Five For Friday: When You Need to Be Reminded of the Gospel

From around the web, here are five resources that accompany our latest episode, Christ in the Chaos. We think you'll find each stop very encouraging this weekend:

[Gospel 1]: The Gospel is a Story - Paul Tripp

Where to begin? What do we mean when we say that we must always return to the simplicity of the gospel? Start here, with Paul Tripp's explanation of where we find our hope.

In Need of a Redeemer - Jim Applegate

And then go here. It's the beginning of a life-changing series out of Exodus, and it helped Fletch and Kendra exit their own self-relying works-based religiosity. Spoiler alert: Grace wins! 

Where Can I Find Joy? - Kimm Crandall

A beautiful and hopeful post by our guest on this last podcast, Kimm Crandall.

Ladder Christianity - Tullian Tchvidjian

"The strength of God alone can liberate us from the burden of needing to be strong."

Good Parenting - Jessica Thompson

We want so badly for our good parenting to be what makes our kids who they are. But the truth is, all we really can do is point our kids to the One who shapes their souls.

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5 For Friday: Help Me Teach!

From around the web, here are five articles and blog posts that accompany our latest episode, I Love Homeschooling But I'm Not a Good Teacher. We think you'll find them very encouraging this weekend:

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50 Ways to Teach Your Child to Read - Allison McDonald

Teaching a child to read may be easier and more organic than you think. Allison McDonald of No Time for Flashcards gives us 50 ideas for just how to do it.

Old Tricks and New Ideas for Teaching Writing - Erin Macpherson

Teaching writing is an intimidating prospect for many of us, so if that's you, take a look at Erin's ideas to make you a more confident teacher of writing.

100 Posts of Encouragement for Homeschool Moms - Pam Barnhill

Pam has a real gift of encouraging homeschooling moms. Need a dose of "you can do this!"? Settle yourself in and read these encouraging posts. Then take a deep, deep breath.

Recovering After a Rough Morning in Your Homeschool - Jen Dunlap

Maybe the morning was tough. Maybe the afternoon, too? Jen offers practical idea for getting your homeschool back on track.

Run Your Own Race - Angela Hoffman

"We all learn at different rates, we all have life throw different things in our path from time to time.  If in fact, you truly are behind…again please don’t stress, it’s just time to make a new plan.  A plan which is right for your family and your circumstances."

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5 For Friday: The Kids Are Driving Me Nuts!

From around the web, here are five articles and blog posts to accompany our latest episode, I Love Homeschooling But My Kids Are With Me All the Time. We think you'll find them very encouraging this weekend!

Homeschool: When the Kids Try to Throw You Overboard - Lara Molettiere

We love Lara's practical advise on what to do when the kids are running over a homeschooling mom. In fact, #2 is going to start happening around here, like, now.

Time For Mom - Angela Hoffman

Angela was our guest on this episode and we value her input greatly. In Time For Mom, Angela shares some very practical ways to get the rest and break you need.

Too Much Togetherness - Marie-Claire Moreau

Is it possible to be together too much? All in one house, all the time . . . the answer is a resounding yes. Personal space, time to think, time to hear yourself think - grab some of each and we think you'll be a better balanced parent for it.

32 Date Night Ideas for Married Couples - Susan Evans

Homeschooling can take its toll on a marriage relationship, can't it? Susan has some great ideas for date nights, and they're not over-the-top. These are doable, even from home! 

Ten Easy Ways to Have a Ball With Your Kids - Andy Fletcher

Fletch is really good at spending time with the kids in ways that minister to them and fill their cups. 10 fun and easy ideas for when you are in need of time to just enjoy your kids. No pressure.

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Five For Friday: Technology in Real Life

From around the web, here are five articles and blog posts to accompany our latest episode, Technology in Real Life. We think you'll find them very encouraging this weekend!

How to Protect You and Your Kids on Facebook - John Wilkerson

We discussed kids and the Internet, as well as social media usage. Are your kids on Facebook? John offers some ways to make sure they (and you) are protected.

12 Symptoms of Serious Technology Abuse - Lee Binz

Sullen teen? Too much focus on the screen? Lee Binz offers a list of ways to know when it's time to scale back.

How the iPad Can Help Parents With Homeschooling Kids - John Wilkerson

We love technology and what it offers our homeschool! If you're considering an iPad for your homeschool, you're about to engage a fabulous homeschooling tool.

Parenting and Spyware - Leah Nieman

CurrClick.com's own Leah Nieman weighs in on whether or not accountability programs and spyware are necessary when parenting kids who access the Internet. 

