Grief looks different for everyone—but no one is meant to carry it alone.

In this deeply moving episode of the Homeschool Connections Podcast, host Kaitlin Zara welcomes back Catholic author, speaker, and homeschooling mother of ten, Kendra Tierney Norton, for a candid and compassionate conversation about walking through grief while homeschooling.

Kendra shares reflections from her family’s 16-year journey through her husband Jim’s cancer diagnosis, treatment, hospice, and passing, all while continuing to homeschool and raise their children. Rather than offering formulas or platitudes, Kendra speaks honestly about what sustained her: faith, community, Catholic tradition, and the quiet strength of daily responsibilities.

Together, Kaitlin and Kendra discuss:

• Why grief cannot—and should not—be rushed or standardized

• How homeschooling can foster resilience during seasons of hardship

• The irreplaceable role of Catholic community in times of loss

• Why accepting help is not weakness, but humility

• How liturgical living and prayer anchor families during uncertainty

Whether you are navigating grief, caregiving, chronic hardship, or emotional exhaustion, this episode offers reassurance, wisdom, and gentle encouragement to lean into the support God has already placed around you.

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? Nearly 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

Kendra Tierney Norton is a Catholic author, speaker, and the voice behind Catholic All Year. She is a homeschooling mother of ten and has been a longtime advocate for liturgical living and faith-filled family culture.

🔗 Connect with Kendra:

• Previous podcast episodes: https://homeschoolconnections.com/podcasts_category/kendra-tierney-catholic-homeschooling/

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kendra_tierney_norton/

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/catholicallyear/

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KendraTierneyCAY/

• Website: https://catholicallyear.com/

To discover 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 happens when the school that once seemed perfect suddenly isn’t working anymore?

In this episode of the Homeschool Connections Podcast, host Kaitlin Zara sits down with author and speaker Rachel Bulman to talk about her family’s decision to begin homeschooling during the middle school years—and why making the switch midstream was one of the best decisions they ever made.

Rachel shares the real story behind leaving a rigorous charter/IB environment, how “deschooling” helped ease the transition, and what she learned about her children’s learning styles once they were home. She also offers practical encouragement for moms who worry about rigor, socialization, and structure—especially when homeschooling wasn’t part of their original plan.

If you’ve been thinking about homeschooling (even if it’s midyear), this conversation will give you clarity, peace, and confidence to take the next step.

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. ✨ 20% of Franciscan students come from a homeschool background! Plus, high school juniors and seniors can earn college credit online through Franciscan’s Dual Enrollment program. Learn more at Franciscan.edu.

Rachel Bulman is an author, speaker, and homeschooling mom who began homeschooling her children during the middle school years after discovering that their rigorous school environment wasn’t providing the support, communication, or enrichment her family needed.

In this episode, Rachel shares her family’s honest journey from traditional schooling into homeschooling—and the spiritual, emotional, and practical blessings that followed.

✅ Why Rachel’s family chose to homeschool during middle school ✅ The role “deschooling” played in helping the transition go smoothly ✅ How homeschooling revealed each child’s unique learning style ✅ How to create rigor at home without copying a school model ✅ How her children stayed socially connected without daily classroom interaction ✅ Why intentional friendships are real-world socialization (not a “homeschool weakness”) ✅ The biggest challenges: accountability, motivation, and consistency ✅ The greatest blessing: forming virtue, responsibility, and real family life skills

🌐 Rachel’s website: https://www.rachelbulman.com/ 📚 Rachel’s books: https://amzn.to/4bFNtgD 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelbulman 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rachelbulman

📌 Deschooling: https://homeschoolconnections.com/how-to-deschool/ 📌 How to Start Homeschooling Midyear: https://homeschoolconnections.com/how-to-start-homeschooling-midyear/ 📌 Middle School Articles: https://homeschoolconnections.com/category/middle-school/ 📌 Unschooling Articles: https://homeschoolconnections.com/category/unschooling/

To discover 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 is classical education—and why are more Catholic and homeschool families turning to it right now?

In today's episode of the Homeschool Connections Podcast, host Kaitlin Zara sits down with Jeremy Tate, founder and CEO of the Classic Learning Test (CLT), to explore why classical education is making a major comeback and how it forms students not only academically, but morally and spiritually.

Jeremy explains what sets classical learning apart from modern schooling, how the CLT serves as a powerful alternative to the SAT/ACT, and why cultivating virtue, critical thinking, and a love for truth matters more than ever in a culture shaped by technology and AI.

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 her signature program, the Happy, Holy Mama Membership, at fiatlifecoaching.com.

Jeremy Tate is the founder and CEO of the Classic Learning Test (CLT), a standardized testing alternative rooted in classical education and the Great Books tradition. The CLT is accepted by a growing number of colleges and universities and is increasingly popular among homeschool families and classical schools.

🌐 CLT Website: https://www.cltexam.com/ 🐦 Jeremy Tate on X: https://x.com/JeremyTate41 📸 CLT on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cltexam/ 📘 CLT on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CLTexam/ 🎙 Anchored Podcast (CLT): https://www.cltexam.com/podcasts/

✅ What “classical education” actually means—and why it matters today ✅ How classical learning forms virtue, reasoning, and wisdom ✅ The difference between education for formation vs. education for outcomes ✅ Why more families are moving away from conventional school models ✅ How the CLT compares to the SAT/ACT ✅ Why standardized testing doesn’t have to undermine Christian formation ✅ The rise of AI in education—and why it makes classical learning more relevant ✅ Encouraging Catholic homeschoolers to stay focused on enduring truths