The Confident Homeschool Mom Podcast: Real Strategies for Your Real Homeschool Life

This is the homeschool mom podcast where we won’t overlook your needs (you might, but we won’t).

How to Stop the Inner Critic as a Homeschool Mom: The Charmed Life I Was Chasing (& the Pattern I Didn’t Know I Was Living) Confident Homeschool Mom Podcast

When “Keep Going” Becomes Survival: How to Stop the Inner Critic as a Homeschool Mom If you’ve been wondering how to stop the inner critic as a homeschool mom, this episode will show you why that voice is so loud—and where it actually came from. This month’s focus: Nurturing the Nurturer — because the voice telling you you’re not enough didn’t start with homeschooling. It started long before. And it’s running your days more than you realize. I was eight months pregnant, in relentless pain, watching my support system shift beneath me—and I told myself to just keep going. Years later, on a chaotic Monday morning with four kids and cold coffee, I was still saying the same thing. What I didn’t know then was that I wasn’t being strong. I was surviving a pattern I’d learned as a child—one that many homeschool moms are still living without realizing it. In this episode, I’m sharing two personal stories that finally helped me see: the inner narratives I developed in childhood to survive chaos were now shaping how I showed up as a homeschool mom. And they were costing me connection—with myself, my kids, and the life I actually wanted. What You’ll Discover in This Episode The Inheritance You Didn’t Ask For: How childhood survival patterns show up in your homeschool life Why “keep going” isn’t strength—it’s often unprocessed survival The hidden cost of white-knuckling through motherhood What it means to lead from alignment instead of old scripts Two Stories, One Pattern: Being eight months pregnant: contractions, exhaustion, feeling abandoned—and the belief that stopping meant failing A Monday morning in slump month: foggy, irritable, yelling at the kids, and realizing the loud voice wasn’t just theirs—it was mine How these moments, years apart, were connected by the same inherited narrative The Inner Critic You Don’t Realize Is Running the Show: “If I stop, everything falls apart” “I should be able to do this” “Other moms handle this better” “If I rest, I’m letting everyone down” How to Stop the Inner Critic as a Homeschool Mom: Recognizing that mistakes are just mistakes—you can repair Understanding that your worth isn’t found in hustling or proving yourself Building a firmer inner connection so you can lead from intention, not pressure Moving from reaction to response—aligned from the inside out The Truth About the Inner Critic Learning how to stop the inner critic as a homeschool mom isn’t about positive thinking or trying harder. It’s about seeing the pattern clearly—and choosing something different. Your kids don’t need you to be perfect. They need you to show up as yourself—fully, imperfectly, and grounded. But when the inner critic is running the show, you’re not leading from presence. You’re reacting from an old story that was never yours to begin with. And that story? It didn’t come from homeschooling. It came from somewhere earlier. Somewhere deeper. Until you see it clearly, it’s going to keep driving your days. Coming This Week on the Confident Homeschool Life YouTube Channel: “The Inner Critic Pattern So Many Homeschool Moms Don’t Realize They’re In” “18 Things Homeschool Moms Say to Themselves (That They’d Never Say to a Friend)” How you talk to yourself REALLY matters. So you’ll definitely want to catch those on YouTube. Join the Calm the Inner Critic Workshop Ready to go deeper and learn how to stop the inner critic as a homeschool mom?This month, I’m hosting a workshop to help you see what’s been driving you—and choose something different. Not to fix yourself. But to untangle the overwhelm and stop reacting from inherited survival mode. So you can lead your homeschool life from a place that actually feels like you—with presence, calm, and clarity. Free Resource: Book Your Aligned Homeschool Reset Session If you’re ready to untangle the overwhelm and build a homeschool life that actually fits you, I have an opening on Friday for a free Aligned Homeschool Reset session. Want more support? Join the Confident Homeschool Mom community Read: Homeschool Mama Self-Care: Nurturing the Nurturer Listen: Previous episodes on setting boundaries Latest Episodes You Might Also Enjoy: 11 Powerful Affirmations Every Homeschool Mom Needs to Hear Stop Asking These 6 Homeschool Questions (That Sabotage Your Life) How to Stop Being a Hostage to Homeschool Pressure (& What to Do Instead) How to Homeschool During a Crisis with Lynda Puleio The Real Reason You’re Overwhelmed (It’s Not the Curriculum) 50 ways I nurture myself as a homeschool mama Awakened Homeschool Family: Living with Purpose, Learning from Heart Self-Compassion for Homeschool Mamas Course to Nurture You The Most Important Way to Take Care of Yourself as an Overwhelmed Homeschool Mom Share This Episode Know a homeschool mom struggling with the inner critic? Send her this episode. It might be exactly what she needs to hear today. Remember: