Making Everyday Magic: The Podcast

Shanna

Welcome to Making Everyday Magic, the podcast where we explore the ins and outs of homeschooling, family life, and finding joy in the everyday moments. Join Shanna as she shares real-life experiences, tips, and insights on navigating homeschool with a secular perspective, making family memories, and balancing the highs and lows of home education. From practical advice to mindset shifts, each episode is designed to inspire and empower you to create a fulfilling and magical life that's uniquely your own. Tune in and let's make everyday magic together!

#HomeschoolLife #FamilyJoy #MakingEverydayMagic #SecularHomeschool #Podcast

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S1 · E129
Yesterday · 11 min
Do Homeschoolers Need Calculus? Taking a Calculated Risk in High School
Do homeschoolers need calculus to get into college? It's a question I've been thinking about as we plan our first year of homeschool high school. In this episode, I'm sharing why we're considering skipping calculus for my ninth grader, who is currently most interested in performing arts and other creative fields. I'm weighing the potential benefits of advanced math for college admissions against her likely goals, the time available, and the other skills she needs to develop. I'm not an admissions expert, and I don't know for certain how this decision will play out. I'm taking a calculated risk, with a plan that includes Algebra II, advanced algebra, trigonometry, and potential dual-credit coursework. We'll talk about college preparation, keeping options open, and why the right high school plan may look different for different students. This isn't advice to skip calculus. It's an honest look at how we're making the decision for our family—and why I'm comfortable admitting that we could change our minds. How are you approaching advanced math in your homeschool? Let's keep chatting.
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S1 · E128
Monday · 12 min
AI Homeschool Curriculum: Useful Tool or Cause for Concern?
AI is changing the educational marketplace, and homeschool families need to know what questions to ask before trusting the materials they're using. In this episode of Making Everyday Magic, I'm sharing my thoughts on AI-generated homeschool curriculum, the difference between using AI as a tool and relying on it to provide accurate information, and why I think human expertise and fact-checking still matter. I'll share a personal experience with AI-generated monologue recommendations that didn't exist, discuss concerns surrounding educational materials and Texas's Bluebonnet Learning curriculum, and talk about red flags to watch for when shopping for homeschool resources. We'll also get into suspicious review patterns, the importance of seeing product samples, supporting knowledgeable educators and small businesses, and how to make informed purchasing decisions in an increasingly crowded digital marketplace. I'm not arguing that AI has no place in education. I'm asking us to look more carefully at what we're buying, what we're teaching, and whether the work behind a resource is worthy of our trust. Have you encountered a homeschool product that surprised you, either for better or worse? I'd love to hear your experience. Let's help each other make thoughtful decisions about our children's education and our homeschool dollars.
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S1 · E127
October 29 · 13 min
Our First Homeschool Quarter: What's Working, What's Not, and What I'm Changing
We're eight weeks into our homeschool year, and it's time to take an honest look at how things are going. In this episode of Making Everyday Magic, I'm sharing our first-quarter homeschool update for 2026–2027. We're in our 10th year of homeschooling, with one child starting high school and the other finishing elementary school, and we're figuring out what works for two kids at very different stages. I'll talk about the curriculum that's going well, including biology, math, grammar, and vocabulary practice, as well as our experience with writing, world history, and student planners. I'll also share the areas that need more attention, from French and independent reading to our family schedule and routines. Most importantly, I'm reflecting on the difference between something that genuinely isn't working and something that simply doesn't fit into a perfect schedule. Sometimes we need to make changes. Sometimes we need to let go of one more commitment. And sometimes, when the kids are learning and enjoying what they're doing, we need to stop stressing about fitting everything in and let ourselves keep going. This isn't a picture of a perfect homeschool. It's a snapshot of where we are, what we're learning, and what we're adjusting as we go. Whether you're homeschooling elementary students, navigating high school, or simply trying to make your family's daily routines work a little better, I hope this conversation helps you feel a little less alone in the process. How is your homeschool year going so far? I'd love to hear what's working for your family and what you're still figuring out.
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S1 · E125
October 25 · 12 min
My Why for Homeschooling Has Changed After 10 Years
Why did we start homeschooling—and why are we still doing it ten years later? In this episode, I'm talking honestly about our reasons for homeschooling, how those reasons have evolved as my children have grown, and why I think every homeschool parent should revisit their "why" from time to time. Our original reason was pretty straightforward: my oldest was ahead academically, and we wanted to give her the opportunity to keep moving at that pace. Ten years later, that's still part of our answer. But our why has expanded to include our children's individual interests, performing arts, advanced academics, flexibility, daytime opportunities, travel—and yes, cheaper vacations. Most importantly, I've learned that your why doesn't have to be permanent. Your children change. Your circumstances change. Your needs change. And sometimes your educational path needs to change, too. If you're homeschooling, considering homeschooling, or simply thinking about why you've made the educational choices you have, I hope this conversation helps you think through your own motivation.
