Claim OwnershipHomeschooling For Catholic Parents
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You’re wondering if homeschooling is for you. But your inner critic is telling you you’re not enough. How can I teach my kid when we can’t get through homework without tears and yelling? How would the daily routine look? What curriculum will you use? Your house is already a wreck. You don’t want to feel isolated, like you’re on an island where everyone wears long dresses and raises goats. Plus, aren’t homeschoolers weird?
I am so excited you're here! This podcast will give you peace of mind as you raise successful adults who understand their Catholic faith and how to defend it. I’ll help you find the routine that works for you, you’ll still have community, if that’s what you want, and even a clean, organized home is possible (sometimes).
I’m Maeve Jemison, and I host this pod with my handsome husband, Mat. We’re Catholics who prioritize worship and apologetics through our homeschool journey with our five kids.
I’ve made many mistakes along the way. As a young adult, I left the Catholic church because I didn't understand what was going on. I was a government school graduate and high school teacher so I thought homeschooling meant replicating government school at home. (I was wayyyy off!)
When I finally learned the depths and truths of Catholicism, I was adamant that I would teach my little cradle Catholics about the history and beauty of the religion that Jesus started. No way would my kids be as oblivious as I was. Our homeschooling became a delightful adventure, with the Lord guiding us in tailoring our children’s education. I knew I had found my calling!
If you’re ready to thrive as the domestic church through worship, apologetics and homeschooling, then this podcast is for you!
Thanks for stopping by because home is where the truth is!
108 Episodes
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Teaching your child to read can feel overwhelming—even for experienced homeschool moms. In this encouraging conversation, Maeve sits down with former literacy teacher and phonics expert Melanie Jeffrey, host of Phonics Rules for Kids, to talk about why many children struggle with reading and how simple, clear phonics instruction can change everything. You’ll learn: The best age to begin phonics instructionHow to help beginning, emerging, and struggling readersSimple 15-minute daily acti...
What does wise parenting look like in a modern world? In this episode, we talk about staying attentive without hovering, protecting your child’s sense of control, and why waiting for problems to appear is often too late. We share real-life stories, research-backed insights, and practical ways to stay engaged with your kids as they grow — without shaming, spying, or stepping on their independence. 📚 Recommended reading: The Self‑Driven Child – for understanding autonomy, stress, and motivation...
What does “critical thinking” actually look like in a Catholic homeschool? In this episode, Maeve and Matt unpack why critical thinking breaks down when we stop slowing down, questioning ourselves, and seeking truth with humility—and why Catholic families have a unique advantage when truth is the goal. Using a real-life conversation sparked by a “Friendly Defender Friday” question (“Do Catholics believe they alone possess the truth?”), they walk through how to help kids research, analyze Chur...
What if the most important parts of homeschooling aren’t the lessons you finish—but the moments you almost miss? In this episode, Maeve reflects on a simple prayer—“Lord, show me what’s important today”—and how God answered it through ordinary homeschool moments: a rare nap, a family heirloom quilt, a child’s honest question, and the quiet joy of watching children thrive. Drawing from Scripture, Catholic tradition, the wisdom of the saints, and Charlotte Mason’s educational philosophy, this e...
Even the most beautiful homeschool days have a behind-the-scenes mess. In this episode, Maeve shares 20 practical, doable ways to reset the moment and turn around hard homeschool days—with faith, humor, and a healthy dose of realism (and maybe a little wine at the end). You’ll hear: Why praying in front of your kids mattersThe power of Holy Spirit hugs (yes, they’re a thing)Simple resets that work for preschoolers through high schoolWhy struggling doesn’t mean you’re failing—it means you’re ...
In this episode, Maeve and Mat share ten practical tools that have strengthened their Catholic homeschooling over the years — from faith-filled apps and saint resources to apologetics cards, family-friendly podcasts, and tech choices that support virtue. You’ll hear real-life stories from their home, how these tools have shaped their kids’ faith and confidence, and why small daily practices — like saint-of-the-day readings, friendly apologetics conversations, and intentional tech — can make a...
As we ring in 2026, this homeschool family is learning in nature while camping in Georgia. Please enjoy a replay of Homeschooling for Catholic Parents' most popular episode of all time. Thank you so much for tuning in each week. We appreciate you being here! Episode Notes (Replayed January 4, 2026) Originally published March 30, 2025 Are you worried about staying consistent in your homeschool? Dying to find the perfect routine that you'll stick to forever? It's a struggle fo...
What does it actually mean to raise “successful” kids—and does success have anything to do with money? In this milestone 100th episode, Maeve and Matt walk through a popular Rich Habits Test for Parents, answering 40 questions with total transparency (no pretending, no parenting flexing). From screen time and food habits to gratitude, grit, and goal-setting, they score themselves honestly—and invite you to do the same. But here’s the twist: at the end of the test, they ask the question that m...
