Happy, Holy Mama

This week my oldest child turns 19 and I am truly marveling at the man he is becoming. But it didn't always feel like a sigh of relief. I used to lie awake at night worrying that I was messing up my kids.  I used to worry if they weren't learning what they needed, if their behavior meant I had made the wrong choices, or too many mistakes. I would dread the day and would look back and blame me for all of their stress, lack of preparation, and pain that I was sure they would have in the future. And it would all be my fault. But that's not where we actually are all these years later! In today's podcast episode, I'm reflecting on the journey of how I have worked on giving up control over other people's behavior, and really stepping up into the identity of the happier, holier mama that I always dreamed of being.  It doesn't mean I have it all figured out. It just means that I have learned how to fall in love with the journey, even when it's hard (which it often still is!). And I want to share some of that knowledge with you! If you've ever felt like your peace depends on your child's behavior, or gotten stuck second-guessing your decision to homeschool because of it, grab your earbuds and join me for: The Idol of Control: Behavior and the Three Rs of Surrender and Unconditional Love. Happy, Holy Mama is OPEN FOR ENROLLMENT AGAIN!  Click here to join in time for this week's Stop Yelling Refresh Workshop!

As a homeschool mom it can feel like everything in your home rests on your shoulders. The meals. The lessons. The messes. The schedule. The spiritual atmosphere. It's easy to slip into the belief that if you don't manage everything perfectly, it will all fall apart. In this week's episode, I'm sharing a gentle invitation for the homeschool mom who feels stretched thin and responsible for everything. I'm talking about what it looks like to move from pressure and self-reliance into peace and true stewardship of what the Lord gives you, including the work He is asking you to do. If you've been craving more calm… More clarity… More connection with God in the middle of your very full days… Then grab your earbuds and let's talk about: The Idol of Control: Time and Self-Reliance. The Happy, Holy Mama Membership is OPEN for enrollment! Get the details HERE

Why is it so hard to choose what to do for Lent? Why do we (me included!) put so much pressure on ourselves to pick the perfect sacrifice… the one thing that will finally move the needle… the one decision that will change everything? If you're a homeschool mama who finds herself stuck in indecision, or piling on five spiritual (or non spiritual!) goals because you're afraid one won't be "enough," this episode is for you. Today, I'm talking about the hidden idol of getting it right. The subtle fear that if we choose wrong, it won't count. The quiet pressure to optimize our holiness, our motherhood, even our Lent. But what if the deeper invitation isn't about choosing the perfect sacrifice? What if it's about slowing down… noticing the common thread beneath all your goals… and learning to trust God more than you distrust yourself? In this episode, you'll learn: Why you struggle to follow through (even with good, holy goals) How to identify the deeper "why" beneath your long list of improvements The spiritual shift from striving to surrender Simple thoughts you can practice to build trust with God How presence and surrender, not perfection, draws you closer to Him Lent isn't about misery. It isn't about proving yourself. It isn't about finally becoming the flawless version of you. It's about union. Trust. Surrender. And setting down the idols that stand between you and the Lord. If you struggle with keeping Lent simple, doable, and sustainable, grab your earbuds and join me for: The Idol of Getting It Right: Lent, Homeschooling, and Trusting God.

The busyness of the semester is in full swing and, frankly, I'm tired!  Not the kind of tired I was when our first six kids were eight and under, but still feeling pretty exhausted.  I know I'm not the only one. There are days when we can absolutely pull ourselves up by the bootstraps and get the things done. And then there are days when everything just feels nearly impossible.  Yes, it might have to do with how much sleep you're getting, but it also might have a lot to do with how you're talking to yourself.  What I've learned, and what I'm talking about in today's podcast episode, is that there is a major difference between being physically tired and emotionally tired. If you catch yourself saying, "I can't handle this. I don't wanna do this anymore. This is too much," then, maybe the thing you're actually tired of is feeling incapable and inadequate to handle the life God is giving you. My sisters in Christ, here's the truth: God does not give you more than you can handle, especially when you lean into Him for strength. If that feels hard, please grab your earbuds and let's talk about what's really wearing you down, and how to lay it at the foot of the Cross in: Physical vs Emotional Exhaustion. Join my Beloved Lent Study HERE! The doors close this Friday, February 20, 2026 at midnigth Eastern time!

