The Real Kathy Lee

Tomorrow, I get to share my passion for preschoolers with about 100 preschool teachers. I am sharing with them the Top Ten Things Preschooler Want You to Know. I thought you might enjoy hearing this list, as well.

Sponsored by CTCMath.com

#10 –Just because I use potty talk does not mean I have to go potty.

When I child calls you poopy head, simply say something like, “What? I have poopy on my head. Nope, I don’t think I have poopy on my head.” Children use potty talk to get the attention of others...

Special Replay: Even Second-Generation Homeschoolers Make Mistakes

Sponosred by CTC Math.

Episode #4

Do second-generation homeschoolers make mistakes? As I travel across the country, I am fortunate to meet some amazing people. Two of those I have met along the way are Mike and Jessica Somerville with Tapestry of Grace. Recently, I met up with Mike and Jessica at the Great Homeschool Conventions in Fort Worth, TX. Mike and Jessica Somerville are homeschool graduates that are now homeschooling their three beautiful daughters. If you are like me, you assume that they must...

Many of you will be traveling with young kids during the holidays. My friend, Ashley will be traveling too. She and I had a great chat today about traveling with young kids and tips for being remembered as a good guest.

Thanks to NowProgams for sponsoring this episode.

Special Replay: Even Second-Generation Homeschoolers Make Mistakes

Episode #4

Do second-generation homeschoolers make mistakes? As I travel across the country, I am fortunate to meet some amazing people. Two of those I have met along the way are Mike and Jessica Somerville with Tapestry of Grace. Recently, I met up with Mike and Jessica at the Great Homeschool Conventions in Fort Worth, TX. Mike and Jessica Somerville are homeschool graduates that are now homeschooling their three beautiful daughters. If you are like me, you assume that they must be the PERFECT homeschooling family.

I often get asked how to deal with NO and MINE in toddler world. I see them both as positive words for this age. Toddlers are realizing that they are indeed human and separate from their parents. Isn’t what we hope all of our children realize! Up until this point someone has made all the decisions for them and they FINALLY have a voice. NO, they don’t want peas for dinner. NO, they don’t want to take a bath. NO, they don’t want to go to bed. I bet some toddlers are sooooo excited that they can...

Special Replay | Creating Inviting Spaces for Your Homeschool for your Little Ones

When my sweet friend, Misty sent me a Marco Polo (a cool video app) asking my opinion on her child’s playroom, I thought it would be a good idea to share my thoughts with all of you on creating inviting spaces for your little ones!

Everyone is worthy of feeling as if they belong, especially our children and most definitely in their own home. Before you begin designing an inviting space for your children, I suggest you get on your han...

What if I think my child needs a diagnosis?

This is a common mom-question and today on Momfessions we’re going to tackle that topic. Thank you to today’s sponsor: CTC Math.

I have the coolest friends. Sometimes I forget that they are even more amazing in their careers. This is the case with my friend, Lei Rhyne. Not only did she homeschool her kiddos for several years, is beautiful and funny, she is also a psychometrist… say that three times fast. When she mentioned to me that she helped families who saw their childr...

How to Have Those Big Talks with Your Kids | Momfessions with the Real Kathy Lee

We know we need to have those big talks with our kids. But, where to start?

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.

Christy Montes is back to chat about those BIG talks.

Christy and I have had many...

Teens Speak Up About Everyday Life

My 17-year-old nephew drove over from Alabama to spend the weekend with us. I love having chatting with him and hearing his perspective about life and the struggles that come with being a teenager in 2018. I thought you might enjoy from Alex, as well. My daughter, Sarah was hanging out with us, so I invited her to jump in on the conversation and share her thoughts, as well.

In this episode we talked about the stressors that teenagers have to deal with, both in public school and home school...

What is trauma?

trau·ma
ˈtroumə,ˈtrômə/
noun

1.
a deeply distressing or disturbing experience.

What causes trauma in young children?

You don’t need to know what caused the trauma in order to help.
Behavior is Communication
GET CURIOUS…What is their behavior saying to...

