pieces of your life are actively working against your best efforts to accomplish all the things on your to-do list, including homeschooling! It can feel like a losing battle, unless you understand what's going on in your brain. In this week's podcast episode, I am going into the brain science, the mindset, behind great time management skills. I'll give you some powerful insight into why it feels so hard to do what you really want to do and end up doing the things you'd prefer not to. And I'll give you a few reflection questions to take this deeper with the Lord and what He is calling you to focus on right now. Join the Happy, Holy Mama Membership and get access to our Deep Dive Workshop (and replay!) this Thursday, March 14th!

Managing time isn't as hard or mysterious as you're making it out to be. There isn't some magic formula for managing it 'right.' And there isn't a one-size fits all way to organize your day that would solve all your stress, that you just can't figure out. It's not true that you can't create a schedule or routine that works for your day, you're likely just thinking about it in an unproductive way and just don't know where to start. Here's what it all boils down to: Your mindset about Time itself Three essential skills that will help make managing the time God gives you better. In today's podcast I am diving into all of it so grab your earbuds and listen to: Manage Your Time Better. Join the Happy, Holy Mama Membership to participate in our next Monthly Homeschool Strategy Workshop on Time Management! Subscribe to Fiat Life Coaching weekly life coaching tips in your inbox! Book a Consult Call.

In my life coaching work we practice thinking about what you hope your kids will say about you as their mother and homeschooler, in the future. And then taking action now to help create that outcome. We dream about what our children's futures will look like, and sometimes it keeps us up at night. If you ever worry about your kid's futures and what they will say about their experience in your homeschool, then today's podcast episode will help you take a big deep, calming breath and rest into what God is inviting you into today. I am joined today by former homeschooled student, now adult and published author, Maddie Dobrowski. Maddie and I had one of the most life-giving conversations on the podcast. We talked not just about her book, The Lord of the Rings and Catholicism (which is amazing and you should get your copy right now!), but we actually primarily discussed her experience as a homeschooled student and how it has played an integral role in forming her into the successful adult (and practicing Catholic for everyone keeping score) she is today. She has the most incredible insight from the student's perspective, shares vulnerably about how her life hasn't necessarily turned out the way she expected, but how beautifully it is turning out to be. And she attributes so much of it to the examples she had growing up in a big, Catholic, homeschooling family environment. Especially her mother's influence. I walked away from this conversation feeling like I had just been on retreat and I think you will, too! I'd like to invite you to listen in on this delightful and inspiring conversation: You're Doing Better Than You Think You Are with Maddie Dobrowski. Subscribe to Fiat Life Coaching weekly life coaching emails. Join the Happy, Holy Mama Podcast Free Facebook Group Get The Lord of the Rings and Catholicism by Maddie Dobrowski Follow Maddie on IG Join Maddie's Substack

Do you go into Lent thinking maybe this will be the year you'll finally kick some bad habits and make big changes (and maybe lose some weight in the process)? Do you have half a dozen ideas for what to give up, but never get around to clarifying what you're actually going to focus on? (This was me for forever.) Or are you the kind of penitent who starts out peaceful and self-controlled, with a clear goal in mind? Whatever you're M.O. is, I'm willing to bet that at some point, either during Lent or on just your normal homeschool day, you're tempted to give up. To quit. To throw in the towel and go down an easier, more familiar path. I want to help you have more success with Lent this year than you've had in the past, which will set you up for more success in life as well. That's why during today's episode of the Happy, Holy Mama Podcast, I am going to shed some light as to the inner workings of your human brain and why it resists change so much. I am also going to teach you how to catch yourself before you quit (or in the act of quitting) and how to come back to focus so you can keep moving forward toward your goals, during Lent and beyond. Grab your earbuds and let's dive into today's episode: Give Up Giving Up For Lent. Click here to get the details for the Happy, Holy Mama Membership to Quit Quitting for Good with support and community! Have questions first? Click here to book a free Consult Call to ask me all your questions before joining.