Do you know what makes a great saint?  It's not their patience, kindness, or gentleness that are the hallmarks of great saints (I mean, St. Nicholas was punching heretics afterall!). Being united to God's will for your life is the key to being a great saint…and it is the antidote to suffering. Believing in His purpose and plans for you as His beloved daughter is essential to being united to His will and open to what He permits in your life. Accepting His will is crucial for your growth, and the growth of those in your care. And surrendering and uniting your will to His plan and will for you and your family is the key to your ultimate happiness, not only here on earth, but ultimately in heaven as well. Becoming a saint is simple: unite your will to God's will moment by moment.  But this is one of the most challenging things in the world to do, because of the pain that sometimes goes along with His daily will for our lives (babies, toddlers, teenagers, husbands who seem to actively work against you) are not things you typically want to accept, surrender, or be united with. And yet, that is the work of becoming a great saint. Every Lent you are being invited to open up to God's will and plan for your life in a deep and profound way. How will you accept that invitation this year? Grab your earbuds and join me for this week's podcast where I re-share my personal testimony of falling in love with God's holy will for my life through tremendous suffering, and the growth that it has yielded ever since: Blessed Be God: A Reflection on Loss, Suffering, and God's Will. Get the details for BELOVED here!

Do you know what impacts every Catholic homeschool mom, especially when we're feeling tender, overwhelmed, or unsure of ourselves? Other people's opinions. Today, I'm talking about what happens in your heart and mind when someone criticizes your parenting, questions your homeschool choices, or simply gives you that look that makes you spiral.  I unpack the truth about how emotions actually work, why other people can't "make" you feel shame or discouragement, and how our own thoughts often become the loudest voice in the room. I share with you simple steps to calm your nervous system down when you feel triggered by other people's words, and three gentle questions to ask God to help you root yourself in His truth, instead of someone else's opinions. This episode is for the mom who's tired of being knocked off course by fear of judgment, whether it's from family, strangers, friends, or even the voice in your own head.  Grab your earbuds and join me a mini-lesson that I teach all of my clients, and that I deeply believe will have a directly positive impact on your day: How to Stop Letting Other People's Thoughts Derail Your Day. Join BELOVED Lent Study HERE to give up the feeling of being "not enough" for Lent this year! Doors are now open!  

Feeling better about your homeschool doesn't start with a new curriculum or even a better chore chart. It starts with Right Order: making time for God, hubby, kids, then tasks. Or, at least, that's what we all desire our days and weeks to look like!  The reason you might not be living this in reality is probably because you're honestly not sure how to do that - and make it work. Which is why in this week's podcast episode, I'm talking all about calendaring in Right Order. Starting with your priorities. Because here's what I see over and over again: we keep telling ourselves we don't have time for prayer, we don't have energy for our husband, and connection with our kids will have to wait until the "real work" is done.  And yet the more we chase productivity first, the more disconnected we feel… and the more stuck we become. Something's gotta give.  Today's podcast is an invitation to take a hard look at your priorities, with some practical tips thrown in to support your God given call to marriage, motherhood, and homeschooling. If you've been feeling behind, over burdened, or like you can't move forward unless you do more, especially with thoughts like: I'm not organized enough. I'm not patient enough. We're behind. We haven't done enough… Then I made this episode for you! Grab your earbuds and join me for: The Priorities and Micro-Decisions Required to Put Your Day in Right Order. Join the Waitlist HERE!

I've been noticing on social media over the past few weeks that so many parents were itching to send their kids back to school, which wasn't surprising. But what did surprise me was how many homeschooling parents are feeling tempted to throw in the towel, because it's just feeling so hard to keep going. This has been stirring up a lot for me, especially for the parents who deeply desire to homeschool, but are feeling overwhelmed, inadequate, and without any other option.   I think it touches a tender place in my heart, because I can remember a time when I felt that way too. And so I've been reflecting recently on why I no longer do. So in this week's podcast episode, I share what I've discovered!  I unpack a little bit of why it can feel really hard to be with our people all the time… and why it can feel confusing when we deeply desire connection, but we don't always know how to have it. Especially when our kids seem to resist lessons, avoid assignments, and argue about chores! Here's the main takeaway from today's episode that I deeply want you to get: if you are homeschooling and you feel that urge to send your kids away or have a break, nothing's wrong.  You are not broken. You probably just haven't been taught the tools to slow down and connect (with yourself or with them). It is not too late. You can learn how to do this. You can learn how to connect with your kids in a way that is life-giving for both you and for them… You can put your life in Right Order.  And when you do, you can feel more satisfied and fulfilled and content in your life exactly where you are. If you are in need of some encouragement and love this week, grab your earbuds and join me for: When Homeschool Feels Like Too Much: The Missing Skill No One Taught Us Join the Beloved Waitlist HERE! We begin soon!

