Every podcast episode appearing on the HomeschoolingiRL podcast radio show.
Join us on this episode of Homeschooling in Real Life as we talk about the ins and outs of traveling with kids: where to go, how to save the money to get there, and why we need to give our kids a broad view of the world.
Read MoreHomeschooling. Health food. Small church. Mom stays home. KJV only. Dresses. Youth group. Public school. No TV. Our convictions, or the things we strongly about, can drive so much of our lives and end up being the choices by which we define ourselves. They can bring like-minded believers together and set the tone for our families and homes.
But what happens when your convictions are different than mine? As soon as you discover that we don't have the same non-negotiables in our home as you do in yours, is it a deal-killer?
What does it look like to love other Christians in our community who hold to different standards but agree that Jesus is everything? Can we love each other well, for the sake of the gospel?
Read MoreAre you homeschooling for the short term? Committing to a brief season of educating your children at home? This episode, encouraged by an email we received from a Homeschooling in Real Life listener, is just for you.
Don't let the short title fool you, though. We get into quite a lively discussion and face some mighty large homeschooling sacred cows this week. You won't want to miss it!
Read MoreMoms of teen boys, this episode is for you! Fletch and Kendra have raised three teen boys so far and have lived to tell the tale . . .
Kendra also has some definite opinions on the subject of moms, homeschooling, and teen boys. She thinks the teen years can be extra great for moms, particularly if a mom can learn to do a few things to grow that relationship in a positive direction. What are they? You'll have to tune in to find out!
Read MoreEver feel like there just isn't enough time to do the things you want to do? Do the demands of the roles of parenting and homeschooling make you feel guilty if you take time for yourself?
Join us on this week's episode as we chat with Dr. Melanie Wilson, psychologist and Christian homeschooling mom of 6, about "me time". We discuss whether or not taking time for ourselves is practical, and doable, and we have a lot of fun along the way!
Read MoreSo, what exactly is spiritual abuse? Do we have a working definition? What happens if we find ourselves in the midst of an abusive setting, aware that we are stuck and in need of the freeing grace of the gospel?
Join us for part two of Spiritual Abuse as we dive into the tough topics surrounding spiritual abuse with Dale and Jonalyn Fincher of Freedom Builders. We think you'll love their candor and deep love of the freedom Christ brings.
Read MoreIf you've ever been a part of a church or faith-based community where manipulation, control, and fear informed choices, you'll want to tune in for this episode of Homeschooling in Real Life where we talk about how the gospel turns all of that unhealthy behavior on its ear.
We're diving into the tough topics surrounding spiritual abuse with Dale and Jonalyn Fincher of Freedom Builders, and we think you'll love their candor and deep love of the freedom Christ brings.
Read MoreWelcome to Season Two of the Homeschooling in Real Life podcast! We're excited to be back with you for an all new season of episodes that we hope will inspire, encourage, and spur you on in your home and family.
But first: what exactly is Homeschooling in Real Life? Are we a "how to homeschool" podcast, a curriculum review show, or something entirely different? Join us and John Wilkerson of The Wired Homeschool and for an interview that will answer all of your burning questions!
Read More"My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness."
We sang the lyrics, believed that Jesus was everything, and then proceeded to stack up our own good works. We built our hope on our good behavior and choices, which tanked our spiritual lives and found us in a faith dead-end.
This is our story: How we found our 7-week-old baby in a coma, an event that led to a massive overhaul in our marriage, our parenting, and ultimately, our faith in Christ. That sickly baby boy was just the beginning; there would be harder trials and far more refining ahead.
If you are wondering why your own faith feels stagnant or the Christian life joyless, join us as we share what unlocked the self-made prison doors and caused us to lose our religion but find a deeper, more glorious faith in the power of the cross!
Read MoreCan we really be unoffended? Is it possible to be told the most offensive of criticisms or weather the worst of injustices but walk away without carrying the burden of offense?
Join us for a rebroadcast of an interview we did with radio personality and author, Brant Hansen, and learn how the gospel frees us from the need to walk around offended and how it informs our deepest desire for satisfaction and acceptance.
