Bonus Episode! A Chat with Homeschool Mom, Amy Ebert, on Instagram Live

Unlock the secrets of homeschooling with Amy Ebert from the "Stories and Lessons with Amy Ebert" podcast, as she shares her inspiring journey that began during the COVID-19 pandemic. Discover how the shift to homeschooling provided a more fulfilling educational experience for her son compared to online schooling. Amy dives into the richness of customized curriculums and the supportive nature of homeschooling communities, offering a fresh perspective on the educational depth and personal growth that this learning path can provide.

Explore the vital role of boredom and creativity in child development through Amy’s personal anecdotes that highlight how simple, unstructured time can spark engaging and imaginative activities.

Join us as we navigate the complexities of parenting, balancing career aspirations, and fostering self-sufficiency in children. We discuss strategies for nurturing independence and social skills, the transition from traditional career paths to embracing creative outlets, and the significance of on-camera presence for global influence. Whether you’re interested in homeschooling, personal growth, or creative learning, this episode is packed with actionable advice and enlightening discussions to help you and your family thrive.

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Amy's Podcast

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Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:06

Welcome to this week's episode of the Homeschool How-To. I'm Cheryl and I invite you to join me on my quest to find out why are people homeschooling, how do you do it, how does it differ from region to region, and should I homeschool my kids? Stick with me as I interview homeschooling families across the country to unfold the answers to each of these questions week by week. Welcome. Today we are doing a live on Instagram. I have the pleasure of having Amy Ebert with me. She is from the Stories and Lessons with Amy Ebert podcast and is also a homeschooling mom. So, amy, thank you so much for being here and being my test trial on the Instagram live podcast version.

Speaker 2: 0:56

Awesome. Thank you so much, cheryl, for having me here. This is. This is cool, cause, like I was, I was telling Cheryl earlier I've only done this one other time and it was when somebody else kind of headed up the whole thing. So the live seems to be the way to go with cutting out editing and um, so we'll. We'll see what happens.

Speaker 1: 1:14

Yeah, uh. I'm trying to pull up my Instagram now to see if it is on there. I don't see anything. But you know what? I know we're recording. So if you know anybody wants to shoot a message, if you can hear us, let us know. So, um, you, I was on your podcast a couple months back, so for anyone that wants to check that out, I will put a link to that episode in the show's description. But how did you, I guess? First let's back up how did you get into homeschooling, Cause you're also a homeschooling mom.

Speaker 2: 1:44

Yeah, I got into homeschooling. Um, during the uh, are we allowed to say COVID? Is that? You know one of those?

Speaker 2: 1:54

words I couldn't say for a while, but what a world are we allowed to say it again. Um, during that time when there was all the shifting, when the kids all came home towards the end of the one school year, I kind of liked it, you know, it was just kind of relaxing. And so, you know, we had the summer, and then the next school year they still had the kids where they were going to have them all on just online, and this was not like a program that was already used to doing things online. It was like the teachers doing things online and they were kind of just guessworking it. And then there was, you know, he would be on with his main teacher. And then they're like now, now, uh, come out of that link and then hook up to this other link and then do this. And then they were like, okay, have you know, submit his homework in this way and do this, do that. I was like am I your assistant? Now, what's going on here, you know. So I just it was just kind of sad. For me. The whole thing was really sad because I was just like I felt like the people were not doing a great job in this way. Maybe they as teachers in person. Obviously, it's a completely different animal. Some people are better on camera than other people. So it was just like you know what? I have to be here anyway for this, so I might as well homeschool for this year. I know that I'll be do a better job than this whole. Get on this link, get off this link. Get on this link, get off this link. And hey, parents, you guys submit the homework and I'm not going to hang out anymore here. Here's your job, go do it. And and that was it for the day for some of these people that were doing the specials, like the, the separate one from the main teachers. So I was like, okay.

Speaker 2: 3:30

So before that I actually had gotten into some of the groups, like the Facebook groups that were homeschool groups, because I was dabbling and asking a lot of questions. So that gave me like, okay, this is, this is. There's a huge difference between when you're in the, the, the public school groups, everybody was complaining and annoyed and definitely felt underserved. And then when you're in the homeschool groups, it's like you, you post a question about something and everyone has all these resources to help you and they know all these different things, not even just with homeschooling. So it's a very, very supportive environment. And then they knew all these different things about curriculums. There are some that are secular or non-secular, like all different types of curriculum.

Speaker 2: 4:11

So I learned so much in such a small amount of time and I'm like I want to pick his curriculum. I missed having God in his curriculum as well. He had private kindergarten and so God was in his curriculum for kindergarten. And we did public school, which is a very, very good school, and I really can't complain about the school overall a great school, great teachers. I mean they had the school's amazing.

Speaker 2: 4:31

But it was still like, okay, but I'm I don't really need him to be, you know, sitting in front of the computer all day long. And then, um, and then I just was like you know what, I'm taking the leap and I'm going to do it. And I realized, even with the school being one of the top schools in the state, the curriculum that I chose for him with his, for his age group, was deeper and richer. So there was still something missing, even though this is a top school. There was. There was like the depth and the richness was missing. So then it was just like, okay, well, we're just going to keep doing it as long as he enjoys it, and it's been what three years now. However long, that was right when right, covid, almost four Cause it's.

Speaker 1: 5:14

it's 2024 now, so how many children do you have? One and how old is he?

Speaker 2: 5:22

He is 11 and a half he's, so he's this is the summer before like seventh, technically Right. But you know how, like with homeschoolers, they don't really do grades, but sure. So you know how we go. People are like some homeschool kids don't know what grade they're in because they aren't, they've never been in school. They're like I don't know. It makes it sound so like they are in life school.

Speaker 1: 5:44

They're like I don't know. It makes it sound so like they are in life. They don't know what grade they're in. So okay, having one child and he knew public school and now homeschooling, does he like it? Like for me, my kids are young. They're starting out early. They won't really know what they're missing out on if I never, you know, because they'll have started homeschooling from the beginning. So to me I feel like are they going to resent me when they're older because I didn't let them have that opportunity? Or will there come a time that they say you know, I want to go to school because I want to do the traditional thing? So how? How does your son feel about? Like? I used to be in a classroom and see all my friends all the time and now I'm at home? Is it a big deal, or does he get to see all his friends anyways?

Speaker 2: 6:30

I would definitely say like this is partial advice too for people that they're considering this to make sure your kids are involved in something social. Also, my son is very social, so he really likes people and so he's. He's an athlete, he's involved in sports and then if there's like there's like in our state in particular, there's a lot of meetups, so you know, so you can, you can have so many things to do, like for our case in particular, that I can't do them all. There's, there's, you know so much in every state and every city is going to be different, but like, like, if people start researching, you'll find groups, and you'll find groups that you like more than others, obviously, where you know your, your people are. And, um, and I asked him too do you, do you miss it? And he's like, he's like no, like one day we went golfing and we're driving back by the school and the kids were even outside for recess and he just looks over at the school and he's just like that looks like torture.

Speaker 1: 7:26

Cause he got to go. Why do you think he said that?

Speaker 2: 7:30

Why do you think he said that Because he's he's in there all day long.

Speaker 1: 7:36

Yeah, so even to be told from eight to noon huh, even to be told now is your time to go out for recess. It's like like in prison. You know, you, this is the time you get outside and get fresh air. You don't have that ability to say, gee, I'm ready for fresh air, I have some energy right now. I want to go outside and run. You know it's, it's. I guess it's the difference of being told that that's where you are to be at that moment.

Speaker 2: 8:01

Thinking that recess was torture, but just the whole school thing for him, because he has more freedom. It's like he chooses. Do you start with math or whatever works for him to start with in the morning is what he starts with, and then he keeps his own system.