Episode 200 of the Happy, Holy Mama Podcast is a milestone I never could have reached without the steady support of my husband, Lucas. So for this special milestone episode, I invited Lucas back on the podcast for a candid, real-life conversation about what happens when one spouse goes first in the inner work, and the other decides to join in. We share what it looked like inside our actual marriage when Lucas was coming home depleted, feeling burned out, and realizing that trying to "fix the outside stuff" wasn't touching the deeper problem underneath:  That, in his words, he wasn't taking responsibility for his own feelings and therefore wasn't being the leader that I needed him to be.  Lucas shares what shifted for him and how husbands can start making those shifts for themselves right now.  This conversation is for wives and husbands. Wives: you'll hear from me about why your growth really can change the whole emotional climate of your home, without you trying to control or "fix" your husband (psssst…he's not broken!). We talk about the way our thoughts about each other either build trust and safety… or quietly poison connection, which will directly impact how well you live in Right Order. Husbands: Lucas speaks directly to you about the pressure you carry, the temptation to check out, and the difference between "being emotionally available" and emotionally dumping on your wife.  He shares what it means to take responsibility, not through dominance or control, but by becoming steady, curious, charitable, and strong in a way that makes your wife feel safe again. (Yes, we even talk about how confusing modern messages about masculinity can be, and the mindset that actually helps a marriage thrive.) If you're in a season where you feel like two ships passing in the night… Or, if you've been stuck in resentment or exhaustion… Or, if you love each other but don't quite know how to find each other again in the day-to-day… Or, if one or both of you intellectually know that you are living your dream life, but somehow not enjoying it… Then Lucas and I want to invite each of you to grab an earbud and together join us for: Interview with a Homeschool Husband Part 2: How to Have a Happy, Holy Marriage. Join the Happy, Holy Mama Waitlist for more information about what's coming in 2026 for Catholic homeschooling mamas, papas, and your marriage HERE!

As a mom, I crave guidance and a structure of my day. Most moms I know do too, to some extent! What I've been reflecting on lately is why I prefer structure, and I've realized that when I have structure, my heart and mind are more orientated toward God. When there is less structure, my mind is constantly troubleshooting and reacting. Which can sometimes make it feel like I'm less connected to God and my purpose, leaving me more sad and discouraged. Which is why I've always been attracted to the idea of a Rule of Life, but I've honestly rejected it more often than not, from my own misunderstanding of its rigidity. Especially through various seasons of life and motherhood, like pregnancy, postpartum, and littles. Here's the thing, as a Catholic homeschooling mother, our work is hidden, repetitive, and often interrupted, and yet this is exactly where God is working.  God isn't waiting for your life to settle down. He is here with you now.  Which is actually why having a Rule of Life is actually so valuable! It helps you anchor yourself in Him within the work He calls you to do throughout the day. In today's Happy, Holy Mama Podcast episode, I share how having a Rule can help you shape your goals and define your roles, focused on having purpose for your day with a spiritual framework, and a way to live the mission God has placed on your heart with mercy and charity.  And in the podcast today, I'll even give you some ways to vary your own Rule of Life depending on the season you're in, to help you remember that your children and daily responsibilities are not obstacles to your spiritual life, they are part of your path to holiness. So grab your earbuds and join me  for: Mission Living and Creating a Rule of Life as a Catholic Homeschooler. Join the Happy, Holy Mama Waitlist HERE!

In this final part of our three-part series, I'm diving into the struggle that every single homeschooling mom deals with: your own fears, anxieties, and the sneaky belief that you are not enough.  I'm unpacking, what I call, the Litany of Not Enough that so many of us carry every day, how it's impacting your relationships, and your homeschooling, and why doing more will never heal it. Today, I'm talking about what it really means to live in Right Order and giving you several key shifts to make that you can implement today to calm your heart and lean into this beautiful vocation of motherhood and homeschooling that God has called you to. This final episode in this three-part series is like a mini-retreat and masterclass for your mama's heart, your mindset, and learning how to rest into this vocation with trust, surrender, hope, and grace all wrapped up into one.  If you've ever felt inadequate, overwhelmed, or exhausted by trying to be enough, then grab your earbuds and join me for: A Catholic Homeschool Mom's Guide to Putting Your Life in Right Order, Part 3: Your Mama's Heart and the Litany of Not Enough Take advantage of the Annual Membership Sale HERE before midnight on December 31, 2025!

