GOAT 59: Homeschool Graduation & Beyond

Erin has graduated her first homeschooled student!  Listen this week as Erin & Amanda talk through their first graduation experiences and what comes next in their homeschools.  We hope you are encouraged! 

References: 
Joe's episode:  A Father's Perspective on Homeschooling with Joe McGhee

Show Me Homeschool:
ShowMeHomeschool coaching:  showmehomeschool.com
ShowMeHomeschool email:  info@showmehomeschool.com

Dandy Acres: dandyacresmo@gmail.com
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Cristy Stebelton, Podcast Editor:  Podcast With Faith
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Transcript

Homeschool Graduation and Beyond

[00:00:00] Erin: Hello and welcome back to Go Homeschooling with Erin and Amanda. Hi Amanda. Hi Erin. How are you? Oh, I'm good. It's just another day in the, the wonderful life over here. Yeah. How are you? Yeah. Doing well. A little bit tired, a lot bit tired. Uhhuh. Um, our oldest graduated from high school, homeschool high school.

Woo-hoo. Yay. Yay. We did it, um, this weekend and I was in charge of the senior class coordinating and all that. So there was a lot of behind the scenes. It wasn't like, you know, you just show up for graduation, you make sure your kid has their stuff. It was like we were there all day and all of the back behind the scenes.

Faux pause that happen and venue issues and sound issues, and, but we did it. It was perfect. It went off without a hitch. Excellent. I was wondering about that, all of [00:01:00] that with um, cause I was looking through pictures and things and seeing flowers and mm-hmm. You know, lots. Did every student get up and speak and have a speech or was it just of No, we had two speeches, but we had a lot of musical talent in the senior class and part of my way of leading it was really just, it's their graduation.

So if they want to do that and they're coming to all the meetings every month, then by all means we're not going to. Pick and choose who's doing what. We're gonna let them all do their talents and giftings. And so it was made for a very entertaining graduation ceremony. We had a lot of musical interludes.

Um, but it was really good. And we really tried to honor the military family members, um, with a tribute and, uh, make it really, you know, showcasing. What the benefit of homeschooling through high school looked like. Mm-hmm. And so what I love about the homeschool graduations that I've been a part of [00:02:00] are the bios.

You know, when you go to a regular public school, um, graduation, you don't know what the kids are doing next. It's really just a presentation of the name and handing over of the diploma. Um, but in our case, the parents hand over the diploma because the organization that, um, was running the um, ceremony.

Doesn't hand out diplomas, you know, that's the parent's job as the homeschool teacher. So you get to go up with, you know, my husband and I, and meet our daughter halfway across the stage and hand her her diploma. She handed me a rose and then we got a picture taken and walked off and we were good to go.

But hearing the bios of the kids, I think is my favorite part because you know, with homeschooling, each school is diverse. Each child is diverse and what they're doing is diverse. And so when you hear. This child's doing, you know, going on to college or nursing school or teaching, or they're YouTuber and they've been successful throughout homeschool.

Like, okay, we're doing this. You know, [00:03:00] um, or they don't know what they're doing. And it's just empowering, I think, just to see that there are a lot of options. Not everybody's going to college, not, not going to college. You know, there's a lot of in between those things. Like when girl, um, was gonna flip houses with her parents and, you know, I just thought, well, that's really cool, you know?

Yeah, that is cool. And I think that's really, um, an interesting way to present homeschooling. I mean, a lot the people that are there are gonna be on your side anyway, and they, you know, are supportive of homeschooling. But I think for everyone in the audience, they're seeing a kind of a different perspective of that and maybe learning something about well, I asked show of hands, how many people had never been to a homeschool graduation ceremony, and literally half the group in the audience raised their hand.

Wow. That they had never been. And I was like, you guys are in for a treat. Because this is unlike any other, and you know, my in-laws were in town, and that was something my mother-in-law had said was, this is the best [00:04:00] graduation, most emotional moving thing that I've ever seen. And it truly is. It really is.

