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#73: It's Time To Think About Education Differently

Season #2

Are you unknowingly trying to mold your homeschool to a system that was never meant to honor your child’s individuality? It’s time to break free from the pressure, fear, and factory-style mindset that’s holding you back—and embrace a radical, life-giving approach to learning that respects both you and your child as persons.

In this powerful episode, Julie Ross—creator of A Gentle Feast and veteran educator with 30 years of experience—shares her eye-opening journey from traditional classrooms to homeschooling her own five children. Drawing on Charlotte Mason’s revolutionary philosophy, Julie helps us rethink what education should be and why it’s so vital to separate ourselves from the industrialized mindset that dominates modern schooling.

Through stories, historical insights, and personal reflections, Julie invites us to slow down, breathe, and reconsider what it really means to educate a person. This episode is a must-listen for any homeschool mom who feels like they’re “falling behind,” stuck in comparison, or wrestling with fear-based thoughts about their child’s future.

Key Takeaways:

  • Education is not a product—your child is not a project. Charlotte Mason’s philosophy affirms that children are born persons with infinite potential, not empty vessels to be filled or molds to be shaped.

  • We’re still affected by the school system—even when we’ve left it. Julie shares how deeply ingrained beliefs from institutional schooling can still quietly shape our homeschool in unhelpful ways.

  • The industrial model was never meant for wholeness. Quoting Woodrow Wilson and contrasting it with Charlotte Mason’s words, Julie reveals how the roots of our current system were built for utility, not humanity.

  • Pressure stifles growth. A powerful personal story about Julie’s son illustrates the beauty that unfolds when we release fear and honor each child’s pace of learning.

  • You’re growing too. Just like our children, we’re works in progress. Homeschooling is as much about your growth as a mother as it is about your child’s education.

  • Joy lives in the present. Fear and overthinking rob us of the simple joys of homeschooling. Re-centering our thoughts helps us show up with calm and confidence.

  • Mindset matters. When we think “we’re behind,” we act from anxiety. When we believe “we’re growing,” we respond with trust and grace.

Resources Mentioned:

Visit thefeastlife.me/blog/71 for additional resources and links

A Gentle Feast Curriculum

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Today’s episode is sponsored by the award winning Charlotte Mason curriculum A Gentle Feast. Get started with smooth and easy days at https://www.agentlefeast.com.