I've been wanting to do this interview for a long time! I have so much respect for my sister-in-law and know that you will love what she has to share! Jolene has been married to my brother Frank for 32 years. She is the mom of 11 kids (ages 30-10) and mammie to 12 grandkids and she has been homeschooling for almost 3 decades. She is active in her church and community. I am so grateful that she is fulfilling the role of Titus 2 woman as she mentors younger moms. You all are going to love this one...
Jun 28, 2024•47 min•Ep. 544
Today's podcast guest is near and dear to me because he is my little brother! He is 17 months younger than me and is a husband of 32 years, a homeschooling dad of 11(ages 10-30), and a grandpa to 12! He was recently elected to the local public school board and I wanted him to encourage other homeschooling families by sharing his story! Resources mentioned in this episode: Link to podcast episode search bar Raising Boys to Men Book Raising Boys to Men Audiobook The Unhurried Homeschooler The Unhu...
Jun 24, 2024•43 min•Ep. 543
Culture teaches young adults that failure is fatal and that purpose is only found in fame, fortune, or power, but as believers, we know that is a complete lie. We want our kids to thrive by teaching them to own their purpose, serve others, build healthy relationships, and live resiliently in the real world, for the glory of God. And that is what today’s college alternative strives for. Resources mentioned in this episode: Link to podcast episode search bar Raising Boys to Men Book Raising Boys t...
Jun 21, 2024•32 min•Ep. 542
It's that time of year when we are considering curriculum for the next school year. Today Pat Murray (from CTC math)and I talk about some ways that may help you choose the best math curriculum for your child! Resources mentioned in this episode: Link for homeschoolers interested in CTC Math CTC Math Link to podcast episode search bar Raising Boys to Men Book Raising Boys to Men Audiobook The Unhurried Homeschooler The Unhurried Homeschooler Audio book Heritage Defense ( my.heritagedefense.org/ac...
Jun 17, 2024•31 min•Ep. 541
In an attempt to be responsible homeschooling parents, we can sometimes jump into homeschooling with our little ones in a way that isn’t developmentally appropriate. Today we will be talking about a more gentle approach to Kindergarten, but one that gives mom some gentle direction and structure. (Even if you don't have a kindergartener or pre-schooler, please pass this on to someone who does!) Resources mentioned in this episode: Link to podcast episode search bar Raising Boys to Men Book Raisin...
Jun 14, 2024•32 min•Ep. 540
The amount of negative and fearful news is constant. It’s virtually impossible to get away from it; if we are not careful, it can erode our faith. We serve a Savior who is the King of Heaven and earth, but why does our world often feel so out of control? Note: We will briefly touch on eschatology(study of the end times). Please remember that this is not a salvation issue and if you have questions I encourage you to listen to the 3 part series we mention in this episode which is listed below. Res...
Jun 10, 2024•48 min•Ep. 539
Parenting can be challenging under normal circumstances, but how do we do it well amid a crisis? Angie Tolpin from Courageous Parenting joins me today as we tackle questions like: How does parenting look different during seasons of crisis? What is it about being in a crisis that makes parenting harder? How can we as parents lead biblically when we are feeling overwhelmed, fearful, or hurt? How do we shift into a healthy mindset that can help sustain us in our parenting during these seasons? How ...
Jun 07, 2024•59 min•Ep. 538
Clutter and messes seem to go hand in hand with both parenting and homeschooling. Today efficiency expert, Kristi Clover and I are talking about ways to help bring order to our lives as moms! Resources mentioned in this episode: Link to podcast episode search bar Raising Boys to Men Book Raising Boys to Men Audiobook The Unhurried Homeschooler The Unhurried Homeschooler Audio book CTC Math Heritage Defense ( my.heritagedefense.org/access-the-vault ) Our CPS Story The Excel Camp College Alternati...
Jun 03, 2024•38 min•Ep. 537
Our homeschooling rights came at a cost to others who have gone before us. Today Will Estrada (from HSLDA) and I discussed what that looked like and what we can do to continue to preserve our right to homeschool. You won't want to miss today's conversation! It is insightful, educational, and encouraging! Resources mentioned in this episode: Link to podcast episode search bar Raising Boys to Men Book Raising Boys to Men Audiobook The Unhurried Homeschooler The Unhurried Homeschooler Audio book CT...
