Imagine homeschooling before it was even a "thing": no groups, few resources, and no curriculum fairs. Now toss in 11 children, and you have Annette's journey.

Annette's mother, Mimo, escaped from Hungary during the final year of the war when the Nazis marched in. Her father, Didi, did not escape immediately; he was held in a prison work camp doing forced labor, rebuilding enemy bridges bombed by the Allies. He eventually escaped to one of Raoul Wallenberg's safe houses, where he went undercover in the resistance. With his blue eyes, blond hair, and a stolen Nazi uniform, he helped secure vital supplies for others. Nazi occupation resulted in the murder of 500,000 Jewish Hungarians.

Didi left Hungary just before the Russian communists fully took over the government in 1947. Mimo had escaped to the French part of Switzerland in 1944, returned to Hungary after the war, and left not long after her father. She first joined her mother in Paris before moving on to Seattle, Washington, where Didi was studying at the University of Washington.

Didi and Mimo gave their children a stellar education. Annette went on to earn degrees from both Stanford and Yale. Though Annette's children have accomplished a great deal, she is most proud of the wonderful, well-rounded lives they are living. Her son Corbi attended the US Air Force Academy, and their family now holds the record for the most children from one family to have graduated from Yale and other prestigious schools.

And you can do it too!

Check out our podcast host, Pinecast. Start your own podcast for free with no credit card required. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-6f8ad6 for 40% off for 4 months, and support Simplified Homeschooling.

Chrissy and Lance Walker are parents of four and founders of Jade Jungle Resort in Belize, who made a deliberate decision to remove their children from traditional schooling and redesign education around freedom, exploration, and real-world value creation.

Their homeschool philosophy is child-led and parent-supported, fostering curiosity, ownership, and meaningful contributions from a young age.

What began out of necessity has become a deeply intentional way of raising capable, purpose-driven kids who don’t wait until adulthood to begin adding value to the world.

Connect with THE WALKER FAMILY

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chasing.wild_/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC8HtAmXLYEmzavAJQaulLg

Website: https://jadejungleresort.com/

Check out our podcast host, Pinecast. Start your own podcast for free with no credit card required. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-6f8ad6 for 40% off for 4 months, and support Simplified Homeschooling.

Shaundi Killpack is a devoted wife and mother of five children from Utah.

She is in her fifth year of homeschooling and is loving it.

She loves to emphasize faith, play, adventure, and history in her homeschool, but her favorite part has been slowing down and enjoying great books with her kids.

She also loves cooking, Disneyland, escape rooms, and photography.

You can follow along with their homeschool adventures at @raisingupthepack.

Nicholeen Peck is a wife, mother of four, and grandmother who has spent decades helping families around the world find more peace at home and learning self-mastery. She is the founder of Teaching Self-Government and a global advocate for strong families, known for her calm, principle-based approach to parenting and communication.

Her journey began in her own living room, first as a mother and then as a foster parent to troubled teens, where she developed a system based on self-government, calmness, and honest, respectful communication. In 2009, her approach gained international attention when the BBC featured her family in a documentary called The World's Strictest Parents, where two rebellious British teens transformed in just eight days under her care. Since then, Nicholeen has shared her message on TV and radio, through books and articles, and in person with audiences across six continents.

Nicholeen is also a YouTuber and podcaster, sharing real-life parenting tips and heartfelt encouragement with families each week. She is the author of several books, including Parenting a House United, Roles, and the popular Teaching Self-Government children’s series that includes Londyn LaRae Says Okay, Porter Earns A Quarter, Big Win For Quin, Paije Takes the Stage, Popular Parenting Methods, and more. Her work has been translated into Spanish, Chinese, and Japanese.

In addition to mentoring thousands of families, Nicholeen serves as President of the Worldwide Organization for Women, is an approved United Nations consultant on family issues, and is a member of the House of Representatives. But no matter how far her message travels, she says her most important work is still at home, building strong relationships with her own children and grandchildren.

Michelle has a lifelong passion for people and the experiences that shape who we become. For more than 20 years, she has challenged traditional definitions of education, proving that real life, curiosity, and meaningful connection create deeper, lasting learning, all while homeschooling her four children.

She is a multi-book co-author, sought-after speaker, and advocate for reimagining education, sharing her perspective at events across the United States. Her speaking often centers on 'How Travel Changes Your Education'. She shares how travel profoundly shapes how we learn. Over the years, she has hosted trips all over the world and can't wait to explore more. She is also a partner in Simplified Homeschooling.

Michelle is a mother of four, a grandmother of seven, and a wholehearted believer that family is the foundation of both meaningful education and a thriving life.

Natalie is a homeschool mom of five, currently in her twelfth year of homeschooling. Before becoming a mom and bringing learning home, Natalie taught grades K through 5th in the classroom. She specialized in dyslexia, earned an Orton–Gillingham certification, taught at a private school for children with dyslexia, and created her own reading program, Direct Route to Reading, which has helped countless families truly understand how to teach struggling readers. She also ran a successful in-home preschool for three years.

Natalie is also the creator of three transformational mentoring programs for moms — Revive in 45 for resetting health, metabolism, and weight loss, Thrive in 45 for emotional stability and personal development, and Arrive in 45 for home systems, rhythms, and family culture.

She’s the mind behind “The Two-Hour Homeschool” and the co-founder of Simplified Homeschooling.

She is a wealth of wisdom, a champion for moms and children, and one of the clearest voices in the homeschooling world.

I am so excited to dive into this conversation with Natalie today.