So, um, I think it just that personal touch when you have the families like, you know, the blood, sweat, and tears that have gone into not just, you know, being the primary. Person in that child's life, their parent, but then also their primary teacher through all the high school years. You know, not their sole teacher, but mm-hmm.

Having that burden of responsibility on yourself. But you know, that's why we started this podcast to begin with, is to talk to those parents that really wanted to see it through and so, I feel very validated having graduated my first, I know you've already graduated one too. Mm-hmm. And I'm sure how, how did you feel when this, you know, we did not do the, um, the, we didn't do the walk across the stage, Uhhuh, and I wish my kids were into that.

You know, our oldest was public schooled and did not wanna go to graduation. Like it's just all three of them. Um, none of them want to participate in that. And [00:05:00] that's just, that's okay. That's not. Who they are and it's just not something that they're interested in. Our oldest did go to graduation because he thought that it was something that we required of him.

We didn't really talk about it until afterwards and he was like, yeah, I could have got done without that. You know, like, no, we could have, we could have not done that. Like, we didn't have to do that. And he's like, oh yeah, I thought I had to. So, um, you know, the one that I've graduated from homeschooling, he was adamant about not having a, having to go to a graduation ceremony.

And, um, I did buy him the cap and the gown and. Of course we had, um, a diploma to give him and, you know, we discussed his transcript and all the things and he's not college bound. And, you know, I had, I took pictures of him. I had a photographer come over and take pictures of him for senior pictures and I.

You know, we had our own ceremonious way of things to accommodate for him wanting to do things differently. Mm-hmm. Um, we did have a homeschool graduation party for him at our house. Yes. We were there. Love [00:06:00] it. Um, we just had hamburgers and hot dogs and mm-hmm. You know, the things that he liked to eat. And, um, we also rented a snow cone truck.

It was like the best 200 bucks I've spent in a long time. You know, like, um, but you know, so to have this of course, of course, you know, Missouri weather, you just never know what you're gonna get. And so here we are in mid-May and rented a snow cone truck and the high for temperature for that day was 54 degrees.

Like really? Um, and of course this May is absolutely gorgeous. You know, we're. Where we're, you know, in the seventies and eighties every day. And so that was what was expected. And of course you have to just roll with it. And the kids that were there loved having snow cones regardless. Like they didn't care.

It was unlimited snow cones for two hours. Like you can't beat it, so, right. Um, but yeah, so that's how we ended up doing it. And so he, he made bank, you know, family and friends were still able to celebrate him and just do it in his way. Um, and I, I foresee our youngest being like that too, but I still, I need to [00:07:00] have that conversation with him and maybe drag him to, cause I would have to drag him to a, a homeschool, you know, um, a graduation somewhere so he can see what that's like.

Or maybe even show him the video of yours. Yeah. So he can have an understanding of what it is. Um, But my old, yeah, the older one was like, no, not having anything to do with that. So he didn't even wanna watch it, didn't even wanna attend one, didn't want any, like no part of it. So that's funny. Yeah, we, I fell asleep.

Our graduation party for our daughter was on Sunday from two to four. I fell asleep by five o'clock. I was, oh, no doubt, exhausted. I was on the couch, just passed out. My husband comes in and he's like, it's almost seven. And you told me to not let you sleep like so late cuz you didn't wanna go to bed that early, like Uhhuh, and then a, you're up all night long.

But it's seriously like 20 minutes for me to get up because I was just so fried from all of the. The things. And, um, but it was good and I'm glad that we did it. You know, she also didn't wanna have, didn't [00:08:00] see the point of all of that. And I'm like, look, you may not see the point of it now, but you're gonna have those pictures and those memories.

And plus, like you said, you know, people wanna help support you after graduation. So a lot of people brought cards and that was just super unexpected, but appreciated. Um. Mm-hmm. But, That was something that I, I really wanted, my oldest, the one that graduated from public school, he was adamant about not having a party.