You matter in your homeschool life. You have the capacity to lead your days with presence, calm, and clarity—not pressure, perfectionism, or old scripts that were never yours to begin with. Every tiny shift you make toward alignment ripples into your children, your home, and your sense of self. Press play and discover how to stop the inner critic as a homeschool mom—and start leading from the inside out. Latest episodes you might also enjoy: Facebook Instagram Pinterest Linkedin YouTube Latest episodes you might also enjoy: How to Stop the Inner Critic as a Homeschool Mom: The Charmed Life I Was Chasing (& the Pattern I Didn’t Know I Was Living) February 10, 2026 The Most Important Way to Take Care of Yourself as an Overwhelmed Homeschool Mom February 2, 2026 How to Do Kindergarten in Your Homeschool: A Fun & Effective Guide January 29, 2026 The Real Reason You’re Overwhelmed (It’s Not the Curriculum) January 26, 2026 Unexpected Feelings When Your Homeschooler Gets Accepted to University January 22, 2026 How to Stop Being a Hostage to Homeschool Pressure (& What to Do Instead) January 19, 2026 The Truth About Finding Your Homeschool Rhythm January 13, 2026 The Confident Homeschool Mom Podcast: Introducing the 1% Pivot January 6, 2026 Purpose-Driven Homeschool Planning for 2026: How to Recalibrate the Year with Clarity December 23, 2025 1% Shift to a Calm Homeschool Life December 23, 2025 12 Things I’ve Learned About Homeschool Moms: Self-Care Tips for Overwhelmed Homeschool Moms December 10, 2025 12-Day Homeschool Mom Self-Care Challenge to Come Back to Yourself December 2, 2025 What is the Reimagine Your Homeschool Group Coaching? November 18, 2025 Not Just a Homeschool Mom — Why You’re Disappearing (And How to Come Back) November 11, 2025 Teaching World War to a Homeschooled Eight Year Old November 10, 2025 Reimagine Your Homeschool: Feel Free, Inspire Curiosity and Do What Works November 5, 2025 the role of imagination in a home education November 4, 2025 Helping Our Kids Live Their Lives on Purpose: A Practical Guide for Homeschool Moms October 28, 2025 How to Set Realistic High School Expectations? Learn Human Development October 20, 2025 How to Build Homeschool Routines that Support YOU October 14, 2025 Why Deschooling? To Feel Confident, Certain & Good Enough October 7, 2025 The Ultimate Guide to Building Boundaries and Healthy Relationships for Homeschool Moms September 23, 2025 Ultimate Homeschool Overwhelm Quiz That Reveals Your Hidden Stress Triggers in 5 Minutes September 15, 2025 Start Homeschooling in British Columbia: How to Decide September 9, 2025 How to Create an Effective Homeschool Routine that Works for You September 2, 2025 Interest-Led Homeschool for Confident Moms: An Enneagram 8 Mom’s Story of Growth August 28, 2025 How Do I Unschool My Child? 5 Simple Steps to Spark Natural Learning August 19, 2025 9 Mistakes That Make Your 1st Homeschool Year Stressful (& How to Avoid Them) August 13, 2025 Top Tips for New Homeschool Moms in Season 3 August 11, 2025 5 Challenges Working Homeschool Moms Face—And How to Overcome Them August 5, 2025 How to Manage Overstimulation as a Homeschool Mom July 30, 2025 Reclaim You: Rediscover Life Beyond the Homeschool Mom Role July 22, 2025 A Summer Reset for Homeschool Moms: The Secret to a More Peaceful Year Ahead July 15, 2025 How to Help Reluctant Writers: Julie Bogart on Homeschool Writing July 7, 2025 7 Ways Brené Rescued Me from One of those Homeschool Days June 30, 2025 Morning Affirmations for Homeschool Mama: A Simple Practice for You to Parent with Intention June 24, 2025 5 Overlooked Mistakes That Are Stressing You Out as a Homeschool Mom (& How to Fix Them) June 18, 2025 The Soul School Way: Books as Mirrors, Windows, and Voices for Homeschool Families June 3, 2025 Sibling Bickering in Homeschool Families: What’s Normal & How to Handle It May 27, 2025 Homeschool Mom Boundaries: 6 Truths That Will Set You Free May 20, 2025 How the Mother Wound Affects Homeschool Moms—and How to Break Free May 12, 2025 Homeschool Mom Boundary Issues? You’re Not Doing This… May 6, 2025 How to Deschool as a Homeschool Mom and Rediscover Your Identity April 30, 2025 How my story of deschooling brought more freedom & purpose April 22, 2025 How to Know if Deschooling is Right for You: 7 Signs you Need to Deschool April 13, 2025 Why Do You Want to Deschool? Understanding Why it Matters April 11, 2025 Is My Homeschooler Behind? The Truth About Learning at Their Own Pace April 1, 2025 A Homeschool Mom’s Guide to Purposeful Living March 25, 2025 10 Simple Steps to the Homeschool Life (& Live it on Purpose) March 17, 2025 The Three Lies Homeschool Moms Tell Themselves March 11, 2025 Subscribe to the Homeschool Mama Self-Care podcast YouTube Apple Audible Spotify
  1. How to Stop the Inner Critic as a Homeschool Mom: The Charmed Life I Was Chasing (& the Pattern I Didn’t Know I Was Living)
  2. The Most Important Way to Take Care of Yourself as an Overwhelmed Homeschool Mom
  3. How to Do Kindergarten in Your Homeschool: A Fun & Effective Guide
  4. The Real Reason You’re Overwhelmed (It’s Not the Curriculum)
  5. Unexpected Feelings When Your Homeschooler Gets Accepted to University

