Special Replay | Are You An Unaware Mommy Shamer?

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.
May 30, 2023 by Leave a Comment

Are You an Unaware Mommy Shamer?Are you an unaware mommy shamer?

Have you ever been guilty of mommy shaming? I sure have. I honestly did not realize I was doing it until years later, but unfortunately, that doesn’t change the fact that I did it in the first place. I hope this episode will encourage you to look at yourself and make sure you aren’t guilty of being an unaware mommy shamer.

Thanks to our sponsor, CTCMath.com – we are pleased for their continued excellence in education and dedication to the homeschool community. It is due to sponsorships that our programs continue to come to you without cost. Please visit the website and check out their curriculum.

Lesli often tells the story of me mommy shaming her shortly after we first met. She offered me a pair of shoes similar to the ones in the picture below and I refused them because “my daughter was not allowed to wear heels.” Yep, I said that. Nope, I am not proud. Yep, it was mommy shaming.

Once I looked back, I realized that I was often mommy-shamed in those early years. I would proudly state my opinion about holistic medicine, homeschooling, etc.… not realizing that just my tone about the subject could be harming another mom.

Mothering is a mystery. Mothering is challenging. At times mothering is flat-out overwhelming. Most of us are insecure of our decisions, especially early on. I think many of us “yell” out our opinion as a cry for affirmation. Unfortunately, our opinions are often seen as mommy shaming.

If you think you might be guilty of being an unaware mommy shamer, here are my suggestions:

  1. Recognize why you mommy shame.
  2. Recognize when you mommy shame.
  3. Strive to be quietly confident, only sharing STRONG opinions among your inner circle.

Mommy shaming divides. We need each other. Let’s spend our time respecting each other, encouraging each other, and loving each other.

You’ve got this!

Find a way to #sayyes today.

 

Enjoy this podcast? Try these Vintage Homeschool Moms podcasts:

Just for homeschool moms. Vintage Homeschool Moms preserves the best of the past while blessing future generations with the fruit that comes from putting God first and using the experience as a teacher. Your host, Felice Gerwitz, is a Christian wife, mother, and educator-turned-homeschool-mom in 1986. She began homeschooling as a trial and never looked back.  Felice’s topics range from home education, child-rearing, enterprising moms, SAHM (Stay at Home Moms), WAHM (Work at Home Moms), and so much more.

Top Vintage Homeschool Moms Podcasts

Homeschool Lifestyle
Last Minute DIY Tips
Money Saving Field Trips
All About Teaching
Raising Spiritually Strong Kids
Six Homeschooling Insider Tips
Best Staycations for Kids
Avoid Curriculum Pitfalls
Top 10 Parenting Secrets
45 Family Date Night Ideas

Don’t forget to subscribe to my podcast and leave a review on iTunes!!!

Thank you to The Homegrown Preschooler for sponsoring this Podcast! Check out the blog post Kathy mentioned, Farmhouse Schoolhouse, to read more about A Year of Playing Skillfully.

Also, to thank you for listening, you can receive a 10% discount on any purchase at

The Homegrown Preschooler by using the code, THEREALKATHYLEE.

 

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How to Build Your Business While Building Each Other Up

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.
March 21, 2019 by Leave a Comment

How to Build Your Business While Building Each Other Up

How to Build Your Business While Building Each Other Up

Our tongues are mighty enough to inflict wounds or build one another up. How often do we stop and think about the power we have to build up our business through our speech? Tune into Mommy Jammies Podcast as Gina talks about keeping our conversation holy.

“Whoever wants to embrace life and see the day fill up with good, Here’s what you do: Say nothing evil or hurtful;  Snub evil and cultivate good; run after peace for all you’re worth.” 1 Peter 3: 10-11

Embrace Life

In our last two podcasts, we’ve taken a look at setting our priorities on the right course, those aligned with our values. Let’s talk a little today about how to build your business while building each other up.

Community

When Jesus came to Earth he created a community – a community of the Redeemed. God Himself is a community in the form of the Trinity!

It’s hard wired in each one of us to desire community with one another. It’s one of the ways we can truly embrace life – by reaching out to others! While sin separated us in the Fall, and we still don’t love one another perfectly, Jesus wants us to experience it. Though we experience God’s saving grace individually, we can be transformed (sanctified) within a community. This community isn’t just the church or our family, but also our business relationships.

Indeed, our businesses can require a good portion of our attention and can be a primary way the Lord sanctifies us, desiring that we would in fact- embrace life.

See the Day Fill up with Good

That brings me to seeing the day fill up with good. Have you ever had one of those days where nothing seems to go right? You complain, procrastinate, and compare to the point that you just want to crawl back in bed. While those days sometimes happen outside of our control, often those days can be a result of what the rest of the verse says to us.