And I tried to explain to him, dude, that's where you make your money. Yeah. And people will want to gift you. And of course his grandparents came and they of course gave him money anyway, but, um, he didn't have a party and I think he suffered consequences of that. Mm-hmm. Um, our homeschool student that we graduated, That's what we did.

We had the party and he ended up breaking in like $2,500. Like wow. It was insane the amount of money that he ended up with. And it was just a small amount from, I mean, of course grandparents gave him more than most, but, you know, family, friends, $20, $50 here and there. Yeah. You know, and it all adds up. [00:09:00] And, um, and he, he couldn't believe it, you know?

Mm-hmm. He just, he was flabbergasted by it and, He knowing that he was not ready to drive yet at the time, he was not ready to, um, he was not going to go to college. He was not ready to get a job. Like those were things that were, he was working toward. Mm-hmm. Um, so once high school was done, he wanted to graduate first before he focused on those other things.

And so tho that $2,000, $2,500, that lasted him an entire year. Like he used that to, um, when he did get his license, he used that to pay for gas. He, you know, like mm-hmm. He, he lived on that essentially for that first year after graduation. And then when that was gone, he was like, yeah, I should probably get a job.

Yeah, you probably should. So anyway. Yeah, it was good. It, it's good. And it's, it just shows to show that our kids are so, so uniquely individual and they can be celebrated in a multitude of ways. Mm-hmm. And, um, and seen [00:10:00] that way, you know, and, and still enjoyed that way so. But as a homeschool mom, don't you kind of feel like you need your own graduation party?

Like I don't for sure. Yes. At least like our own party or something like, I mean, I one left, so I really need to like have a doozy. We need to have a fireworks display. Right. Some kind kind of kegar. I don't know. I mean, it is a big accomplishment and I think that, you know, I hear people say so many times I could never homeschool well, and then it's like I could never homeschool high school.

Like it's this extra thing that's just so monumental, but. What I always tell people is if you homeschool from kindergarten on, or even middle school on high school's, just an extension of the research that you do as a mom to figure out where the puzzle pieces fit. And then you just put them together and you make their transcript plan or their four year plan, or if they wanna do a dual enrollment, you know, you know your kids.

So it's really, um, [00:11:00] It's not that hard. You know, it's not that hard to figure it out if you've done it through elementary school when I feel like reading was a huge thing. Like, oh, how could I homeschool? I can't teach someone to read. Right. And then you do. And it's just the same thing as they progress on, I couldn't teach them algebra, but then you do.

You couldn't teach them this. Yeah. Or you find the resources to do that. So, um, and you know, we're talking to moms who've been there, done that, a lot of 'em. Um, and if you haven't, you can do it, you know? Right. Right. And make it an, an individually unique experience for each child. And Yeah. You know, people say it's so hard to have teenagers.

It's so much harder to have teenagers than it is to have young children. No, it's not. It's different. It's the same level of hard, but you just, like anything, you choose your hard. Mm-hmm. And it's, it's just different. It's a different kind of hard, and that's the same thing with homeschool. Schooling when they're young, you're worried about certain things.

And when they're old that you're learn, you're worried about other certain things. You know, it's, it's, it's not easier, it's not [00:12:00] harder, it's just different, you know? Mm-hmm. And you just have to figure that out, so. Yeah. Well, I think too, you know, we're talking about an actual graduation ceremony, and a lot of reasons that people don't wanna homeschool through high school is they're afraid that their children are gonna miss out on those quintessential high school experiences.

So, Maybe it's just something that our area offers, and maybe you live in an area that has never done a homeschool graduation, or you hadn't thought about, oh, well, my homeschool kid could have a graduation party too. You know, reach out to us. I can definitely help with you with planning those kinds of things, because I just did it for our local organization.

Well, and if you don't have it, if you don't have that as, as an experience in your, in your community, make one. Right. There's the opportunities are, are limitless with regard to what we are able to do. We've seen evidence of that with your children already, where you've already been able to do lots of things that you didn't think you'd be able to do.