This week is not just Ash Wednesday, it's not just Valentine's Day, it's also the100th episode of the Happy, Holy Mama Podcast, AND February 14th is also the 20th anniversary of the passing of my first husband, Joey. It is a FULL week! So as I was reflecting what I should talk about on the podcast this week, it seemed super obvious to me to share more of my love story with the Lord. And like most love stories, it's not all lovely. It's not all roses. It's not all happiness. There is pain and loss and suffering on the journey, probably not unlike your own story. But there is also tremendous joy and growth through it all. So this week I am inviting you to join me as I reflect on the goodness and faithfulness of God that can be found through pain and loss when you learn how to unite your will with His Holy Will. What better way to head into Lent? Especially if you've struggled with this season in the past. As always I end the podcast with questions to help you reflect on how to engage more with God's Holy Will for yourself, to go deeper with the Lord, and make significant shifts in your own life, especially in regards to areas of your past that need some healing love. My fervent prayer today is that you walk away from this episode feeling more capable of offering a heartfelt, "Blessed Be God" in the midst of pain and adversity. Which, lets face it, might be what homeschooling feels like on this Monday morning in February. I'd be honored if you joined me in my love story with the Lord in today's episode: Blessed Be God: A Reflection on Loss and My Love Story with God's Holy Will. ******** Links mentioned in the episode: Are you taking a break from social media this Lent and want to stay in touch with me? Join my mailing list HERE. Not giving up social and want to connect with me on Facebook? Join the brand new Happy, Holy Mama Podcast Facebook Group HERE! Get the details for the Happy, Holy Mama Membership HERE. Book a free Consult Call to disucss joining the Membership HERE!

If you were a teacher in a brick-and-mortar school or professor in college you would have designated time when you would prep your day, prepare the rest of your week, do research, grade papers, and receive students questions either via email or in person. However, as homescholers we have the added obstacles of toddlers and babies underfoot, laundry that needs to be changed over, meals that need to be made, and children delivered around town for various activities. So how do you get it all done? I'm sharing a couple of my favorite strategies for fitting the most important things into your day and have the added benefit of helping your children build skills of meeting deadlines and thinking about their own time in new ways...all because you start doing it first! Grab your earbuds and let's dive into today's podcast episode that might just change how you experience your day: Mom's Office Hours Ready to join the Happy, Holy Mama Membership right now and don't want to wait? Book a free Consult Call with me HERE to talk with me about what's holding you back from doing what you want to do during your day, what's keeping you from enjoying your homeschooling lifestyle, and how working together in the Membership is going to help you make those shifts right now for more connection and more productivity. Are you just finding me and want to do go deeper with my work before joining the program? Sign up here to take my hit free masterclass: How to Stop Yelling and Start Connecting and I'll send you the replay to watch instantly!

How often do you confess not making enough time for prayer? Or lose your cool around the state of your home? Not look up when your kids are talking to you or rush them through something so you can get back to what you'd prefer to be doing? In today's episode I'm going to share my own personal experience with each of these areas and how I found peace and healing through learning how to turn them into a Holy Hour. I'm going to share with you some deep mindset shifts to start making right now and reflection quesitons to help you begin immediately. Grab your earbuds and let's talk about how to Turn Cleaning into a Holy Hour! Want help navigating any obstacles you can forsee coming up as you want to implement this work and making it a permanent change? Book a free Consult Call with me here to talk about how to get started creating these significant and powerful changes in your own life.

How often do you feel embarassed by, ashamed, or resentful of by your past? Have you ever noticed how your behavior changes here and now when your thoughts turn to things that have happened in the past? Have you ever noticed the impact of being focused on the past is having on your life here and now? Especially in sneaky ways, like how it's hard to receive compliments or believe your husband when he says you're beautiful. That's what I'm diving into in today's podcast episode! How the past influences and impacts our current experiences and how, too often, it keeps you stuck. I'm going to give you some loving advice and coaching as someone who used to be STUCK in repeating past mistakes and I'm going to share what I've learned as I reflect on my 40th birthday. Of course you'll walk away with a few questions to ask yourself as you begin your own reflections and hopefully start making changes today to how you allow your past to influence your present. Grab your earbuds and let's dive into: How to Stop Getting Stuck in the Past Book a Consult Call HERE to talk with me about how coaching can help you let go of your own past and start living into the present moment more fully!

Ever wonder why you have a hard time letting something go? For example you have at thought like: I can't get anything done! And then suddenly you see half finished or not-started projects everywhere? Which, of course, leads to further hamster wheel thoughts like: I can't follow through. I can't do what I want to do. We're not where we should be. This is how you get stuck in a loop of negative thinking, finding proof everywhere you look of how things aren't how they should be. There is an actual biological reason for this! In today's episode I'm going to explain what's going on in your brain and how to get off the hamster wheel of negative, unintentional thoughts, and start thinking on purpose.