Speaker 1: 8:16

And I've heard from he learns his own systems. I've heard from some homeschooling parents or parents that want to homeschool but are afraid to that have an only child that they feel like they have to be in school because they're an only child. They need to be around others. That's a myth, obviously. Can you elaborate on that for us?

Speaker 2: 8:37

Yeah, and again, I think it's the social part. Make sure that the kiddos have some socializing, even if it's like some, you know, sports or whatever after school, whatever they're into I just go to sports because that's what my son loves the most. But find out what your kid likes, and if it's music, there's music programs, there's even like in, a math program he's in. They have one day a week where they all just hang out and play games, you know. So I mean I think it's definitely getting to know your kid and the things they like and let them try it.

Speaker 2: 9:07

They don't like it, you don't have to do it again. There's no rule that says you have to do something for any certain amount of time. And I think the creative part too of the brain that needs to be accessed there does. I don't have the studies on it, right, but, um, you could have a doc, have a doctor on the show to talk about this. But there's been studies that where the, if you're controlled like that, the creative part is not accessed as much. So you almost need some of that downtime and that boredom to keep the creative part of the brain accessed and stimulated. It doesn't always, you know, you can get it back, which is a good thing, but just to keep it alive is obviously even better.

Speaker 1: 9:51

Yes, and boredom at school, at a desk, is different than being bored at home, where you are at the leisure of doing something else creative and you have the opportunity to grab some markers, glue, you know, take out.

Speaker 1: 10:06

Uh, the other day my son took out a gift that he got months ago that he never it was putting together wooden pieces for cars, for a car, and so he put it together pretty much on his own. He had the hot glue, he did the paint after um and was playing with the cars and it was something. That kind of sat there for months. We just never got around to doing it. But one day he was bored enough he opened it up and he had a blast for like two days putting these cars together and painting them and playing with his little sister and racing them down the hallway. So you're right about the boredom thing. It makes your mind, it's good for you, it makes your mind think creatively. But when you're in school and you're bored it's a little bit different because you can't go anywhere or find an activity for yourself.

Speaker 2: 10:52

Now, no, that's the thing is, you have to do whatever's assigned at that time, right?

Speaker 1: 10:56

Right. So how no? You and your husband have a podcast, right? Are you more of the front lines and he does the back side of it?

Speaker 2: 11:08

Yes, yes, he. He does the like, the reaching out to people and communication and doing all that part, just so it's just easier to have. I mean, obviously some, some people do it all. I don't know if you do all all of yours, but it's so nice if you can have somebody handling, like, okay, you're in charge of this part and I'm in charge of this part, you know, and so he does. He does more of the, I guess, production side. He does more of the backend side of things, for sure.

Speaker 1: 11:35

Yeah and uh, I, like I had mentioned earlier, I was on your podcast a couple of months ago, so I will link that uh in the show's description here when we upload this to Spotify and all those good places Apple Podcasts.

Speaker 1: 11:49

But this weekend I am releasing an episode I did with my husband and, no, he does not do any sort of production other than putting my computer together but I did manage to get him on an episode. We had been trying to do it for a little bit, but he's not a in the spotlight kind of guy, so, but I really wanted to talk to him. I figured people would enjoy hearing what the other side has to say and he's in the trades, so I really wanted to drill in on what that line of work is and how we can kind of get our kids involved in that and meaning everybody's children get them to know about it, because how do you know that you don't want to do it until you know that it exists? So for Father's Day, this weekend I'm releasing that episode, so hopefully people check it out, but that, I think, is the the most he'll do for me. He's not making any Instagram reels for me. I don't even know if I can get him to take a picture, for like the cover art for it.

Speaker 2: 12:49

So what did you say he's into? Do you say trees?

Speaker 1: 12:52

The trades Like he does. Commercial HVAC Okay Okay, trades, got it.

Speaker 2: 12:58

Oh yes, trades for sure. Yes, thank you.

Speaker 1: 13:02

I have to enunciate yes, thank you for I have to enunciate Um, yeah, so I mean it's like kind of like a dying area. I, I think kids are just going to these four-year schools and racking up all the debt and when you think about it, um, I mean I think you're kind of on the same wavelength as I am about like the government's probably trying to be the demise of all of us. But you know, we are told that we have to go to these four year schools or else we are less than nothing has become more expensive and so quickly than a four year degree. And we get out of school, we have all this debt and what do we do? We kind of just go to these lots of us mindless jobs, like I did.

Speaker 1: 13:51

I spent 16 years working for the government and then two. Then you get maybe married and buy a house. Well, now you really can't afford to live on one income, to stay home, to homeschool your kids, if that's what you want to do. It's kind of a vicious cycle. But if you don't go to the college at 18, you feel like you're not, I don't know, keeping up to standards. So what are the goals for your son? I know he's only 11, but homeschoolers especially really go into education with a goal in mind. What do you want for your son when he turns 18?

Speaker 2: 14:30

Well, I've always wanted this for him. I thought about this even, uh, I think as far back as when I was pregnant, really was just my self-sufficient. I want him to always love learning and like, how we're talking about education, how you know, why are you forcing us to feel like we have to get this four-year education, this four-year degree? I have a four-year degree. It wasn't my choice to go and get it, but I just did it and got, got it over with, basically in four years. I'm like I just want to get in and out of there and, um, uh, you know, because of that, because other people are like brainwashed to think like this is what you have to do, right, I've always preferred more creative pursuits personally, and so, and I wanted my son to, I wanted to, you know, create the space for him that he can pursue his dreams and what's in his heart thing you want to, you want to do, we're going to do that. And oh, you like doing this. Fine, Great, you know. So learning is very important. To always love learning and to pursue what's in your heart, I mean, that's really the thing.

Speaker 2: 15:34

And then, as a boy, for since, when I knew I was pregnant with a, with a and this was just what happened. This is just. This thought came to me. I didn't force the thought on myself.

Speaker 2: 15:44

I was like everybody has their different thoughts of maybe they think something else and they might be intuitively aligned with what's going on with their child, whether they're pregnant or the child's already growing up. But for me, one of the things was like I want him to play sports, I want him to know how to play sports. I think that's really good for boys, but the funny thing is he's really good at sports. So I don't know, was that something that? Um, I that was just some intuitive thing that like, okay, but uh, but I, I see the camaraderie, I see, uh, another thing I have them have him do even now, whenever he's playing with his friends, I let them argue so that they can learn how to have those communication skills. Everybody does this whole like nicey-nicey thing. Do you realize he gets along so well with his friends now Because I've just whenever they're in a safe space, right. But it's like they have to learn what works and what doesn't work with their friends.

Speaker 1: 16:37

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Speaker 1: 17:43

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Speaker 1: 18:22

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Speaker 2: 18:58

If I'm constantly telling them say this, don't say that, be like this. I mean, come on, you know what I mean. Like stop the micromanaging. So I try not to do it. Every once in a while maybe I do it, but with other things, but when it comes to the communication, it's like they need to learn their boundaries and the only way they're going to do it is with their other friends, kids. Especially when they're kids, they're so forgiving to each other, right, they want to play again.

Speaker 2: 19:19

Only every once in a while do I have to get to the point where it's just kind of like, if I have to, if I have to, if it's gone on too long, if I have to say do you want to play and have fun or do you want to argue, and then they're like play and have fun. You know, like it's just a tiny redirect. I don't need to sit down and have a five hour conversation. Just a tiny redirect and it goes. So I want him to have independence, freedom, pursuing his, his heart's desires. Um, you know, he loves having friends, he loves being social and I remember when I was a kid, I love playing, I love being outside and playing. So I think I try to keep that you know from, from that time period when all of us were just running around all the time you know uh, you know we keep it pretty safe, but still like getting outside.

