Episode 17: Adama, Maddie, and Sam on Navigating Back-to-School Season

This week, the EmpowHERment ladies discuss the back-to-school season, reflecting on their own experiences and the challenges faced by parents today. They explore the financial and emotional burdens of raising children, the impact of economic factors on education, and the increasing pressures on mothers to balance work and family life. The conversation also touches on the role of schools as safety nets for children, the implications of funding cuts, and the rising trend of homeschooling as families seek more control over their children's education. 

In this conversation, your hosts discuss the evolving landscape of education, particularly the impact of modern educational practices on children's social skills and literacy. They express concerns about the quality of education, the shift in reading preferences among youth, and the importance of critical thinking and comprehension. The discussion also touches on the challenges faced by working parents in navigating school schedules and the inequities in school funding tied to property values. Finally, they provide resources for supporting moms and families in the educational journey.

Here are the key takeaways: 

• Back-to-school isn’t just pencils and backpacks — it’s nostalgia mixed with the very real financial and emotional toll of raising kids.
• The mental load of parenting still falls hardest on moms, and the expectations are sky-high (and totally unrealistic).
• Women are leaving the workforce in droves because society still hasn’t figured out how to support working parents.
• Schools aren’t just classrooms — they’re safety nets. But funding tied to property values keeps inequity alive.
• Homeschooling is growing, fueled by culture wars and economics, while parents everywhere wrestle with rigid schedules that don’t fit modern family life.
• Kids need more than test scores: shared experiences, hobbies, and emotional intelligence are just as critical.
• Literacy and critical thinking skills are slipping — and that’s a societal problem, not just a school one.
• Change doesn’t come from policymakers alone. Moms, dads, and communities must push for educational systems that actually work for families.

If you want to tune in for specific portions of the episode, here is a breakdown:

• 00:00 Back to School Reflections
• 03:00 Parenting Challenges and Memories
• 06:02 The Cost of Education and Extracurriculars
• 09:09 The Mental Load of Modern Parenting
• 12:05 Work-Life Balance and Gender Dynamics
• 15:01 The Impact of Economic Factors on Parenting
• 17:54 The Role of Schools as Safety Nets
• 20:59 Funding Cuts and Their Consequences
• 23:52 The Rise of Homeschooling
• 27:00 Cultural Influences on Education Choices
• 30:34 The Impact of Modern Education on Social Skills
• 32:26 Concerns About Educational Quality and Literacy
• 34:34 The Shift in Reading Preferences Among Youth
• 37:56 The Importance of Critical Thinking and Comprehension
• 41:30 Reimagining School Schedules for Working Parents
• 45:58 Addressing Inequities in School Funding
• 49:49 Navigating the Challenges of Parenting and Education
• 52:11 Resources for Supporting Moms and Families

And here are some of the resources Maddie mentioned at the end: 

• Moms Rising 
• YWCA
• Childcare Aware
• National Women's Law Center

Keep up with the EmpowHERment ladies by subscribing wherever you listen to podcasts and following them on YouTube and socials: 

• YouTube