Well This Wasn&#x27;t The Plan! – Details, episodes &amp; analysis

We've decided to homeschool our three kids while maintaining our full-time careers as CPAs. How exactly are we planning to pull this off? This episode dives deep into our strategy for working and homeschooling!

The surprising truth we discovered? Most homeschool families complete their core curriculum in just two hours daily—far less time than traditional schools require for the same material.

Beyond reading, writing, and arithmetic, we're passionate about teaching practical skills traditional education often overlooks. Our curriculum includes cooking real meals, managing household responsibilities, understanding personal finance, and even launching small businesses. These experiences prepare our children for independence while fostering creativity and critical thinking. We're also prioritizing outdoor adventures, family book clubs, and one-on-one time—things we could not do when our kids were in public school.

But we're under no illusions—this transition won't be seamless. We're starting with ambitious plans while fully expecting to adjust as we discover what truly works for our family.

Whether you're considering homeschooling while working, curious about alternative education models, or simply interested in our family's adventure, join us as we document every triumph, struggle, and unexpected lesson along the way.

Have thoughts or questions about our approach? We'd love to hear from you!

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2. Bring On The Kids!!! Here's What the Kids Think About Homeschool

Episode 2

Monday, August 11, 2025 • Duration 37:40

What happens when three kids convince their full-time working parents to homeschool them? Our family is about to find out.

When our 10-year-old daughter first suggested homeschooling over a year ago, we responded with an emphatic "No way!" As two parents juggling demanding careers, taking on the role of teachers seemed completely unfeasible. But as we listened to our children's experiences in public school, something shifted in our perspective.

Their excitement about learning beyond worksheets—about sleeping in rather than rushing through chaotic mornings—convinced us to take this unexpected leap.

This podcast documents our family's real-time journey into homeschooling. We're sharing everything honestly: the triumphs, the struggles, and yes, those inevitable moments when math problems cause frustration or when siblings test each other's patience. We're learning to expect the unexpected, navigating this new territory together, and discovering what education can look like when tailored to our children's curiosity and learning styles.

If you're enjoying the podcast, we'd love if you'd share it with someone else who might connect with our story!

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1. Why We Decided to Try Homeschooling -- The Million Little Reasons

Episode 1

Monday, August 11, 2025 • Duration 53:40

Homeschooling wasn't the original plan. As two full-time working parents with three kids thriving in an excellent public school, homeschooling never crossed our minds. Yet here we are, embarking on this unexpected journey.

For us, it wasn't one dramatic event but countless small moments that gradually revealed the system wasn't serving our children.

We realized we were fighting to maintain a schedule that made everyone miserable while simultaneously delegating more and more of our parenting responsibilities to a school whose values didn't always align with ours.

This podcast chronicles our real-time journey navigating homeschool curriculum, maintaining our CPA firm, preserving our sanity, and rediscovering joy in learning and family time. We'll share our curriculum choices, daily schedules, mistakes, triumphs, and the brutally honest reality of what happens when type-A professionals with zero teaching experience decide to educate their children at home.

We don't know exactly where this path leads, but we're committed to transparency about every step along the way.

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TRAILER: We're Homeschooling After Years in Public Education -- & this was NOT the plan!

Sunday, August 10, 2025 • Duration 03:39

Ever feel like you're just managing your kids instead of actually parenting them? That's exactly where we found ourselves—rushing through mornings and evenings, always telling our children to hurry up while strangers shaped their days. We're Carson and Teran, accountants who run a business together and parents to three amazing kids. After 4 years in public education, we are homeschooling! And this was NOT the plan!

Two years ago, we would have sworn homeschooling was only for stay-at-home parents with endless time for educational crafts and gourmet lunches. Now we're learning it can look entirely different—and that's okay.

This podcast captures our real-time journey into the unknown. We're equal parts terrified and excited, committed to transparency about both our successes and inevitable failures. Each week, we'll share what's working, what's definitely not working, and how we're managing to balance it all without losing our minds.

No experts here—just a family trying something different because what we were doing wasn't working anymore.

Subscribe now to join us on this adventure and see where unexpected paths can lead when you're brave enough to follow them.

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4. We Survived Our First Week Homeschooling + Working! Here's How it Went!

Episode 4

Monday, August 18, 2025 • Duration 01:18:29

We survived our first week of homeschooling while working full-time jobs, and despite some bumps along the way, it feels right – like it was meant to be.

• Children seem happier and more energetic compared to when they attended public school
• Figuring out curriculum has been challenging – Mi Academy has pros and cons
• Customizing education to each child's needs is incredibly rewarding
• Oldest daughter's ADHD presents differently than teachers described, allowing us to adapt our approach
• Setting up a consistent schedule is crucial for success
• Finding balance between structured learning and flexibility
• Socialization concerns are completely unfounded – the kids have had more meaningful social interactions this week than before
• Taking breaks and getting personal time is essential for maintaining patience
• The evening guilt of not spending enough time with kids has disappeared
• Desks ordered to replace kitchen table schooling after a week of clutter

If homeschooling is something on your heart but seems impossible with your work schedule, we're here to tell you it might be more doable than you think. Follow along each week as we document how it's going and share the good, the bad, and the ugly.

