Monday Morning Meetings

Brave Learning podcasts for kids

We’ve kicked off our five-minute weekly podcast for your kids on Substack!

My goal is to give your kids actionable steps to take control of their learning experience, to make it more meaningful and delightful to them.

The idea is to play the podcast over breakfast and then make a little time that day or later in the week to do the thing.

The first six episodes are FREE:

I look forward to supporting you by going direct to your kiddos and inspiring them to be the brave learners you want them to be.

Enjoy!

Brave Learning with Julie Bogart on Substack

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Brave Learning: Teens and College, Parental Anger, and more!

Brave Learning

Recently on Brave Learning…

College: How to Entice a Teen 

Help cast the vision for college, even if your kid is reluctant to go [More]

Let’s talk about parental anger [Public]

It’s good to remember how vulnerable our little charges are and how much they do depend on us…for everything. [More]

What I learned as a parent

My kids didn’t like the way I worried about them or saw them as projects. When I dropped that energy, life got better for all of us. [More]

Friday Freewrite: Brushing Teeth [Public]

For a news segment, how might a reporter describe you brushing your teeth? [More]

Brave Learning with Julie Bogart on Substack

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[Podcast #276] Freedom from Shame with Parenting Coach Crystal Haitsma

Brave Writer Podcast

How does shame shape the way we parent?

In this Brave Writer podcast episode, we sit down with life coach and homeschooling parent Crystal Haitsma to explore how shame influences our parenting—often without our realizing it.

Crystal shares her insights on the difference between guilt and shame, and how we can shift from frustration to curiosity in our relationships with our kids. We also discuss how prioritizing self-compassion can transform both homeschooling and daily life, helping us build stronger connections with our children.

Crystal Haitsma
Crystal Haitsma

If you’ve ever felt discouraged, overwhelmed, or like you’re “not enough” as a parent, this conversation will bring comfort and clarity. Tune in now to learn how to shift your mindset and create a more peaceful home.

Show Notes

Parenting is often described as one of the most rewarding experiences in life—but it’s also deeply vulnerable. No matter how much we prepare, plan, and pour our hearts into raising our children, moments of frustration, self-doubt, and even shame inevitably creep in. We might wonder: Am I doing this right? Why do my kids resist everything I try to offer them? Why do I feel like I’m failing at something so important?

In our conversation with life coach Crystal Haitsma, we explored how shame plays an often-unseen role in parenting. She describes shame as more than just guilt—it’s the deep-seated belief that we are fundamentally not enough. While guilt says, “I did something wrong,” shame whispers, “I am wrong.” And when we parent from a place of shame, it subtly shapes our interactions with our children in ways we might not even realize.

Recognizing Shame in Parenting

Shame in parenting can take many forms. It might show up as exasperation when our kids don’t listen, as self-criticism when the homeschool plan falls apart, or as frustration when our home never seems tidy. It often disguises itself as anger, disappointment, or the belief that if our children’s behavior isn’t ideal, we must be doing something wrong.

Crystal encourages parents to ask, What meaning am I attaching to this? If our children resist our homeschool lessons, does it mean we’ve failed as educators? If they struggle with friendships, does it mean we didn’t prepare them well enough? When we attach our self-worth to our children’s actions, we set ourselves up for an emotional rollercoaster—one that neither we nor our kids signed up for.

Letting Go of the Need for External Validation

One of the most transformative concepts Crystal shares is letting go of the need for external validation, whether from our kids, other parents, or societal expectations. This creates space for a more peaceful, intuitive way of parenting. Instead of fighting against resistance, we can lean in with curiosity. Instead of controlling every aspect of our children’s education, we can trust their natural ability to learn in their own way and time.

What does this look like in practice? It might mean pausing in the midst of morning chaos and saying, Wow, everyone’s bickering today. This isn’t working. What do we need to shift? Instead of forcing a rigid plan, we can collaborate with our children, giving them a voice in their own education and daily rhythms.

Building Shame Resilience

Shame thrives in secrecy and self-judgment. The antidote? Self-compassion. Crystal recommends daily practices like:

  • journaling,
  • meditation,
  • or simply taking five minutes in the morning to check in with yourself before stepping into the role of “parent.”

By making space for our own growth, we increase our emotional capacity and create a home environment rooted in connection rather than control.

Our kids don’t need perfect parents. They need parents who are willing to grow, who model self-awareness, and who show them what it means to navigate life with resilience and self-compassion. When we step away from shame-based parenting, we free ourselves—and our children—to experience the joy of learning, growing, and being human together.

Resources

Connect with Julie

Connect with Melissa

Produced by NOVA

Brave Writer Podcast

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Advice for Newbies – Part Two

Brave Writer Advice for Newbies Part Two

Did you miss Part 1? Here it is.

Plan your days to include the need to reassure yourself you’re doing a good job! That takes more time than we think.

You may need to:

  • Scroll through Instagram for inspiration
  • Read a study about why your child is okay if not reading by five years old
  • Talk on the phone to friends to be sure you aren’t ruining your child

Reassuring yourself that you’re doing a great job or are on the right track IS part of what you need to do as a newbie. It will crowd out other planning and tasks, but that’s okay!

You’ll do the best job of home educating your kids if you feel confident and clear about your choice. Invest in THAT first and your year will go so much smoother!

I believe in you!

Stick around—I’ve got a lot more to share to help you feel successful and peaceful.

This post was originally shared on Instagram.
Watch the accompanying reel for more.

Brave Learner Home

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Brave Learning: The Long Haul, Getting Teens to “Do School” and more!

Brave Learning

Recently on Brave Learning…

The Long Haul of Homeschooling [Public]

This post is for the veteran—the homeschooler who can teach a child to read while stir frying dinner—and also for the parent who is tired—when cracking open a new set of math books isn’t as exciting as it once was. [More]

Getting Teens to “Do School” 

The way your kids care about their interests is the same pathway to caring about academics. Let’s talk about it! [More]

It Gets Better [Public]

I can promise you that things in your life will get better because I know YOU. You are the kind of person that strives toward that end—that’s who you are. [More]

Friday Freewrite: Cold [Public]

You’re out for a wintry walk (and you’re wearing a wooly hat, heavy coat, snow pants, gloves, and boots), when a tree overhears you grumbling about the cold weather. What does the tree have to say in response? [More]

Brave Learning with Julie Bogart on Substack

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