Since 2020, host Teresa Wiedrick—a graduated homeschool mom and Certified Life Coach—has been helping homeschool moms shed what’s not working and show up in their homeschools and lives authentically, purposefully, and confidently in the newly renamed Confident Homeschool Mom podcast.

Over seven seasons, this podcast has explored the real challenges of homeschool mama life: the not-good-enough feeling, perfectionism, loneliness, anger, doubt, boredom, impatience, overwhelm, and all the feelings of the human experience. You know, all the human feels in a homeschool mama experience.

Currently in Season 8, the podcast focuses on the 1% pivot—moving from pressure to presence through small, intentional shifts. Rather than pushing through, Teresa guides you through monthly themes that help you build confidence, manage stress, set realistic expectations, and meet your needs without perfection.

This podcast will help you:

➤ Transform frustration, confusion, and overwhelm into clarity, confidence, and purpose

➤ Build healthy boundaries in relationships

➤ Learn to speak to yourself differently

➤ Identify and respond to your needs

➤ Understand your intentions behind your homeschool choices

➤ Find joy in your personal growth and your kids’ uniqueness

Podcast Episodes

Through authentic conversations, guest interviews, and practical strategies, Teresa addresses wellness aspects that serve the homeschool mama in her real homeschool days—because your needs are easily overlooked with a steady stream of childhood needs, interactions, and activities.