Speaker 1: 20:08

It's a good point to let them argue it out. I have a very hard time with that because nobody wants their kid to be like the one that nobody likes. Right? You want your kid to be liked so that they have lots of friends, if that's what they want to have. But, um, and then I've I've seen other kids who are not so nice and I, I don't want my kid to be like that. So that's a really hard line.

Speaker 2: 20:35

You have to have boundaries on what kids your, your kids, are even allowed to have those arguments with in the first place. So I I agree with you on that one for sure, some kids don't, they don't get invited back into the circle, right, Right, I mean, that's you gotta have that.

Speaker 1: 20:48

Yeah, yeah, that's one that I struggle with, because, um, and and often I'll maybe I'll just say more later after the fact like try to let them argue it out or say, all right, guys, uh, you have to wrap it up somehow, um it out, and then later on say to him listen, do you want people to not want to be around you?

Speaker 1: 21:09

Because I feel like I say that to him a lot People are not going to want to be around you, and it's sad because you don't want him to change how he is. You don't want to be fake so that people like you, okay, but then you also want to be self-aware of how you're acting and so that when, like, he'll say to me, oh, so-and-so left me out today, I'm the type to say to him well, did you do something that pushed them away? Because I feel like there's a lot of that that doesn't. We don't talk like that in society anymore. Everything is my kid didn't do it, it was the other child. So I'm trying to turn it in and say what am, what are we doing to push people away? Like, could you have changed anything that you did that day or with that relationship to make them want to hang out with you, or sometimes people just like to hang out with other friends and it doesn't have anything to do with you at all, it just has to do with life.

Speaker 2: 22:01

Hey, you're having the conversation and I think that's the main thing is just having the conversation. We don't, we don't know. I don't know why my phone is ringing, but um we don't know necessarily like all the right things, and I think that's something that like as homeschoolers and teachers and everything. It's like we we're all learning ourselves.

Speaker 2: 22:23

So just have the conversation is better than not having the conversation, just having the conversation at all. You're going to learn about yourself. He's going to learn about himself. He's going to now know like, oh, people have conversations about figuring out what's working and what's not working in their relationships. Yeah, that's like huge right there.

Speaker 1: 22:40

Yes, and that's one of the things I try to say to parents that, um, you know, some parents are like, oh, I yell too much. I couldn't homeschool my kid because I yell and I am so guilty of being a yeller. That's just I. The household I grew up in it was there was yelling. So, as I'm trying to curb that, but even today, you know, I I asked my son to take some of the scraps over to the chickens. He took it from me but then set it down. So then the dog got into it and the dog's going to throw up. So I see it all over the ground and I'm like why didn't you take this to the chickens? You know, and you feel bad for yelling, but then if you don't, nothing ever gets done.

Speaker 1: 23:19

So that's another fine line to walk, right. But like you said, if you have the conversation, if afterwards I said to him all right, I'm sorry, I yelled. Sometimes I feel like you don't listen to anything I say until I raise my voice. So having the conversation again is like the good part about that. You know, I'm sorry for yelling. This is why I did it. Maybe we could change it next time. You could just do what I ask because I don't want the dog to get into it no-transcript, you know.

Speaker 2: 24:27

And they're still going to get their feelings hurt every once in a while and there's only so much you can do, right. So the friend had done something that hurt my friend, my son's, feelings. They hadn't talked for a while and then, now that they're hanging out again, this kid says, says to him because they know that they can have these kinds of conversations you did this and that was wrong, or you did that, or you know whatever it is. Now he's mature enough to have the words to say you know what? I felt bad after I did that, because I went to go do this and then I, and then I knew we weren't all going to play again together and so I didn't know what to do about it. And so I felt bad about that and I wish I hadn't done that. These are kids right Having no.

Speaker 2: 25:06

And then, once he had the language for it you know, four months later now they have the I'm like, oh, that's so awesome. Right Now they can have. You know what I wish I did, like they don't always have the language for it. Even think about ourselves. Right Later you have to have the conversation about something. It's not too late to have the conversation and be like you know, I wish I hadn't done that, and then like so the kids knowing how to do that like, or you know what that thing you did, that really, you know, bothered me, or whatever. However somebody wants to say, if they don't want to say hurt their feelings, that's fine, whatever language feels right for them, and uh. And then sometimes you have to know that the other person on the other side doesn't always have the language right away either. That's why it's so important to always have the conversations about different things that aren't always easy.

Speaker 1: 25:56

Yeah, I find that it's harder to do them with people that you're very close with, probably because you know those people can actually hurt you. They have the capability, their feelings and how they feel about you. If you know, if you love them, how they feel, you're more vulnerable. So it's almost easier to have it with just a friend you know, a play group or whatnot. So I guess that's why therapists get as much as they do.

Speaker 2: 26:28

Yeah, I mean definitely every. Every relationship is going to be different, and I a hundred percent agree, like you know, we had some loudness in our family growing up as well. My husband is as well. So you know, we've just probably we're like, every once in a while we're just not going to be, you know, serene because we're still, you know, unlearning some bad habits too, right, that's kind of part of part of is like okay. Well, that that wasn't how I wanted to address that. I wanted to say that a little differently.

Speaker 2: 27:05

I wanted to, you know, not react, right. So, um, you know, but I think we just maybe don't be so hard on ourselves and just be like okay, like this is one of the things I say for my son. If he says I can't do something, I'll say just say I'm learning, you know just how about instead of saying I can't, how about I'm learning? Just say I'm learning, and that's what I like to remind myself sometimes, too, where it's just like you know, I'm learning.

Speaker 1: 27:31

Okay, it's just it. The podcast and you homeschool. Is that? Did you have to leave any sort of career to take on the homeschooling and start the podcast? Why don't you tell us about that?

Speaker 2: 27:43

I did Um, we have a e-commerce business, um where, which is a store on Amazon. So, uh, my husband then had to take on more of that. So, fast forward a little bit. You know, it was like, okay, I need to start having something going again, cause, like I said, now my son is in in junior high, so some of the stuff that he does, like I don't need to be as involved really, I can have, you know, kind of outsource some parts of it and then some of it he can do on his own and then just ask me and you know that kind of thing.

Speaker 2: 28:18

So I started the podcast just as a way to just kind of jumpstart getting back out into the world again. You know, it's like there's only so many times you can rearrange your closets and go through your garage and you know what I mean Like. So it's just like, OK, I think I need to have you know, because I've also had over almost two decades of experience as a high-end hairstylist, so it's like that's a, that's a, that's a clientele. I'm also an act and model, so it's just like I've had, like I've done things. So it's just like, okay, I need to kind of re-energize this area of my life, now that this really I don't. I mean, you know it's like there's time so I might as well, right, once you get things kind of rocking and rolling, you know you have you can just kind of go back in and take care of certain things, Like if it's math or language, or you read today and even like with the conversations, what did you read today, what was it about? Who's in the story? You know that kind of a thing.

Speaker 2: 29:11

And then um and so, uh, so I started the podcast to get back into. Just I wanted to do the habit. I didn't even tell anybody about the podcast in the beginning. I just was wanting the habit because we were talking about all the tech stuff earlier. That's not my thing. I'm not, I'm not, you know, a tech savvy person. I like to know enough about it to make things happen. But I'm like I have to remind myself I'm not, I'm not going for editor of the year awards. You know what I mean? I'm not going for any of those kinds of things.