If you were a teacher in a brick-and-mortar school, then you would be required to take classes on a regular basis to continue your education, grow and build onto your skills, and learn the newest techniques and strategies to provide the best experience possible for your students and for yourself. And yet, there has never been such a continuing education program for homeschoolers, let alone Catholic homeschoolers. That's why I created the Happy, Holy Mama Membership. In today's episode, I'm going to walk you through the six essential skills I have determined that every Catholic homeschooler needs to enjoy and thrive in this call from God to homeschool your kids. Because if you're answering this call from God to marriage, motherhood, and homeschooling, but not enjoying it, then I'm willing to bet it's because you're lacking in one, or more, of these essential skills. Even if we never work together, today's podcast will give you some insight on which skill areas God might be tapping you on the shoulder to work on with Him this year. If He's tapping you on the shoulder to do this work with Him through the Happy, Holy Mama Membership, then I would be honored to be your coach and have a small part in your journey with the Lord! You can get all the details for the membership HERE. Or you can join right now by clicking THIS LINK.

Are you using the past as evidence for what's possible in your future? Do you self-sabotage your New Year's resolution and quit in the first few weeks? Do you set goals or just take a bunch of actions that have a common theme? Then get frustrated when you don't produce different results? In today's episode, I'm going to walk you through the mindset that keeps you stuck and how to step into the mindset that will actually support the changes you want to create in your life! I'm going to show you why the actions, good as they may be, might not work out and how some small changes to your thought process can make those exact same actions more transformative and productive to your overall desires! NEW MASTERCLASS is THIS Friday! Register HERE for How to Get Your Homeschool Back on Track and I'll send you the replay after it's over. Check out the details for the Happy, Holy Mama Membership which will be open THIS FRIDAY, January 5-12, 2024 and get ready to join us! You can join the waitlist for Happy, Holy Mama here!

If you find yourself getting bogged down in the to-dos, attitudes of kids, and starting to feel disconnected to the true meaning of Christmas, then I'd like to invite you to take a small pause with me in the middle of this busy day to find rest and peace with Mary in the manger. In today's special Christmas episode of the Happy, Holy Mama podcast, I'm going to walk you through a short meditation with Mary, Joseph, and the infant Jesus to be filled up with hope, peace, and joy. Grab your earbuds and let's reconnect to the true reason for the season.

Does it feel like there's a tension inside of you between being self-sacrificing, 'offering up' your suffering and self-care? Like maybe those two things don't mesh and, because it's so confusing, then you might be hesitant to do either one? At least, not well. Let alone joyfully. That's what I'm talking about in today's podcast episode. I'm sharing with you some beautiful insights that were the fruit of regular conversations happening inside the Happy, Holy Mama Membership this past month as some of us prepared for a consecration to Jesus through Mary on December 8th. Insights like what it means to truly become a 'handmaid of the Lord' through our motherhood and how to become so close to Jesus in our children. And how the deep self-care we do inside the membership and how doing that deep work is what makes being self-sacrificial so much more doable and even joyful. Grab your earbuds and something cozy and listen to this powerful Advent episode: Joyful Self-Sacrifice. Join the waitlist HERE for the Happy, Holy Mama Membership, which opens for enrollment on January 5-12, 2024! Register HERE for the free masterclass on January 5, 2024 : How to Get Your Homeschool Back on Track Get all the details for Happy, Holy Mama Membership HERE.

Because I have met SO many women on Consult Calls who tell me on that they worked right up to Christmas and then went back to school immediately after the New Year, I feel that what happened in our kitchen this week was worth sharing in hopes of helping you prevent that for yourself this year, if it's not what you truly want to be doing. ​​​​​​​ In today's podcast episode I'm going to share a conversation I had with my husband about the discomfort he was feeling about where we are at in our homeschool here in December. I'm also going to share what followed: a simple process WITH our high schoolers, to find out exactly where we ARE and where we are NOT. Which led us to make clear, confident decisions about how to finish this semester intentionally despite a LOT of life things that happened! I'm going to walk you through the simple evaluation we use in our own home to gather this data for your family. And I'll leave you with some gentle reminders to help you give yourself permission to stop. To slow down. To enjoy each other. ​​​​​​​ Build trust with yourself and with them that you'll allow yourselves to rest and connect, without making everyone pay for it by "buckling down" when you start back up, or "do some school during the summer." Grab your earbuds and let's get real today, friends. Get all the details for the Happy, Holy Mama Membership HERE Join the waitlist for Happy, Holy Mama HERE!

While we all intellectually know that our Christmas won't be perfect, somewhere inside most of us are still striving for a version of perfect. We want a plan. We want it organized and done ahead of time. We want to know where we're going and what's going to happen. We want to plan for all contingencies so no one is disappointed and we can all go home happy. This is as far from the first Christmas as it gets, and yet the first Christmas was truly the only perfect one in human history. Join me for today's podcast episode where I talk about how perfectionism is manifesting in your Advent as well as your homeschooling. I'm going to give you four suggestions to do right now to be more intentional this Advent and then how to apply them to your homeschooling as well, so that you can finish both seasons the way you truly want to. Join the waitlist for the Happy, Holy Mama Membership HERE. Click here to register for the free masterclass on January 5th: How to Your Homeschool Get Back on Track.

