We hope you don’t mind receiving news about Jake in this way. So many of you kind friends have texted and emailed, that we can’t possibly reply to you all personally every time so at least this will give you regular updates. Postal address Jacob Barnes (Patient) Room 15 Bud Flanagan East Ward The Royal…

We’re so sorry to deliver bad news in this way, but things have escalated this week with Jake’s health since we got back from India. What started as a diagnosis of asthma a week ago has ended up with ‘acute lymphoblastic leukaemia’ today and immediate admission to the Royal Marsden Hospital tomorrow, Saturday, where he’ll…

College starts and Daughts is off, to the local Community one! I go to the Dallas Zoo to visit my son. I take a closer look at the Welfare State in England. Lisa Bracken joins me from rural Colorado this week to talk about her recently released humour novel, Crazy Jake’s Fish Bomb. Lisa homeschooled her daughter…

Daughter and I are discovering a London we didn’t know. On our journey back to America I am stopped by customs again. My guest this week is my intrepid traveling companion and daughter, Malia McNeny. Malia is a sophomore at the local college and until three weeks ago she had her future mapped out. Join…

I visit some of the neighbours in my mother’s London flat to get a good feel for the lay of the land. We talk about questions brought up by a visit to Dachau and the holocaust. This week I am welcoming several British Home Educators who are going to talk with me about why they…

I make observations on how England is very different to America now that I’ve lived away for so long.  I remember how my brother and I coped with a foreign country when my father was posted first to Beirut, Lebanon and then to Tehran, Iran.  Daughts and I go to Germany to tour a concentration…

  Immersion is the best teacher, I talk this week about having our own family core values not someone else’s.   I’m visiting my Mum in England with Daughts as a travelling companion.  My mother’s new flat in London still has things in boxes so there is a lot to do. My guest this week hails…

  I am preparing to go to England with Daughts again after we close The Garland Summer Musicals. I support our oldest son at his church and youngest daughter is stressing about college!  Life as usual?! I am talking to a family this week that has homeschooling in their blood. Jill Martin and her siblings…

  My oldest daughter turned 21 this week, in Arkansas.  I miss her!  I reminisce about what was happening in my life 21 years ago. I ask the question what does mentoring look like? Do you appreciate your husband? I am delighted to welcome Peter Kowalke to my show this week. Peter is a lifelong homeschooler who…

There are more 4th July activities to recount. I continue with my excerpt about theatre as a homeschooling activity.  Our cars all failed us this week and the credit card was left groaning!  I ask the question, “do we really take full responsibility for raising our children?” My guest this week is Special Effects Coordinator, Steve…

  This week I am dog sitting which brings to mind the many McNeny household pets we’ve had over the years. My youngest and I begin the hunt for an appropriate college. I warn my children about their presence on-line and I ponder the many ways they express themselves.  My book excerpt is all about…

      We are into the long hot summer’s days.  My mother-in-law’s husband died and things change in our house while preparations are made for his memorial and her immediate future. My childhood really consisted of no organized activities, my brother and I amused ourselves at home in the garden.   Are we tempted to…

    My home office has moved to the garden room where the view of the outside in full bud is refreshing. Cooking and taking time off from the theatre between weekends makes me realize how lovely free evenings are! I explore how we can just “be” proving I’m a Benedictine spiritualist at heart. I…

        Tech week starts at the theatre for My Fair Lady. I am facing empty nest and talk about it. My book chapter this week is entitled, Zoned for Thinking Only.  Is there enough time for our children to think and “be”? This week my guest is Learning Style expert Mariaemma Pelullo-Willis. Mariaemma…

  My youngest goes on a first date and I spy to see if he opens the car door for her!  You have to listen to find out! I talk more on socialization. We begin rehearsals for My Fair Lady and I am inundated with advice on English pronunciations. Join me this week as I…

    The dreaded homeschool topic, Socialisation, is what I talk about this week! My oldest daughter graduates from community college and we do a photo shoot in the back 40. I look back on favourite memories concerning special meals and visits from children after bedtime. This week I am talking to three homeschooling mothers…

  My guest this week is Mitch Rhodes, founder of Kings Academy Christian School in Tyler, Texas. Mitch believes in keeping the parent in charge of their children’s education and does so by using the University Model in his private school. He has worked with Tim Lambert, the president of the Texas Home School Coalition and is currently employed…

                                                       Let’s celebrate Spring.  I talk about co-oping.  It’s finals week at the community college and my blue-eyed cowboy and I go and sit through dance, acting and singing…

I will continue reading an excerpt from my book, the chapter on Popularity.  I talk about Daughts’ first weeks at Starbucks. John Holt makes a showing again as I resume my exploration of unschooling and the touch upon the fact that his book was required reading at college where I was training to be a…

Today I’ll be sharing my weekend with Buddy our grand-dog. I explore my childhood history of friendships and compare it to the homeschool movement while taking a look at John Holt’s philosophy. My youngest has realized her job dream and is a Starbucks Barista in training. My oldest daughter has to manage without her car…