Many new or discerning homeschool parents share the same fear: “What if we butt heads all day?” In this episode, Maeve and Matt unpack real listener concerns and offer practical, Catholic-rooted solutions for cooperation, motivation, and peaceful homeschooling. They revisit the timeless wisdom of Charlotte Mason, explore what “first-time obedience” looks like (and why counting to three doesn’t work), and talk honestly about discipline—from biblical authority to gentle consequences to understa...
In Part 2 of Maeve’s rich and energizing conversation with 1000 Hours Outside founder Ginny Yurich, the wisdom keeps flowing. Ginny unpacks what it truly means to honor a child’s individual timeline, including her story of the daughter who became a certified personal trainer at 15—after years of slower reading and spelling progress that would’ve been labeled in a traditional system. They discuss why homeschooling lets you trust God’s design for each child, why biographies build resilience and...
In this bonus Advent episode of Homeschooling for Catholic Parents, Maeve and Matt pop in with a ten-minute “Advent present” for you: one simple, golden piece of parenting advice that can make Christmas calmer and saner for years to come! They also share an update on their family’s Flame of Love Rosary tally for November, rejoicing that 19,070 souls were released from purgatory through prayer. Along the way, they explain what purgatory is (and what it isn’t), touch on 2 Maccabees and praying ...
In this episode, Maeve sits down with Ginny Yurich—beloved author, speaker, and founder of the 1000 Hours Outside movement—to talk about why time in nature is nothing short of transformational for families. Jenny shares the honest truth about her early motherhood years, the surprising four-hour outdoor experiment that saved her sanity, and the science behind attention, mood, circadian rhythm, vestibular development, and why kids today are falling out of chairs and running into walls. Together...
In this beautiful pre-Advent conversation, Maeve welcomes Catholic convert and homeschooling mom-of-six Rebecca Grabill to explore how liturgical living can anchor families during the most chaotic time of the year. Rebecca shares her conversion story, her family’s journey into homeschooling, and the surprising depth and symbolism behind the Magi, the gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, and the entire Epiphany tradition. Together they talk about raising truth-hungry teens, weaving liturgy ...
Feeling like you're in a whirlwind season? Join us as we talk about deadlines, dental visits, sports schedules, field trips, and creative pressure—and find God speaking right into the chaos. With humor and honesty, Maeve shares how a simple Gospel reading from Luke 17 stopped her in her tracks and reframed everything she’d been carrying. From surrendering stress in the middle of real-life parenting demands to rediscovering zeal in her vocation, this episode explores what it means to serve fai...
Maeve sits down with Andrew “Alob” Laubacher—worship leader and Executive Director of Human Reality—to talk about digital addiction and how Catholic families can reclaim time, attention, and joy. Alob shares his conversion story from “party, drugs, rock and roll” to adoration and ministry, then explains how modern platforms are engineered for compulsion (social-validation loops, intermittent rewards), and why our “phones” are really supercomputers designed to monetize our attention. He connec...
It’s Maeve’s quarterly cry episode—so buckle up. Between hand-foot-and-mouth disease, a Boy Scout rebelling against a blowtorch, a dream interview gone poof, and a computer crash that would make Job weep, Maeve somehow still finds grace (and a killer football analogy). Mat’s back, the Bucs are battling, Booker T. Washington makes a cameo, and the moral of the story? Homeschooling’s a lot like making bricks without straw—but with rosaries, coffee, and a few close wins, it still builds saints. ...
It’s been a tough week in the Jemison household, but out of the chaos comes hope — and a spiritual weapon too powerful to ignore. In this episode of Homeschooling for Catholic Parents, Maeve shares a moving story of faith, family, and revival: from a college recruiting trip that turned into a surprising conversation about the Eucharist, to a mysterious rosary that’s changing lives across the world. Discover the devotion that blinds Satan, frees souls from purgatory, and renews families throug...
Show Notes, Published October 19, 2025 In this lively and meaningful episode of Homeschooling for Catholics, Maeve and Mat record on the Feast of the Guardian Angels—and kick things off with angel hair pasta, angel food cake, and a hilarious family story at a trampoline park after a hurricane. (Yes, guardian angels were working overtime that day.) From there, the conversation turns to one of the most requested topics from listeners: organization in the Catholic homeschool home. They sh...
This week, Maeve chats with Marie Hanson — Catholic wedding planner, educator, and founder of White Lily Weddings — about how she went from teaching music to planning faith-filled weddings (and building a business that lets her stay home with her littles). Marie dishes on the quirky rules of Catholic weddings (sorry beach brides 🌊✋), the St. Joseph lily legend, and why debating college friends actually made her faith stronger. They also tackle the big question: Can Catholic moms have a “blue ...
Fresh back from the Eucharistic Encounter in Tampa, we share what it’s like to watch 12,000 Catholics fill an arena for prayer, talks, and powerful adoration. From Fr. Mike Schmitz and Dr. Edward Sri to moving moments with Matt Maher, we talk confession (ever have an Act of Contrition fail?), Eucharistic miracles, first-class relics, and why the Eucharist is truly the source of our hope. You’ll also hear a quick apologetics insight about the altar and priest at Mass, our “holy conundrum” abou...
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