Merry Christmas, my beautiful sister in Christ!!  Today I'm making a bold claim: that most homeschool issues are not academic issues at all, but parenting and behavior issues.  Even when learning challenges are present, what feels most painful day to day is often the behavior that feels out of your control. I share why unwanted behavior can pull us into a blame-shame cycle, how it impacts your heart, and how that directly impacts how you're showing up with these beautiful children that God has gifted to you.  We talk about free will, boundaries, connection, and what it really means to serve Jesus in the Calcutta of your own home. This episode is about slowing down, protecting your heart, and learning how to respond to your children as the best version of yourself…especially in the middle of meltdowns, resistance, and hard moments.  When you begin to put relationships before tasks and focus on forming the person before the student, everything starts to shift. Grab your earbuds and join me here at the beginning of Christmas Week for: A Catholic Homeschool Mom's Guide to Putting Your Life in Right Order, Part 2: Unwanted Behavior Get an ENTIRE YEAR of Catholic Life Coaching Support for your Homeschool Mama's heart and lifestyle HERE for over 60% off!  Limited time, only available until December 31, 2025.

BIG NEWS!! Happy, Holy Mama's Annual Membership tier is now available to the public for the first time ever! Get an entire year of Catholic life coaching support for your mama's heart, mindset, time management, emotional regulation, behavior management, and SO much more for just $297! Click here to take advantage of this limited time offer HERE! ***** There are three major areas of life that seem to trip up every Catholic homeschooling mom at some point, if not everyday: time management, other people's unwanted behavior (especially our kids), and our own self-doubt.  These are each such important topics that have tremendous impact on the experience of the mother, that I've decided to create a three-part podcast series that breaks each of those struggles down in to simple, practical lessons that will help you make real change, without feeling overwhelming. Whether you're brand new to homeschooling or you've been doing this for years, this first episode gives you both fresh insight and gentle reminders for your heart that will directly impact the way you steward the time God gives you each day. You'll hear practical ways to stop spinning in frustration, take ownership of what's actually yours to manage, and choose the next best step with intention and hope.  Why are we taking the time to dive into these topics at the close of the calendar year? Because the new year is when you begin setting goals and making new plans for the second semester and beyond. You'll be able to do that more effectively if you've taken the time to think about your major pain points before you sit down to set goals.  These three episodes will help you start putting your life in Right Order for the new year, but also enjoy the last three weeks of this year, especially the Advent and Christmas seasons so much more deeply with peace and presence.  Grab your earbuds and join me for: A Catholic Homeschool Mother's Guide to Putting Your Life in Right Order, Part 1: Time Management.  

Every year on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, I'm drawn back to the day I entrusted my life, and then years after that, my business to Jesus through Mary. That simple offering has shaped the way I understand love as the foundation of a peaceful, joy-filled life, especially in the daily moments that feel anything but peaceful. In this episode, I share the lessons I've learned from staying close to Jesus through Mary, lessons that have carried me through those everyday frustrations we all know too well.  Like the mornings when the kids won't wake up on time and school gets pushed later and later.  Or the constant bickering that keeps you putting out fires instead of doing what you hoped to do.  Or the chores that never seem to get done the way you want them done, leaving you hovering instead of living.  Those are the moments that seem so small, yet they're the very moments that can steal your peace and drain you if you aren't being fueled by love. Mama Mary's example of acceptance, surrender, generosity, and trust can completely transform the way you move through days like that. If you're tired of feeling stuck in discouragement or resentment during the hard moments, this episode will help you see them differently.  Grab your earbuds to join me for today's podcast episode that I pray will leave you with a renewed sense of hope, and a clearer path for how to live the mission that God has placed on your heart to raise and educate your children at home in: Fulfilling Your Mission: Lessons from the Immaculate Conception. Click here for details for the Happy, Holy Mama Membership.

As we step into Advent and the first days of a new liturgical year, I've been reflecting on how this season invites us to slow down, simplify, and refocus on the Lord.  Stepping into this season also brings up something I see constantly in coaching and in my own home: distraction.  Our kids wander off, lose focus, read a book instead of doing chores, or get sucked into the chat box during an online class instead of paying attention to the teacher. And nothing sends a homeschool mom through the roof faster than when your kid isn't doing what they should be!  But what I've come to understand, through a lot of prayer, trial, and humility, is that when I'm going ballistic, I'm the one who's actually distracted.  I'm distracted by an ideal. Distracted from the here and now.  Distracted from my real work.  Grab your earbuds to join me for a powerful episode where I'm going to share some strategies to help you and your kids to focus more, but of course deep down, we are going to be talking about how to calm down. How to refocus. How to listen. How to create compassion and connection. And how to step into the mission that God has placed on your unique heart to raise and educate these children to become great saints one day.  Join me right now for: How to Solve the Problem of Distraction.   Swap out your unwanted thoughts with 30 more powerful ones HERE! Come work with me for 20% off with code HAPPYNEWYEAR . Click HERE to apply that code (ends December 1, 2025)