One of the reasons you feel overwhelmed and bogged down with a million decisions each day is because you're not giving your brain enough space to think outside of those times (those times exist, I promise), in order to creatively problem solve in the moment. And because this happens over and over, then you may have begun believing that you don't know what to do, because it feels like you're constantly putting out fires. It may feel like you've lost all ability to solve problems in a calm, meaningful way. And it may even feel like you can't hear God telling you want He wants you to do. In today's podcast episode, I'm diving into why this happens and the steps you can take to step back and listen to the Lord clearly. I'm giving you specific questions to ask yourself ahead of time to prepare as well as what to consider in the middle of a challenging moment. Doing this is what helps you build trust with yourself and your with your kids and allows you to live in and from peace more than overwhelm! Grab your earbuds and something warm to snuggle up with and let's dive into how to become a creative problem solver. Join the waitlist for the Happy, Holy Mama Membership HERE! Get the details for the Happy, Holy Mama Membership here!

It's Thanksgiving week here in the US and this can feel like the beginning of a needlessly busy season. It's so hard to feel grateful, peaceful, satisfied, and accomplished when there is so much to do and in the back of your mind you're worrying about what your mother-in-law might say about your home, children's behavior, or offers her unsolicited opinions about homeschooling. If Thanksgiving, or the holidays in general, have been historically painful for you and you're kind of dreading what's about to happen this week, then today's podcast is just for you. I dive into what's going on in your brain that takes you out of gratitude and give you a simple Thought Exercises to get into a better mindset this week as well as a way to think about organizing your schedule this week. We're all busy right now, but it doesn't have to be painful. So grab your earbuds and something warm to snuggle up with for this short and sweet episode to help set you up to end this week with true gratitude, regardless of what happens. Join the Waitlist for the Happy, Holy Mama Membership Here! Get the details for the Happy, Holy Mama Membership here!

Are you one of the MANY mamas struggling with feeling tired all day, going for that afternoon cup of coffee to keep going, and mamas struggling with secondary infertility? If so, today's episode of the Happy, Holy Mama Podcast is just for you. Deeply Faithful Catholic, homeschooling mama, and Functional Medicine practitioner Rita Johnson and I had a fantastic conversation about living out our Catholic homeschooling lifestyle while dealing with the real struggles that our bodies present. She talks about her own struggles with infertility, guilt over having children but the desire for more, and her own path to healing her mind, body, and soul, which is now the work that the Lord has called her to do with other women. This is not an episode you're going to want to miss! Grab your earbuds and let's dive in to this powerful episode: Infertility and Healing Your Body with Rita Johnson. Connect with Rita at Natural Fertility care.org And her YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@divinemercynutritionalcare

Communication not your strong suit? Do you get frozen and tongue-tied when your kids ask you a million questions? People please and say Yes to everything, even when you'd prefer not to, because you don't think you know what to do? If this, today's podcast is going to give you the #1 thing to STOP doing right now to improve your communication not only with your children on a homeschool day, but also with how you speak to yourself, how you speak to God, your husband, your in-laws, and improve your relationships in general. I'm also going to give you some excellent questions to ask yourself and others to gather more information and make better decisions about what you want, so you can communicate more clearly. Ready to start communicating better? Grab your earbuds and listen in to today's short and sweet podcast episode: Stop Doing THIS for Better Communication! Links mentioned in today's episode: The Replay is available for my free masterclass: How to Stop Yelling and Start Connecting - watch HERE! Get all the details for the Happy, Holy Mama Membership HERE - it opens for enrollment in January! Want special offers for the Membership, even before it opens? Join the Waitlist HERE to have access to those special offers. Want to get started with my life coaching work BEFORE January? Book a Consult Call HERE and let's talk about the best path forward for you to have support and encouragement THROUGH the holidays this year!

Even if you don't consider yourself a 'fearful' person, there might be ways that fear is sneaking into your life and you're just not aware of it's presence or effect it's having in your heart and home. In today's podcast episode, I'm going to share where fear actually comes from - and it's not political parties, Halloween, homecoming dresses, the pope, or your children. I'm also going to share some ways that fear might be showing up as anger, frustration, irritation, or anxiety about the world around you, about your kids, your home, and your homeschooling. We're going to talk about what fear and anger make you want to do and how you can know what emotions you're operating from on a daily basis, especially if they are emotions you don't don't want running the show. With this awareness I'm then going to give you a few exercises to go through you so can take back control, start managing your mind around fear, and start showing up with more love, peace, and self-control. Grab your earbuds and let's dive in! Get the Replay of the free masterclass: How to Stop Yelling and Start Connecting!

