• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Monica Swanson

the grommom

  • Home
  • Start Here
    • About Monica
      • Media
    • Contact
    • Speaking
    • Subscribe
    • All Things Kids and Technology
    • All Things Homeschooling
  • Blog
    • Parenting and Family
    • Boy Mom Podcast
    • Health/Fitness
    • Encouragement and faith
    • Home School
    • Surf
    • Recipes
      • Breakfasts
      • Snacks and Smoothies
      • Lunches and Dinners
      • Desserts
      • Gluten Free
  • Boy Mom Book
  • Boy Mom Podcast
  • Character Course

Home School

27 Ways to Finish the School Year Strong {Episode 54 with Robert Bortins}

by Monica Leave a Comment

Aloha!!   Well, May is flying by and though we may not be out of quarantine yet, most of us are starting to see the FINISH LINE for our school year...And that is a good feeling! To help us get to the finish line, today I have Robert Bortins, the CEO of Classical Conversations, on with me to share 27 Tips for ending the school year strong.  I love this list and know that a lot of you will be encouraged by it as well! In the past couple of months I have been asked more than

Read More

Categories: Boy Mom Podcast, Home School, Miscellaneous

You Have What it Takes to Homeschool {Episode 048 with September McCarthy}

by Monica 1 Comment

Finally, and episode on Homeschooling!!   For many months now I've had countless requests for a podcast episode about homeschooling.  And now, more than ever, families are scrambling to find some order to the potential chaos of having kids at home all day.  Whether they are "homeschooling", or just trying to survive doing school at home, I've heard the message:  Please help! Hopefully this episode will be a lot of help!  September McCarthy is a homeschooling

Read More

Categories: Boy Mom Podcast, Home School, Miscellaneous, Parenting and Family

Gap Year, SAT tests, and the Journey to College {Episode 47 with my son, Jonah}

by Monica 4 Comments

Hey Friends!  Today my 18 year-old son, Jonah is with me to talk about his journey through the college preparation, application, and acceptance process.  Many people have asked for updates on Jonah's process and especially have questions about the scholarship contest we traveled to California for back in February.  I'm so excited to share this conversation between Jonah and I.   Note:  While I considered dedicating an episode to the topic of the Coronavirus, I am

Read More

Categories: Boy Mom Podcast, Home School, Miscellaneous, Parenting and Family

Where the Magic Happens. {Raising Kids of Character}

by Monica 7 Comments

We all want to find the magic formula for raising character-rich kids.  Here's what I know. There is no doubt, my early parenting years were challenging.  But when I look back on the first years homeschooling my older boys, I have mostly fond memories.  I have often described the first three boys as being "eager to please", "self-directed" learners, and so on. Fast forward a few years and Levi...Levi has not exactly been the "eager-to-please" homeschool student.  He has

Read More

Categories: Encouragement and faith, Home School, Miscellaneous, Parenting and Family

Raising Boys to Value Learning and Discover Passions {Podcast Episode 016 with Amber Lia}

by Monica 1 Comment

Aloha Friends!   I'm super excited to share today's podcast episode with you.  We are spring-boarding off of chapter 9 of Boy Mom as we talk about Inspiring Young Minds:  Boys: learning, and discovering passions.  This is such a fun topic!!! I invited my friend Amber Lia on for today's episode because she's a four-boy momma who has a background in education, and she's a lot of fun to chat with!  I knew she'd have a lot of great ideas on this topic. And I was

Read More

Categories: Boy Mom Podcast, Encouragement and faith, Home School, Miscellaneous, Parenting and Family

A Few Thoughts after 12 Years of Homeschooling.

by Monica 15 Comments

Homeschooling thoughts this year...(I usually do one homeschool post per year.  Here it is. :) ) --also a note on ads in the PS at the bottom.... Recently someone asked me how long I've been homeschooling, and I calculated that this is my 12th year.  Wow!  That makes me feel tired crazy (so many things, but mostly) grateful.  In case you don't know my story, I'll begin by saying that I never dreamt of being a homeschool mom -- even up to the year that we

Read More

Categories: Encouragement and faith, Home School, Miscellaneous, Parenting and Family

Swanson Boys: Homeschool Updates, and Books they’ve been Loving

by Monica 10 Comments

I don't know about you, but my boys go back to school tomorrow.  (Tomorrow!!) I hope you enjoyed the last post about Homeschooling High School.  (I remember being so nervous about the idea of homeschooling high school, but it has turned out to be a blast!) As promised, I am back today to give some quick updates on the homeschool curriculum my boys are using this year,  and also to share some of the books they've been enjoying. ^^My 4, yesterday -- at a Hawaiian Rodeo! :)  I'm

Read More

Categories: Home School, Miscellaneous, Parenting and Family

On Homeschooling High School

by Monica Leave a Comment

Homeschooling High School.... I am so happy to be sharing an awesome post by Jen McDonald today.  I've been meaning to put some words together to share a homeschool post for a while now, and when I came across this post I was like "She said it better than I could!"  I wanted to highlight all over my computer screen.  :)  I  think you'll enjoy this!   Quick note --   Curriculum updates? Every year I do try to do a curriculum update for my family, (though I don't think I got to that last

Read More

Categories: Home School, Miscellaneous, Parenting and Family

« Previous Page
Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

Categories

  • Parenting and Family
  • Health/Fitness
  • Encouragement and faith
  • Home School
  • Recipes
  • Surf
  • Travel
  • Miscellaneous

Recent Posts

  • Hope for the Mom at the End of Her Rope {Episode-165 with Stacey Thacker}
  • Influences, Role Models, and Lonely Seasons. Helping Our Sons Navigate Well {Episode-164}
  • The Resilience we Need Now {Episode-163 with John Eldredge}
  • Raising Emotionally Strong Boys {Episode 162 with David Thomas}
  • Choose Your (Parenting) Words Well. {Episode-161 with Wendy Speake}
Follow on Instagram

Footer

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Most Popular

  • Is your Teen Pulling Away? 7 Ways You might be causing it
    Is your Teen Pulling Away? 7 Ways You might be causing it
  • Sleepovers:  Our rule + Exception Clause
    Sleepovers: Our rule + Exception Clause
  • No Regrets
    No Regrets
  • When Your Kid Argues about Everything {5 tips}
    When Your Kid Argues about Everything {5 tips}

Copyright © 2022 Monica Swanson · All Rights Reserved · Privacy Policy