Is your homeschool running on autopilot and losing its spark? You're not alone, and you’re definitely not failing. In this special episode, I’m getting real about a syndrome I call the “Ho Hum Homeschool.” You know, when you’re doing all the things, color-coded planners, checklists, math, and reading, but somehow, none of it feels like actual learning. The days start to blur together. The joy fades. You start wondering: why does this feel so hard? (And if it’s just us, or if everyone’s eating cereal for every meal in May.)

Grab a cool drink, your favorite homeschool catalog, and let’s have a gut-check. I’ll walk you through the five big warning signs your homeschool might be a little (or a lot) off track, even if you look good on paper. Spoiler: It’s not about buying new curriculum, hacking your whole schedule, or laminating every last thing in sight.

But don’t worry, I won’t leave you hanging! I’m inviting you to my favorite (and totally free) workshop, The Case of the Ho Hum Homeschool, where we’ll use some playful detective work and real-life encouragement to uncover the three small but powerful shifts that can bring the heart, the connection, and the joy back into your homeschool days. No trench coat required, I promise.

Here’s what we’re covering:

• The true signs your homeschool is flatlining (even if you’re “checking the boxes”)
• Why more curriculum and new schedules aren’t the solution to burnout (and what is)
• Why fun and connection are always the first things to get cut, and how to fix it
• How to design a homeschool day that actually feels good for your family (without the guilt or overwhelm)
• A behind-the-scenes sneak peek at my free, hope-filled workshop to help you reset before next year (even if you’re already tired planning!)

Mentioned resources:

• Sign up for The Case of the Ho Hum Homeschool workshop
• Wonder Studies
• Our episode on schedule ideas
• Free community

Ready for clarity and actual hope (not just another to-do list)?

Head to pambarnhill.com/hohum to save your seat for the workshop, free, actionable, and replay available!

Are you facing a move and feeling completely overwhelmed about starting over with your homeschool? Maybe you’re wishing for some sense of rhythm and comfort when everything else around you is shifting.

In this episode, I talk with Melaney Smith, a pastor’s wife and homeschool mom of three, about what it’s like to leave everything behind and begin again. Melaney recently moved her family from Stockton, California, all the way to the snowy prairies of North Dakota. She generously shares what it was like to grieve, adjust (and freeze!), and eventually discover her new groove as a homeschooling mom.

We talk about what really happens when your routines get tossed upside-down and how to handle the emotional load, the reality of creating community in a completely new place, and how tools like Autopilot became Melaney’s secret weapon during the chaos. In her story, you’ll find surprising insights about why familiar routines matter so much during big transitions and how flexible habits can truly anchor your family when everything else feels unfamiliar.

If you are walking through a big life change or just need some honest encouragement (plus a few laughs about frozen winters and missing good hot sauce), you’ll find practical help and camaraderie right here.

• What actually happens (emotionally and practically) when you move cross-country with your family and begin homeschooling again
• How consistency and familiar homeschool rhythms can help everyone adjust after a big move
• Why planning tools and a supportive community are essential during chaotic seasons
• The basics of “Minimum Viable Days” and why these can be a lifesaver when your regular routines are impossible
• Creative ideas for adapting your homeschool to new climates, schedules, and cultures
• Why taking three to five years to feel at home is normal—and perfectly okay
• How letting go of perfection and choosing to show up faithfully brings peace and growth

• Put Your Homeschool Year on Autopilot
• Homeschool Consistency Bootcamp
• Podcast episode on the Minimum Viable Day
• Homeschool Better Together Community

For full show notes and a transcript of today’s episode, head to pambarnhill.com/hsbt42

Ever feel like “life” is just too much to keep homeschooling going? This one’s for you.

I sat down with Karissa Martin, a mom of four, seasoned homeschooler, and expert juggler who, this year alone, faced one family crisis after another: illness, caretaking, and more than a few emotional curveballs. But you know what? Not only did her family make it through, but they actually experienced more growth than they have in years.

We talk about the sandwich generation (yes, it even counts with grandparents), trying to keep homeschool afloat while at the hospital, late-night co-op assignments, and what it really looks like to let your vision and community hold you up when you can’t do it on your own.

Karissa pulls back the curtain on how she hit burnout, learned to finally ask for help, and found a “village” when she needed it most. She also reveals how, even with all the chaos, her kids’ education didn’t just survive…it thrived.

We don’t sugarcoat the messy parts, but you’ll come away with real encouragement, practical ideas for finding your footing in a tough season, and a hefty dose of hope.

• How Karissa homeschooled during crisis and family caretaking (without losing her mind)
• The do-the-next-thing approach to planning that kept her from feeling behind
• Why she now plans her whole homeschool year—spoiler: this saved her bacon
• How asking for help (even when it’s hard) changes everything
• Life lessons her kids learned from supporting extended family
• Why “behind” is almost always in your head
• The reality of burnout—and Karissa’s steps for climbing out
• The surprising ways community can show up, even when you think you don’t have a village

• Put Your Homeschool Year on Autopilot
• HSBT Podcast Free Community

Want more help with planning your year, surviving the messy seasons, and connecting with a community that actually gets it? Come join us in our free group!

For full show notes and a transcript of today’s episode, head to pambarnhill.com/hsbt41