Speaker 2: 29:37

So if it's not edited perfectly, if it's not put out there perfectly, like that's fine, it's just stay in the habit. You know, this is the day you were, that you, uh, this is the day posts mainly was my main thing right, posting the same time every week. And then, um, and then that kind of evolved into and that was just the audio Cause, it's just quick and easy. And then it evolved into the video side of things more so. And then now it's evolved into I went to a business coach, actually, where I'm like these are the areas of my life I still want to keep the same right, which is homeschooling, the family life, you know, having my, my son's, sports, like all of these things. I still want to make sure I have time for all of these things.

Speaker 2: 30:14

So it took me a while to find, like, my next um, you know, business thing too, cause it was like I could do that but I don't want to do that, you know. It's like there's certain things where, um, I'm sure a lot of homeschool people are like that, where it's kind of like I have it on here where it's a 10x on camera, where it's basically helping people be able to, like run, whatever the thing is, that they want to teach. People have hobbies or some talent that they already have, but they want to be able to put that out in the world and still have the whole life. Or it's for people, too, that have hit a threshold as an entrepreneur, but they know if they had an online presence with themselves, it improves their know, like and trust for their branding. So if they get comfortable on camera getting out there, then they're going to be the known person in their field.

Speaker 1: 31:16

This week's episode brought to you by Pfizer, just kidding, just kidding. What I really want to ask you is have you left me a review yet? Reviews are so important because one? They let me know how you're liking the show, but also they let other people know if this show is worth listening to. I've got 58 reviews on Apple Podcasts so far, but I know there's at least 300 of you listening each week. So if you've enjoyed this episode, let me know by going into the show's description, clicking on the link and writing me a note about how you're liking the podcast. Has it helped you at all? Have you decided to homeschool because of it? Have you changed how you homeschool after listening to the show?

Speaker 2: 32:00

Who has been your favorite guest. Leave me a review on Apple or Spotify and let others know if this show is worth the listen. So I started that and that's fun because it keeps all the things that I love, which is, you know, the life part, the lifestyle part and then obviously, you know acting being on camera. I love it. I love being on stage. I love being on camera. It's a bunch of fun. So I'm just like, as long as there's fun involved, I'm game. So it's like there's other people probably that want to access more of that creative fun part. Bring that back in as well.

Speaker 1: 32:28

That's awesome. Yeah, I can definitely see the acting and modeling from you. How far into Hollywood were you? You get invited to any parties, any secret societies.

Speaker 2: 32:42

Secret society stuff. Well, I um, I've got, I got to do a lot of different things because I've model act spokesmodel. I also did corresponding, so I've interviewed, you know, world champs, rock stars, anchors, politicians, like all different types of just by just being out there. And this is again something that I didn't even put like I would have preferred to put more time into it, but was, we'll just say, subdued. You know, it's like get the regular degree, go for the real job. You know that was kind of like the mission, which was not really what was necessarily in my heart, so I did it as as much as I as I as I could. And then that was another thing, kind of that happened during this whole thing. That happened, you know, in 2020, where it was all of a sudden there was no jobs. So I would work every year and and there were all of a sudden they had no jobs. And then it was like and then there was the you know, we're in charge of your healthcare, different things like that. We're starting to be a part of it.

Speaker 2: 33:48

So it's just like how, again, I'm like, I want to. Only, I'm only going to do something again If I have more freedom, like I get to choose what I'm doing in my podcast. I get to choose who I'm talking to. I get to choose you know what thing I'm putting out there into the world, but I can still keep the acting part of it, and that's.

Speaker 2: 34:02

I've actually put that into my system for people so that they're it's kind of like their own movie. So a lot of times when people go in and you, you learn how to do things but you kind of don't know the bigger picture part of it. Like you start getting into the steps and it starts getting repetitive and boring. It's like so I've put this whole thing into a system for people just what I've learned from acting coaches and different things that I've done where I'm like this is something where somebody could really put it into their whole, they can put it into their life right, where you don't forget that big thing that you're going for while you're doing the stuff that's not so fun and then that helps you overcome obstacles along the way in the journey. It's like it's like it's your movie.

Speaker 1: 34:44

Okay, so that's your business. The 10 X on camera? Yeah, all right, I don't know if, um, if I'm understanding it, put it in. Put it in like a different, like, like, use me as an example, so what? So say, I called you and was like, okay, I want to be 10.

Speaker 2: 35:04

X on camera, whatever. That is Okay. So let's say people are feeling unseen and they want to become unstoppable. So we can help people go from being unseen to unstoppable. So that's like. That's the gist of it. You know, like where I was kind of like I'm like, I'm okay, you know life's all right, I'm hanging out at home you know what I mean and life's pretty good. But you know there's something inside of it and you want more. It's just like the way that there's you're talking about education there's money is leaving the universities and it's going to independent creators who are creating coursework for people.

Speaker 2: 35:39

The best way you can get yourself out there is on camera. If you have your, let's say you're doing pottery in your backyard with two people, that's fine. But if you can teach that course on camera and be compelling and get yourself out there and be compelling on camera and the people are like wait, I want to learn that from that person. That's how you're going to get out there, more so than like you know there's a couple of people in my neighborhood. That's fine. That means somebody obviously wants the thing that you're offering. But then it's like how do I now get that out there so that I can teach.

Speaker 2: 36:07

You are not now controlled by space right as space right as far as, like, it's just the people in your neighborhood. You can, anybody. Your clients can be all over the whole world, right, but you have to be able to be probably put on camera in order to do that. I know some people are doing things where they're not the face of the business. Also, you can do there's those versions but this is more so for the people that are like I feel unseen and I'd like, and I and I don't and I want to be unstoppable, right, I feel unseen and I'd like, and I and I don't, and I want to be unstoppable, right. So that's kind of the journey of like and this is the system that's going to get that for you.

Speaker 1: 36:39

I gotcha Okay, so you could like take my podcast and and and give me tips on how to, you know, really put it out there more, or, like I teach Zumba, to take it from my you know me and my you know women you know little following of women that do it down at the school and put that on. You know, like the space we're in right now and just do Zumba with everybody in the world, which I'm sure is already done. I don't know that I have anything more to give than what's already out there for a Zumba. I have a lot of, like, 60 year olds that are in my class that means that there's money flowing in that direction.

Speaker 2: 37:19

That's actually a good sign that money's flowing in that direction and there's going to be people that need it to come from you. Obviously, you have that and you can keep your lifestyle, what you want with the homeschool world right, you can keep that whole thing. You're doing it anyway. You might as well have something out there. And then the fact, like you said, that people are already doing it, that's a good sign. But you'll bring in your special thing, your unique thing that your listeners like why they tune into your podcast. Oh cool, you're doing Zumba too. You know you already have an audience, then, of people that would probably. There's a lot of people that wish they were working out more and they don't have the time to leave the house, so absolutely, very true, and you know what you said too well, two things.

Speaker 1: 38:02

I'm going to hold up my fingers so I remember them both two things. So, before you said money is flowing out of the universities and into private courses like this that you're offering, and we talked at the beginning of this live about how so much money goes to these universities, and I could get into even more of that but, um, they, it's almost like they have purposefully put us into debt in our early twenties, mid, mid to late twenties, so that we cannot afford to live on one income. And should we choose to be a homemaker, stay-at-home mom or homeschool your kids, that's almost like impossible for so many. And when you really rewind and look, well, why is it? Why is it impossible? Everything's so expensive. Why is it so expensive? Well, everybody needs a car because you have to get to work. Well, why do I got to go to work? Well, you have to go to work because you spent four years on that degree and you spent maybe $50,000, $100,000, $200,000 on getting that degree. So are you really just going to throw that away? And I know you're not throwing it away, but it's hard to say.