In our business dealings, how often do we fall prey to sharing screenshots of conversations, saying things we shouldn’t, or taking concerns to a friend first- rather than the Lord. I know I’ve been guilty of all of those and in fact struggle with this. It’s a distorted version of community, isn’t it?

What can we “put off” and “put on” in order to overcome this struggle? How can we build trust, friendship, and respect with our business colleagues using these put off’s and put on’s?

Say Nothing Evil or Hurtful

Just yesterday a friend called me deeply hurt by words said to her. Words! She wasn’t physically harmed and she wasn’t threatened. No, she was laughed at for a business idea by a friend. This hurt her in the moment and she was still dealing with it the next morning.

It’s hard for us to realize that if we speak without weighing our speech (thinking how it might impact another), we can deeply would someone we actually care about.

How likely is this friend I mention going to be willing to share her business ideas with others again? What will she have to overcome and forgive in order to now show up in the world with her awesome idea?

Snub Evil and Cultivate Good

What can we do when a business friendship is based on a list of who to like and who not to like? Is it possible that maintaining these types of business friendships actually harm your own business and reputation? They can and they do.

We all know that person (and in fact, if we look in the mirror we’re guilty, too) who can’t wait to tell you the ten reasons not to like so and so. While it’s good in business circles to give general warnings and guidance to friends in order to keep them from a bad business deal, it’s not necessary to attach personal descriptives about another person.

Honestly, this is a difficult situation sometimes, but having a policy of carefulness and seeking Wisdom on the subject of sharing about another individual is a good one. Most business mamas are savvy enough to recognize a fraud or bad business relationship.

Run After Peace for All You’re Worth

That brings us back to the beginning. Remember in our last podcast, we determined Who gives us our Peace and Worth. If we’re to run after peace for all we’re worth, let that sink in. God created us for a purpose. Our businesses have a story to tell to the world and pursuing peace in our business relationships will (in the long run) build up our businesses.

Action Point:

Spend some time in prayer, reflecting on ways you tend to run after discord instead of peace. How does knowing what you’re worth and running after peace have the potential to build up others and by extension, build up your own business?

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When You Lose Your Junk (with Ashley Smoot)

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.
February 12, 2018 by Leave a Comment

When You Lose Your Junk - with Ashley Smoot and the Real Kathy LeeToday’s show was full of honesty. We covered some topics that have come up from conversations with moms over the past couple of months. First, we chatted about how and why we ALL lose our JUNK with our kids sometimes. You know what I mean. Those times when you yell, freak out, and act like a lunatic at them. Please tell me, you have had those moments too. I totally have lost it with my kids, too many times. I share my suggestion to look inward and try and reflect on the why? If I am being honest, I usually lose it because I fail to prepare, communicate, or take necessary steps to avoid the conflict. Both Ashley and I shared a personal story of losing our junk and what we learned afterwards. I always suggest asking your children for forgiveness and own your part in the situation.

After we had some online therapy during the podcast about losing our junk, we discussed some other issues that had been brought up recently. We talked about what to do when you feel completely overwhelmed and how to deal with unrest between the adults in the home. In the end, I think we noticed that we mentioned the words, rest, grace and forgiveness a lot. Pretty sure, it is because we all need those things to survive this parenting thing. Thanks for listening. If you have topics you would like for me to discuss or people you would like to hear from, let me know.

Just email me at kathy@thehomegrownpreschooler.com or shoot me a message on social media.

 

 

Find a way to #sayyes today.

Don’t forget to subscribe to my podcast and leave a review on iTunes!!!

Thank you to The Homegrown Preschooler for sponsoring this Podcast! Check out the blog post Kathy mentioned, Farmhouse Schoolhouse, to read more about A Year of Playing Skillfully.

Also, to thank you for listening, you can receive a 10% discount on any purchase at

The Homegrown Preschooler by using the code, THEREALKATHYLEE.

 

 

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Who is Your Tribe and What is Your Scheduling Vibe?

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.
February 2, 2018 by 1 Comment

Who Is Your Tribe and What Is Your Scheduling Vibe? With The Real Kathy LeeOn this week’s show, I ramble… in a parking lot…in Albany, NY. Yesterday afternoon I got a call saying that one of my oldest son’s was being transferred by ambulance to a hospital forty-five minutes from his university campus. When you get that kind of call, you immediately book a flight to Albany, NY (even if you know that it is freaking freezing cold there). A short 2 ½ hours later, I was on a plane. Times like these remind you that you cannot do it alone. You can’t pick up the kids as planned. You can’t make dinner as planned. You can’t go to the appointment with your child as planned. You need your tribe. This time, my precious husband picked up most of the balls I would be dropping; he had landed from a business trip five minutes before I received that phone call.  He is part of my tribe. The other members in my tribe bombarded my phone with calls/texts offering to help with the kids, the dogs, and the business. I am blessed to have a tight tribe. They are a small group of women who have been there, no matter what. Do you have such a group? If you do, say out loud… I AM BLESSED. If you do not, find one!