Jun 01, 2024•39 min•Ep. 536
We must have an understanding of why and how our educational system got to where it is now in order to equip ourselves moving forward. Today we will hear from our guest, Alex Newman, an expert in the history of our country's education. This episode will not disappoint! There is so much important info here! Resources mentioned in this episode: Link to podcast episode search bar Raising Boys to Men Book Raising Boys to Men Audiobook The Unhurried Homeschooler The Unhurried Homeschooler Audio book ...
May 27, 2024•35 min•Ep. 535
Today I'm talking with Alex Newman about what every Christian parent should know about education. We will tackle questions like: Why is the battle over who educates our kids so important? Why should parents who don't feel like they are doing a good job should keep homeschooling? Is Common Core still part of the public school curriculum and why is it so dangerous? How can parents best prepare their kids to thrive in our culture? Resources mentioned in this episode: Link to podcast episode search ...
May 24, 2024•39 min•Ep. 534
When it comes to parenting, it’s such a comfort to know we can go to God and leave every hope and heartache we have at His feet and in His hands. However this is not always easy, it takes practice and sometimes we need to be encouraged and equipped for this in order to become a more prayerful parent. Parenting truly is an effective means to grow our prayer lives! Resources mentioned in this episode: Link to podcast episode search bar Raising Boys to Men Book Raising Boys to Men Audiobook The Unh...
May 20, 2024•44 min•Ep. 533
As busy homeschooling moms it can be easy to get caught up in the details of the day-to-day, so now and then it’s good to step back and look at the bigger picture to help us keep perspective on both the big and seemingly smaller things. Resources mentioned in this episode: Link to podcast episode search bar Raising Boys to Men Book Raising Boys to Men Audiobook The Unhurried Homeschooler The Unhurried Homeschooler Audio book CTC Math Heritage Defense ( my.heritagedefense.org/access-the-vault ) O...
May 17, 2024•30 min•Ep. 532
Turmoil in the world can easily spark fear in moms as we try to nurture our families and cultivate life-giving home environments. We can feel anxious and scared, exhausted by the barrage of bad news and moral dilemmas. Today we want to talk about how to push back the darkness by creating sacred homes, places of joy, hope, and life through intentional habits. Resources mentioned in this episode: Link to podcast episode search bar Raising Boys to Men Book Raising Boys to Men Audiobook The Unhurrie...
May 13, 2024•38 min•Ep. 531
According to analysis from The Washington Post, homeschooling has become the fastest-growing form of education in America. More and more parents are realizing that they can give their kids a great education and eliminate so many negatives that are part of the traditional school setting. With that in mind, my dear friend, Monica Swanson joins me today to share her family’s journey of becoming homeschoolers! As a veteran homeschool mom of 4 boys, Monica is both encouraging and full of helpful reso...
May 10, 2024•36 min•Ep. 530
Families are like little churches. They are meant to be places of discipleship, worship, and rest— places where we can fine-tune the gifts God's given us so we can bless the world. They can be full of surprises and joy. But family life can also be heartbreaking and downright discouraging. Trained counselor and mother Melissa Hannigan knows how hard it is to cast and keep a vision of rich family life. How do we cultivate a family culture that's vibrant and encouraging—a refuge amidst life's storm...
May 06, 2024•43 min•Ep. 529
Today's guest is Bridgette Cameron Ridenour. She is the sister of Kirk Cameron and Candace Cameron Bure. You may not even know she existed, but she is here today to talk about what it was like to grow up in a famous family and how God worked in her life as she learned that when we belong to God, we are never overlooked. Resources mentioned in this episode: Bridgett's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bridgette_r/ Website: https://bridgettecameron.com/ Link to book, Overlooked: https://www.ama...
May 03, 2024•42 min•Ep. 528
Eventually, we graduate our kids from homeschool and thoughts of college may be on the horizon. Today Andrew Chambers from Excel College and I will talk about whether college is worth the cost. We will look at what has changed in the college landscape that affects our students financially, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Resources mentioned in this episode: Link to podcast episode search bar The Unhurried Homeschooler The Unhurried Homeschooler Audiobook Raising Boys to Men Book Raising ...