Washing dishes through hidden, bitter tears is not how you want to end the day. However, since it's the only moment you get to yourself you take your time, even though it's past your bedtime. Bedtime is such a fluid phrase for you, it doesn't actually mean the same thing day to day, even though you'd prefer it to. But that would take mountains (of laundry) getting up and putting themselves away. It would take high school papers being turned in on time so you can correct them before 10pm. It would take you being more consistent in what you ask of them and you're just too tired to fight their negative attitudes, especially after battling to wake them up to even start the day at a decent hour. Every. Single. Day. Instead of beating yourself up for how it's been going, how you didn't do it 'better' in the past (which is why, you tell yourself, they are the way they are right now), and drowning in a sinkful of suds and discouraged tears because it's all on you, I would like to invite you to listen to today's podcast episode: How to Stop Doing Everything for Your Teens. Because today I'm going to lay down some truth about what you're currently doing and why you do what you do. I'm going to give you a glimpse into where that leads if it continues. I'm also going to give you some practical things to do, including actual phrases you can use, if they feel good to you to try, with your teens to stop doing everything for your teens (and kids of all ages really) and start becoming the adult you hope they can become someday. Register HERE for my brand new LIVE Masterclass (and have access to the replay as well) happening THIS Friday, October 27th at 10:00am PST/1:00pm ET: How to Stop Yelling and Start Connecting.

If we could just get our work done, THEN we could take a break. THEN we could get something done. THEN I can breathe and maybe even enjoy my kids. But you don't get your work done. You don't breathe and you're not enjoying your kids or your relationships as much as you'd like. If your current line of thinking, which sounds a lot like this before that, isn't working for you, then today's episode is going to invite you into a different way of thinking about what needs to come first. Spoiler: it's the relationships before the tasks. I'm also going to give you some good questions to ask yourself, and even ask your kids if you're feeling brave, to faciliate a conversation about how you want to do things differently as a family to make things more connective, more enjoyable, and maybe even a little fun. I'm also going to give you a few ways to think about the upcoming holidays in a similar fashion, so you can think ahead, make a great plan, and build in time for rest, connection, and fun this year! Watch Now: Intro to Loving Your Homeschool Life, my FREE pre-recorded Masterclass! Subscribe to Fiat Life Coaching email list HERE to hear about all the upcoming events like new masterclasses and when the Happy, Holy Mama Membership will be opening again!

Do you worry about your kid's lack of motivation? Have a rambunctious teenager who has passions, but no goals? Worry that they won't end up where they should, based on their current trajectory? You just want to make the right decisions, help them have their best possible future. It would be nice if you could shortcut some of the hardship and learning curves you may have had to face on your journey, but you can't do it for them! Well today's episode is a treat, because I am joined by long-time Homeschool Connections teacher, Tan Books author, and History in a Minute YouTuber, Phillip Campbell. Phillip and I had a fantastic chat about his not-so-straight journey to now being one of the most famous Catholic high school teachers in the world! He shares his ups and downs, college experienceS, and what he's learned along the journey. This is such an important conversation for parents to listen to to remember one of the most important things: it's going to be okay. God is always with our kids. And that your kid doesn't have to have it all figured out by the time they graduate. My major takeaway from today's episode is that once they choose to do something, our kids can accomplish anything. Phillip's interview today is a testimony to just that. Grab your earbuds and listen to: It's Going to Be Okay with Phillip Campbell Subscribe to Fiat Life Coaching Emails Take the pre-recorded Masterclass: Intro to Loving Your Homeschool Life Get my Free PDF Download 30 New Thoughts to Think (To Put a Bad Homeschool Day in Right Order)

We're fairly early on in the school year, which is about when most homeschool moms start to question the plans they started off with. Or maybe you're realizing that you never really had a plan in the first place and you'd like to get something established. Something doesn't feel quite right, isn't flowing the way you wanted it to, or flat out isn't working at all. Self doubt and confusion creep in and you end up spending tons of time in research mode to find the "right thing" only to end up frustrated that it might not exist. Instead of throwing the entire day out with the bath water, I want to give you a few tips to establish, or tweak, your homeschool routines to make sure that they are working for you, not against you. Book a free Consult Call here Take my Free Masterclass: Intro to Loving Your Homeschool Life

