How do we teach our children to pray without turning prayer into just another item on the to-do list?

In this heartfelt and deeply moving episode, Kaitlin Zara sits down with Shannon Wendt—founder of Chews Life, author, speaker, and homeschooling mom of eight—to talk about cultivating a prayer life that feels natural, authentic, and sustaining for the whole family.

Shannon shares powerful insights from her own journey through grief, miscarriage, and spiritual desolation, revealing how the Rosary became a lifeline not only for her healing, but for the spiritual culture of her home. Together, Kaitlin and Shannon explore how prayer can become a constant conversation with God throughout the homeschool day, how to persevere when prayer feels dry or messy, and why simply showing up matters more than doing it “perfectly.”

This episode offers encouragement for moms who feel overwhelmed, stuck in a prayer rut, or worried they’re not “doing enough.” If you long to help your children experience prayer as peace rather than pressure, this conversation will meet you right where you are.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• Why prayer works best when it’s woven into daily life, not scheduled perfectly

• How simple, spoken prayer throughout the day forms children spiritually

• Letting go of Pinterest-perfect expectations for family prayer

• Teaching kids to turn instinctively to prayer during struggles and conflicts

• Praying the Rosary in small, realistic ways—especially with busy families

• What to do when prayer feels dry, awkward, or emotionally difficult

• Shannon’s powerful testimony of healing through the Rosary after miscarriage

• How Our Lady gently leads hearts back to Christ during seasons of suffering

• Why the “only ineffective prayer is the one you never start.”

Sponsor: 💙 Fiat Life Coaching Emily Brown from Fiat Life Coaching offers premium support for Catholic homeschooling moms to learn essential skills to manage their time, other people’s behavior, and their own mental and emotional wellbeing. 👉 Learn more about the Happy, Holy Mama Membership at fiatlifecoaching.com

Links & Resources Mentioned:

• Chews Life: https://chewslife.com/

• Rosary Bracelets: https://chewslife.com/collections/rosaries-rosary-bracelets

• The Way of the Rosary (Book & Journals): https://chewslife.com/collections/the-way-of-the-rosary

• Follow Shannon on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chewslifeshannon/

• Homeschool Connections Prayer Classes: https://caravel.homeschoolconnections.com/catalog/table?tableSearch=pray

To discover more support for your Catholic homeschool adventure, here are some valuable resources for you:

• Catholic Homeschool Blog, https://homeschoolconnections.com/blog/
• Catholic Homeschool Podcast, https://homeschoolconnections.com/podcast/
• The Catholic Homeschool Conference, https://catholichomeschoolconference.com
• Homeschool Connections Community, https://community.homeschoolconnections.com/

Grab your coffee, and let’s homeschool together!

What does homeschooling look like after 30 years—and what has really changed?

In this encouraging and honest conversation, Kaitlin Zara sits down with veteran homeschool mom, author, and mentor Susie Lloyd, who homeschooled seven children over three decades. Together, they reflect on how homeschooling has evolved, what challenges remain timeless, and why perseverance, patience, and prayer matter more than ever.

From building community from scratch to resisting curriculum overload, from navigating skepticism to trusting God’s long game, Susie offers wisdom and reassurance for today’s homeschool parents—especially those feeling overwhelmed or discouraged. This episode is a reminder that homeschooling is not about perfection, but about faithfulness.

Franciscan University of Steubenville

At Franciscan University of Steubenville, students live the truth of the Gospel in a vibrant Catholic community that unites faith and reason in every major. Did you know that 20% of Franciscan students come from a homeschool background?

High school juniors and seniors can also earn college credit online through Franciscan’s Dual Enrollment Program.

🔗 Learn more at Franciscan.edu

Additional resources: • Franciscan High School Advantage Program: https://franciscan.edu/franciscan-high-school-advantage-program-partnerships/ • Homeschool Connections Dual Enrollment with Franciscan: https://homeschoolconnections.com/resources/college-credit/

Susie Lloyd homeschooled seven children over 30 years and is a longtime mentor, speaker, author, and consultant in the Catholic homeschooling world. Her books, articles, and conference talks emphasize that you don’t have to homeschool perfectly to homeschool successfully. Susie has a special heart for mentoring new and struggling homeschoolers.

