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The Sociable Homeschooler — Kids & Family
The Sociable Homeschooler

Have you ever wondered how people just like you manage to homeschool their children and apparently love every moment of it? Are you ready to give up the formative years of your children’s lives to a stranger? Do you think homeschoolers are weird? Does the word, homeschool, bring to mind Birkenstocks, jumpers, and hairy legs? Honestly half my family fit the hairy leg stereotype…so who cares? I’m here to help you let go of any pre-conceived notions you may have about home educators. Forget all the excuses ever made under the sun for not homeschooling and listen to my show which is a generous mix of my life as the oxymoron, Sociable Homeschooler, international guests from all walks of life and light hearted views and comments about education and basements. I will also bend your ear with excerpts from my soon to be published book, also entitled, The Sociable Homeschooler, which chronicles many good causes for why my blue eyed cowboy and I chose to go off the deep end hand in hand with God and have everyone talking about us behind our backs and in the end winning them over. Come and be won over on Toginet Radio Live on Fridays, if only to get a weekly taste of Britain.

Latest Episodes:

The Appalachian Trail Thru Hike: Renee Tougas Feb 07, 2014

Show notes

I am excited this week to be talking to Renee Tougas who lives on the side of a mountain in the Gaspe Peninsula of Quebec in Canada. She and her husband, Damien, who has a site featuring barefoot and minimalist footwear, homeschool their three children ages 15, 13 and 11. They are location independent, which means they can both work from home wherever they are. Together they are a family of outdoors enthusiasts, artists, adventurers, programmers, homemakers, and followers in the way of Christ. Renee is self confessed creative spirit with a practical perspective and down-to-earth approach. She excels at getting things done and managing the details but doesn’t forget to smell the daisies by appreciating and capturing the beauty around her. However, that’s not why I’m excited to feature Renee on my show this week. Last month I managed to record a conversation we had before things got too busy for her to take a break in her local café to chat with me. Too busy doing what you may ask? Renee and her family are preparing for the adventure of a lifetime, thru hiking the Appalachian Trail. I’ll let Renee tell you all about it herself this Friday so bring a cup of tea to my show and get to know this fascinating woman whose blog is an acronym for Fun in My Back Yard.

Twice Exceptional: Leigh Attaway Wilcox Jan 31, 2014

Show notes

Here on The Sociable Homeschooler I believe homeschooling to be a unique lifestyle. This week Leigh Attaway Wilcox, Children’s Book Author, Freelance Editor & Writer, Small Business Owner and Homeschool Mum is joining me. Lots of proper nouns there to describe her unique lifestyle! Leigh’s love for crafting stories paired with the motivation to get them published led her to join groups, societies and workshops to further her enjoyment of networking with other aspiring and published authors. She is a charter member of an online critique group, the Serendipity Sisters and much as we would both love to spend our time together talking about writing our goal for our visit on Friday is to talk about her passion for homeschooling. In 2012, Leigh began homeschooling her Twice Exceptional son (who lives with Asperger’s Syndrome and is also considered Gifted & Talented) when it became clear that the public school system could not adequately meet his needs. Together they began a new educational journey and her only regret is they didn’t begin the adventure sooner! Leigh has spoken on the local news as an advocate for children with special needs and has received awards from advocacy organizations for her parenting and advocacy efforts. She enjoys presenting, speaking and attending conferences, workshops, seminars and conventions. Leigh and her husband live in the same State as I do, Texas, where her son is a constant source of inspiration for her. I am happy to say that amidst all the writing and speaking you’ll also find Leigh in her Texas-sized kitchen cooking and turning out gluten-free baked delights! Bring a treat and come and join us this Friday at 12 noon Central.

Thriving in the 21st Century: Barbara Frank Jan 24, 2014

Show notes

Welcome to The Sociable Homeschooler, I'm Vivienne McNeny and I believe homeschooling is a unique lifestyle and invite you to join me this week with my guest Barbara Frank a homeschooling mother of two boys and two girls who have all graduated and are fully-fledged adults. Like our family they spent a lot of time together during the formative years. Barbara’s husband, Tim, worked from home and they were all together in the house for a long time and lived to tell the tale! Also, similar to my family, the debate about whether to go to college or not was aired and the conclusions drawn were varied and respected! Barbara is the author of, Life Prep for Homeschooled Teenagers, a curriculum she wrote for her teenagers to help them live on their own with a goal of financial freedom. She and her husband started a company called Cardamom Publishers in 2003 to publish this first book and several others followed including, Thriving in the 21st Century, Women of the Old Testament: 14 In-Depth Bible Studies for Teens, and The Imperfect Homeschooler’s Guide to Homeschooling. Don’t ask, we homeschooling Mums know how to manage our time! Barbara often speaks to home education groups about homeschooling, and is also a freelance writer/editor and former newspaper reporter whose work has appeared in Focus on the Family Magazine and The Old Schoolhouse Magazine. She has a B.S. in Journalism from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Today our conversation will centre round letting our teens go, empty nest and the worry about adult children who are rebelling against their parents’ morals now that they have left home. These promise to be a sensitive and timely topics so bring your tea and take a comfortable seat this Friday at 12 noon Central on Toginet Radio.

