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 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 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 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 think your student might be gifted? Off the charts? An outlier? Join us and educator and homeschooling mom of exceptional kids, Colleen Kessler, for a conversation that will open your eyes to the world of homeschooling gifted kids. You'll be encouraged by her experience and equipped with her realistic and helpful suggestions. Don't miss it!
Read MoreMarianne Sunderland has homeschooled for the past 22 years, and 7 of her 8 children have dyslexia. Might she offer you some hope with the dyslexic students in your home? We think so!
Read MoreBoys! Are you ready to talk about all the wild and wonderful things that come with raising and homeschooling boys? You know, we've tackled this topic once before but you keep asking for another episode, so here it is, in all its manly goodness. We hope you enjoy!
Read MoreJoin us for part two of Adoption and the Homeschooling Family, where we continue our interview with Jeremy and Michele White. In this episode, we discuss when adoption doesn't turn out the way parents might have dreamed it would. It's a touching conversation that we hope encourages and equips any family considering adoption.
Read MoreBecause several Homeschooling in Real Life listeners have asked us to address the topic of adoption, we are dedicating two episodes to discussing the ins and outs of adoption and its impact on the homeschooling family. While it would be really easy for us to produce a podcast explaining how to adopt and the benefits involved when a family adopts, we wanted to tackle all of the issues a family might be experiencing when choosing to adopt a child.
In the first of this two-part series, we sit down with our good friends in real life, Jeremy and Michele White, for a serious discussion about adoption. The Whites tell us about the beginning of their adoption journey, what led them to adopt, and how adoption ultimately changed their family and their homeschooling. We hope this story is a blessing and an encouragement to everyone who listens.
Read MoreSo, you've decided that homeschooling is the best option for your kids this year, but the response from your kids has been less than positive. What do you do now?
Fletch and Kendra have had a similar situation with a child in their home, and on this episode of Homeschooling in Real Life, they discuss how they navigated their relationship with that child and how God taught them all a meaningful life lesson in the process.
Read MoreCan you afford to homeschoool? What if your budget is already at its max, and you feel you're barely scraping by just to provide the basics for your family?
Join us and CPA Carol Topp for a lively and quick discussion of how to make homeschooling work on a small or non-existent budget, the realities and expenses of homeschooling older kids, and the need to examine our hearts when it comes to finances and what God is calling us to do.
Read MoreIt's almost time to start the school year! Even if you're listening to this episode after your homeschooling is well under way, we think you might learn some new tricks or discover something that can possibly help you organize what's happening in your home.
We're talking about apps and paper organization, plus some tips to gain a little peace right where you are.
Read MoreSome subjects are difficult to talk about, especially if we're feeling pressure to show the world that everything is going well at home. For moms battling depression, the homeschool community can feel like an unsafe environment because that pressure to have everything all together seems even more acute.
Join us and Christian psychologist Dr. Melanie Wilson (a homeschooling mom of 6 herself) as we discuss the signs of depression, how to find help, and how to minister to the struggling mom.
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