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

We share how better sleep, steady routines, and clear expectations made our homeschool days calmer and our evenings useful. Then we dive into kid goal setting, phone etiquette that starts with us, and everyday choices about cleaning products and food that keep balance and sanity intact.

• shifting bedtimes to protect 10–12 hours of sleep
• using mornings with purpose and avoiding late-night creep
• turning big goals into small daily actions
• letting kids’ interests drive effort, not parents’ pressure
• modeling phone etiquette and delaying smartphones
• using a kid watch for safety without the internet
• signing a family phone pact at 16
• safer cleaning habits and reading labels
• choosing organic staples and explaining tradeoffs
• building balance without being rigid

Please leave us a review!!! We need some more reviews, guys!!!

Homeschool + Working Parents Guide (The Step-by-Step Guide to Your First Year)

The phone we have with NO social media and NO internet browser!

15. Life Skills We're Teaching Our Kids - Part 1

Episode 15

lundi 10 novembre 2025 • Duration 59:18

We share the life skills that we get to teach now that we homeschool! Wins, stumbles, templates, and the small habits that build real responsibility.

• moving to a new city and practicing friend-making on purpose
• weekly meal planning with kid choices and a shared grocery list
• kids cooking and cleaning entire meals to see consequences
• balanced nutrition using a simple protein carb fat chart
• kids packing their own bags with personalized checklists
• family cleaning day with roles, sequencing and teamwork
• assigned laundry days with start-to-finish ownership
• handling perfectionism and celebrating real progress
• reading milestone using TheReading.com app and simple routines

Please leave us a review. Even if you just have a couple seconds to scroll down and put five stars, we would love that!!!

Homeschool + Working Parents Guide (The Step-by-Step Guide to Your First Year)

The phone we have with NO social media and NO internet browser!

6. Changing Our Curriculum + Week 3 Update!

Episode 6

lundi 1 septembre 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

Homeschool + Working Parents Guide (The Step-by-Step Guide to Your First Year)

The phone we have with NO social media and NO internet browser!

5. Hot Topics: Socialization + Sports

Episode 5

lundi 25 août 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!

Homeschool + Working Parents Guide (The Step-by-Step Guide to Your First Year)

The phone we have with NO social media and NO internet browser!

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

Episode 4

lundi 18 août 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.

Homeschool + Working Parents Guide (The Step-by-Step Guide to Your First Year)

The phone we have with NO social media and NO internet browser!

3. Working Full-Time + Homeschooling... Are We Crazy?

Episode 3

lundi 11 août 2025 • Duration 45:38

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!

Homeschool + Working Parents Guide (The Step-by-Step Guide to Your First Year)

The phone we have with NO social media and NO internet browser!

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

Episode 2

lundi 11 août 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!

Homeschool + Working Parents Guide (The Step-by-Step Guide to Your First Year)

The phone we have with NO social media and NO internet browser!

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

Episode 1

lundi 11 août 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.

Homeschool + Working Parents Guide (The Step-by-Step Guide to Your First Year)

The phone we have with NO social media and NO internet browser!

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

dimanche 10 août 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.

Homeschool + Working Parents Guide (The Step-by-Step Guide to Your First Year)

The phone we have with NO social media and NO internet browser!

14. Our Public School Betrayal List

Episode 14

lundi 3 novembre 2025 • Duration 46:54

We faced these issues head-on after years in public school with our three kids. Two full-time working parents, zero plans to homeschool, and a growing list of friction points pushed us to try something different. The result surprised us: calmer days, happier learners, and more time for the life skills we thought we’d lost.

We unpack the exact moments that tipped the scale: recess cut to minutes and sometimes used as punishment, lunch rushed to the point of waste, and classrooms leaning on candy rewards instead of movement and choice reading. We talk about the mental load of constant school notifications, dress-up days, and sign-ups that turned into a second job. Then there’s technology: one-to-one devices that drift from math to social feeds, creating distractions teachers can’t reasonably police with 20-plus students.

And if your kids are thriving in school but you’re nodding along to the pain points, you’ll find simple changes to advocate for: guaranteed recess, protected lunch, less sugar-as-reward, and a tighter focus on creativity and real-world skills.

If this resonates, subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review telling us one change you’d make to the school day. We’ll feature your ideas in a future episode.

Homeschool + Working Parents Guide (The Step-by-Step Guide to Your First Year)