Speaker 1: 39:14

I did all of that and spend all that money to now not use the degree and stay home with my children. And I'm not trying to make a little of staying home with your children, I'm just saying that as someone that just left her career, I was brainwashed to think that you, um, that the career is something that you hold on a pedestal and being a homemaker is something for the peons. Basically, I really thought that I remember thinking when my sister was staying home with her kids going well, what are you contributing to the world? I'm working for the government. So basically, when I look back on it, I was sitting in a cubicle twiddling my thumbs all day.

Speaker 1: 39:59

My opinion didn't matter, because contracts were already signed with this guy's golf buddy and for this one, so my opinion didn't matter. I just pushed papers around, or now, today, emails around. My sister was raising three human beings that are going to then hopefully contribute to the world. So it's like I had everything so backwards and hopefully more people see that, but anyway, so so I love that you're saying the money is flowing out of universities, because it should. There's only a few careers that need the universities and it's going into these private courses, so that then puts money into our pockets now as the citizens of our country.

Speaker 2: 40:43

Yes, and I love that, because and I will say too yeah, go ahead.

Speaker 1: 40:46

No, go ahead, go ahead, go ahead. Well, just that, it's the money isn't. When you take out a school loan, you're taking money from the bank, which is then going to the university. Our tax dollars are paying back the bank and the only people that are losing out are the taxpayers. So, whether you forgive the money you know these, these tuition bills or not, the money still comes from the taxpayers. They're never giving it. No, if everybody paid back their student loans, they're not giving the money back to the taxpayers. Everything is government backed, federally backed. So, um, I I would love for the money to not go to the universities. I love that.

Speaker 2: 41:23

Well, and I go deeper into this I have a free masterclass, um, if people want to just go to the website, and then people can go and they can sign up for the free one. There's also, like a VIP version which is less than 50 bucks If people want to like come on camera and ask their questions and have like a private room as well. But I go into it deeper in the masterclass, talking about like, specifically like there's a certain percentage of money that's leaving the universities and then there's a larger percent that's growing right, because there's a bunch of money up here, right, and then there's a larger percent that's growing right Because there's a bunch of money up here, right, and then there's a less amount of less here. But the interesting thing is, it seems like a small percentage here that's leaving, but then there's a bigger percentage here that's growing and it ends up being like about the same amount of dollars.

Speaker 2: 42:08

And then the thing is you don't have to do four years of a degree and then, like you've said, you spent four years of a degree and then, like you've said, you spent four years of your life. You spent all this money and time, and sure, it was a fun time and all. But you know, then it's like, ok, now who's going to help me get a job Right Like where? Oh yeah, now you're going to do some entry level job. Oh, four years and I'm going to be entry level, like no way.

Speaker 1: 42:34

Are you trying to pick a curriculum but feel a little overwhelmed at the variety of options? Me too. I mean, how do you pick a curriculum when you don't know what each one has to offer? That's been my biggest problem. Well, I am here to help. I just launched a premium content series. That means it's $3 a month, which will just help cover the cost of running the podcast.

Speaker 1: 42:54

In my curriculum series, I interview homeschooling students and parents and curriculum creators about specific curriculum each week so that you can take the guesswork out of your curriculum choices. I'll be asking questions like what does the day-to-day look like with this curriculum? What does it cover from a bird's eye view? How long does one lesson take to complete? How many lessons does the curriculum contain and what does it cost? Did you have to order the book or could you download them and print them somewhere like your library?

Speaker 1: 43:20

Does this curriculum have a lot of games, writing or crafts, and did your child enjoy this curriculum? Can you do it with more than one child at a time? And if I did this curriculum with my child, would I need to add any sort of supplements to it? These are all questions I've had while I search for the perfect curriculum to suit my son's personality and my expectations. Let's face it there is no one curriculum out there that will work best for every child and adult, so I invite you to join me in my search to find out what every curriculum has to offer, so that you can feel confident in your curriculum choices and enjoy your homeschooling journey that much more. Right where you find all of the homeschool how-to podcast episodes, you'll see my curriculum series and you can subscribe today.

Speaker 2: 44:07

Okay, I have this. Do you mind about this article? You might already be aware of this. This is about talking about the creative and the genius, and you might already be aware, because I know you've talked about the Rockef, the creative and the genius, and you might already be aware of it, Cause I know you've talked about the Rockefellers and all that kind of stuff. Do you mind if I give like a couple of points from this one article? Sure, Okay, so here we go. So I put this up, Cause I I saw this the other day. I was watching something and I don't, so I was like so it just talked about most children are creative genius. This article is from I guess I'm going to better give them some credit from 2018.

Speaker 2: 44:43

Narges Zatat I'm sure I butchered that name, but anyway, most children are creative genius. They they tested 1600 school children the ages of four and five. They were given challenges designed to test how they come up with different and innovative ideas to solve problems, and then, um, so they started off with it was like 98% in the beginning were like geniuses. Okay, so fast forward. Um, about five years later, they tested all those same kids again 30% geniuses. So that's how much the drop was these are all going going to you know these institutions, these, these schools. Right by the time these children were 15, only 12% now exhibited these genius levels of creative imagination. In adults, that percentage was like down to 2%. Okay, so it says now this has started, like you said, where it says, since we're building a lot of these factories, we had to build factories for human beings too, called schools, so we could manufacture people that could work well in these factories.

Speaker 2: 45:58

Yeah so there's definitely some truth there that people dive, dive into it, and you and I, being homeschool moms, we've read a lot of the books too, and it's, it's um sad.

Speaker 1: 46:09

Yeah, um, I mean, john Taylor Gatto has, uh, dumbing us down and weapons of mass instruction, where he he was a, you know, teacher of the year in New York and the year that he was offered that award he actually resigned as a teacher and started writing these books and saying how destructive the school system was for a lot of children. And Alex Newman I'm having him on the show in a couple of weeks. I'm really excited for that because, uh, he really gets into the history of education and where the establishment of the school system, why it went from private, you know communities educating the children to a government system, right, that's kind of weird. It's kind of like I was thinking about it the other day. It's kind of like the internet. My kids grew up. Internet was always there. My niece and nephews they're graduating at this time in their life. Internet has always been there for them, you and I. I'm 40. I'm guessing me, you're probably not right up to my age, right, but we did not have internet.

Speaker 1: 47:14

I have a few more years on you, yeah, okay, all right. Well, you look good. So we did not have the internet like when we were in. I mean, I didn't have it until middle school. I remember the AIM buddy list and even cell phone. My sister had like a Nextel pager in college. I got a cell phone in high school and I remember being a senior when I got my first text message and I was like, oh my God, why is this device writing me a note? I didn't understand what it was. So I was 18, 17, 18 when that happened. So for half my life I did not have the internet or anything like they have now my kids, my niece and nephews. They don't know anything different.

Speaker 1: 47:58

Now, for you and I, as parents trying to raise kids in that environment, it's so hard because we didn't grow up with our parents having to say put down your phone, put away your phone, you're spending too much time on social media. You know, we we never had to do that. So to now be the parent that has to say you're spending too much time, or what should I allow them to watch or view or see? Um, even read it's. It's just a different world. Um, where was I going with this?

Speaker 2: 48:26

But it's this is why you don't do lives.

Speaker 1: 48:31

This is why you don't do lives I love it, though that's so good.

Speaker 1: 48:35

Edit this out, um, but but it is crazy to have to think like, um, you know, we, we had life where it just didn't exist. So, okay, so this is what I got it, I got it, I got it, I got it. So, for school, you and I were raised. Everybody goes to school, pretty much everybody, right, except the weird kids that were homeschooled. But everybody goes to school and it's what you always have done, it's what your parents did, but is it what your grandparents did?