Age-Based Guidelines for Kids' Internet Use - Microsoft

From supervising little ones to remembering with teens to "Continue to keep family communication as open and positive about computers as you can. Keep talking about online lives, friends, and activities, just as you would about other friends and activities."

What resonates with you this week?

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Five For Friday: Homeschoolers and College

From around the web, here are five articles and blog posts to accompany our latest episode, Can Homeschoolers Go to College?  We think you'll find them very encouraging this weekend!

6 Survival Tips For Parents of New College Students - Lisa Thompson

There are some great tips here about not being the kind of parent who takes control for their college student, a philosophy we highly espouse. 

The Case For Christian College, Part I - Amelia Harper

Worldview, worldview, worldview. 

Avoiding Homeschool High School Mistakes - Lee Binz

Lee Binz lends her wisdom and expertise regarding preparing homeschooled high schoolers for college. If you need a good jumping-off point for planning high school, you can't do better than Lee's site. You'll have to sign up, but the info is totally worth it (and free).

What Do Colleges Want From Homeschoolers? - Lee Binz

More from Lee Binz, and echoing some of the thoughts of the Grand Canyon University and University of the Pacific admissions counselors we spoke with on last week's episode.

Preparing Homeschoolers For College and Career - Lynn Schott

Lynn Schott has homeschooled and raised her kids, helping them to discover their passions and strengths. Her encouragement here is a solid reminder that our kids will each be called to something uniquely befitting of them! 

Bonus: Lynn also teaches wonderful classes at CurrClick.com, a HomeschoolingIRL sponsor!

What resonates with you this week?

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Five For Friday: Courtship and Dating

From around the web, here are five articles and blog posts to accompany our latest episode, Is Courtship Fundamentally Flawed?  We think you'll find them very encouraging this weekend!

Why Courtship is Fundamentally Flawed - Thomas Umstattd

We start with Thomas' blog post on what he's seen in the homeschool community-driven courtship movement and why he thinks we need to re-examine the whole thing.

Modern Dating Practices: A Parent Weighs In - Lori Borgman

Lori Borgman brings a little balance to the discussion, and hits on something we believe in deeply: get to know the young man or woman your child wants to date.

A Case For Dating - Michael Smalley, M.A.

Maybe it's time to analyze our assertions about dating, too. Should we really throw the baby out with the bathwater?

Help Your Teen Pick a Spouse, Not Just a Date - Barrett Johnson

From our friend Barrett Johnson over at INFO For Families, good thoughts on what our kids can be looking for in a date and what they want to be as a spouse. 

The Date or Not-to-Date Debate - Vicki Courtney

Tired of this whole conversation? Weary of the "courtship only" and "dating only" arguments? Vicki Courtney encourages us to think through what's best for our own family, regardless of what our Christian neighbor might be doing with their kids. Warning: you might have to listen to the Holy Spirit . . . 

What resonates with you this week?

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Five For Friday: Launching Your Kid to College

From around the web, here are five articles and blog posts to accompany our latest episode, Launching Your Kid to College.  We think you'll find them very encouraging this weekend!

They Grow Up and Leave Home - Lee Binz

Lee Binz counsels homeschoolers on getting their kids to college, but she also has some very wise words to share about how to leave them there on move-in weekend. Her "5-Year Plan" at the end of the article is worth its weight in gold.

Ten Tips For Saying Goodbye to Your College-Bound Child - Linda Lowen

"Keep reminding yourself that it's not your college experience or your decision to make - it's your child's."

Saying Goodbye to a New College Student - Lisa Belkin

Lisa Belkin's essay on saying goodbye to her son as she left him at college is beautiful and highly relatable for any mom of a child grown and leaving home.

6 Survival Tips For Parents of New College Students - Lisa Thompson

Your student has moved in, college classes have started, and you're left wondering what the best way to support her might be. Lisa Thompson gives 6 great ideas that help both both parents and student adjust to college life.

Kendra's Care Package Pinterest Board - Kendra Fletcher

HomeschoolingIRL's own Kendra has a mom who sent amazing care packages, and as Nate went off to college this year, she began a Pinterest board to help her put together care packages that rock!

What resonates with you this week?

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Five For Friday: Let's Rock This Homeschool!

From around the web, here are five articles and blog posts to accompany our latest episode, 5 Ways to Rock Your Homeschool. We think you'll find them very encouraging this weekend!

Incredible Index for Boy Fun - Renee from Great Peace Academy
Have a bunch of boys in your homeschool? Renee compiles 100's of ideas to keep them on the move and creating great stuff, too. Printables, ideas, tips, and active fun.