Think Positive: Suzanne Glover Jan 17, 2014

Show notes

My guest this week on The Sociable Homeschooler is Suzanne Glover, author, motivational speaker, hypnotherapist, actress and personal development professional. That’s a mouthful when its at home isn’t it? Do you want to get more out of life? Do you want to be your best? Do you want to encourage your children to think positively about who they are? Are you worried about the path you have chosen for your family? Do you think you may single-handedly ruin your child’s life? Are you just too tired to positively overcome those negative thoughts and feelings you keep having? What does letting go really mean? If you have any of those questions running around in your head, then this show is for you! Suzanne has a unique approach to helping people do the hard work of re-inventing themselves so they can change their unconscious, limiting beliefs about their lives. Suzanne uses positive thinking techniques to give extraordinary tools that work inside and out for better communication, presentation and a successful mindset. Suzanne's life of accomplishments comes from her continued desire to re-engineer herself and those around her. She offers an intuitive approach to finding answer within ourselves and believes that we all have the power to be our best! Join me, Vivienne McNeny, this week at 12 noon Central on Toginet radio.

For the Love of Texas: Betsy & George Christian Jan 10, 2014

Show notes

Joining me on The Sociable Homeschooler today are a couple of writers who live in Austin, Texas. Betsy and George Christian have written two Texas History books that are as lively and irreverent as the characters found on their pages. You’ll find men and women you’d like to meet and some you’ll be rather glad you didn’t! If you think teaching History is dry these books are for you. Betsy is a writer, public affairs consultant, and community volunteer. George, a fifth-generation Texan, practices law and teaches literature at The University of Texas at Austin. They have two school-age and two adult children. Bring along a cup of tea and listen to why History is important and relevant to the world we live in today. Even if you’re not from the Lone Star State you’ll want to know more about why Texans don’t like being told what to do after you’ve heard my conversation with George and Betsy. Tune in this Friday at 12 noon Central.

Keeper of the Home: Stephanie Langford Jan 03, 2014

Show notes

My first guest of the New Year is Stephanie Langford who describes herself as the blessed wife to Ryan. She is also Mum and homeschooler to her four favorite little people, and the grateful recipient of undeserved mercy and love from her Heavenly Father. Stephanie and her husband have spent the last year travelling and hack-schooling on a monumental journey around the world to almost 30 countries in 12 months. While on the road Stephanie has kept up her blog Keeper of the Home, inspiring and educating women on the topics of nutrition, natural homemaking, "greener" lifestyle choices, and frugal, simple living... all from a distinctively Christian worldview. She is the author of three books, Healthy Homemaking: One Step at a Time, Real Food on a Real Budget: How to Eat Healthy for Less, and Plan It, Don’t Panic: A Complete Meal Planning Resource. I caught up with Stephanie a few weeks ago in South East Asia and we talked about life, what she carries in her natural medicine kit on the road and other topics. You’ll have to tune in on Friday to listen to us and be inspired, if not to totally change your life at least to try some of the natural remedies she has adopted over the last decade. Start your New Year off with a few eye opening facts about foods you should be eating.

Happy New Year: Aadel Bussinger, Mike Donnelly, Polly Wright and Hugh de Burgh Dec 27, 2013

Show notes

This week being the last Friday of 2013 I have invited a few friends along to join me as we look forward to the New Year. They will offer some inspirational ideas on what we can do to lead a more fulfilling and brilliant life with our families, encouragement to keep the homeschool fires burning, and to remind us that we are not alone and not to be afraid to accept love. Aadel Bussinger will be talking all the way from South Korea where she is spending her first Christmas and New Year abroad. She is an army wife and Mum to 3 children, all born 5 years apart. She and her husband have homeschooled since their oldest was 4 and plan to continue until their youngest moves out. You’ll want to hear all about her festivities with an Asian flare and can find Aadel over at These Temporary Tents. Mike Donnelly, HSLDA lawyer and a regular visitor here at the Sociable Homeschooler, is going to share a few words of inspiration as we look toward the New Year. As a father of seven he will share with you why continuing to homeschool your family really does allow you to disciple them and give them what they need the most, your love and a personal relationship with their savior. Polly Wright, founder of We Are Cherished, is passionate for women to know their true worth and value, discovering who they were created to be. Her own journey has placed a desire in her to see other women and men fully restored and redeemed and to know that there is freedom from the shame they carry. You may want to share her uplifting message with others who are going through a difficult time this holiday season. Hugh de Burgh will wrap the show up with some tips to begin your own journey towards transforming your daily life one step at a time. Hugh is the homeschooling father of four who has taken his family on an adventure without limits. He is dedicated to the parenting style of living life intentionally every day and blogs at The Passionate Warrior. Come and share my last show of 2013 this Friday at noon and hear how my friends are preparing for 2014.