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S1 · E126
October 22 · 14 min
Was Delaying Homeschool Worth It? Making Room for Family Life
We started our 2026–2027 homeschool year later than ever before, even with one child beginning high school. And while I was nervous about falling behind our usual schedule, we had an opportunity to bring four generations of our family together in Estes Park, Colorado, that I didn't want to miss. In this episode, I'm sharing why we delayed our homeschool start, what we experienced on our trip, and how our time together became an education in its own right. From wildlife and Rocky Mountain National Park to glassblowing, chocolate making, and playing cards with great-grandma, this trip reminded me that learning happens in all kinds of places. I'm not suggesting that schedules and academic goals don't matter. They do, especially as our kids get older. But I'm learning that being intentional about our family life sometimes means making a different choice than the one we originally planned. If you've ever struggled with balancing homeschool responsibilities and meaningful family experiences, this conversation is for you.
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S1 · E124
October 22 · 17 min
Is Houston a Good Place to Homeschool? My Honest Take After 10 Years
Is Houston actually a good place to homeschool—especially if you're a secular homeschooler? I've spent all 10 years of my homeschooling journey in and around Houston, Texas, and in this episode I'm making the case for a city that I think is seriously underrated for homeschooling. Houston is huge, diverse, relatively affordable for a major city, and packed with museums, universities, science, arts, theater, cultural experiences, parks and educational opportunities. It's not perfect. Finding your people can take some work. And Texas has plenty of problems. But after a decade of homeschooling here, I genuinely think Houston deserves a place on the list for families looking for a flexible, inclusive and experience-rich place to homeschool.
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S1 · E123
October 15 · 10 min
It's Not About You: Why Your Choices Make Other People Uncomfortable
Why do people get so upset when you make a decision that has absolutely nothing to do with them? After 10 years of homeschooling, I've had plenty of experience with unsolicited opinions, uncomfortable conversations, and people who seem personally offended by choices I've made for my own family. In this episode, I'm exploring why other people's reactions are often more about their own experiences, beliefs, and need for validation than they are about us. We'll talk about confirmation bias, the discomfort that can come from making different choices, and why people sometimes interpret our decisions as a judgment of their own. I'll share some of the conversations I've had as a homeschooling parent, including the kinds of interactions that happen when you're simply trying to go about your day and someone decides your life choices are up for discussion. But this isn't just about homeschooling. It's about the freedom that comes from recognizing what is and isn't ours to manage. We can make thoughtful decisions for our families without defending them to everyone. We can listen to other perspectives without taking responsibility for every reaction. And we can let people have their feelings without making those feelings our own. Sometimes the most liberating thing to remember is that other people are thinking about themselves just as much as we're thinking about ourselves. Your choices are yours. Their choices are theirs. And not every disagreement needs to become a conflict. Welcome to Making Everyday Magic.
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S1 · E122
October 8 · 11 min
Homeschool Is Not My Identity
After ten years of homeschooling, I've had plenty of time to think about what happens when something becomes such a huge part of your life that it starts to feel like your identity. Homeschooling is deeply woven into our family. I love it. It works for us. I'm passionate about it. And I talk about it here all the time. But homeschool isn't who I am. It's something I do. And I think that's an important distinction—not just for homeschool parents, but for women and mothers in general. In this episode, I'm talking about identity, motherhood, the pressure to fit ourselves into roles, why I don't want "homeschooler" to become my children's identity either, and why being willing to change your mind can actually be a strength.
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S1 · E121
October 5 · 10 min
Homeschool Isn't the Answer. It Isn't the Enemy Either.
After 10 years of homeschooling, I'm increasingly convinced that we need a better way to talk about education. Homeschool can be wonderful. It can also have serious problems. Public school can serve children beautifully. It can also fail them. The same is true of private schools, charter schools, Montessori schools, and pretty much every other educational model we could name. So why do we keep trying to turn these choices into absolutes? In this episode, I'm talking about why I don't believe homeschool is either the answer to every educational problem or the enemy of education. I'm sharing what works for our family, the circumstances that make our homeschool possible, the legitimate criticisms I have of homeschooling, and why I'm never going to tell another family what they should do. This is my homeschool. My experience. My very narrow lens. And I think that's exactly what it should be.
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S1 · E120
October 1 · 16 min
How I Homeschool Multiple Grades: 9th + 5th Grade
How do you homeschool multiple children when they're in completely different grades? In this episode, I'm sharing exactly how we make our 9th-grade and 5th-grade homeschool work after 10 years of homeschooling. My kids are four grade levels apart, so they obviously don't do everything together. Math and language arts stay individual, while we combine subjects like history, science, art history, geography, and French whenever it makes sense. I'll talk about our "teach to the older child and pull the younger one up" philosophy, how I adjust assignments and expectations for different developmental levels, why group learning works so well for us, and how we've built independence into our homeschool over the years. This isn't a prescription for every homeschool family. It's simply what works in our house—and hopefully it gives you a few ideas that save you some time, effort, and grief.