Speaker 1: 49:07

Well, we didn't really stop to think about that, because we were just pushed along, and you know, back from when, basically like World War I, where the men went off to war. Well, now the women had to go into the workforce. Now, oh, hey, look, this is a good opportunity. Let's send kids to school all day, because, instead of the community educating the children for what the community needs, now the community is not there anymore, because the husbands are off fighting and the women need to make the money to put the food on the table. So now we have to look to the government to find somewhere for our kids to go and educate them as they see fit, not as the community sees fit.

Speaker 1: 49:51

So, yeah, we kind of just blended into this. This is what happens and not really stop to think hey, maybe my mom didn't even have the internet growing up. Should I do something differently? Because now I just have it, it's just available. So it's weird how we just flow in with these generations and never stop to really look at why is this changing and should we even roll with it?

Speaker 2: 50:17

And that's a really good point, cheryl where it's just like asking those questions again, even having the conversation with yourself wait, is this what's best? Says who Do I say that you know, like finding out from yourself, taking that time, and then, like you, like you said how some people are like, oh, I could never do that because of you, know X, y and Z, I could never homeschool or I could never do this or never do that. It's like, how do you know? Have people ever asked themselves, how do you even know that?

Speaker 2: 50:46

I had this acting coach that would say to ask yourself is that my thought or somebody else's? And I thought that's such a great question to ask yourself Is that my thought or somebody else's? How do you know you can't do that. Maybe that's exactly the thing that you need, that one thing that you're like oh, I couldn't do that. Maybe it's the one thing that you need that's going to make things like so much better, like so much more fun, so exhilarating.

Speaker 2: 51:16

You know, instead of just doing what everybody else does, it's like you start to kind of look around and be like then I'm going to be just like everybody else. Is that really what you want? Is that what people really want. Like it's okay to have, like you know, your Zumba class, right? I mean, that's so cool that you do that and you're like.

Speaker 2: 51:30

So it's just like some people will be like, oh cool, like wait, you're just you know how cool would that be instead of having to go sign up for a gym membership and do all this stuff, you know. So it's just like there's so many things that you could be offering instead of just following the herd there's, and so it's just like taking that time to be like so I don't, you know, maybe I could. What if I? Or even what if I could do it, what if it was possible? What is possible? What's in there that I've never, uh, let myself explore, that I would really enjoy doing? Or what's in my heart that I've always had? What do I love doing? How do I love spending my day? You know, all those things are way before saying I could never do that, you know.

Speaker 1: 52:14

So well, and I don't think the education system teaches our kids to think along those lines. How could I be spending my day? How would I enjoy spending my day and the episode I'm releasing this Saturday with my husband. We really get into that because we start talking about me leaving my career versus his career and his outlook on it versus the outlook I had and and the different jobs that we had and what we want for our kids when they grow up.

Speaker 1: 52:46

So, but yeah, I don't ever remember anyone saying to me you know what are the things that interest you? And even for a long time, I think up until recently, what to do with your free time. I was like what would we even do as homeschoolers? What do these people do? All day they talk about how, oh, you can take what's done in six hours at the school. You can do it in an hour and a half or two hours, especially in the elementary years, maybe one hour. I'm like what do they do for the rest of the day? Stare at each other. There's only so many library books, but this gives you the opportunity to find things.

Speaker 1: 53:26

Like you know, I started the garden and so we're learning about all of that and, yes, all of that's part of school, but that's not the intention behind what we're doing.

Speaker 1: 53:37

I'm kind of like we need to know how to grow food. They're trying to kill us. We got to know how to grow our own food, but with that, like we have the time to do it and to learn and every day check on the progress and make mistakes that next year we're going to try not to make, and things like making sourdough bread and these are all things like like the 10 year ago me would have been like you've got to be out of your ever loving mind. That's never going to be me, nor would I enjoy doing that stuff. But now that my perspective has changed and I'm not living the rat race anymore, I'm like, oh, I really enjoy like making food for our family that I know doesn't come from you know a factory with GMOs and this and that, and I'd say that we don't ever eat any of that stuff. But trying, you know, knowing that you're doing something healthy for yourselves, is pretty, pretty satisfying.

Speaker 2: 54:29

Educating yourself. Yes, educating yourself. Well, I will tell you, this is as funny that you say that about like growing your own food. I was like okay, so I need one of two things to to. I need some a change here. Either I, I, you know some business that I'm going to love doing and I'm going to love helping people do, uh, or I'm moving to Montana and I'm living off the land. You know what I mean. Like some big thing, right, some big change. I'm going to learn how to live off the land by myself.

Speaker 2: 55:00

But I think what I'll probably end up doing is hiring somebody to teach me how to do that is probably that already knows what they're doing.

Speaker 1: 55:04

Well, I'm sure there's a course out there. There's a masterclass. Someone has a masterclass.

Speaker 2: 55:07

Yes, yes, yes, they should. If they don't, oh my gosh please.

Speaker 1: 55:14

Put the link in the comments below. But yeah, you're, you're so even like just the little things that have in a generation or two that we have lost. It's crazy, like my grandmother had a huge garden. My aunt still does, but she's in Wisconsin, so I'm in New York. I don't get to, you know, reap those benefits. My mother couldn't even cook a cereal. I mean, yeah, so it's all lost on me.

Speaker 1: 55:44

So now I'm trying to like learn all that stuff. And you know, I've had, like someone commented on Facebook or whatever Instagram before like why would you waste your time learning that stuff? Oh, my gosh, you know nothing's going to happen. But how do you know, like even know, even if our government is the most well-intentioned being of people that just love us so much and want us healthy, how can they control any sort of event a meteor hitting or another country taking over? Even if they're the most well-intentioned people, it doesn't mean that they can control everything for us. And so, even if it doesn't happen in our lifetime, I'm doing my future generations, my kid, my kids' kids, their kids, a disservice by not teaching the basics of this is how you can get food, this is how you hunt, this is how you grow food. This is how you get shelter. This is how you find clean water hunt.

Speaker 2: 56:39

This is how you grow food. This is how you get shelter. That's how you find clean water. Yeah, absolutely, I'm looking at my kid, can?

Speaker 1: 56:46

you hear that, like, the landscapers are out in the front. Is that you hear that on your end? No, okay, good, you should ask them if they know how to grow food.

Speaker 2: 56:53

Um, yeah, so, uh, what was the last part of the question then? I'm sorry, cause, just cause I'm like, oh, do you hear that? That's very, very.

Speaker 1: 57:01

I don't even think I had a question, I think I'm just. I'm just spouting off things.

Speaker 2: 57:07

We're just yeah, how did we, how did?

Speaker 1: 57:09

we, we, just we. We stopped teaching our kids how to get uh survive without government.

Speaker 2: 57:18

And that's gotta be by design get survive without government, and that's gotta be by design. Well, we had a little garden when I was young and when we lived in Pennsylvania, we had a garden there and I loved it and it was, you know, like carrots and and, uh, onions and cucumbers, and I loved it. And then when we moved to California, it just it never. It never happened again. I guess, just, you know, other things in life took over and my mom just didn't want to make one. I don't know, I think I tried to get her to do it, but but it just, you know, like, I think what happens is we just think like, oh, it's hard, right, people think, oh, this is hard Cause.

Speaker 2: 57:51

Again, you think it's like, but but what about if you have better nutrition in your life? How much easier your life would be overall. Like, maybe it's hard because you're you're, you're doing all the conditioned parts. Maybe it doesn't have to be hard. Maybe, if you have your own garden and you do that with your family, maybe, like, all kinds of problems are solved by doing this one thing that adds nutrition to your life. It's a family gathering. You learn how to do stuff. You can, you know, fend for yourself if you have to you can have a skill that helps other people.