Do you get frustrated when your kids don't say thank you or when they expect things to appear as if out of nowhere? Do you find yourself feeling sad, helpless, or even resentful that they seem entitled and/or ungrateful? Instead of staying stuck in those negative emotions that come up around your children's attitudes, I want to invite you to listen to today's episode of the Happy, Holy Mama Podcast. There are some important pieces to your relationships, and the culture in your home, that might be missing, or have gone unpracticed. In today's episode, I'm going to give you some insight as to what might be going on. You'll walk away with a few things to try with your family, regardless of their ages, that can help plant the seeds of gratitude that can grow and come to fruition sooner than you think. I have found that gratitude is the gateway to hope. So if you've been feeling sad, disappointed, and a little hopeless about your children's attitudes towards you, or what they are given, then I pray today's episode offers you a bit of hope for how it could be different. Happy Monday! Book a free Consult Call with me here. Click here take my free pre-recorded masterclass: The Intro to Loving Your Homeschool Life. Join my email list to be kept up to date about upcoming live events that I'm hosting by clicking HERE!

Does it feel like your mood, worth, and even your value is tied up in how productive you are? Like if you could just get more done, then you would finally feel better? If this sounds like you, then I have a fantastic friend I want to introduce you to today in my episode, Being More Productive with Kelsey Pasquarell! Kelsey is going to share with you SO much goodness and wisdom from the work she does not only as a productivity coach, but also as a Catholic homeschooling mama.She shares her story, her journey, and some extremely practice tips for how you can shift not only your behaviors to be more productive, but also your mindset to make those behaviors your new way of living. Listen here to a super fun and powerful conversation I had with my new friend, Kelsey Pasquarell on Being More Productive! True Presence Podcast www.truepresence.life/webinar

If it felt easier (not that it was easy, but maybe easier than it feels right now) to homeschool when they were little and now it's feeling hard because they're older, then today's episode is for you. Even if your kids are still little and it's feeling difficult to trust yourself to know what's best for them, today's episode is for you, too. In fact, there are so many areas that we lack trust in: Trusting your kids to do their school work, get their chores done, and grow up to be good people when they grow up is so hard to do (specially if they've lied or cheated in the past) Trusting your husband when it feels like he doesn't completely understand what you're going through. Trusting God when it feels like things aren't going the way we'd hoped they would... It all boils down to how we trust ourselves. In today's episode I'm going to dive into what lack of Trust in yourself looks like and reveal the two reasons you aren't trusting right now. I'll talk about where some of this comes from and give you some good questions to ask when you're thinking about saying Yes to something without giving it proper consideration. If trust is one of the hardest things for you to do in your homeschool day, then grab your earbuds and let's hang out! If this is the work God is whispering in your ear to do with Him this school year, then please reach out to me for a free Consult Call so we can talk about when that started, how it's been showing up in your life since, and I'll show you the exact path you can take right now to start building trust with yourself, your kids, and with God. It doesn't have to be like this anymore. You can feel better, more peaceful, and more confident, all it takes is deciding it's time. If you're ready, let's talk. Brand New Free Resource! 30 New Thoughts to Think (to Put a Bad Day in Right Order)

It's the beginning of a new school year and I cannot tell you how many times I get asked: I'm thinking about homeschooling this year, what curriculum do you recommend? Or, I've been homeschooling for a while and I'm thinking about switching it up, what do you recommend? Okay, FIRST off, this is 100% dependent on what the goal is for your homeschooling journey. If you plan to send your kids back to the school system someday, then my recommendations will be different than if you're wanting to make this your new way of life. So there isn't ONE set of curricula, publisher, or even philosophy that I can recommend. It's 100% tailored to your unique family - as a life coach this is what I do best! Second, there are several things to consider when you're looking at making a change, not just the curriculum itself. In fact the curriculum is typically one of the LAST decisions to make. So, in today's episode I am sharing with you my very best homeschool curriculum tips to help you make the very best decisions about curriculum (and so much more) for your family this year! Book a Consult Call with me here!

It's been another long homeschool day and you're looking forward to when your husband is done with work so you can get a break. After a quick rundown of how the day went and what to expect from now until dinnertime, you pass off the littles to your husband on your way out the door to drive the bigs to their afternoon activities (something you've been looking forward to all day, because it feels like a break to drive them somewhere, anywhere). You may or may not have remembered to say hello to him when you saw him after work, it escapes you as you drive away from the house and toward the five minutes of quiet you'll have after the bigs get out of the car and on to their next thing. You have a good marriage, but maybe not necessarily what you would call a 'great' marriage. If you're expecting time, the advancement of your children's ages, and being 'less busy' to take your marriage from good to great (or painful to less painful), then today's podcast is for you. Today I'm talking all about what your marriage has to do with your homeschooling and how to prioritize your husband even during a busy homeschool day so that you can start having the kind of marriage you dream about having one day when your kids are grown, sooner. Learn the first few steps to improve your marriage now even while your kids are little in today's episode: How to Have a Marriage You Look Forward To. Book a free Consult Call with me here to learn how to improve your unique marriage with life coaching tools right now.