Christmas With Friends: Renee Tougas, Julie & Tom Meekins, Sandy Fowler, Lainie & Miro and Polly Wright Dec 20, 2013

Show notes

Today is my 200th show and I have invited a few friends to join me and talk about Christmas, to offer some encouraging words for those who may be alone, or raising children who get bewildered by the change in schedule, to share local customs and some quick fix-its if you are behind with your preparations and to talk about the over arching meaning of this time spent thinking about one another, cooking together, enjoying the outdoors and one another’s company. My friend Renee Tougas who blogs at FIMBY.com will be joining me from a café in the small town near where she lives, works, and learns with her family in their mountain-side home, at the end of a dirt road on the Gaspe Peninsula of Quebec, Canada. Julie & Tom Meekins will talk about how to prepare your child for the festivities. They have made a commitment to dedicate the rest of their professional lives to helping families navigate the scary world of raising a challenging child and can be found at Marchforthfamily.com. With us so close to Christmas I hope you haven’t left gift wrapping, baking and decorating until the last minute, but, if you have, Sandy Fowler from Heartfilled Holidays is passionate about helping us design stress free holidays that will warm our hearts and feed our spirits, so drop your panic stations and listen up. My friend Lainie and her son Miro who write at Raising Miro are living the history & culture of foreign lands, encountering amazing people, interacting as global citizens, serving as volunteers and naturally learning along the way. They will be sharing an unusual Christmas custom in the Andes. Polly Wright, whom I’ve known since she was a child will be doing an unusual outreach on Christmas evening and perhaps you will feel emboldened to support her as she steps out to carry the light into many a dark cave. Join us on Friday for Christmas with my friends, at Noon CT.

Planting Churches & Creating Culture: Greg Barber Dec 13, 2013

Show notes

This week, what better than to wrap the year with a chat about church and corporate worship? My guest popped up on my Twitter as a follower so I nabbed him and we’re going to be exploring all kinds of good things to get the brain fired up during this season when we focus on the coming of Christ and how our house looks for the onslaught of family and friends in the coming weeks. Greg Barber is joining me to talk about his work multiplying churches, whether there’s a difference between sacred and secular, how to get the Millennials more involved and lots more. Greg grew up in Northern California where his family was instrumental in the planting and development of Sunset Christian Center [now Destiny Christian Church]. After graduating high school he served for 2 years in the youth ministry as an intern, where his calling to ministry started to develop, and he fell for the woman of his dreams, his future wife, Kelsey. He graduated from Northwest with his BA in General Ministry joined the team of the Church Multiplication Network (CMN) in the mid-west and is living the passion he has in his heart to see the lives of others changed, through the efforts of church planting. As a part of CMN Greg works directly with the national Assessment, Coaching, & Training teams, that help prepare new church planters. He develops the social media, marketing, and event logistic systems for the company and writes about church culture and other topics at his blog. In 2012 CMN had the amazing privilege to help in the planting of 391 churches worldwide. Bring a hot chocolate and come and listen to this amazing young man who believes God has put a calling on your life and a dream in your heart. This Friday at noon CT, I’ll be here will you?

Michael Patterson December 6th 2013 Dec 06, 2013

Show notes

I have another graduated un/homeschooler on my show today, Michael Patterson, who will be talking to me from Central America. Growing up Michael was involved with community service and earned the Eagle Scout Award, at 16 he traveled to Japan as an Exchange Student, on college campus he was a newspaper reporter. He graduated from Texas State University, Magna Cum Laude with a major in journalism and a minor in Anthropology/Archaelogy. As an outgoing, social young man Michael parleyed his love of traveling, writing and talking to people, into serving with the Peace Corps in Nicaragua. You can find him blogging at www.inthenicatime.com and chatting to me this Friday so bring your tea or coffee and come and hear what this young man has to say about being educated at home.

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