And so if you have a church, reach [00:13:00] out to your pastor, Hey, can we use the church? I'd like to put on a, you know, like create one. It's not. It's hard. Mm-hmm. You can just reach out and it doesn't have to be huge too. Right. You know, I think that sometimes we equate an experience with a big experience or it's not like, you know, public school.

I graduated, there were like 500 kids in my class and it was at a downtown venue. That was huge. Like a big event space. It could be two or three other kids that your kids really have grown up with through homeschooling and. You know, they're best friends and you wanna do just a small, intimate ceremony with a couple people.

Or maybe you could, you know, maybe you're part of a co-op and you and the moms and that co-op wanna provide something for the older kids, for the seniors and the juniors could help, and the younger kids. Mm-hmm. And it could be a whole like group thing, right? Um, or maybe you're not part of it and you're part of a support group and maybe you could throw that idea out there.

Right. Um, Same thing with proms. Same thing with proms. Yeah. Same thing with any dances, any kind of those, those high school experiences that we [00:14:00] have expectation of. You can even create a picture day, reach out to the local photographer and see about doing a picture, like anything that is wanting, that your community looks like there.

There's a need for in your community. Do it. Reach out. Yeah. Ask questions, you know? Mm-hmm. Create it. What were you gonna say, Aaron? I'm sorry. Oh, I don't know. I'm disagreeing. I'm like, yes, yes. Do it. Because there's nothing more important than. You supporting your child along this journey, and if your child feels like they're missing out because they're not getting experiences or maybe like, you know, like Amanda's kids, they don't want those experiences.

Okay, well, how can I support you so that you can be seen for your accomplishments in a way that actually honors you and not forcing you to do something that's. Way outside your comfort zone that you won't enjoy anyway. Mm-hmm. Because we as moms know our kids. Um, and then also looking at and thinking, you know, does my kid really want this ceremony or not?

Or whatever that I'm offering prom or do I want it for my kid? And [00:15:00] absolutely. Maybe there's. A compromise there that's like, Hey, I had these experiences growing up. I know that sometimes you can appreciate them later. You might not think it's important now, but I don't want any regrets. Um, so offering something is better than not offering something right?

Or, you know, just having that open dialogue, uh, with your homeschooled kids. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. And I see a lot of co-ops now are starting to branch out. You know, we were a part of, and still are a local support group that wasn't a co-op. It's just strictly supporting the families through monthly meetings and things like that.

And now we're growing and offering things. Um, but I know a lot of co-ops have started, or different communities or learning methodology. Communities are saying like, Hey, we're gonna do field trips, or we're gonna do dances, or we're gonna do field day or picture day. Mm-hmm. And I think that's great. I think it's great to see the way that the homeschool community is growing and changing and, um, offering things that [00:16:00] I think will help other people continue homeschooling longer because they don't feel like they're missing out.

Yes. What do you think. Hundred percent. I completely agree. Can't get my kids to do any field trips or dances or any of that anymore. But, um, they're doing their own thing and I'm okay with that. And so maybe even that's something that will be placed on me to open, you know, we're looking at doing scuba diving lessons for our son.

Well, that's weird. You know, that's an odd thing. How many kids would wanna do that? But maybe opening that up to, okay, well we're thinking about doing a scuba diving class, just to see if kids are interested in doing scuba diving. Would any other homeschoolers would like to do that with us? And maybe we can get a group rate or something.

Um, so that would be some. So we are, my family's weird. We are just, we're out of the box, outside of the box with everything that we do. Um, for the most part, there's not too many things that are in the box, um, in our family. So, Uh, you know, we don't always do this, you know, the stream mainstream things that other people are doing and, but that doesn't mean there's not other [00:17:00] people like us.

Mm-hmm. So, Yeah, it the same goes for other weird families. You know, if you're a weird family, you have to reach out and if it's placed on you to figure that out and and make an opportunity for other weird families, then, then do that. You know? Yeah. I think the homeschool moms favorite two words are group, right?