Originally, I was planning to answer a couple of questions about scheduling and lack of interests in activities. I do mention both of those things on today’s show, in a rambling kind of way. Honestly, my mind was on my family today. Hopefully, you can make sense of my rambling and be encouraged on your journey of motherhood.

Guess what? I know you don’t have it together and you know that I don’t have it together. You know what else? NO ONE has it all together. Let’s rest in that and be thankful that in spite of our shortcomings, we LOVE our families fiercely and are raising up a beautiful group of future hot messes.

 

Have a great week!! Celebrate your TRIBE!

 

 

Thanks for listening. If you have topics you would like for me to discuss or people you would like to hear from, let me know. Just email me at kathy@thehomegrownpreschooler.com or shoot me a message on social media.

 

Find a way to #sayyes today.

Don’t forget to subscribe to my podcast and leave a review on iTunes!!!

Thank you to The Homegrown Preschooler for sponsoring this Podcast! Check out the blog post Kathy mentioned, Farmhouse Schoolhouse, to read more about A Year of Playing Skillfully.

Also, to thank you for listening, you can receive a 10% discount on any purchase at

The Homegrown Preschooler by using the code, THEREALKATHYLEE.

 

 

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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Are You An Unaware Mommy Shamer?

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.
August 25, 2017 by Leave a Comment

Are You an Unaware Mommy Shamer?Have you ever been guilty of mommy shaming? I sure have. I honestly did not realize I was doing it until years later, but unfortunately that doesn’t change the fact that I did it in the first place. I hope this episode will encourage you to look at yourself and make sure you aren’t guilty of the same thing.

Lesli often tells the story of me mommy shaming her shortly after we first met. She offered me a pair of shoes similar to the ones in the picture below and I refused them because “my daughter was not allowed to wear heels.” Yep, I said that. Nope, I am not proud. Yep, it was mommy shaming.

Once I looked back, I realized that I often mommy shamed in those early years. I would proudly state my opinion about holistic medicine, homeschooling, etc… not realizing that just my tone about the subject could be harming another mom.

Mothering is a mystery. Mothering is challenging. At times mothering is flat out overwhelming. Most of us are insecure of our decisions, especially early on. I think many of us “yell” out our opinion as a cry for affirmation. Unfortunately, our opinions are often seen as mommy shaming.

If you think you might be guilty of mommy shaming, here are my suggestions:

  1. Recognize why you mommy shame.
  2. Recognize when you mommy shame.
  3. Strive to be quietly confident, only sharing STRONG opinions among your inner circle.

Mommy shaming divides. We need each other. Let’s spend our time respecting each other, encouraging each other, and loving each other.

You’ve got this!

Find a way to #sayyes today.

Don’t forget to subscribe to my podcast and leave a review on iTunes!!!

Thank you to The Homegrown Preschooler for sponsoring this Podcast! Check out the blog post Kathy mentioned, Farmhouse Schoolhouse, to read more about A Year of Playing Skillfully.

Also, to thank you for listening, you can receive a 10% discount on any purchase at

The Homegrown Preschooler by using the code, THEREALKATHYLEE.

 

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | Spotify | Android | Stitcher | TuneIn | RSS | More

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Lemonade from Lemons

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.
February 6, 2014 by 7 Comments

Felice no dateLemonade from Lemons Mommy Style

We’ve all done it – you know, made a bad situation better. We pull out our “Mommy Capes” and race head-long into trouble with a prayer that the Lord will help us figure it out, and quick!

The one incident that comes immediately to mind is the time we planned to go river rafting in North Florida, in early August. The national park was beautiful and we had enjoyed a wonderful weekend of camping. Other than my children getting in trouble for feeding the deer with my delicious fruit salad, the week-end had gone without a hitch. The weather was hot but beautiful under the shade trees and if you wonder – yes, we have air-conditioning in our “pop-up” trailer, a microwave and mini-frig.

This camping trip included my brother and his wife. She wasn’t the camping type but then, I assured her either was I! I knew she would enjoy it if she just gave it a try. Well, that was before the river-rafting trip.

We had just rented our large rafts from what we thought was a reputable place and two minutes down the road my brother’s raft was flat as a pancake atop his SUV. We called to alert him of the fact and we both pulled over to the shoulder. A quick trip back to the seller, with us following, yielded disappointing results. The vendor would not replace the raft nor refund our money. What to do! We had paid cash. The weather at that point looked ominous and the rain clouds were pouring in at an alarming rate. This park was 8 hours from where I lived so a trip back would not happen in the near future. The kids knew this.