Read MoreIn this second installment of our most popular episodes from 2015, Fletch and Kendra respond to a listener's email asking, "What if your child is the homeschool group black sheep, the one the other kids are not allowed to play with?"
It's a tender topic and one many of you felt hit close to home. Let's listen again and hear how we might pour grace over our "black sheep" kids.
Read MoreIt's time for a season break so Fletch and Kendra can get to work on our next season of Homeschooling in Real Life episodes!
In this first rebroadcast of the most popular episodes of 2015, Kimm Crandall shares her story of chasing the perfect homeschooling dream. In the midst of the chaos of mothering and life, Kimm hits a wall that forces her to face the truth: she's replaced the freedom of the gospel with the chains of self-righteousness.
There's a reason this interview has been listened to by thousands. It's poignant, touching, and full of the hope of Jesus Christ!
You can find the original post and show notes for Episode 34: Christ in the Chaos here.
Read MoreOur very first full episode of Homeschooling in Real Life was titled "Homeschooling is a Buzzkill", and our frank discussion of the harder parts of homeschooling quickly became our most popular episode.
We're tackling the topic again, both because we wanted to improve our broadcast quality and because we think we have more experience to add. As always, our goal is to encourage and equip without glossing over the real life stuff. and we hope you'll feel like you feel the freedom to tell it like it is while still walking the road with your kids.
Read MoreMerry, merry Christmas to our listeners, both new and old! We're very thankful for the gift you've given us of your listening ears for over two years of Homeschooling in Real Life.
We're having a bit of fun with this one - HIRLers Treasure Chest, Q and A with K and A, our least favorite Christmas carols (and yours, too!) and a bit more Christmas fluff.
Put on your earbuds and pour yourself a glass of egg nog. We're having some fun stuffing your Christmas stocking!
Read MoreFor the past two years, Fletch and Kendra have been talking about "hope shifting" on every episode of Homeschooling in Real Life. What exactly do they mean?
Join us and pastor Jim Applegate on this episode to explore the ways in which we all, homeschooling or not, shift our hope to almost everything but the cross, every single day. Reminding ourselves of Whose we are and what He's done for us is a total game-changer!
Read MoreDo you ever feel like there is never enough time for you to take a break? Develop a skill? Work on a hobby? It's very easy to lose ourselves in the overwhelming tasks of parenting and homeschooling, and it's often made worse by a "try harder, do more" mentality that makes us believe we're selfish for wanting to.
This episode of Homeschooling in Real Life was inspired by a listener who asked, "Is there time for my own growth in the years of homeschooling?" What do you think?
Read MoreCan Jesus and Santa co-exist in the Christian home? Is there room for Santa and his reindeers, elves and lists that keep track of whether we've been naughty or nice?
On this episode of Homeschooling in Real Life, Fletch and Kendra talk about loving others who celebrate a Christmas centered on things other than the birth of Christ, talking to our kids about the place those things have or don't have in our homes, and a big extra happy, jolly helping of the gospel.
Read MoreDevotions for the Real Family? Yes. You know, the real family: the toddler is hijacking the deep discussion, the teens are daydreaming, and mom is falling asleep because it's been a long, long homeschooling day. Can you relate?
Family worship can be trying for most families, and on this episode of Homeschooling in Real Life, we talk with a dozen dads about what it looks like in their homes. But we won't leave you feeling like a failure! We want to encourage you to discover God's glory with your family in a way that suits you best.
Read MoreAre the upcoming holidays already getting you down? Do you feel like the holiday months are just one long race to the finish line, and you're spread way too thin?
For certain, homeschooling kids who are home all day adds another dimension to preparing for Thanksgiving and Christmas, and on this episode of Homeschooling in Real Life, Fletch and Kendra talk about how to keep from feeling like all the Christmas spirit has been trampeled under schedules and to-do lists.
Read MoreOh, how the holidays can bring out the best and the worst in families. Let's get real together and talk about how to deal with the negative comments that fly our way, the tension that arises from differing opinions, and the hurt that biting words can cause in our hearts.
But let's not just leave it there. Let's bring the gospel in to shine a spotlight and create healing where it's needed most: right in the middle of our family feud.
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