Right. No kidding. Is expensive. Expensive. That is so expensive. I was looking at it and. Like just to try a class for a, it's like a two hour class. It's a hundred bucks or something. Like, yeah. Hey, I actually just put something out feelers for our local group about a yearbook club because now that I've run through this whole thing with our senior class, I.

And we have a yearbook for the seniors thinking, well, you know what? I think it would be really neat to have a yearbook class for homeschoolers. I was on yearbook as a high schooler at public school and not like I'm an expert, but there's a lot of programs that are like plug and go. So, but yeah, offering [00:18:00] something like that, because that's another thing that people feel like they miss out on, you know, a year, but to sign or.

Whatever pictures throughout the year, and it is kind of cool to be able to go back and look at those things. Yeah. After the fact. So yeah, get your scuba class and I'll get the yearbook class and we'll offer all kinds of things for weirdo kids. But I, yeah. You know, and I still have all four, um, yearbooks from high school.

Remind me one day and I'll show them to you, Erin, but I, um, You know, really the only thing in there that I enjoy looking at is what other people wrote. Mm-hmm. In my yearbook. Mm-hmm. You know, last day of class. But I bought a class ring because my mom made me. So I got the most expensive one I could, I got white gold with a black onyx and it like, I was so obstinate.

Um, and same thing with yearbooks. Like I only bought them because, My mom. My mom was huge in, in school. Like her car was school colors and Oh wow. Like she was very, she was in the pep rally. She was, she did all that. She couldn't be a cheerleader cuz she had flat feet, but um, she had like feet problems, buthuh.

[00:19:00] Um, so she couldn't do that. But she did all the things that she, so she was very into school spirit and all of that. And so there was that expectation placed on me that that would be the same thing. And I am just not like that at all. Like, you're not my school spirit. No, no. I hated, I was. So obstinate and so abhorrent to everything related to school.

I'm sure that was a point of contention, be between my mom and I. But um, yeah, so it's, you make it and make sure that you have that con, that conversation with your child, that it's not your hopes and dreams and wishes for them. It's theirs for their own, you know, and so you don't have to buy the yearbook.

And I saw your post about that too, Erin, and I thought, oh, here we go. She's finding things up again here. She. Fill or play, overflow it. Again. Don't tell my husband. I'm just kidding. Well, so congratulations that you got it all done and now you can kind of relax a little bit. That's good. So you've got another, yeah.

Couple of weeks. So two [00:20:00] years You before the one before the next one, two years before the other one. Yeah. That's a good spacing. Yeah. Two years. It's a good spacing. And then forever in a day until the last one. Exactly. You'll be, you'll be 85 when she graduates. Oh my goodness. Yeah. Oh, she's a blast. Wow.

Well, so we've got new, so what do we need to, what's next? Well, talking about all of these end of the year things, one of the things that we wanted to talk to you about today is that this is our last episode. I know most of our listeners have probably seen how we've kind of spaced things out a little bit just because our schedule has been both of us having things to do.

Amanda's got a really busy and active. Farm that she's running and homeschooling at the same time. And then I have got the four kids who are in all of the things and getting ready to launch our first. So we've had a lot going on. [00:21:00] And part of that is also my husband and I are getting ready to launch our own business with homeschooling.

So when Amanda and I started this podcast, we, a year and a half ago now. Mm-hmm. Which is crazy to think about. You know, that was kind of, The thing that really drove me to start this, because we had talked previously about doing it for several months, um, was just that desire to really help homeschool parents.

Um, Right where we at. We could, yeah. If we could be an encouragement to one homeschooling family, then that made all of this worthwhile and absolutely not a moment has been wasted. Yeah, it's been a, yeah, it's been a really fantastic journey overall. Yeah. It's been great. Yes. We've had so much fun meeting our, our listeners and talking to our friends about what we're doing and um, and that's just really spurred in on me more of a desire, because this hasn't been a business for Amanda and I, it's truly been a hobby and something we've just put out because we really wanted to.