If you know me, you know I love Mr. Rogers. As I was researching the history of Fred Rogers and his TV show, I realized that his show started about the same time my mom found out that she was expecting me. I guess you could say that I have been in Mr. Rogers Neighborhood from the very beginning.

Thank you to our Sponsor, CTC Math.

Mr. Rogers had an impact on an entire generation. Once I took a closer look at what made this man a legacy, I knew I had to share my...

Jamie, Arlene, and I had so much fun recording our podcast for last week, we decided to keep the party going and record a second one. At every conference people ask us how we homeschool children across the ages. We figured it might be something the podcast world would want us to talk about as well, so we did.

Every homeschooling family is unique. Some people homeschool year round, some 3 days a week, some 8-12 everyday. It is hard to tell others exactly HOW to homeschool, but we all agreed on the following for those...

Jamie, Arlene, and I had so much fun recording our podcast for last week, we decided to keep the party going and record a second one. At every conference people ask us how we homeschool children across the ages. We figured it might be something the podcast world would want us to talk about as well, so we did.

Every homeschooling family is unique. Some people homeschool year round, some 3 days a week, some 8-12 everyday. It is hard to tell others exactly HOW to homeschool, but we all agreed on the following for those...

Special Replay!  School approaches … can you believe it?  Here’s a special replay with some special tips to help you get ready to have a calm school year!

Thanks to our sponsor, CTC Math.

As this school year approaches, I thought I would share some of my plans to have a calm year! This year I have one 7th grader, one 9th grader, two high school seniors, one in Estethecian School and one junior in college. Whew, that is a lot. I will be honest, the first couple of weeks I find myself strugg...

Surviving Summer

Thank you to our episode sponsor, CTC Math.

Well, it was the week of July 4th and summer is in full swing. Boat rides at the lake, sun in the fun at the pool, cookouts, and fireworks. What makes those events even more fun is one of your besties coming in town to celebrate with you.

Ashley and I had a blast hanging out and we decided that we had some thoughts on surviving summer that we wanted to share!

1. Have a flexible routine. If you are...

Can we talk about parenting?

July 4th is always a favorite holiday for our family. For the past few years, one of my dearest friends on the planet shows up for coffee, long talks, and sitting by the pool. I always try and record a podcast episode during Ash-a- lee’s visit and was so excited that we were able to chat early this morning about a subject that has been on my heart for a few weeks now.

During some recent outings, I have observed lots of little children that appear “starved” for attention. As I b...

Looking In the Mirror

This week I spent hours and hours talking with some friends that were going through some pretty serious issues. Ladies, we need each other. This week isn’t about your toddler biting or your four year-old who wets the bed. This week, let’s talk honestly about YOU… and me… and all of us.

self-a·ware·ness

ˈˌself əˈwernəs/

noun

“the process can be painful but it leads to greater self-awareness”

Would you say that yo...

OOOOOHHHH, I love the show this week. Over the past year, I have had the pleasure of getting to know Graeme Pitman, creative director of The Circe Institute. As I have watched his social media accounts, I have giggled and sat in amazement at the connecting moments he has had with his three young children. I thought it would be fun to have Graeme on the show and talk about his family and the way they make the everyday moments matter.

Thanks to our sponsor, Harper Collins Christian, and the Kingdom Girl’s Bible

Girls wil...

If you have listened to my podcast for very long, you have heard me say… You’ve Got This. You might have wondered what in the world I actually mean by that statement. Today’s podcast explains my thoughts as I share such an empowering phrase.

Thanks to our sponsor, A Fanthom Presents Film – The Ark and The Darkness – Movie Trailer here: NoahsFlood

In theaters March 20-21! Noah’s Flood is preserved in ancient writings from every major culture around the world. Recent discoveries confirm what the Bible has said all along. Sevenfold Films and Genesis Apolo...

Showing Love After Valentine’s Day is Over

Valentine’s Day is a fun holiday for me as a mom. I so enjoy getting up early to write my kids love notes, set the table with candles and red, sparkly runners and cook a special breakfast. I want my children to know on this day that they are loved!

