Welcome to the Wild and Free Podcast, episode 12. I'm Ainslie Arment with Tina Engold, and today we're talking about finding kindred spirits on this homeschooling journey. We also talk about whether it's too late to reignite the wonder in a child who's lost their love of learning. And finally, we're going to join a conversation between Jennifer Pepito and Tony Weber, all about reading aloud and homeschooling teenagers.

So grab a cup of coffee and join us on the front porch. Let's get started.

Music You know who is an amazing. You know who is an amazing.

Everything she does is just done so well.

And she's a seasoned homeschooling mom is Tony homeschool by heart.

She has been so encouraging to me lately.

It's crazy.

And one of her stories made me cry because it was just

exactly what I needed to hear in that moment. And it had to do with the end of the year losing my wits,

just, you know, I'm ready to be outside, the spring fever, all that. And she was talking about how

it's so normal for that to happen. She said it happens to every

mom that she knows. And so she kind of gave some suggestions. You know, some of them were only focus on

a couple things a day. You don't have to do your full schedule or what you normally do. And her main

point was make this be guilt free. No guilt. She said, if it's feeling torturous to finish the book,

close it and walk away. It will still be their next fall. Your kids will not fall behind.

We are not racing to a finish line. We're choosing a pace that brings life. Remember,

sweet mama friends, no guilt allowed, only freedom. I love that. Wild and free. And Tony's so

great. And she's been homeschooling for 24 years. Is that it?

I mean, 23 or 24 years? I can't remember which. Her last child is a freshman in high school this year. So she's been doing it a long time. And she has just so much warmth and encouragement to offer. I love her.

So I definitely look to those season veteran homeschooling moms for advice and encouragement

and inspiration. And I love that there are so many out there that we can go to and follow.

Absolutely. I feel the same way about talking with Jennifer Pepito, who's been doing the 17 or 18 years, and she has a couple of adult children that have graduated and gone to college. And Terry Woods is another one. But it's great to turn to the mamas who are in the trenches. I feel like that's where we are when we still have littles. And don't have babies anymore so I'm not doing the nursing

...