Encourage and support other [00:22:00] families, um, especially those long haulers, you know, that are like us, that really needed extra encouragement and resources. So, um, you know, my husband came on one episode with us. And we can link that in the show notes if we want to, but, um, they, uh, yeah, if we want to. Um, so anyways, when he was on, it was just really eye-opening to he and I, how much of a passion that is for both of us to encourage and just how we see there are dads in this realm of.

Influencing homeschoolers and trying to help guide and lead other future generation of homeschoolers. But there's not a enough, you know, there's not enough dads out there who are putting themselves out there. And actually, you know, when we go back and look at our stats, the top listen to episodes that we have put out are from.

You know, my husband and trail life and talking about raising godly men and those are the topics that have really, really resonated with people and have gotten the [00:23:00] most listenership. And so we started thinking, well, it would be great if we could do a podcast together too. So Joe and I are going to be putting a podcast together, um, for our homeschool supporting.

Business, which is called Show Me Homeschool. And Show me Homeschool is kind of a two full play on words because we live in Missouri, which is the show me state, but it's not just a business for our state homeschoolers, it is for anybody homeschooling. Because one of the things that we hear so much is if I could just see someone homeschooling or what that looks like, or if you could just show me what homeschooling looks like.

And so we thought about that and that's how we came up with the name. So show me homeschool.com will be live in a couple weeks. Um, and that will have, you know, information. Our goal is to have our podcast on there. We are going to also be. Doing coaching. So I've already started that coaching business, so [00:24:00] that could be individual coaching or I'm gonna do like group zoom coaching that you could sign up for as well.

And um, and this is for moms that are really, really looking for a little bit more, um, a little bit more encouragement, a little bit more specific to their situation advice. Um, And hopefully that would be really beneficial for someone. So if you're listening and they're interested in that, our Go homeschool email is still up and active, but our new, um, email is info show me homeschool.com.

So if you're interested in coaching or any of those things, um, that would be great if you wanna reach out and let me know what you need and I can get you our pricing. Um, so I'm really excited about that. Um, that's a huge thing. Yeah. So with that comes a lot of. Time and all those commitments with working in our own business.

And so that is another reason that this is gonna be our last episode here at Go Homeschool. So that, and you know, I'm busy [00:25:00] too, girl. I, yeah. Like I am. I did, I started, we started this podcast and I did it as a support to you and, and I've, I think I've said that quite a bit. And so, I feel like we're ready.

It's ready for a transition. Yeah. And, and I feel like I've supported you as much as I can support you, and I'll continue to support you and I'm really super excited about it. Um, and I can't wait to, to see the new website and, and see what you do. And I know that it'll be great. Um, and for us, you know, we just had sheep shearing day.

We have three sheep and we're going into sheep breeding and husbandry. And then we, we do plan on having lamb for sale. Um, we have to expand animal paddocks to make sure that they have, um, rotational grazing and, and be able to move things around. Um, I do have goats as well and am milking them. And, um, have goat milk, raw goat milk available and um, you know, venturing [00:26:00] into making cheeses.

And, um, I was just making yogurt recently and trying all of the different things that you can do with milk. Um, and there's just so much more to that, you know. So Dan and I are looking at, um, developing a business around our farm and all the things, and he's really good with woodworking. And so we have a business mentor, um, that has been talking to me about business, different business ideas and what we, what would be the most profitable way of making money just for safe, self-sustaining, um, farm.

Mm-hmm. And, and we don't wanna be millionaires by any stretch, but being able to pay for. Our hobbies would be great. Yeah. Like that's the goal. So, um, anything above and beyond that is just a blessing. So, um, but we have a lot of Osage orange trees on our property and being able to turn those into cutting boards and charcuterie boards and things of that nature.

[00:27:00] And so that's something that Dan is looking at doing. He really loves making building tabletops. Um, and he has sold several of those locally. Um, our oldest son now lives in Baltimore. And so they, and they, he wanted a tabletop for his apartment, um, a table. And so Dan built him one and then we priced shipping and they have to ship it in a certain way, and it's like, it was like $400 to ship it.