Last week was Planning Week inside the Happy, Holy Mama Membership and there was SO much goodness that I wanted to share it ALL with you on the podcast! However, in attempting to summarize 10 hours worth of coaching into one short podcast, I will limit myself to 5 nuggets from Planning Week 2023 to share with you today, including (but definitely not limited to): Three things to prevent burnout this year How to create goals How you think about your past impacts your present How curriculum fits into your life R.I.M. = Relationship, Identity, Mission I am still getting emails from the mamas inside the group saying how much they appreciated the content, the time to work on their plans, and the coaching through the toughest things they struggle with all year - often their own thoughts about themselves and fears about their kids. So I know you'll benefit from this, too. I tried to give you as much as I possibly could here, I pray it serves you as you plan and implement your own homeschool year this year! If something you hear today sounds like work the Lord is calling you to go deeper with and you'd like to chat with me about working together, please book a Consult Call with me today!

Let's talk about holding grudges. Here are a few symptoms that can let you know if you are a grudge holder: The feeling of annoyance, irritation, or anger lingers for several minutes up to several days after an upsetting incident. You angry clean. You slam dishes around while making dinner, doing dishes, or serving meals. You reply to texts with the least amount of words and emotion as you can muster. You withhold physical and emotional connection. If any of these sound familiar to you, then you, my friend, are a grudge holder. I used to be one, too, so I know how rotten this feels. I want to lovingly let you know that holding grudges is a symptom of a larger issue: not managing your mind or having emotional regulation, aka, expecting other people to provide your happiness. In this week's episode of the Happy, Holy Mama Podcast, I'm going to give you two tips from my own marriage to help you stop holding grudges by learning how to fight fair. These were HARD lessons for me to learn and I want to share them with you so you can learn them, hopefully, a little more gently than I did. In today's short but sweet episode, you'll learn what's actually yours to control and how to step into that ownership. You'll walk away with specific ideas on how to let other people off the hook for things they don't actually mean (but you're upset about anyway) and start building connection instead of contention. These two nuggets I have for you will help you have more peace in your relationships and stop holding grudges once and for all! Book a Consult Call with me here! Get the details for the Happy, Holy Mama Membership here!

[First Name], Just a few short years ago, when my kids would fight, it would send me through the roof. I hated hearing them fight. It felt like it was all the time, like they were never going to figure it out, and like it was completely out of my control. There was yelling, tears, guilt and shaming…from my kids too. If this sounds like you please know that all of the thoughts I just mentioned above are just thoughts. THey are not facts. It's not true that they are fighting all the time, that they will never figure it out, and that it's completely out of your control. Those thoughts just feel so true that you believe them. Which is what's keeping you stuck instead of getting into creative problem solving mode. In today's episode of the Happy, Holy Mama Podcast I'm going to shed some light on what's actually going on, why your kids fighting feels so rotten, why it feels out of control, and give you some practical things to try the next time your kids fight. Listen, mama, your kids will always have something to argue about, but it doesn't have to send you into a panicked, fight or flight state anymore. Do my kids still fight? You betcha. But it's no longer an emotionally devastating experience for me. And it doesn't have to be for you, either. Grab your earbuds and listen here to: When Kids Fight. P.S. The Happy, Holy Mama Membership is OPEN FOR ENROLLMENT right now through this Saturday, August 12, 2023! If you've been on the edge of your seat waiting for your chance to join so you can learn how to: Manage your mind, Have emotional regulation, Dive into Catholic homeschool mindset and strategy, Manage your time, and now lose weight!! All with a Catholic centered life coach (that's me!) and among a community of faith-filled Catholic homeschoolers just like you answering this call to motherhood in this unique way... WAIT NO LONGER!!! Click this link for all the details and join right now! One week from today the members of the program will begin diving into Planning Week where I will be coaching every single day for five days in a row, teaching my unique process to plan your home AND homeschooling so you know exactly what to do every single day to make the most progress this year with peace and confidence. Join right now to have access to the membership, the content, the coaching, Planning Week, monthly workshops FOR LIFE. Got questions? Email: [email protected] and I'll get back to you shortly! Otherwise, I'll see you inside the membership!

