Feeling isolated on your homeschooling journey because you live “out in the boonies”? Worried your kids will miss out on friends—or that you’ll never meet another mom who “gets” it?
Today Ginny and Mary Ellen tackle the unique challenges of homeschooling with little local support. Drawing on decades of experience, they share concrete ways to build community, keep kids socialized, and stay sane—no matter how many miles lie between you and the nearest neighbor.

Challenges many rural (and not-so-rural) homeschoolers face

1. “Will my kids have any friends?”

   • Sparse population, long drives, fewer ready-made peer groups

   • Kids everywhere spend more time indoors/on screens—urban life isn’t automatically better

2. Lack of parental support or local mentors

   • Few (or no) other homeschoolers nearby

   • Fear of feeling “weird” or being criticized for homeschooling

3. Mom-level loneliness & burnout

   • No extended family close at hand

   • Temptation to compare yourself to picture-perfect online families

Practical ways to build real community

1. Leverage existing institutions

   • Parish life – altar-serving, CCD, youth groups, Sunday coffee-and-bagels hospitality

   • Little League, scouts, dance, music – shared interests trump age gaps

   • Public library – ask librarians to connect you with other homeschool patrons; book rooms for classes

2. Host & invite

   • Post-Mass brunches or crock-pot chili after Sunday-evening Mass

   • Team pizza parties, park picnics, backyard “bring-your-own-blanket” days

3. Find (or create) online bridges

   • Facebook groups: “Catholic Homeschooling Moms,” local “[Your-Town] Homeschoolers,” curriculum-specific groups

   • Program-specific networks (e.g., Seton’s My Seton family locator; Catholic Harbor for teens)

4. Special-needs bonus

   • Mixed-age homeschool culture often embraces kids with disabilities—fosters compassion and confidence

5. Mind your manners

   • Share positives; avoid trash-talking neighbors’ schooling choices

   • Simple, non-confrontational answers when asked, “Why do you homeschool?”

Key takeaways

• Community rarely arrives on your doorstep—but it can be built.

• Mixed-age friendships and adult role models are an asset, not a deficit.

• A little strategic hospitality (and a lot of prayer) goes a long way.

Resources mentioned

• Seton Home Study School & Seton Books

• Catholic Harbor (teen discussion platform for enrolled Seton students)

• Local parish ministries, scouts, sports leagues, public libraries

Thanks for listening!

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Remember when you started homeschooling your oldest in kindergarten? People would ask, "What will you do when you have to teach trigonometry?" No worries, that was years away.

Then high school arrives. But fear not—Mary Ellen and Ginny homeschooled through high school and produced great adults. Here’s how they did it and how you can, too.

8 Steps to High School Success

1. Set an alarm and get an early start in the morning, the same time every day.

2. Those who fail to plan, plan to fail. Your student needs a lesson plan.

3. Have a daily appointment with high school students to ensure they stay on track.

4. Figure out shortcuts or solutions to getting bogged down.

5. A Good High School rule of thumb is about an hour each school day for each course.

6. Train your kids in practical life skills. This rule is essential!

7. They must be a good example, especially for younger siblings if so blessed.

8. Dress modestly and speak nicely to others and about others. People will judge homeschoolers and Catholics by what your kids do.

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Homeschooling Resources

• Seton Home Study School

• Seton Testing Services

Why do we homeschool? Don't like the public schools in your district? Can't afford the Catholic school? Or there is no Catholic school? Family togetherness? Better academics?

All are good reasons, but today, Ginny and Mary Ellen discuss why most of us need to start and keep homeschooling our children. If this were Star Trek, we would call it The Prime Directive.

Show Notes:

There are days when sainthood is not our first thought when we see our kids squabbling, being lazy, or sneaking a snack. How do we produce these saints in our homeschools?

• Use Catholic materials. Most homeschool materials seem wholesome, but wholesome is NOT the same as daily learning about the sacraments and the saints.
• Fill your home with prayer. Prayer doesn't have to be long, but it needs to be regular. As soon as they can talk, teach children a morning offering.
• Say grace before meals, short night prayers to their Guardian Angels, and a simple Act of Contrition.
• Fill your home with sacramentals. Statues in the garden and on the mantle; holy water fonts; crucifixes in the bedrooms
• Get the whole family involved in your parish church. Encourage your kids to join the choir, serve Mass, and even help clean up the pews after Mass.
• Make a big fuss over family sacraments—even in the extended family. Throw a party, invite people over.
• Make Pilgrimages. When you travel, visit a cathedral or some other holy site.
• Attend daily Mass when you can. Daily rosary: Pray the stations during Lent. Try to make a novena.

Catholic homeschooling families have a unique opportunity to produce saints for America, the world, and eternity. Do not let this chance go by! Homeschooling is worth your best efforts, to the very limit of your energy. How great will be your reward in heaven.

Thanks very much to Seton Home Study School for sponsoring our podcast. We would also like to thank our producer, Jason Loughry, our social media director, Beth Egan, and Jim Shanley, who do all our show notes and generally keep us on task.

Homeschooling Resources

Seton Home Study School

Seton Testing Services