![Don't Mom Alone Podcast - School Choice Series: Public School Options with Emily Fenlaw:: [Ep 561]](https://storage.googleapis.com/goodpods-images-bucket/episode_images/dd1312349f43fb37df455b2f882bcaa2fbe73d3c442bfdfea1beb0096b7a0411.avif)
School Choice Series: Public School Options with Emily Fenlaw:: [Ep 561]
Don't Mom Alone Podcast
02/23/26
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In part three of my School Choice Series , I sit down with my friend Emily Fenlaw to talk about all things public school. With four children who have experienced everything from traditional public school to the talented and gifted program, an all-girls school, and an arts-focused school, Emily has navigated the many options and transitions that public education can offer.
She also shares candidly about parenting children with ADHD — walking through 504 plans, medication decisions, and the ongoing process of learning how to support executive functioning at home. Through it all she learned to be a student of her child to discover the best path for them.
My hope with this series is to share a variety of school choice stories so you can hear different experiences and perspectives. As you listen, I encourage you to pray and seek God’s guidance, asking Him to bring to mind exactly what you need to know for your family’s journey. Trust Him to walk hand in hand with you, year by year, as you make decisions and navigate each step of your children’s education. Here is some of what we cover:
- The beauty of building relationships with families from all walks of life
- How introverts and extroverts can uniquely flourish in public school environments
- You can only make the best decision you can with the information you have
- The challenges of public school and navigating relationships with other parents
- School Choice Series: Private to Public School with Misty Persefield:: [Ep 560]
- School Choice Series: Homeschool to Private School with Kris Habashy :: [Ep 559]
- The School of Dependency on Christ :: Wendy Speake [Ep 240]
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Previous Episode
In part two of my School Choice Series, I sit down with Misty Persefield, a mom of three, to talk candidly about navigating school choice from the early years through high school. Misty shares her family’s journey through private and public schools, the fears she faced, and the peace that came from trusting God rather than comparing herself to others. This conversation offers reassurance for moms carrying the weight of making the “right” educational choices and highlights the importance of keeping fear out of the decision-making process.
My hope with this series is to share a variety of school choice stories so you can hear different experiences and perspectives. As you listen, I encourage you to pray and seek God’s guidance, asking Him to bring to mind exactly what you need to know for your family’s journey. Trust Him to walk hand in hand with you, year by year, as you make decisions and navigate each step of your children’s education. Here is some of what we cover:
- Challenges of private school, including finances and high expectations
- The importance of knowing yourself, your child, and your family culture
- Pivoting from private to public school for high school
- Starting kids early vs. late, especially for boys based on birthdays
- Preparing kids for college by “taking off the bubble wrap” while they’re still at home
- Instagram: Misty Persefield (@mistypersefield)
- Website: Marketing Agency | Misty Persefield Marketing and Media
Related Episodes:
- Shame, Perfectionism and Smiling Depression :: Misty Persefield and Stephanie Coker [Ep 154]
- School Choice Series: Homeschool to Private School with Kris Habashy :: [Ep 559]
- Confidence in Parenting Decisions :: Laura Wifler [Ep 497]
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Next Episode
In this episode, Suzanne Stabile, internationally recognized Enneagram expert and mom of four adult children, shares her personal story and how the Enneagram has shaped her approach to parenting. She explains that the Enneagram isn’t about changing who we are, but about understanding how we see the world and choosing how to act with intention. She reminds us that there’s no one right way to parent; motherhood requires recognizing differences, extending grace, and embracing our own authentic path.
Suzanne dives into the practical applications of the Enneagram in family life, showing how it can transform relationships with your children, your spouse, and other moms. She explains the energy and tendencies of different Enneagram types—from aggressive and dominant types to dependent and withdrawing types—and how understanding these patterns can bring unity instead of conflict. Parenting is never easy, and mistakes are inevitable, but Suzanne emphasizes that grace covers our shortcomings. By using the Enneagram as a tool, we can parent with more awareness, respond with empathy, and honor our own authentic selves while guiding our children with love. Here is some of what we cover:
- Enneagram Types as Animals: Ones are Worker Bees, Twos are Kangaroos, Threes are Eagles, Fours are Butterflies, Fives are Owls, Sixes are Bunny Rabbits, Sevens are Monkeys, Eights are Lions, and Nines are Turtles.
- Grace covers the places we fall short
- Set appropriate priorities: You can’t do it all.
- Be mindful in child-centered families: When the focus is entirely on the children, much can get overlooked, and it often reflects a broader cultural expectation.
- Instagram: Suzanne Stabile (@suzannestabile)
- Website: The Enneagram Godmother
- Facebook: Suzanne Stabile | Facebook
- How God Personally Pursues and Redeems :: Jenn Jett [Ep 193]
- Enneagram and Stress :: Ian Cron Recap [Bonus Episode]
- The Enneagram, Marriage and the Gospel :: Beth McCord [Ep 259]
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