Happy, Holy Mama

Parenting teenagers can sometimes feel like learning an entirely new language.
The child who once told you everything might suddenly seem harder to read. Conversations can turn into misunderstandings, emotions can run high, and sometimes you're left wondering what your teen is actually thinking, and what they need from you in this season…or do they even need me anymore?
Recently, I had a conversation with a group of middle school girls that gave me a beautiful glimpse into what our teens and tweens wish their parents understood about them. 
And as a mom of several (ahem, five) teenagers myself, it got me thinking about what I've learned through nearly twenty years of parenting, working with teens, and doing my own work to become a calmer, more connected mom.
In this episode, I'm sharing what your teens really want you to know. I'm giving you a lot here, but ultimately I've boiled it down to three big ones, so listen all the way to the end. 
Because, understanding their hearts a little better can change the way you see them, hear them, and communicate with them through some of the hardest moments in your relationship.
Which will make those hard moments calmer, more respectful, and more impactful in the long run.
If you're a homeschool mama who wants to stay close to your kids as they grow, while giving them the space they need to become who God created them to be, please grab your earbuds and join me for: Three Things Your Teen Desperately Wants You To Know (But Doesn't Know How to Say to You).
Grab my brand new FREE Happy, Holy Homeschool Toolkit HERE!
Learn self-regulation for you in Happy, Holy Mama RIGHT NOW!

Interruptions. 
Repeating yourself for the hundredth time.
Kids who don't listen the first time.
Plans that get derailed.
People who just keep needing things from you.
Sometimes it's not one big thing that causes us to lose our peace, it's the constant accumulation of little annoyances all. day. long.
In this episode, I'm talking about what's really happening when those everyday moments push you over the edge, and why creating more peace in your home doesn't begin with getting everyone else to stop being so frustrating.
Because your children are going to interrupt. You're going to have to repeat yourself. Your husband will sometimes do things you don't like. People will continue to be human.
The question is: Who do you want to be in the middle of all of it?
We're talking about training our children, training ourselves, letting go of resentment and keeping score, and learning to become the woman God is calling you to be—not someday when everyone finally gets their act together, but right here in the actual life He has given you.
If you've ever thought, "I would be so much calmer if everyone would just stop…" grab your earbuds and join me for: HOw to Handle Interruptions Without Losing Your Mind.
Join Reclaim here!

I made a pretty bold claim last week: connection is the key to making homeschooling easier.
Not the perfect plan.
Not the perfect planner.
Not the perfect schedule.
Not the perfect curriculum, school room, or book list.
And maybe you know that, intellectually, but do you believe it down into your bones?
Do you believe it enough to actually practice it? Especially in the tough moments like when kids interrupt you for the 100th time, they say they don't like homeschooling, or you wake up feeling crummy and already on edge?
If not, I'm guessing it's for one of two reasons, (though my guess is it's both):
You don't think connection will work for your unique circumstances.

You don't know how to use the steps to connect. 

 Either way, it's truly never too late to learn! And it's never too late to turn a bad homeschool day around.
Which is why in today's episode I'm breaking down exactly how to use connection in five real life scenarios that come up frequently in coaching, and I'm even tackling your "yeah, but…" objections to why connection won't work in each of the five examples.
Too much to do, and not enough time?
Gotta move onto the next thing in our day?
It won't matter anyway, they'll never change?
If you've ever thought, That sounds lovely, Emily, but you don't understand what's happening in MY house… this episode is especially for you. 😘
Grab your earbuds and join me for: Five Ways to Use Connection to Stop Overreacting and Fall in Love with Your Homeschool!
Join Reclaim: The Stop Yelling (or any kind of Overreacting), Start Connecting Challenge!

Have you ever looked at everything your homeschool requires and thought, there's just not enough of me to go around!
The lessons. The laundry. The activities. The relationships. The needs that seem to come from every direction—sometimes when you're already running on empty.
I know that feeling all too well.
But I've also discovered that homeschooling doesn't have to feel like you're white-knuckling your way through an endless list of things that need to get done.
There is one skill that has completely changed the way I homeschool, parent, manage my time, and show up for the people God has given me. And it's especially powerful during the weeks when life feels harder than usual.
In this episode, I'm sharing what I noticed during a particularly challenging week in our home, why it reminded me so much of my early years of motherhood, and the shift that allowed me to experience it completely differently this time.
If homeschooling has started to feel heavy, your patience is wearing thin, or you find yourself focusing more on getting everything done than actually enjoying the people you're doing it all for, grab your earbuds and join me for: The Secret Ninja Skill to Make Homeschooling 100x Easier.
Join the Reclaim: Stop Yelling and Start Connecting Challenge in Happy, Holy Mama here!

What if you could get to the end of this homeschool year, look back, and genuinely think, We did this one well?
Not because everything went according to plan. Not because your kids always cooperated, you stayed perfectly on schedule, or you never had a hard day. 
But because you know you showed up for the year God gave you in the way you truly wanted to.
In this episode, I'm talking about what it really takes to have a regret-free homeschool year, and it may have far less to do with curriculum, schedules, or getting your kids to behave than you think.
Whether you're heading into the year excited, already feeling tired, or wondering how you're going to make it through another year of homeschooling, I want to help you approach this year differently…with more confidence, connection, freedom, and joy with one simple, but profound shift that will change the way you experience your homeschool this year.
Ready for everything to change…for the better?
Grab your earbuds to join me for: How to Have a Regret-Free Homeschool Year.
And then come work with me in Happy, Holy Mama!