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S1 · E119
September 25 · 12 min
What Do Homeschool Parents Actually Do?
What happens when you don't homeschool and your idea of homeschooling comes mostly from the loudest and most extreme examples? I understand the skepticism. After 10 years of homeschooling, I've seen things in the homeschool world that concern me too—including educational neglect and rejection of science. But that's not the whole story. In this episode, I'm talking about what our secular homeschool actually looks like, why I don't think homeschool parents need to be experts in every subject, and why one of the most important parts of my job is knowing what I don't know. My kids learn from scientists, specialized instructors, experts, curricula, museums, and experiences that I couldn't possibly provide by myself. I don't have to know everything. I have to be willing to find the people who do. And ultimately, my homeschool isn't about building taller walls around my children. It's about opening doors. Links: Non-educator Superintendent: https://www.cga.ct.gov/2002/rpt/2002-R-0945.htm Teacher Stats: https://learningpolicyinstitute.org/product/state-teacher-shortages-2026-factsheet
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S1 · E116
September 24 · 11 min
I Don't Love Homeschooling Every Day: The Truth About Hard Homeschool Days
I've been homeschooling for 10 years, and I don't love homeschooling every day. I know that's probably not what you're supposed to say when you have built an entire life around homeschooling—but it's true. In this episode, I'm talking honestly about the hard homeschool days: the pressure, the stress, the lack of sleep, the cost, the mess, the expectations, and those days when you simply do not want to homeschool. But I'm also talking about what we can actually do about it. Sometimes we change the schedule. Sometimes we have a pajama day. Sometimes we go to the beach. Sometimes we do math and call it a day. Sometimes we outsource. And sometimes we need to admit that homeschooling may not be working for our family anymore. Because I don't believe homeschooling is something we should suffer through just to prove that we're committed. You can love homeschooling without loving every day. You can put it down and pick it back up. You can pivot. You can change your mind. And if you're in a hard homeschool season right now, maybe you don't need another productivity system or another curriculum recommendation. Maybe you just need permission to admit that today is hard. The days are long, but the years are short—and that applies to homeschooling, too.
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S1 · E118
September 22 · 12 min
What's Next? Life After Homeschooling, Learning New Things, and Making Wigs
We're entering our 10th year of homeschooling, and with a 9th grader and a 5th grader, I'm starting to think about what life looks like when my kids need me less. Not because I'm done being a mom. Because I'm still a person, too. In this episode, I'm talking about learning new things, being a beginner, and figuring out what comes next. And apparently, that currently means learning the art of wig making and wig styling. I have a cosmetology background, a child pursuing theater, and a lot of curiosity. It's creative, flexible, and something I can pick up when I have time. But this conversation is about more than wigs. It's about remembering that you're allowed to have interests, you're allowed to want things, and you're allowed to do things just because they make you happy. I'm also sharing a little about the other things I'm figuring out right now, including planning our hopefully soon Parisian trip, building our own homeschool resources, and my ongoing pursuit of maximizing the value of the dollars we spend. Because apparently, even when I'm trying to relax, I'm still trying to figure out how to get the most out of everything. What are you working on right now? What's your next thing? I'd love to hear what you're learning, what you're excited about, or what you're thinking about for the next season of your life. Let's grow this list. ❤️
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S1 · E114
September 19 · 13 min
What You Tolerate, You Endorse: Boundaries in Homeschooling and Parenting
There is one phrase I come back to over and over again in homeschooling, parenting, relationships, business, and honestly... life: What you tolerate, you endorse. And I know that might feel a little uncomfortable. Because sometimes the things causing chaos in our homeschool, our homes, and our relationships aren't things we actively chose. They're things we let slide. One more late bedtime. One more skipped lesson. One more meltdown that ends with us giving in because we're tired, embarrassed, or simply do not have the energy to deal with it right now. But what happens when "just this once" becomes the pattern? In this episode, I'm talking about consistency, boundaries, parenting, homeschool habits, people pleasing, and why being firm doesn't mean being unkind. From bedtime routines and homeschool expectations to relationships and the comment section, we're looking at the bigger picture. Because sometimes doing the hard thing now is really about doing later you a favor. You don't have to control every person around you. You don't have to be harsh. You don't have to become a jerk. But you do get to decide what you will and will not tolerate. And if you're tolerating something that is creating an outcome you don't actually want, it might be time to address it. Kindly. Firmly. Consistently.