Wow. So, you know, he said, our son said that he would pay for shipping if we built him a table. And of course the table was free. Like that's a gift to our son, but he had to pay $400 for shipping. Mm-hmm. Painful. So that would be something that's local and charcuterie boards and um, you know, lazy Susans and cutting boards and things of that nature.

Mm-hmm. Would be something that we could sell on the website, you know, and so Yes. Or that, that's, I have some of those and Dan made our bed and um, yeah. This huge charcuterie board is just massive. I love it. Yeah. So that was just leftover countertop when we redid our kitchen. Yeah. Oh, oh yeah. That's so when he, when he makes 'em [00:28:00] to, to sell, they'll be smaller than that.

But yeah, that was, he really just enjoyed, he's like, oh, I'm gonna make this really big one for, for Joe and Aaron, you know? So, um, that was just to be silly. So, Anyway, so it's something that he enjoys doing and of course he's still working full-time. So you know, that is something that will transition us and move us into retirement and which is soon, a lot sooner than Aaron and Joe.

So, um, Yeah, so we're all kind of transitioning. In our last episode, we talked about transitions and we were kind of hinting towards this, but I'm really excited to see what comes next. And I do think that the goat email will be available for quite a while. Mm-hmm. And you know, the website is paid for for quite a while, so we do have some time where we can, you know, the episodes will all still be listenable, so you can still certainly share them with your friends if there's something that's applicable to you that encourages you.

And so they'll be available for a while. Um, So, yeah, so we'll, and we'll see where that goes. You know, when God is leading us, us all, and is kind of taking us in different [00:29:00] directions and that's okay. And we, we are blessed by that. And we're joyous for it and, um, and grateful for it. So it'll be cool to see what happens.

I'm excited. Me too. I, I love. What we've done here and like you were saying, you are the most supportive friend. Like this has been such a great experience for me and for our friendship. I feel like that just as I've done this more and gotten to know you more, even more so than I knew you before, cuz we've known each other 10 years.

Yeah. Um, that this has just been a fabulous thing and I think a testament to. You know, as homeschool moms, we have really put a lot of effort into building community for our kids. You know, that whole socialization question, and to be able to pull something off like a podcast for a year and a half with one of those people from the community still like each other and still love each other, I think that's a huge testament and you know, because we definitely, we come at things differently.

We have. Very strong personalities. We definitely have opinions on things and for us to be able to [00:30:00] say like, we can still do this despite those things, or, you know, it's just a really growing opportunity for us and I've really, really appreciated, um, doing this podcast with you and, um, you know, me too, we're talking about next year, how can we get to see each other even more next year?

Cause most people will lighten up and. Oh well with homeschool you need me to make sure that, that you maintain that, that it stays like that because I know there's still a couple of months until the next school year starts and so there's lots of opportunity for you to sign up for things that you shouldn't be doing.

I know. Yes. I do need that accountability. Um, I also told my husband, I'm like, I just probably should hire Amanda as my personal assistant at this point. Cause you've kept everything with the podcast. So like smooth and it's just, That's my anxiety superpower for sure. It's um, you know, I just get very anxious about things and when they're orderly, when things are.

You know, in such a certain way, then that calms my anxiety down. So that's all that that [00:31:00] is. But yeah, I'm, of course, I'm still here to support you and if there's anything that you need, then I'm, I'm here for that. And, you know, you can come over and help me birth some sheep next year. We'll see. I will support you by buying the things that you and your husband create.

Sounds good. Sounds. I'll take all of your eggs. I'll, yeah, I break eggs for it. You know, we got home from the graduation party the other day and I went, oh dang it. I should have brought them eggs. You know, like, I haven't given you eggs in a long time. Yeah. Oh goodness. It's funny. But yeah, we will definitely have, um, some, uh, coffee dates and the future Yes.

And actually see each other face to face instead of just on zoom. And that'll be nice. And. Mm-hmm. Yeah. It, it was nice to like get together the other day and not talk about the podcast. You know, it kind mm-hmm. Kind of, it's one of those things that can become all-encompassing pretty easily, and, and that adds stress.