🌐 Website: https://susielloyd.com/

Homeschooling “Then and Now” • What it was like homeschooling before widespread support and resources • How early homeschoolers built co-ops, field trips, and networks from scratch • Why today’s abundance of options can feel overwhelming

Curriculum Wisdom Across Generations • Why chasing the “next best” curriculum often causes burnout • The value of sticking with what works • Adapting when a child truly needs something different

Community, Perseverance, and Minority Culture • Why homeschoolers are still a cultural minority—even today • The importance of continuing to build and invest in community • How patience and perseverance change hearts over time

Faith at the Center of Homeschooling • Why homeschooling must be rooted in prayer, not pressure • How morning prayer and read-alouds shaped Susie’s family life • Letting go of rigid school models and embracing the human reality of learning

Encouragement for New Homeschool Moms • Why feeling misunderstood is part of the calling • “Wait ten years”—how fruit becomes visible with time • Living the witness instead of arguing for it

• Little House on the Prairie series – Laura Ingalls Wilder https://amzn.to/4qOnHvd • The Chronicles of Narnia – C.S. Lewis https://amzn.to/3MXjIxB • With God in Russia – Fr. Walter J. Ciszek https://amzn.to/4qxS60A • All Creatures Great and Small – James Herriot https://amzn.to/4baYBSr

• Hillside Education: https://www.hillsideeducation.com/ • Hillside Education Language Arts: https://www.hillsideeducation.com/index.php/language-arts/

You’ll also find the Homeschool Connections Podcast on 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hsc_online/ 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/homeschoolingsaints

📝 Catholic Homeschool Blog: https://homeschoolconnections.com/blog/ 🎧 Catholic Homeschool Podcast: https://homeschoolconnections.com/podcast/

Sponsor: Homeschool Connections

How do we teach our children to serve—especially when the needs around us feel overwhelming?

In this powerful and practical episode, host Kaitlin Zara sits down with Clara Davison, Brand Manager at Holy Heroes, to discuss faith-filled service, local responsibility, and raising children who are ready to “raise their hand” when help is needed. Drawing from Clara’s firsthand experience organizing Hurricane Helene relief efforts in North Carolina, the conversation explores what meaningful volunteerism really looks like—and how Catholic homeschooling families can live it out daily.

From disaster response to meal trains, Clara shares wisdom on responding with intention, guarding against compassion fatigue, and forming children in authentic charity rooted in faith, family, and community. This episode will inspire you to look right where you are and ask: Who needs me today?

riverside clara & kaitlin — tak…

Clara Davison is the Brand Manager at Holy Heroes, a Catholic apostolate dedicated to helping families grow in faith through prayer, service, and joyful devotion. In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Clara helped mobilize large-scale relief efforts across North Carolina—coordinating supplies, fundraising, and community action while pregnant and caring for her family.

Holy Heroes: https://www.holyheroes.com/

• Hurricane Helene & Immediate Response

  • What made this disaster uniquely devastating for Western North Carolina

  • How power outages and lost infrastructure delayed relief efforts

  • The importance of local knowledge during emergencies

• Faith in Action During Crisis

  • Seeing service as a response to God’s call

  • Balancing action with prayer—especially for the dead and missing

  • Lessons learned about presence, limits, and trust in God

• Local Responsibility vs. Global Tragedy

  • Why we feel overwhelmed by constant exposure to worldwide suffering

  • Clara’s insight: our first responsibility is to the people in front of us

  • Avoiding paralysis by focusing on actionable, local needs

• Teaching Children to Serve

  • Simple, family-friendly ways to practice service

  • Meal trains as a powerful, practical ministry for homeschool families

  • How everyday acts of charity shape children’s understanding of community

• Raising Kids Who “Raise Their Hand”

  • Modeling generosity through ordinary sacrifices

  • Helping children see service as a normal part of Catholic life

  • Building a culture where no one expects to be forgotten

This episode is brought to you by Homeschool Connections—offering live and recorded online classes for Catholic homeschooling families, taught by expert instructors who love their faith.

🔗 Learn more at: https://homeschoolconnections.com/

You’ll also find Homeschool Connections Podcast on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/hsc_online/ and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homeschoolingsaints/

Catholic Homeschool Blog: https://homeschoolconnections.com/blog/

Catholic Homeschool Podcast: https://homeschoolconnections.com/podcast/

Like, subscribe, and hit the bell for more homeschool inspiration each week!