When you’re clear on who you are, watch out world! You have come to your purpose. Then you’ll show up in your homeschool (and life) authentically, purposefully, and confidently.

The Confident Homeschool Mom Podcast: Introducing the 1% Pivot
How Teresa Wiedrick helps us acknowledge (& overcome) our homeschool realities: a homeschool mom podcast

Listen to the latest Confident Homeschool Mom podcast episode.

By subscribing to this podcast, you will automatically receive the latest episode.

Kind Words about the Confident Homeschool Mom Podcast

Teresa is amazing, she has such a big heart and so much to offer homeschooling moms. The biggest things we can offer ourselves are having healthy boundaries and self-compassion and Teresa shines at both. So grateful for her body of work and this podcast!

I really enjoy listening to this podcast because it makes me feel not so alone in my deep thinking about raising kids, maybe not the way “everyone else” is. You’ll like this podcast if you want to raise independent thinkers, but also remember that you as a parent are still growing too.

Anne Kathryn

Teresa hits the nail on the head! She takes scientific and experiential truths and shows the WHY and HOW homeschool moms can see growth in ourselves. Self-work is a must have for homeschool moms if we are to thrive in this marathon. Teresa brings that to the forefront in such an approachable way.”

Whitney at Sensational Moms

If you want someone to speak to you truthfully, authentically and real about how it is to be a homeschool parent, Teresa is your girl. On this podcast you feel understood and heard that homeschooling can be tough sometimes, and Teresa is not sugarcoating it is easy to turn you challenges in to you charms which is one of the reasons I love Teresa and this podcast so much.
Teresa is really good at giving you advice as to how you can work on making improvements in your homeschool/family life. She is also excellent in talking about how you can work on yourself and take care of yourself, which actually is very important when you want a smoother home life.
Teresa, thank you for a super podcast and all the coaching work you do. ❤️

Parenting is challenging. Parenting and homeschooling? Arguably much more challenging! But in this podcast, Teresa provides actionable strategies to help you develop an intentional, purposeful, streamlined, and flexible homeschool. Teresa’s heart for supporting homeschool moms holistically – with mindset, routines, and strategic self-care, is incredibly important. Thank you Teresa for the work that you do! Sincerely, Emily

Explore the Podcast Seasons

Story of the Homeschool Mama Self-Care Podcast

The Homeschool Mom Podcast is where I share heartfelt conversations, personal stories, and practical coaching to help homeschool moms shed what’s not working, reconnect with their purpose, and live authentically, confidently, and joyfully in homeschool and life.

Listen to the episode.

Nurturing Homeschool Mama Season 1

Season 1 of the Homeschool Mama Self-Care Podcast is dedicated to nurturing homeschool mamas seeking to address personal needs, plan for emotional challenges, and learn from experienced homeschool coaches.

Listen to Season 1

Real Homeschool Mama Challenges Season 2

Season 2 of the Homeschool Mama Self-Care podcast tackles real homeschool mama challenges. Despite homeschooling’s freedoms, challenges are common. Learn to create a satisfying homeschool, plan confidently, navigate emotions, and gain wisdom from expert podcasters and coaches.

Listen to Season 2

New(er) Homeschool Moms Season 3

Season 3 of the Homeschool Mama Self-Care Podcast is dedicated to new homeschool moms—whether you’re just a few months in or still planning your first year—offering top tips, encouragement, and mindset shifts to help you begin your homeschool journey with clarity and confidence.

Listen to Season 3

Overwhelmed Homeschool Mom Season 4

Season 4 of the Homeschool Mama Self-Care Podcast invites you to be more satisfied, have tools to address your challenges, and show up on purpose in your homeschool.

Listen to Season 4

Growth Mindset for Homeschool Moms Season 5

Season 5 of the Homeschool Mama Self-Care Podcast is where homeschool moms turn inward to nurture themselves, explore their purpose, and cultivate a growth mindset—because who you are and how you grow deeply shapes how you homeschool.

