You’re not even halfway into the school year and ALREADY it’s just not working for you or your child. That is OK mama. Take a deep breath and know you have other options…

I get it. I too didn’t think there were other options for my family either, but after chatting with shelly Ross – with locally owned closet concepts here in town, she is the one who initially helped me realize… Hubby and I have other options for our three year old. We just started dipping our toes into the water and exploring ALL of our options – I am looking at Lutheran schools, Catholic schools, Christian schools, public schools! Last episode I had a guest on to explore homeschooling… told ya… looking at ALL the options…

Shelly knew I was on this fact finding mission so she introduced me to Katie Slee. She is the Director of Advancement at Bishop Dwenger, just so I could start to gather all the facts. I know location and finances are always factors, but they don’t have to be, especially with the recent expansion of Indiana’s Choice Scholarship program. If you are trying to move your child or explore alternatives Katie is a great resource when it comes to a catholic school. The deep dive into education options continues right now here on the News Mom podcast.

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When it comes to homeschooling, we all have misconceptions. It’s only for the wealthy. It’s only for stay at home moms. Only families who live on homesteads do that. Today we are busting all those myths and by “we” I mean Kristen Bissontz. She is a Representative for the State Homeschool Association in Indiana. She just graduated her first child from homeschool. She also has a 17-year-old, 15-year-old and a 14-year-old. All of her kids have never seen the inside of a public school.

Believe it or not, Kristen herself comes from the publican education sector. She graduated with a teaching degree and currently pursuing her masters. When she isn't teaching her kids or studying, she advocates with our legislators to keep homeschooling as regulation free as possible in the state of Indiana.

Before getting married and even having kids, she decided it would be her mission to homeschool all her children. Nearly 20 years later, she is thankful she made that decision and in this episode she is telling us why.

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It is the show many of you have been waiting for. What happened to Emily Franks? Many of you are well aware she was fired from her job at a local salon in Fort Wayne, Indiana after appearing on the News Mom podcast. Today I am spilling the team.

Emily will not be making an appearance. I offered her that opportunity, but respectfully she declined. She has moved on, she is happy and she has found a positive place to continue servicing her guests at 729 Salon and Cosmetics. However, now that the dust has settled, she did tell me she looks back at her initial appearance on the podcast and views her time as an opportunity that allowed her to, “…let other moms know they are not alone." She also wanted to pass along the following message to listeners, "...keep fighting for our children. Whatever that may look like in your home.”

I on the other hand feel differently. I too have moved on, but this podcast was created in an effort to fight for and preserve parental rights. It was created as a place for moms to share and tell their parenting struggles (and successes) without judgment so we can all learn a thing or two when faced with similar circumstances. Thus, in sticking to what this show is all about, I feel it is necessary to address what happened to Emily as my goal is to be a good resource for other moms out there.

If you are a mama who cares where you spend your hard earned cash, this episode of the News Mom podcast is for you.

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Talk about fighting the good fight. Wendy Davis, formerly Judge Wendy Davis, has been fighting the good fight from behind the bench for over a decade. Her time spent as a judge has led her all the way to Texas and then back here to Indiana. Over the last 12 years she has put in grueling hours, poured over thousands of lawsuits and determined countless decisions for extremely difficult cases. Primarily cases involving illegal immigration, drugs and gender transitions among minors. (Told ya, fighting the good fight!)

Now get this, she is putting down the gavel and picking up a campaign sign as she is making a run for Indiana’s 3rd Congressional District. Today the muzzle she has had to wear for the last 12 years as a judge is coming off on the News Mom podcast.

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Whether we like it or not, first impressions are judged by our appearances and people form their first impressions in less than a tenth of second! It doesn’t mean those first impressions always stick, but perception can be reality. No one knows that better than Emily Franks. She is the lead color artist at a locally owned salon in Fort Wayne, IN called the Red Stiletto.

Not only does she make women feel beautiful on the outside, but also on the inside by having deep, intellectual, emotional and spiritual conversations while they sit in her chair. I too have sat in Emily’s chair and can vouch for the sanctuary she has created for women passing through.

Emily talks, listens and connects with every guest she meets. She has created a community where women can sit and share some of their gravest concerns, their darkest secrets, and their greatest triumphs. For the last 15 years Emily has provided women a safe space to tell their stores and by doing so she has created a rather unique tribe. Today she allowing you to join her tribe on the “News Mom” podcast.

* Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or position of the Red Stiletto.

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Warning! We are getting all kinds of political on this episode of the "News Mom Podcast." This is going to be the episode to help arm you with the tools and weapons needed to fight for your kids when it comes to education, social agendas, and gender identity. Today’s mama, Amanda Tokos, is no stranger to that fight.

She is a self-proclaimed “Mama Bear” standing up for parental rights and the children in her community. At one point she got so fed up, she went as far as running for school board. From there she helped bring the fight to the front lines of Allen County by helping establish the Allen County chapter of Moms for Liberty and today she is bringing the fight to the “News Mom Podcast.”

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For many of us the moment we found out we were pregnant was a moment of sheer bliss! Yes we were terrified, but we were filled with so much joy. Now imagine seeing those two pink lines appear at the age of 21. You are unmarried and only a few months away from graduating with your college degree. Instead of the room being filled with joy, it feels like all the air in the room is being sucked out.

That is exactly what happened to this week's mama, Jessica Stauffer. Jess is a mom, wife, thriving photographer and owner of J3Designs Photography. For the better part of 15 years, Jess has been documenting the stories of hundreds of people from behind the camera. Today we are turning the tables and documenting her story - The Unexpected Mama - from behind the microphone.

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If you're like me, thinking being a mom in 2023 is hard, you ain't seen nothing yet!

Cpt. Sofia Rosales-Scaetna got the call while on duty that her husband needed to be rushed to the hospital. Little did she know, she would lose him that night. Three days later, she still moved forward with the adoption of two middle-aged kids. A dream she and her husband had always shared.

Sofia is a straight-shooter and makes no bones about it. There were bad days, ugly days, downright grueling days that left her unable to breathe. But through it all, she managed to put one foot in front of the other and walk through life as a widowed mom with grace and poise. Today, her journey has brought her to the "News Mom" podcast.

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