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5. Hot Topics: Socialization + Sports

Episode 5

Monday, August 25, 2025 • Duration 36:11

Two weeks into our unexpected homeschool journey, we're tackling the biggest questions we've received: "But what about socialization?" and "Can your kids still play sports?"

Our children are actually socializing more intentionally now—through homeschool co-ops, park meetups, classes, and neighborhood connections—without it consuming their entire day. This intentional approach to social interaction leaves room for something we rarely had before: genuine family time and activities aligned with our core values.

We're also reexamining our relationship with youth sports. After years of rushing between six weekly practices and three weekend games, we're seeking balance. There are abundant opportunities for homeschooled children to participate in athletics—from homeschool-specific leagues to community programs—but we're learning to prioritize enjoyment over extreme competition.

This week, there have been tears and attitude, but overall, the kids still prefer homeschooling over public school.

Whether you're a homeschooling family or simply curious about alternative educational paths, join us for an honest conversation about finding the right balance between socialization, athletics, academics, and family time. Share your thoughts or questions with us, and don't forget to subscribe so you don't miss our continuing journey!

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6. Changing Our Curriculum + Week 3 Update!

Episode 6

Monday, September 1, 2025 • Duration 44:24

We're discovering that homeschooling our three kids is surprisingly less stressful than sending them to traditional school, even while balancing our work as full-time accountants.

• Comparing the stress of traditional back-to-school chaos with our current homeschool rhythm
• Finding time to homeschool while working full-time (4 hours of work, 7 days a week)
• Exploring co-op opportunities that offer community with minimal commitment
• Discussing our curriculum switch from Me Academy to The Good and the Beautiful
• Preferring physical workbooks over computer-based learning for younger children
• Using placement tests to find the right academic level for each child
• Considering Texas Tech's K-12 program as a potential option for older students
• Appreciating the flexibility to adapt our approach as our children grow
• Finding peace of mind knowing our children are safe with us during uncertain times

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7. Choosing Our Hard: New Co-op, New Curriculum, and a Lot of Change!

Episode 7

Monday, September 8, 2025 • Duration 46:39

Four weeks into an unexpected homeschooling adventure, we've discovered something surprising: time flies! The morning madness of rushing children out the door has been replaced with meaningful connections and personalized learning that actually work for our family.

That's not to say everything's perfect. Our first co-op day brought a mixture of excitement and frustration as our kids navigated unfamiliar classes with varying levels of excitement.

The transition to our new curriculum, "The Good and Beautiful," has presented its own challenges. And when our daughter with ADHD needs extra time to complete assignments, we adjust our schedule accordingly, because that's the beauty of homeschooling—we can tailor the experience to each child's needs.

Critics ask how we manage homeschooling while working full-time, or question whether two hours of instruction is "enough." But they're missing what we've discovered: the efficiency of one-on-one learning, the elimination of administrative time-wasters, and the freedom to build education around real life rather than forcing life to conform to a rigid school schedule. We're choosing a different kind of "hard"—the hard that builds stronger family bonds and creates space for our children to thrive as unique individuals rather than pieces on an educational assembly line.

Have you ever considered taking an educational road less traveled?

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8. ADHD and Homeschooling: Our 10-Year-Old's Perspective

Episode 8

Monday, September 15, 2025 • Duration 41:09

Curious what homeschooling really looks like through a child's eyes? This special episode features our 10-year-old daughter, the inspiration behind our family's decision to leave public school and embark on this unexpected homeschooling journey.

Saylor shares why she begged us to homeschool her for years before we finally took the plunge. Her perspective is uniquely valuable - after completing four years in public school plus pre-K, she understands both worlds. When asked if she'd ever go back to traditional school, her answer is immediate and emphatic: "No, not at all. 100%, definitely not."

For a child with ADHD, the freedom to move, change environments, and take breaks when needed has transformed her relationship with learning. "At homeschool, you can go on the couch and read your book, you don't have to sit at a desk," she explains, highlighting how this flexibility helps her concentrate.

The episode also addresses our curriculum transition to "The Good and the Beautiful," how we're adapting it for three different learners, and our upcoming travel plans - one of the freedoms homeschooling affords us.

Subscribe and follow our journey as we continue documenting the good, the bad, and occasionally ugly reality of balancing homeschooling with full-time careers and family life. Have you considered homeschooling? What questions would you ask a child who's experienced both educational worlds?

9. Yes, You Can Homeschool in 2 Hours!

Episode 9

Monday, September 29, 2025 • Duration 38:05

"Two hours a day? Impossible!" That was my first reaction when someone suggested we could homeschool our three children in such a short time. After all, traditional schools keep kids for 7-8 hours daily, so surely homeschooling requires the same commitment, right? Wrong.

After unexpectedly becoming homeschoolers while maintaining our full-time careers, we've discovered the surprising math behind educational efficiency. In a classroom of 20-30 students, each child receives only 1-2 minutes of

The results have been remarkable. Our six-year-old has transformed from a reluctant pre-reader to an enthusiastic bookworm in just one month, bringing books everywhere we go. Our older children are thriving academically and asking for extra math lessons because they're genuinely engaged with learning. Most surprisingly, they're adamantly against returning to traditional school when we jokingly threaten it during difficult moments.

Are you reconsidering what's possible for your family's educational journey? If you've been hesitant about homeschooling because of time concerns, perhaps it's time to recalculate using the real math of effective education. Those two focused hours might be more powerful than you ever imagined.