Speaker 2: 58:22

So it's just like re, we're rewiring and re-brainwashing ourselves into like you know again, like what's possible, what if that one thing that seems hard is actually going to add such benefit to your life that you're just like, oh my gosh, what was I thinking before? Kind of like you're talking about when, when you were, you know, had your job and, and you're like, oh, I could never, I don't want to. And then, like now that you have this whole like, you've kind of expanded your mind, You're like, wow, what was I thinking before? Like that was not it, you know. Now I see like so much more of of what has control has been taken, what we've allowed right To be taken, and that it doesn't have to stay that way.

Speaker 1: 59:02

Yeah, I was. I was in the matrix before, I think. So, as we wrap up for the hour, stepping out of the portal. Yeah, you're. I meant to ask you earlier what state you're in. So you're still in California. We're in Nevada, oh, you're in Nevada. Okay, what sort of? In Las Vegas?

Speaker 2: 59:21

And I will tell you, the homeschool laws here are very, very good, very, very good. The ladies that are in charge of this I got to give them the credit the women that did these laws, you know, decades ago. They're still homeschooling and they are, you know, whenever there's going to be any laws that change, they make sure they get in there and they don't let them touch homeschool. They'll try to sneak something in, they try to squeak in a little. They're like and then some people that don't understand, they're, you know, maybe newer to the process. They're like no, you don't want to get you know this, this whole like, maybe they should be in charge of this piece of our curriculum. No, sweetie, like, we don't know these people, you don't know. You're going to actually try to give that up and be like these people should be in charge of.

Speaker 2: 1:00:04

Wouldn't it be good for the world if we did that? Okay, you're walking down. You're looking down the barrel of communism. It all starts off with you thinking that, like, wouldn't it be good if we all, everything was perfect? And you know what? That's not really. No one's like with my program. No one's tuning in to see that movie. Everything's just like this the whole time and you're all brainwashed. No one's watching that movie. Something has to happen, right? So you can't just pretend that it's all Kumbaya and everything's going to be easy because some people that you don't know have control.

Speaker 1: 1:00:31

Yeah, that's.

Speaker 2: 1:00:33

I mean, I don't even know how people think that, how that's you know even a thought? But we don't, we don't have those ladies working for us in New York.

Speaker 1: 1:00:42

Unfortunately, I don't know who's watching the bills here. I'm sure I'm sure you know what. There are probably wonderful women and men doing that. It's just not enough of us are doing it, my myself included. I need to that. I want to step up and start actually reading that stuff because they you're right they hide things in bills.

Speaker 1: 1:01:00

And right now, this school choice is a big thing that's very popular. A lot of people are for it, wouldn't it be wonderful? We all get back our tax dollars. Oh my gosh, all our tax money is going to the schools and we could get back $10,000 a kid in some places. But when they dangle that carrot, they are just waiting for you to be munching on that and then they're going to wrap that string around your wrists and tie your hands behind your back with it.

Speaker 1: 1:01:27

So we do have to be so careful, um, and really watch these laws. And again, the public education system never taught me how to watch bills, like how a bill even gets introduced. If they did teach me, they made it the most boring, mundane thing. So it didn't stick at all. So, um, but to even know where to go, like who, who's running what elections do I you know, other than the presidential election? I don't know anything about elections. I'll show up now to vote, but you go there. It doesn't tell you anything about the candidates, what they're for, and then they pass these bills and they make it.

Speaker 1: 1:02:05

The last couple of small elections that I've gone to I'll look at the bill that they're trying to pass and they make it look so wonderful, like like you'd be evil to vote this down right, do you want green? Oh yes, yada, yada, yada. And then when you really go home and read about the bill, it's like oh no, we didn't want that at all. It's not good for the environment at all. Um, but it coats somebody's golf buddies pockets, so they, they wrote it up real nice, or it takes away your rights. So it's so important to teach our kids that and to teach ourselves.

Speaker 2: 1:02:44

And that's one of the things, too, that I would say you know how? They don't really emphasize the first amendment because they want you quiet in class. What if the classrooms really emphasized the first amendment and there were more discussions and there were more? Okay, what do you think about that, like learning how to do that, where it's like we have different opinions, we have different ideas and it's just like and then the whole point of having that was so that we could come up, we could actually come up with something that benefits people.

Speaker 2: 1:03:09

But, if that's something that goes away, which, like a lot of these institutions, you're not allowed to have a voice, right, it's kind of like you know it's, it's, it's the law. But think about the places where you've been in, where you can't be like, hey, I'm going to be the squeaky wheel right now, right, then they, they, they kind of let it be known that they don't really want you to be, that that person Like this is who we are and this is how we do things. It's like, well, why, why, why? Uh, that first amendment is there for a reason. The founding fathers put that in there for a reason, because it's like, if you take that away, or there's also I think Dr Jordan Peterson talks about compelled speech too where you have to say these words and you have to say this, like that's part of it as well. It's like, no, he's like I won't, I'm not doing any compelled speech and I'm not losing my rights as far as, like you know, he's Canadian, but still, the compelled speech is also part of it, where you have to call things this certain thing. It's just like, well, that first amendment means that I can speak how I want.

Speaker 2: 1:04:04

Now, the whole point of the first amendment obviously is not so that you can just go around being a jerk and just like. It's like the purpose, you know, I'm sure there's somebody could explain it even better but it's like it's so that we actually do come to some understanding of, like, what does work, like we're talking about when, when, when everybody was younger or years ago, right With our decades ago, generations ago, when they had, like the one school for the families. It's like okay, what are your values? What do you want taught, what do you want for the kids? Okay, so we're going to keep those values. That's what we're doing. Okay, fine, you know that kind of thing and we need to bring back a lot of that. And that's what's so great about podcasting and, again, with you know, just getting on camera. Like you and I, we live on the opposite ends of the country, but we can have this conversation and we can have it for other people. Hopefully other people start thinking about stuff and having more conversations, having more conversations themselves, right.

Speaker 1: 1:04:55

Absolutely. Yeah, just to, to round that off too, as we close up the hour uh, a good example of that is, like I said I, I just left my, my government job. I am free of the chains that bound me, um, but a little poorer but um, so a great example. Uh, right, I have 15 years in. I was the liaison for federal audits on our state agency. So every year these auditors come in, because that is just written into what we have to do as a state agency. The federal government comes in and they bid for the contract to be the auditors, which is kind of weird in itself. But these guys won and they come in every year for like four years to audit us. So every year we have the same finding, right? So I'm like the coordinator, making sure everyone, uh, gets what they need and the right people are contacted, and I'm going all right, you people have had this same finding for three years. Okay, I'm going to fix it because nobody else is.

Speaker 1: 1:06:00

I'm like I've got, I've got people on my team that are not doing anything all day, not because they're lazy, necessarily, just because we got too many people working for the government. We don't really have enough going on to give them enough work for them to do so. I'm like listen, this is how we're going to fix it. I contact these people. I contact these people. This is what we need to do. Okay, I was like I got people. This is what we're doing. Finding's going to be fixed in, like it's going to take like a couple of weeks. All right, we just need to do a couple of reviews. We can even set it up to be automatic, automatically done.

Speaker 1: 1:06:40

Um, I was told no, no, finally figured out it's because if the finding goes away, they're just going to find something new next year. So instead of fixing that, we're just going to let them find this, because it looks good on their end to have a finding and they can't. They can't do the audit and not have any findings. So if we fix the one that we already have, which isn't too bad, they're just going to find something new, and we'd rather not have them look any further. And I'm like you know what? This is how our government's run. I can't do it anymore. I can't. It's crazy. And that's just a nutshell. One small piece, and extrapolate that by all the counties, all the state offices, all the state agencies in every state and then every government agency and it's like that's what our tax dollars is going for. I can't wait. I can't waste my life doing this anymore, and especially when you think about your kids. Like you're not even you're sending them to daycare to sit here and do this rat race.