I felt the Lord had protected us from being out on the river in a bad storm. I had peace.

My brother and sister-in-law, not so much.

They ranted at the sales person and it was so bad, my husband walked back to our car. I had stayed in the car with the kids and began to lead them in a prayer. For our disappointment, and for this unethical vendor!

We had already packed up our gear, and after the rafting trip we had planned to head home. It appeared our trip home would begin a bit earlier than we planned. I called my brother (whatever would we do without cell phones) and told him it was futile. This wasn’t the type of business you could report to a business bureau! My brother finally convinced his wife to let it go, and we were on the road again. The kids were disappointed, yes we could have continued without my brother but then it was not setting a good example. Family sticks together.

He who pursues righteousness and loyalty Finds life, righteousness and honor. Proverbs 21:21.

I asked my brother to meet us on a particular exit that I knew had soft-serve ice-cream and I alerted the children that a surprise was in store up-ahead. Ice-cream is not an equal substitute for river-rafting, but they saw the benefit. It was nothing as opposed to something! By this time my sister-in-law and brother had calmed down and they realized the storm was heading our way rapidly and we definitely would be drenched if we had ventured out into the river.

Big hugs from my kids and a thank-you made it all better – for me anyway.

This situation is something I’ve wanted to share with others, but the opportunity never came up until now! I’m speaking at the Mommy Jammies Night, with host, LaToya Edwards on February 11 at 9PM. The link will be posted here after the event. For now – visit the Mommy Jammies Night page for details.

How have your turned a bad situation into a good one? Share with us! We all need the encouragement.

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Home For Learning

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.
February 6, 2014 by Leave a Comment

I’ve just officially named my blog and while Learning at Home sounds better than Home for Learning you can’t be picky when choosing a domain name these days! The word “blog” had to go – and my on-again-off-again blogging schedule is going as well! It’s not that I didn’t write blog posts, I just never finished them.

Here’s my problem. I use too many words!

And, by the time I completed a blog post I found what I really had was a mini-e-book! Can any of you bloggers relate? Well, short and pithy really isn’t in my vocabulary but as I learn the art of blogging I’ve decided I’ll break up my blogs into posts rather than try to write everything I want to say in one blog post. So, be ready for a series of post on one topic! As always if there is a particular topic you want to learn about let me know. Homeschooling since the dinosaurs roamed the earth in 1986 has to count for something. [For you purists out there — no the dinosaurs did not roam the earth in 1986.]

Many of you have written to us in the blog post early on, when I asked the question about the type of radio show you’d like to hear. We are very close to fulfilling that list, with a few more holes to go. I enjoy podcasts that I can listen to on my phone and I find I learn so much. My children enjoy them as well and I’m happy that we are able to provide two podcastts that have information for teens and more to come. [Current Issues & the Constitution as well as Dollars & Sense]

I’m always learning about shortcuts to cleaning, cooking or even time management. What are you learning about, share it with us!

 

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Help From My Friends

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.
February 3, 2014 by Leave a Comment

The song from the Beatles runs through my mind, “I get by with a little help from my friends,” and that sums up these fabulous ladies who share a retreat with me yearly and a place in my heart. Years ago, the details are a bit muddy, Maggie Hogan approached me to ask if I’d be part of a Mastermind group of ladies. She formed a private Facebook group and added me along with Kim Kautzer and Mary Jo Tate. I knew Mary Jo having worked with her in the past (she edited one of our Creation Study Guides) and I “knew” Kim as she was an expo speaker, and I “knew” Maggie. I had used her curriculum with my own children.

But, I didn’t really know them and I can’t imagine continuing in business and homeschooling without these ladies.

These ladies have become dear to me in ways that I can never explain. They are my sounding board, nicely put me in my place (yes, I need this often), and they are very wise. I know much of it comes from prayer and a close relationship to the Lord, and some comes from experience.

We have many things in common.

  • We all love the Lord!
  • We are all homeschool moms.
  • Two have completed their homeschool-mom-journey and graduated their children.
  • Two of us are currently homeschooling.
  • Some are self-published
  • We all blog (more or less).

We are very different.

  • Two are literature buffs.
  • Two are editors.
  • Three travel often.
  • Three travel more than I ever will.
  • Two have only boys.
  • Two have a mix of boys and girls.
  • Three are self published
  • One has a book contract with another publisher.
  • Three publish other authors.
  • One is a Single Mom
  • Three are happily married.

We are different enough in the curriculum we provide not to be competition but similar enough to understand the needs of homeschool business owners. And all are homeschool moms that understand the hearts of other homeschool moms! So, it is with pleasure that I host a session with these three ladies and allow you an inside glimpse into our yearly retreat and how we’ve managed to encourage each other in our friendship, growth, challenges and accountability!

 

Listen to the full interview here VintageHomeschoolMoms.com

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