Listen to Season 5

Reimagine your Homeschool Podcast Season 6

Season 6 of the Homeschool Mama Self-Care Podcast invites you to reimagine your homeschool with inspiring conversations, real-life strategies, and empowering guidance to help you homeschool with clarity, confidence, and joy—because you can create a homeschool life that truly works for your family.

Listen to Season 6

Aligned & Authentic Homeschool Mom Season 7

Season 7 of the Homeschool Mama Self-Care Podcast invites you to discover an aligned and authentic homeschool mama life. Learn to align your choices with your true self, trust your intuition, and create a homeschool experience that reflects your family’s values.

Listen to Season 7

More Kind Words…

Teresa is so relatable and has so much to share. Listening to her podcast is like listening to a close friend who happens to have 15 years of experience in homeschooling. I put her podcasts on when I could use support and a laugh. I’ve really enjoyed her guests this season and have put into action a lot of suggestions and practices discussed.

I LOVED your interview with Amber O’Neal Johnston. It was a beautiful, authentic conversation and I’m so glad you went “there” bc it’s so needed and it’s really not scary and divisive and threatening like some people believe! And you know I love hearing people talk about the power of personal stories!♥️ awesome podcast episode

If you’re overwhelmed as a homeschool mom, Teresa offers empathy and encouragement. Her comforting words and soothing tone will set your heart at ease and give you hope for the future.

Teresa is engaging, honest, and to the point. She comes across as genuinely wanting to connect with her listeners. I look forward to hearing the next episode!

Tatiana, Homeschool Mama

The first rule of life saving is…never become a victim yourself. As parents, we’re only as helpful to our kids as we are healthy. Teresa does an amazing job of keeping this front and center and helping parents care for themselves!!

Homeschool Dad

Teresa is a pleasure to listen to and learn from as a new homeschooler. Her interviews go in interesting directions and always get me thinking. A must listen for anyone wanting to build their confidence as an authentic and simple homeschooling mom!

Merissa, Homeschool Mama of Three Kiddos

Teresa has the calm assurance of one who’s walking her talk, and eager to share and encourage. I homeschooled for many years and would have LOVED having her in my “posse” for some of them! She doesn’t have or claim to have all the answers, but she will sure help you find what works for YOUR family! A must-listen for homeschool momma’s who need support and inspiration!

I’m new to homeschooling, but not new to parenting and boy oh boy, could I have used daily doses of Teresa years ago. I love the focus of self care for mamas, because in caring for ourselves we receive love (through caring for ourselves, asking for help, saying no, setting boundaries—you’ll have to listen to Teresa and read her book to get the full list) and in return, we can give more love to those around us. Happy mom happy family! Thank you Teresa for putting out some terrific content. You are a blessing to your listening mamas and their families.

“Your podcast is excellent.  I started with the first episode and am just listening to each one in order that’s interesting to me.  The one with Julie Bogart was terrific, I bought a sketchbook and pencils and a “how to draw” book just like her.”
Carla, Homeschool Mama of One Kiddo

Teresa is so great at calming my nerves and keeping the homeschool atmosphere simple. I love how she brings it back to us mamas needing to refuel and recharge so we have more to give our kids throughout the day! This is a great listen!!

“This is such a valuable and important topic for all moms especially those who are homeschooling. Thank you for the variety of guests you have on and for caring so much about others moms.”

Jaj_mrg

“I love how soothing your voice is. It’s so reassuring how much I can relate to your stories. This helps me a lot. I know I could work on self care more. Thanks for this episode”

I loved this first episode! Teresa has a calming, encouraging presence and an important message that will be perfect for homeschool parents.

Connect with other authentic homeschool moms in the Confident Homeschool Mom Collective…

Helping you turn your homeschool challenges into your homeschool charms.

Copyright Teresa Wiedrick 2021©