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S1 · E117
September 18 · 9 min
I Don't Want My Kids to Have a Normal Childhood
I don't want my kids to have a normal childhood. After 10 years of homeschooling, I'm realizing that I'm not trying to recreate the childhood I had—or the childhood society tells us our kids are supposed to have. I'm trying to build a family life that gives my girls room to learn, explore, play, ask questions, and become the people they're meant to be. In this episode, I talk about what "normal" means to me, why I'm proud of the ways our homeschool and family life are different, and why I want my girls to grow up knowing they can build a life that fits them. I also talk about the things I want them to have—and the things I want them to learn to live without. Because exceptional doesn't mean spoiled or the center of the universe. It means having opportunities, developing compassion, and knowing you have a safe place to land while you figure out who you are. If you're homeschooling, parenting differently, or simply questioning something that everyone else seems to accept, I hope this gives you a little room to think about what you actually want for your family. What is one thing that's accepted as "normal" that you've decided is just not for you? Find me on Instagram: @makingeverydaymagic #Homeschooling #IntentionalParenting #MakingEverydayMagic
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S1 · E115
September 17 · 22 min
Building a Custom High School: Our Magnet-Style Homeschool
What happens when you stop trying to recreate traditional high school at home and start building an educational experience around the actual learner? In this episode, I'm talking about our first year of homeschooling high school and how we're creating a custom, magnet-style experience for our daughter. She's pursuing performing arts, but we're not choosing between passion and academics. We're building both into her education: advanced academics, Algebra 2 in ninth grade, a future dual-credit path, serious performance opportunities, real-life learning, and the flexibility to bring in experts and resources as needed. I'll also talk about why I think homeschool parents don't have to know exactly where their children are headed before they start building the foundation—and why I think following a child's interests and maintaining high academic expectations can coexist beautifully. This is what customized education looks like for us after ten years of homeschooling. It's not about doing less. It's about intentionally building something that fits the learner.
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S1 · E113
September 12 · 13 min
Homeschool Guilt Lives Between Idealism and Reality
What did you think homeschooling would look like before you actually started? Because I can tell you... mine did not look like this. In this episode, I'm talking about the space between our ideal homeschool and our real homeschool—and why I think that space is where so much homeschool guilt lives. We see the curriculum, the classes, the field trips, the beautiful homeschool rooms, the art projects, the co-ops, and all the things our kids could do. And before we know it, we've planned approximately 14 years of homeschooling into three days. Meanwhile, reality is over here asking for snacks. And bathroom breaks. And free time. And flexibility. And reminding us that we are trying to be humans, mothers, and homeschoolers all at the same time. After nearly 10 years of homeschooling, I'm still learning this: we do not need to drag our real lives toward some impossible ideal. We need to bring our ideals closer to reality. Your homeschool doesn't have to do everything to be enough. If you have happy people, making progress, with some consistency? You might already be doing better than you think. So before you add another curriculum, activity, class, field trip, or beautifully ambitious plan to your homeschool year, maybe take one thing off instead. Let's talk about homeschool idealism, realism, overwhelm, guilt, and figuring out what actually works for your family.
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S1 · E112
September 10 · 17 min
Homeschool Haters, Internet Trolls, and Why I Don't Need to Defend My Life
I recently got a hateful comment about my homeschooling, my parenting, my personality, and apparently my nose ring. And honestly? I thought it was hilarious. In this episode, I'm talking about how I handle internet trolls, homeschool criticism, and the people who become strangely confident experts on your entire life after seeing a tiny piece of it online. But this conversation is about more than one nasty comment. We're talking about boundaries, knowing who you are, sharing your life without feeling obligated to share all of it, and why you do not have to accept every invitation to defend yourself. I also share the unexpected story behind my nose ring and how one decision I made at eighteen eventually connected me to a thirteen-year-old boy who needed a bone marrow transplant. Because people don't know your full story. And they don't necessarily need to.
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S1 · E111
September 3 · 20 min
The Systems That Keep Our Homeschool Running After 10 Years
After a decade of homeschooling, I have learned that sustainability doesn't come from doing more. It comes from building systems. In this episode, I'm sharing the practical systems that help our family manage homeschooling, chores, meals, laundry, planning, and everyday life. We talk about why systems work better than rigid schedules, how we divide responsibilities as a family, and the small routines that make a huge difference in reducing mental load. This isn't about creating a picture-perfect home. It's about creating a home where everyone knows their role, everyone contributes, and there is room for connection and learning.
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S1 · E110
August 27 · 13 min
10 Years of Homeschooling: What Actually Matters
After ten years homeschooling two children, I'm sharing the lessons that have actually lasted. From learning styles and curriculum to consistency, socialization, college, freedom, and protecting your relationship with your children, these are the ideas I wish someone had told me when we first started homeschooling. Whether you're brand new or years into your homeschool journey, I hope this conversation helps you build a homeschool that works for your unique family.
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