As we head into a season full of special occasions, extended family dynamics, and old patterns, I've been thinking a lot about boundaries, forgiveness, reconciliation, and what it actually means to be self-sacrificing.  We all need better boundaries, especially with the people outside our immediate home during the holidays, because boundaries are vital for protecting our peace.  But so often, boundaries feel bad because we confuse protecting our peace with being selfish.  We get told to "offer it up" and "serve others," and while those are beautiful invitations, how we go about doing that matters just as much as the actions we take In today's podcast episode I explore the difference between harboring a grudge and simply being guarded, the distinction between forgiveness and reconciliation, and why you can forgive someone fully and still not want them present in certain spaces of your life. And how setting healthy boundaries to protect your peace can be an act of unconditional love. Because Christ calls us to unconditional love, not servitude.  Self-sacrificial love is intentional, it bears good fruit. If the fruits of your actions are guilt, shame, resentment, or emotional turmoil, that's a sign you might be acting sacrificial, not being sacrificial. And we talk sort through it all in today's value-packed episode! So, if you're wrestling with grudges, navigating historically hard family dynamics, and dreading the upcoming holidays (or even just homeschooling today), then grab your earbuds and join me for: Boundaries, Forgiveness, and Being Self-Sacrificial.   Celebrate the Catholic New Year with me! Use the (case sensitive) code: HAPPYNEWYEAR to take 20% off the Monthly or Lifetime Membership tiers of Happy, Holy Mama HERE!

You know those seasons when you know you should be grateful, but you can't quite feel it?  Like when life feels heavy, when the house is loud, and your heart just can't catch its breath? In today's episode, I talk about why gratitude can feel so hard, especially when you're overwhelmed, when blessings don't look the way we expected, or when fear and unworthiness sneak in.  Listen, there's nothing wrong with you. You just don't know how to release the tension or recognize God's presence in the middle of the mess.  That's okay, most people don't know how to do that either.  Which is why I am re-releasing this most valuable podcast episode to help you see how even the hardest moments can become invitations to deeper trust with our Lord, especially right before the holidays.  Gratitude isn't about pretending everything's okay, it's about finding peace and hope right where God has permitted you to be. I always say, gratitude is the gateway to hope. Grab your earbuds and I'll explain how that works in: MVP When Gratitude Feels Hard.  

You're having a bad day, a bad week, maybe even a bad semester, and you start to think…maybe it's me. Listen, there's nothing wrong with you, your family isn't broken, you're not awful at time management, and you're honestly the best homeschooling mom for your family on the planet. You're just stuck in the negative emotions of life and don't know how to move forward, let alone grow through them.  You are not alone, my friend. In fact, this has been coming up in coaching so frequently that I've made a podcast for all my clients to give them some extra coaching love between our sessions…and I want you to benefit from it, too! So, please grab your earbuds and join me for some free coaching in: How to Get Unstuck and Grow Through the Hard Parts of Life. And then come work with me in Happy, Holy Mama to get unstuck anytime, any place, with an awesome community of Catholic homeschooling mamas just like you. Get the details HERE!

This past week my whole family (myself included!) has been fighting a cold. It got me thinking about what we do as homeschool moms when we get sick and how hard it can be to actually give ourselves permission to rest and recuperate. So I'm keeping this episode short and sweet and giving you some really practical ideas for how to take a sick day! We'll talk about how to do things a little differently, redefine what "counts," and still feel peaceful about your homeschool when life doesn't go as planned. We'll also talk about the mindset that either helps us rest well or keeps us stuck in guilt and perfectionism. When mom is sick, it can actually be an opportunity to model self-care, compassion, and teamwork for our kids. Grab your earbuds to hear more in: How to Take a Mom Sick Day Last week to join Magnify, click here!

We do this as moms all the time: we think it'll be better when. When the kids are older.  When it's the weekend.  When the semester is over.  When Christmas finally comes. But the truth is, there's no such thing as "over there." There's only here, this present moment, which is the culmination of all the little moments that led you here. In this episode, we're talking about the Arrival Fallacy, that sneaky lie that tells us peace and joy are waiting for us at the finish line, when really, the way you go through something is the way you'll arrive. If you've ever found yourself frustrated, overwhelmed, or disappointed by the holidays (again), I want to help you build a new foundation, one rooted in peace, presence, and hope. We'll talk about how Mary's Way of calm generosity, peaceful presence, and unwavering hope can change the way you walk through busy seasons, and how to start magnifying hope instead of stress in your home. Because just like Mary, we can learn to expect sorrow and still live in hope.Grab your earbuds and join me for: Mary's Way: Choosing Hope Over Disappointment. JOIN MAGNIFY 2025 HERE!