One Humongous List of Online Education Games - Kathy Gossen
In the spirit of taking things off your plate and getting help, take a look at this fabulous list of online educational things your kids can do. Let them at it and call it school for the day!

Homeschool Mommy Wars - Heather Bowen
Let's stop the one-upping and cheer each other on, shall we? Live as loved. Knowing how secure we are in the love of Christ radically changes the way we treat others.

10 Ways You're Making Your Homeschool Day Harder Than It Needs to Be - Jamie Martin
"I regularly ask myself when working on a task: 'Is this something the kids could do?'" So much wisdom born out of experience here.

10 Reasons I'm Just Not Very Excited to Start School This Fall - Kendra Fletcher
Last year I was not excited to start school at all. Last year I had to be reminded of the gospel. This year, too.

What resonates with you?

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Five For Friday - NYC and Homeschooling in Small Spaces

From around the web, here are five articles and blog posts to accompany our latest episode, Homeschooling in New York City. We think you'll find them very encouraging this weekend!

Top Ten Sites in NYC - Heidi Ciravola
Heidi spent a packed weekend in the city with her daughter and these were their favorite places.

Life Learning at the New York Botanical Garden - Amy Landisman
"She was whining as we pulled into the parking lot. 'I don’t want to do something educational!' She didn’t believe me when I told her a trip to the New York Botanical Garden would be fun."

Here is New York - Heidi Ciravola
How famed author E.B. White saw the Big Apple.

Small Space Homeschooling Organization - Crystal Brothers
If you're trying to homeschool in a small space this year, Crystal has some great tips to keep you organized and sane.

Homeschooling in Tiny Spaces - Colleen Kessler
"When you move from 3000 square feet to 790 square feet, you really need to be creative." How Colleen's homeschooling family is living and thriving in a tiny house, and you can, too!

What resonates with you this week?

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Five For Friday - When Homeschooling is Hard

From around the web, here are five articles and blog posts we think you'll find encouraging this weekend:

My Homeschool Year Was a Flop - Jasmine Lucero

Love As Tough As Tires - Gary Thomas 

What to Do When Your Dreams Stall - Bonnie Gray

Praying for Your Children - Leslie Nunnery

What To Do When You Feel Like God is Silent - Kendra Fletcher

What resonated most with you?

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Five For Friday - On Saturday

It's Saturday. We know. We were just galavanting around San Francisco with our exchange student yesterday and didn't get our Five for Friday post to you this week. Forgive us?

Speaking of exchange students, you can hear why we are so passionate about hosting them on our Episode 8: Homeschooling With Exchange Students.

Our Five for Friday this week is a bit thematic, drawing from our most recent episode, Let's Talk Sex . . . Again:

4 Lies the Church Taught Me About Sex - by Lily Dunn
She grew up evangelical and she thinks the church could be doing a way better job talking about sex. Us, too.

How to Celebrate Sexual Freedom in Your Marriage - by Shannon Ethridge
"God wants you and your spouse to feel sexually free together, and to celebrate that freedom by enjoying great sex regularly. Here’s how you can do so . . . "

14 Things to Know Before You Cheat - by Rod Arters
The reality of adultery is never pretty and is always destructive. If you're tempted to cheat on your spouse, here are 14 things to consider before you run in that direction.

What is Sex? - by Barrett Johnson
"A recent study showed that 88% of single adults in their 20's have had sex. When they looked at Christian single adults, that number dropped to 80%. Whoopie. I guess that for most of our kids, true love doesn't wait after all."

The Secret Women's Porn Problem - by Trillia Newbell
We tend to think that men and porn go together but what about women? Do women - even women in the church - have a porn problem, too? Yes. Yes, they do.

What resonates most with you?

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Five For Friday

From around the web, here are five articles and blog posts we think you'll find encouraging this weekend:

Jesus Canceled Your Mommy Guilt Trip - Gloria Furman
In the wake of a "mom fail" I need to bank on the blood-bought promises of God.

Viral Anxiety - Gloria Furman
When we remember that we have been rescued from a fate worse than death and we are always running headlong into future grace, maternal anxiety gets put in its place.

Grace-Based Parenting vs. Fear-Based Parenting - Tim Kimmel 
Grace understands that the only real solution for our children’s sin is the work of Christ on their behalf . . .  Legalism uses outside forces to help children maintain their moral walk. 

Grace for Regretful Parents, Too - Elyse Fitzpatrick 
What would it look like for you to receive God’s grace for your parental sin? What difference would it make in your life and parenting?

"One-Anothers" I Can't Find in the New Testament - Ray Ortlund 
Therefore, if we are not treating one another well, then what we’re facing is not a lack of niceness but a lack of gospel.

What resonates most with you?

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