When your kids don't produce the grades or the effort in your homeschool that you'd like them to, what do you make that mean? Does it send you into a panic or fit of frustration? I mean, this is their future right? Shouldn't they care more? Shouldn't they want to be successful in life? We know that they do want to be successful in life, to have a good life, a happy life. But our definition of success and theirs is likely very different. Your definition of success comes from your past, your history, your childhood, and your even your marriage. Their definition of success is coming from you. So if you are valuing what they produce over who they are, then that is what they will likely go out into the world valuing as well. So as you sit down to plan your school year, I want to encourage you to also write out your definition of success. Do this for yourself and for your kids separately, because you've likely been owning a lot of your kid's behavior and efforts as evidence of your own success and, unfortunately that never produces the results you hope for. I also want to encourage you to come listen to me dive more deeply into this topic during this week's episode of the Happy, Holy Mama Podcast: Defining Success. And then make sure you also sign up to join me for my brand new free masterclass this Saturday, August 5th at 9:00 am PST/12:00 pm ET: 2 Steps to Becoming a Decisive Homeschooler (and Stop Second Guessing)! Sign up for the free class here! And get ready to join the Happy, Holy Mama Membership that will be open for enrollment this Saturday, August 5-12, 2023!

Today I am speaking to all the mamas who have littles at home. And even if you don't anymore, I promise that what I say today will speak to you in some way, so too all the mamas out there: grab your ear buds and listen up! Every single one of you needs what I'm going to tell you this week to enjoy the experience of your life with your kids, regardless of what age they are, but especially if you have a bucket of little people in your home. I'm going to shed some light on the thinking that's keeping you stuck. I'm going to help you make a few vital mindset shifts that will make whatever else you try more doable. And I'm going to give you some practical things to start implementing to allow your children to become more independent and helpful way younger than you likely think they can be. And then go check out all the details for the Happy, Holy Mama Membership, because enrollment for the program will be open August 5-12, 2023! Subscribe to Fiat Life Coaching for up to date information on free masterclasses and open enrollment for the program!

Your teen just stares blankly at you, gives you a one word grunt response, and looks generally disinterested in his own life and you want to absolutely explode. This is his life after all! He should care. He should have an opinion. And the fact that he doesn't seem to drives you completely bonkers. And bonkers looks like you pushing, prying, digging, and maybe some nagging about decisions you want made. Because you just want this teen to have a good life. But that might not be how he's interpreting your efforts. In today's episode I share some insight as to what might be going on and I give you a few things to consider, things to try, and ways to connect instead of whatever hasn't been working so far. Walk away from today's episode feeling more like your teen's mama and less like his warden. So throw your earbuds in and listen up! Happy Monday! With love, Emily P.S. Check out my free masterclass that hundreds of mamas have loved, Intro to Loving Your Homeschool Life to dip your toes into what I do with my life coaching clients. And then shoot me an email and tell me your top takeaways to [email protected] !

Have you ever wondered HOW to have a better relationship with your teenager? Or do the teen years scare you and you're not sure if you want to do them at all, maybe you'd rather just skip them and jump straight to the 'good' stuff of the adult years with your kids? Well today, I am joined by Parenting and Teen Life Coach Ben Pugh where, together, we shed some serious truth and good news about parenting the teen years! In this super fun, impactful conversation Ben shares his unique perspective as a former teen 'knucklehead' turned high school principal and why parents of teens need to calm down. In this episode you'll also hear: What your teen ACTUALLY wants from you WHY you're feeling disconnected from them Shifts to make in YOUR mindset to help change your relationship Values Based Parenting tips from Ben Rooting your relationship with your teen in God's truth for them from me You can get some more awesome advice from Ben about parenting your teens through his freebie Teen Relationship Tune Up The Happy, Holy Mama Membership will be opening for enrollment soon! Get all the details for the membership program here! Want me as your Catholic Life Coach and don't want to wait for the membership to open? Book a Free Consult Call with me right now HERE.

We've all had rotten days where we've spent more time demanding, yelling, and overreacting than we would care to admit. Too often mamas want to just write a bad day off and start over tomorrow, even if it's only 1:37pm on a Tuesday. In today's episode of the Happy, Holy Mama Podcast, I want to share with you 6 things you can do right now to interrupt the bad day and start the recovery process with you and your family. Spoiler alert: the way to recover from a bad day is connection. But HOW to start the recovery process mid-meltdown? HOW do you connect when you're in the thick of feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, angry, guilty, ashamed, and inadequate? How do you salvage the relationship even if you've totally lost your cool? How do you keep your family connected to God through our Catholic faith, even on a bad day? That's what I'm going to share with you today, so listen here! Want to go deeper into the life coaching tools I teach and see them applied to your Catholic homeschooling lifestyle? Watch my FREE Masterclass by clicking below: Intro the Loving Your Homeschool Life!