Christmas can be a wonderful time of the year, but also very stressful. If you live on a limited budget (like most of us), you might be looking for ways to give this Christmas without breaking the bank! Excel College ctcmath.com The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Gift in a Jar Ideas Fort Kit (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com , or your f...
Dec 01, 2023•31 min•Ep. 484
Interrupting can be one of the more frustrating parts of parenting so I thought I'd address this topic with helpful suggestions and reasons why addressing this is so important! Resources mentioned in this episode: Excel College ctcmath.com The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Nurturing Sibling Relationship Series (this is the first of 3) Scriptures mentioned in this episode: Hebrews 12:11 Proverbs 25:28 2 Timothy 1:7 1 Corin. 9:27 (Please check ou...
Nov 27, 2023•29 min•Ep. 483
It can be challenging to know what the role of grandparents actually is in the lives of their grandchildren. Today I'm going to share my perspective based on experience, but also on God's word. Resources mentioned in this episode: The Excel Camp (chose "Durenda Wilson" for $100 off) CTC Math The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Gentle Encouragement for Mothers-in-Law Proverbs 17:6 Psalm 92:14 Proverbs 16:31 2 Timothy 1:5-7 (Please check out my lat...
Nov 24, 2023•48 min•Ep. 482
Domestic abuse is more common than we would like to think and homeschooling families are not immune that's why I wanted to address this topic in a way that would better equip us as wives and moms. Whether it's something that's happening in your home, you suspect it is happening to someone you know or you would just like to know more for future reference, this conversation is one you won't want to miss. With compassion and kindness, Darby Strickland brings much-needed biblical clarity to this top...
Nov 20, 2023•37 min•Ep. 481
Not that long ago, time for unstructured play was naturally built into a child's daily rhythm. Today, it's something that we as parents have to fight for. As a mom to eight kids, I needed my kids to spend time playing each day, for their sake and for mine. Little did I know the incredible benefits that that simple daily ritual would yield. Today I'm chatting with Ginny Yurich from 1000 Hours Outside about the essential need our children have for play and the countless benefits both kids and pare...
Nov 17, 2023•49 min•Ep. 480
A while back I talked about concerns I had about 2024 . This episode ties into that message as I share an update on our family and answered prayers. I'll also be pulling our family experience from the past and seeing how God has tied it to our present. It really is amazing how He answers prayers in unexpected, but meaningful ways. I pray this will inspire you to keep trusting God for all things concerning your family and their future! Resources mentioned in this episode: Excel Camp (click "Duren...
Nov 13, 2023•44 min•Ep. 479
More families than ever are interested in homesteading. Whether you are moving forward with this lifestyle, dreaming about it, or would simply like your kids to learn science, social science, and health in a very practical way, you won't want to miss today's episode! Resources mentioned in this episode: ctcmath.com Excel College The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Connect with Kody and Homestead Education: www.thehomesteadeducation.com Instagram ...
Nov 10, 2023•29 min•Ep. 478
Have you doubted your ability to homeschool? Whether you are already homeschooling and could use some encouragement or simply thinking of homeschooling this is the episode for you! Today Nicki Truesdale and I have an encouraging conversation about why anyone can homeschool! If I had to describe this episode in one word, it would be "FREEDOM"!! Resources mentioned in this episode: ctcmath.com Excel College The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day nicki...
Nov 06, 2023•41 min•Ep. 477
The holiday season can be a wonderful time of year to take a break from the normal rhythms of homeschooling and really focus on seasonal rhythms like Advent. Today we are going to be talking more about what seasonal rhythms are, why they are important, and how to find rhythms that are good for your family. Resources mentioned in this episode: ctcmath.com Excel College The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Lyndsey's connection information: COUPON CO...
Nov 03, 2023•36 min•Ep. 476
Grieving the loss of your baby to stillbirth or miscarriage can be lonely and agonizing. As most of you know, our family has experienced both: I’ve had 5 miscarriages, 2 of our daughters and one daughter-in-law have had miscarriages and our first grandson was stillborn, so we are no strangers to the overwhelming sorrow, loneliness, and fears that come with this kind of loss. Today I am praying that this episode can bring hope to those who have experienced this or know someone who has as Jackie G...