Speaker 2: 1:07:31

It's crazy. You know, I did a podcast a few weeks back, because a lot of my podcasts is just like kind of like just little nuggets, little pieces, little less than 10 minute, like just you know, is just like kind of like just little nuggets, little pieces, little less than 10 minute, like just you know thoughts of the day or kind of thing. Right, and I did one where it was talking a little bit about that, where it's just like you know, you you pick where you're going to make that difference and make sure that your why is strong enough. Like that You're saying I'm putting so much energy and effort into this one little thing. Is that going to be the thing that moves the needle? You took the time to think about that. Where it's like this is not the thing that's really going to move the needle for me and my family, but there's this other thing that I can do it for our life. That's going to that's going to enrich our lives even more so. So it's like cause that was.

Speaker 2: 1:08:10

There was a board, that there was a board seat coming available for a union that I'm in with work and our local SAG board and some of the people were like, oh, we want you to be, you know you'll do it, you'll do it, you'll do such a good job. And I realized for the local board, there was probably only so much I could do based on the time that I was going to give. So I was just like you know, I'm just not feeling it. You know what I mean. Like I know, I, yeah, I'll add value, I'll, I'll do the work, all that. I'm just not feeling like the amount of time I put into it, I'm really going to be moving the needle like a bunch for anybody. So, but then the board seat came available for my HOA and I already had started putting on.

Speaker 2: 1:08:54

There were things like this is my immediate surrounding, I see the households, I see the yard, I see my yard, you know. And so I'm like, okay, everything was fine for a while, so I didn't even concern myself with it. But as soon as things were going bad, I started, you know, doing a lot of research and I'm like this is not good. And I could tell the direction that they wanted to go with the landscaping, which was get rid of all the grass and have rocks here, cause there's people that you know, uh, we're zoned for the top schools. So I'm like this is like where kids are going to want to be outside playing and we need grass, and then that there's people that have lived here for a long period of time, their kids are grown, they don't have grandkids, you know what I mean and they're the people that were, you know, making the decisions at in my name.

Speaker 2: 1:09:37

I'm like you go on the board, you do it, right, I don't want to do it.

Speaker 2: 1:09:39

And then they're just like no, you need to do it, like you're the one that needs to do it. So then I was just like you know what? Yes, like that was the one for me, the work I do that's going to affect my, my, the value of my home. It's going to affect my surroundings, me, where I can put the time in, put the work in, and I'm going to be able to have some fruits for my labor, for, for, for, uh, that positively affect my family and then the people around me. So it's just finding out, like, where that place is, where you're going to put that time into. It's not going to be easy. There's nothing that's going to be easy, probably Right, so always. So it's just like finding that, finding that why like okay, this this, this is this one I can do, this one is the place where I'll put that energy in the time, cause obviously you have the, the hoots before it and the smarts and the all that, so it's like putting it in the right places.

Speaker 1: 1:10:32

Yeah, and we have to, I think, concentrate more at the local level, because it's clearly like I don't think voting in the presidential election is. You know, that's the only thing we're taught in school, but it's the local level that, really, if you're going to make any sort of change, that's what we want to do, and we want to educate our kids about how that process works. Educate myself too. There's probably a Tuttle Twins book that can educate me on how I I can vote in my elections, cause that's how I like get most of my knowledge today. I'm like find children's books that teach. It really teaches me.

Speaker 2: 1:11:09

Um, yes, the children's books, certain children's books, right, that's such a, that's a good point is like doing that. And then there's maybe a there's maybe a master class where you get yourself educated and then like helping the other families that also would like to know about that. Stuff can be anywhere in the country.

Speaker 1: 1:11:28

That's very true, that's very true.

Speaker 1: 1:11:30

I know I do have a children's book coming out soon, though it's about how to handle emergencies, Cause now we have cell phones, Nobody really has the landline anymore and they lock. So, like, how, how to teach your kids how to call 911 from a locked cell phone? And then all the other stuff like, cause, a lot of homeschoolers, you know, I've noticed that there's in a curriculum you know where do you live, what your address is? Those mean the same things. And, um, mom and dad's first and last name, what are their cell phone numbers? So, um, yeah, but it wasn't really like enough to memorize it. So, and and schools don't really do that either there's kind of a disconnect. I think parents think the schools teach it. Schools think the parents have is the response, you know it's the responsibility on the parents. So I wrote a book. It's going to be out soon. My um illustrator just got done with all the pictures Not these graphics either. She's drawing, so I'm excited for that. It's called what is it called? Let's Talk Emergencies.

Speaker 2: 1:12:30

What is? That thing called again. Book titles change, so you know you're like the author is.

Speaker 1: 1:12:39

Oh yeah, Amy, any I want. I want to direct people to your podcast and it is. I'll just hand it over to you on anything you want to leave us with.

Speaker 2: 1:12:49

OK, my podcast is on all the podcast platforms. I also have it on YouTube recently, over the past month, we got some more visual video type people. We have it over there as well. It's on both. It's like the music one and the video one as well. Stories and Lessons with Amy Ebert.

Speaker 2: 1:13:09

And if you're interested in signing up for the masterclass and then at least you'll even know like, hey, maybe I could do like a masterclass like that with my thing, right, know, like, hey, maybe I could do like a masterclass like that with my thing, right, it's free. Like I said, if you want the VIP version, it's less than 50 bucks, but it's 10xoncameracom, you can go there. And then the cool thing is, you can put in like what you are currently like. You can get to give me like what is coming up for you. If you have like a fear of the camera, if you worry about perfectionism, if you just you know you don't have the equipment, whatever your, you know your struggle is with, uh, you know, just putting yourself out there and really kind of doing the thing you want to be doing, you can. There's an opportunity to put that in there as well. So we make sure we address it in the class.

Speaker 1: 1:13:54

Awesome and, you know, for the folks listening. I did ask her if, when she was acting, how much of the secret societies did you see? But I, you know she, amy Ebert, does not want to show up missing, so she, she's very tight, lipped on that. Neither of us killed ourselves, all right.

Speaker 2: 1:14:18

I do have an intro video on there with some of the stuff I've done so you can go. If you go to the web, if you go to the YouTube channel, there is like a go to the confidence on camera masterclass intro reel and it shows some of the work that I've done. And then you can see, yeah, so you can see some of the work that I've, that I've done where people have paid me to be on camera.

Speaker 1: 1:14:36

So I think you have, like um, a look like like you could have been on the young and the restless, or days of days of our lives.

Speaker 2: 1:14:43

All the time I'd be like you look just like my face. It was always it was always, almost always a soap opera person. And Cate Blanchett, oh well, that's not bad.

Speaker 1: 1:14:52

Hey, I'm worse.

Speaker 2: 1:14:54

She's amazing, I'll take it Awesome, Amy.

Speaker 1: 1:14:57

thank you so much for joining me today on our first live recording of the podcast. It did go through. I can see us on the other side here. That's why my eyes kept looking over that way. I don't know what it looks like. It might just be my left shoulder and your right shoulder, but hey, it's something.

Speaker 2: 1:15:14

Right, right, right, right, right. Yeah, you can't hear anything and it's just her shoulder, but we're there. We're there to start Awesome. Thank you, cheryl, thank you.

Speaker 1: 1:15:26

Thank you for tuning into this week's episode of the homeschool how to. If you've enjoyed what you heard and you'd like to contribute to the show, please consider leaving a small tip using the link in my show's description. Or, if you'd rather, please use the link in the description to share this podcast with a friend or on your favorite homeschool group Facebook page. Any effort to help us keep the podcast going is greatly appreciated. Thank you for tuning in and for your love of the next generation.