Once Valentine’s Day was over, I started questioning my attitude towards the other 364 days of the year. Did I work hard to make sure my kids know they were loved everyday? If so, how do I acco...

On today’s show I talked about Christmas presents for young learners. Well-meaning adults often focus on the amount of presents under the tree, but this year I want to encourage them (and you) to focus on quality toys and presents instead.

Rediscovering the Joy in Motherhood with Kathy Lee

On this episode, I have the pleasure of talking with one of my favorite homeschooling moms on the planet. Keri Vasek is the mother of three muddlings and opens up to share her journey of losing her joy (and rediscovering it). You will see in this episode just why I call my show The REAL Kathy Lee and often refer to myself as a hot mess!

In this captivating episode, I am thrilled to engage in a heartfelt conversation with Keri Vasek, a remarkable homeschooling mother whose...

This week, the second top podcast episode of all time!  Let’s Get Organized!

Things don’t always work out as planned, but I have learned that it is usually for a good reason. I hope that is the case with this week’s episode. I was scheduled to talk to my good friend, Mary Ann Kohl (author and process art expert). However, Mary Ann had to cancel so I called up my buddy ASH-A-LEE in Nashville. We decided to chat about one of the topics I get asked about THE MOST, organization.

People...

What if we could turn back time?

Seriously. What if we could turn back time? That was a topic of conversation.

THSC in The Woodlands is always a fun conference. One of the reasons I love it so much is that I get to hang out with two of my favorite ladies on the planet, Arlene and Jamie. We even wore the same NAME on our nametags all weekend and enjoyed the confused looks we received.

We decided it would be fun to chat about the things we would tell our...

What if I think my child needs a diagnosis?

This is a common mom-question and today on Momfessions we’re going to tackle that topic. Thank you to today’s sponsor: CTC Math.

I have the coolest friends. Sometimes I forget that they are even more amazing in their careers. This is the case with my friend, Lei Rhyne. Not only did she homeschool her kiddos for several years, is beautiful and funny, she is also a psychometrist… say that three times fast. When she mentioned to me that she helped families who saw their childr...

Why are ages and stages important???

So that we can set developmentally appropriate expectations.

Developmentally appropriate practice (DAP) is an approach to teaching grounded in research on how young children develop and learn and in what is known about effective early education. Its framework is designed to promote young children’s optimal learning and development.

Our Sponsor! I want to thank Route 60: A Biblical Highway for sponsoring this podcast. Please check out the link here. Route60.movie

Check out this presentation on Ages and Stages from Kathy Lee...

Are you a mom who always questions herself? Guilt has been on my mind so much this past week. It seems everywhere I turn, women are sharing with me how much they are questioning their every decision and how guilty they feel if someone disagrees with them. Oh, ladies, I want you to live a guilt-free life. Honestly, this has been one of my greatest struggles. I am a recovering people pleaser. TBH (to be honest in cool kid lingo), I still struggle with questioning my decisions and hoping I haven’t hurt someone’s feelings in the process.

What is trauma?

This episode is sponsored by CTCMath.com.

trau·ma
ˈtroumə,ˈtrômə/
noun

1.
a deeply distressing or disturbing experience.

What causes trauma in young children?

You don’t need to know what caused the trauma in order to help.
Behavior is Commu...

Keeping Your Calm This School Year

Special Replay sponsored by CTCMath.com

As this school year approaches, I thought I would share some of my plans to have a calm year! This year I have one 7th grader, one 9th grader, two high school seniors, one in Estethecian School and one junior in college. Whew, that is a lot. I will be honest, the first couple of weeks I find myself struggling to get us all on the same page. Between school, jobs, sports, etc… keeping this house running smoothly is a challenge.

Special Replay | Creating Inviting Spaces for Your Homeschool for your Little Ones

When my sweet friend, Misty sent me a Marco Polo (a cool video app) asking my opinion on her child’s playroom, I thought it would be a good idea to share my thoughts with all of you on creating inviting spaces for your little ones!