Oct 30, 2023•46 min•Ep. 475
Almost every mom I know has had at least one miscarriage. The journey of grief that comes with miscarriage and stillbirth can be a lonely one so today I want to share our family's story. In the next episode, I will be having a very tender and hopeful conversation with Jackie Gibbons who experienced a full-term still-birth. Even if you've never been on this journey, these episodes will help you better walk with someone else who has. Resources mentioned in this episode: ctcmath.com The Unhurried H...
Oct 27, 2023•26 min•Ep. 474
Today Professor Owen Strachan (IG: @profstrachan) and I are specifically addressing our role in the lives of our sons and husbands as we engage in the war on men that is raging in our culture. This war is very real and one that we must win because the future of society depends on it, but it's an uphill battle and we need regular doses of encouragement and that’s what you’re going to find on today’s episode! ctcmath.com The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour Sc...
Oct 23, 2023•40 min•Ep. 473
I've had this nagging feeling that 2024 could bring a fair amount of upheaval in our country and maybe you've had the same feeling. This is why I thought it would be a good idea to drill down on this and look to God's word for wisdom in the upcoming days. Resources mentioned in this episode: ctcmath.com Excel College Summer Leadership Camp The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Verses mentioned in this episode: Proverbs 31:10-31 1 Peter 1:3-4 Zephan...
Oct 20, 2023•35 min•Ep. 472
We all want to know if we are doing enough. We want a measuring stick to help reassure us that we are doing right by our kids. Today, Ashley Wiggers and I are talking about how to measure performance in a homeschool way! I know you will be encouraged! Resources mentioned in this episode: Excel College ctcmath.com The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Homeschooling Today (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Ki...
Oct 16, 2023•20 min•Ep. 471
Do you find math a challenging subject when it comes to homeschooling? I’m excited to have Nadim El-Rahi here today to talk about CTC Math and what makes it unique and effective! Resources shared in today’s episode: Excel College ctcmath.com The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Subscribe to my monthly email and receive a free digital download of Encouraging a Homeschooling Heart Homeschool Summit 2.0 (Free online homeschooling conference) (Please ...
Oct 13, 2023•26 min•Ep. 470
Is ADD/ADHD something that is affecting your family? Today we will be getting a fresh and encouraging perspective on this topic from Dr. Roger McFillin a clinical psychologist and host of the popular Radically Genuine Podcast! Resources mentioned in this episode: Excel College ctcmath.com The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Subscribe to my monthly email and receive a free digital download of Encouraging a Homeschooling Heart Dr. McFillin's Websit...
Oct 09, 2023•58 min•Ep. 469
Do you find it challenging to parent your special needs child? Do you find yourself confused about how to discipline him or her since it seems that they need to be handled differently than your other children? Are we as parents so distracted with our kids’ weaknesses and needs that we forget what God has called us to when it comes to biblical parenting? (This episode is a great reminder whether you have special needs kids or not.) Resources shared in today’s episode: Excel College ctcmath.com Th...
Oct 06, 2023•30 min•Ep. 468
Are you wondering what you can do to keep your family as healthy as possible through the winter months? Today Elizabeth Parsons ( a former RN turned “crunchy”) also known as “Purely Parsons” on Instagram, joins us to talk about ways to both prevent illness and address the symptoms using more natural approaches that encourage our bodies to heal themselves. Resources mentioned in this episode: ctcmath.com The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Subscri...
Oct 02, 2023•45 min•Ep. 467
Do you ask your kids lots of questions? This is one of the best things I did with our kids as we raised and homeschooled them. We have an unusual opportunity to really know our kids and gather important information that can help us guide, direct, teach, and encourage them. In today’s episode, we will be drilling down on both the importance of asking questions and ways to do that. Resources shared in today’s episode: ctcmath.com The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Fou...
Sep 29, 2023•20 min•Ep. 466
Have ever wondered how to truly instill in your child the truth about who God is? A person’s view of God affects their entire life. The view of God that our kids have will likely determine whether they will embrace biblical Christianity for themselves or not. Imparting this knowledge is an essential, not optional part of parenting our kids in the faith. But what does that look like with feet on the ground? Where do we start? How young do we start? Today I’ve invited Elizabeth Urbanowicz from Fou...