There's a layer of stress there, because that's not what your friendship is supposed to be. And so there's, there have been times where I'm [00:32:00] like, I wanna text you about something, podcasts. Really? I'm like, no, I shouldn't. Nope. That can wait. You know? I have to sort that in my head. Yeah. And same. Yeah. So it's good that this is going to be something that we did together that was really great, and hopefully we encouraged lots and lots of people and that made it worthwhile and it built us into a stronger bond.

Um, yeah. And then we, we talk about other things and that'll be a wonderful thing and yeah. Um, so yeah. So before we go, I just wanna say, and I know Amanda, thank you to everybody who's taken the time to listen to our podcast, give us feedback and support us throughout all of this. We really couldn't continue to do it if we were getting like a lot of hate mail or something, I think that would've driven us way down there.

But you all have been wonderful and we've heard so many great things. And you know, just the sharing that you've done with your friends that are newer to homeschool. I know we have a lot of listeners that are actually. Not yet long haulers that are just starting out and have said, Hey, this has really [00:33:00] been encouraging to hear what I have to look forward to and how other people have gotten through it.

So absolutely. We just wanna thank you really quick before we sign off our last episode, um, into our guest. Too all like we've had guests, so many phenomenal guests that have just been absolutely amazing and super encouraging and have encouraged both of us and in our home schools and all of that. So, you know, if you don't listen to any episodes, listen to the ones with the guests on them because they are absolutely phenomenal.

And all of the, the tips and and advice that they give mm-hmm. Um, has just been amazing to listen to and. I'm grateful for it. And we've made friends in that process too, you know? Yes. I was say we do have their bad friends now that have, that have been guests of us. And, um, and so that's, that's a life changing thing and, um, mm-hmm.

And so we're, you're gonna continue to be grateful for that for a long time. So, yeah. So thanks everybody. Absolutely. Yeah. So if someone's interested in coaching, being coached, or if you know someone that needs to be coached, um, feel free to give Erin an [00:34:00] email. And even if you don't, if even if you wanna give a word of encouragement, give a word of advice, um, be sure to shoot Erin an email and she'll respond to it.

Yeah, in a few months. I know I'm not the best email. I'm working on it. Um, but that was one of the things that I had forgotten to say with the business that we're starting is, um, we're hoping to start a monthly membership where we are creating a private community where we can really dig into the nitty gritty.

I'm not really all about like telling you here's what I do and how you can replicate that. It's more for me about encouraging you. Like, if you think you can homeschool, then you can homeschool. Let's figure out what works for you. Right? So, Yes. We're really excited about that. And yes, Amanda be on the lookout too for her website to pop up with all her.

Yes. Yeah, we're farm goodies. Dan, if you wanna follow us on our farm, on Facebook or on Instagram, we're Dandy Acres, um, on Facebook and Dandy Acres, Mo m o, um, from Missouri on Instagram. So yeah, I post on there regularly, which I just. Posted [00:35:00] yesterday about Sheep Sharing Day Uhhuh. So, um, our pictures and stuff, which was amazing.

And you know, the, it was our first time, the sheep's first time, they were just born last year. And so it was a sheep's first time being sheared and my first time experiencing it, um, in person and it was. Uh, an amazing experience. We had a wonderful sheep share that came and he was very gentle and very kind and gave lots of good advice.

And so I'm very thankful for a good experience for our first time doing it. So, so yeah, feel free to follow us and we will have a website and some things will be able to ship and some things, um, need to be picked up locally. And I know that we do have a lot of listeners that are local to us, so, um, Feel free to look for that, so, so, yeah.

But shoot, Erin and e and any, regardless of any of that, if you wanna Yeah. Have a conversation with us. Feel free to email us at the goat homeschooling podcast gmail.com. And then Erin's new email. Mm-hmm. Info show me homeschool show me homeschool.com, which I'll have that in the show notes too. And yeah, we'll catch you guys all on the flip side.

All [00:36:00] right. Bye. All right. I have to figure out how to turn this off there.