Everyone is worthy of feeling as if they belong, especially our children and most definitely in their own home. Before you begin designing an inviting space for your children, I suggest you get on your han...

Tomorrow, I get to share my passion for preschoolers with about 100 preschool teachers. I am sharing with them the Top Ten Things Preschooler Want You to Know. I thought you might enjoy hearing this list, as well.

Get a FREE Organize It! Planner

#10 –Just because I use potty talk does not mean I have to go potty.

When I child calls you poopy head, simply say something like, “What? I have poopy on my head. Nope, I don’t think I have poopy on my head.” Children use potty talk to get the attentio...

Special Replay | Thoughts about my Upcoming Graduate

I can’t believe that I have another senior this year (insert tears)! In just a few short weeks, Grace will be graduating high school and pursuing her passions as a makeup artist and esthetician. I am so proud of the young woman she has become. Before she graduates, we are heading on a senior trip (a Caribbean Cruise) this week. As I was thinking about this upcoming trip and her graduation, I started asking myself if I had covered all of the parenting talks. Of course not. How do we...

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...

On this episode, I had the privilege of chatting with my beautiful daughter-in-love, Caroline. Last June, Caroline made me a grandmother when she gave birth to the coolest twin boys! Levi and Titus rocked all of our worlds, especially hers. Caroline gets real and vulnerable as she shares her journey of expectations vs reality. I think many moms can relate to Caroline’s story and can empathize with everything she shared.  Caroline shares openly about her many experiences with children leading up to motherhood and the fact that even then, she had no idea what it was lik...

Mothering is a Marathon with Keri Vasek

It had been a while since I had Keri on the show. Actually, it had been a while since Keri and I had talked in real life. It was good to catch up with her and hear what was on her heart. Keri took a few minutes to catch us up on her home and family.  She has been a busy lady since we last chatted. Next, Keri asked about my suggestions for sibling disagreements. I admit that I don’t know all the answers to this one, but I d...

Happy Mother’s Day to my mom and all of you moms listening!! This week I thought I would share some reminders from a talk I have been giving this summer at conferences nationwide. At the end of this episode, I have a BIG surprise; you don’t want to miss it!

This episode is brought to you by CTCMath.com – a wonderful math curriculum for all of your homeschool needs or to brush up on new skills.

During my talk, “What Every Mother of Preschooler Needs to Know,” I share the following:

Unrealistic Mom Expectations with The Real Kathy Lee

Episode #5

I had a great time talking with Keri Vasek about the unrealistic expectations we as moms put on ourselves. You might remember Keri from Episode 2 where we talked about Losing Your Joy in Motherhood. Keri is the mother of three “muddlings” and enjoys encouraging other moms to let their children PLAY.

This episode is brought to you by CTCMath.com – a wonderful math curriculum for your homeschool needs or to brush up on new skills.

In this episode, Keri and I get r...

How to Have Those Big Talks with Your Kids | Momfessions with the Real Kathy Lee

We know we need to have those big talks with our kids. But, where to start?

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.

Christy Montes is back to chat about those BIG talks.

Christy and I have had many...

Special Replay: Even Second-Generation Homeschoolers Make Mistakes

Episode #4

Do second-generation homeschoolers make mistakes? As I travel across the country, I am fortunate to meet some amazing people. Two of those I have met along the way are Mike and Jessica Somerville with Tapestry of Grace. Recently, I met up with Mike and Jessica at the Great Homeschool Conventions in Fort Worth, TX. Mike and Jessica Somerville are homeschool graduates that are now homeschooling their three beautiful daughters. If you are like me, you assume that they must be the PERFECT homeschooling family.

As many of you know, I am getting ready to host some lovely women in my home next weekend. My goal is for these ladies to feel at home from the moment they drive up. A recent FB post in our THGP- Playing Skillfully in Action group got me thinking about genuine hospitality. What makes a good hostess? I thought I would share some of the things I do to make our home a welcoming place to others.