Sep 25, 2023•30 min•Ep. 465
We have all been repeatedly told that the traditional college setting is the only path to success but the truth is that it is all but obsolete. Only one of our kids went the college route, but all have been successful with or without college. I have a series of podcast episodes where I interviewed each of our grown kids who shared their journey after high school. (I’ll leave links below.) This year, I’ve spoken at 9 homeschool conferences and I’ve noticed more and more alternatives being offered...
Sep 22, 2023•33 min•Ep. 464
Have you embraced the principles of Gentle Parenting? Have you had reservations or doubts about it and wondered how it aligns with God’s word? Wes is back on the podcast today to square up the central tenets of Gentle Parenting with the scriptures and clarify this sometimes confusing parenting advice! (WE HAD SOME TROUBLE WITH THE AUDIO, WHICH IS UNUSUAL FOR US, BUT HOPE YOU ALL WILL BEAR WITH US. THE CONTENT IS WORTH IT!) Resources mentioned in this episode:: ctcmath.com The Unhurried Homeschoo...
Sep 18, 2023•40 min•Ep. 463
Are you wondering if there are more or better ways you can nurture your relationship with your daughter? Today we are going to be talking about nurturing mother-daughter relationships and I’ve invited my second daughter, Jenna, to talk about this with me. She and I seemed to butt heads more than I did with her two sisters and yet, by God's grace we have a healthy happy adult relationship. Resources shared in today’s episode: ctcmath.com The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Hear...
Sep 15, 2023•46 min•Ep. 462
Are we actually taking advantage of some of the most important benefits of homeschooling? This is the fourth in my series on the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual benefits of homeschooling (each in separate podcast episodes). Today we are going to talk about the spiritual benefits of homeschooling. Resources mentioned in this episode: ctcmath.com The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Subscribe to my monthly email and receive a free digital...
Sep 11, 2023•35 min•Ep. 461
It’s hard to imagine that hardship could be something good, but that’s what we will be covering today! I’m super excited to have Abbie Halberstadt (M is for Mama) back on the podcast to talk about her brand new book,“Hard isn’t the Same Thing as Bad”! Resources mentioned in this episode: Hard isn't the Same Thing as Bad (Amazon) Hard isn't the Same Thing as Bad (Abbie's website) ctcmath.com The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homesc...
Sep 08, 2023•53 min•Ep. 460
Are we actually taking advantage of some of the most important benefits of homeschooling? This is the third in my series on the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual benefits of homeschooling (each in separate podcast episodes). Today we are going to talk about the emotional benefits of homeschooling. It’s important to raise kids who are emotionally intelligent, but often we don’t realize what a huge benefit homeschooling can be to help us do this. Listen in and be encouraged! Resources men...
Sep 04, 2023•32 min•Ep. 459
Have you ever wondered what you would do if CPS showed up at your door? This happened to our family a little over a year ago and today I’m telling our story. Resources mentioned in this episode: https://heritagedefense.org/learn-more/ Subscribe to my monthly email and receive a free digital download of Encouraging a Homeschooling Heart ctcmath.com The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course (P.S. Don't forget t...
Sep 01, 2023•38 min•Ep. 457
Are we really taking advantage of some of the most important benefits of homeschooling? This is the second in my series on the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual benefits of homeschooling (each in separate podcast episodes). Today we are going to talk about the mental benefits of homeschooling. Most of us are aware that children's mental health (on average) is rapidly declining, but homeschooling gives us an unprecedented opportunity to nurture our children's mental health in the ways th...
Aug 28, 2023•31 min•Ep. 458
Do you feel guilty about the fact that your quiet time with the Lord is often cut short, non-existent, or that it doesn't look like it did before kids? Join me today as we drill down on this topic, kicking condemnation to the curb while still remaining faithful to the Lord in this area! Resources mentioned in this episode: Subscribe to my monthly email and receive a free digital download of Encouraging a Homeschooling Heart ctcmath.com The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart...
Aug 25, 2023•25 min•Ep. 456
In the busyness of starting a new school year, have you forgotten some of the benefits of choosing this lifestyle for our families? Today we are going to be reminded of some of the physical benefits of homeschooling and I’ll cover the mental, emotional, and spiritual benefits in future episodes! Resources shared in today’s episode: ctcmath.com The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Subscribe to my monthly email and receive a free digital download of...
Aug 21, 2023•35 min•Ep. 455