Apr 29, 2024•41 min•Ep. 527
Many of us are currently walking through trials and although it can feel natural to want them to be over as soon as possible, there is something of eternal value that is happening as we remain faithful in the midst of them. Today I'm sharing some wisdom that God has graciously shown me as we all move toward becoming wise women of God! Resources mentioned in this episode: Link to podcast episode search bar The Unhurried Homeschooler The Unhurried Homeschooler Audiobook Raising Boys to Men Book Ra...
Apr 26, 2024•42 min•Ep. 526
According to an analysis from The Washington Post, homeschooling has become the fastest-growing form of education in America. Consequently, many new homeschoolers may not be aware of the kind of local homeschool support they have. I invited Tara Bentley as a guest today to talk about the importance of state homeschool organizations, what they offer, and how you can connect with yours to find local homeschool support. Resources mentioned in this episode: Link to podcast episode search bar The Unh...
Apr 22, 2024•34 min•Ep. 525
We all want to give our kids a great education, but it can be easy to doubt our ability to be an excellent home educator. In today’s episode, Leslie Nunnery and I are going to talk about how parents can give their kids a fantastic education at home! (Hint: It's probably not what you are thinking!) Resources mentioned in this episode: Link to podcast episode search bar The Unhurried Homeschooler Audio Book Raising Boys to Men Book Raising Boys to Men Audiobook CTC Math Heritage Defense ( my.herit...
Apr 19, 2024•39 min•Ep. 524
One of the topics that moms often ask me about is how to handle anxiety, children with anxiety, or both. I’ve seen anxiety on the rise in our culture and although I would hope that homeschooling would lessen the risks of that in our children, there are still many variables in the equation of our complicated lives that could contribute to feeling anxious. It’s important to get to the root of the anxiety, but if our bodies have experienced anxiety frequently enough, it can become chronic. Today I ...
Apr 15, 2024•31 min•Ep. 522
As Christian values come under attack increasingly in our modern world, many parents wonder how to build the strong spiritual foundation their children will need to understand what is truly important in life. Today LeeAnn Mancini is joining me to talk about Raising Kids to Follow Christ! Resources mentioned in this episode: Link to podcast episode search bar The Unhurried Homeschooler Audio Book Raising Boys to Men Book If you purchase Raising Boys to Men you will receive a gift! Use this link t...
Apr 12, 2024•40 min•Ep. 523
I don’t think I know anyone who has been a believer for any length of time who hasn’t experienced a wound in their church life and experience. Some of these wounds are what I would call merely flesh wounds, but some are incredibly deep and can cause lasting damage. I’ve heard from countless moms who have experienced this, including friends, and my own family. It's easy to become bitter and cynical when it seems like we are the only army that wounds its own soldiers. However, I don’t think that i...
Apr 08, 2024•54 min•Ep. 521
God uniquely designs each of our children and it’s so helpful to have a better understanding of those basic uniqueness to nurture best and grow them into who God created them to be. Resources mentioned in this episode: Link to podcast episode search bar The Unhurried Homeschooler Audio Book Raising Boys to Men Book If you purchase Raising Boys to Men you will receive a gift! Use this link to redeem: durendawilson.com/redeem (a list of movies to watch with your boys that portray boys and men as h...
Apr 05, 2024•40 min•Ep. 520
Maybe you aren’t even thinking about your baby, toddler, or preschooler’s education, but chances are it has crossed your mind. If you are considering homeschooling, you may be wondering or even anxious about how you prepare yourself and your child for this. How early should you start and what should you do? DO NOT STRESS. It’s simpler than you think Resources mentioned in this episode: Link to podcast episode search bar The Unhurried Homeschooler Audio Book Raising Boys to Men Book If you purcha...
Apr 01, 2024•37 min•Ep. 519
As many of you know, we live on acreage with several of our kids and 6 of our grandkids ages 9 down to 2 mos. My daughter-in-law suggested that I revisit the baby, toddler, and preschool years. So this episode is both for new parents with littles and more experienced parents with littles who might want an encouraging refresher/reminder. Resources mentioned in this episode: Link to podcast episode search bar The Unhurried Homeschooler Audio Book Raising Boys to Men Book If you purchase Raising Bo...
Mar 29, 2024•42 min•Ep. 518
Homesteading has become very popular and with good reason. However, sometimes it's easy to see only the good and not the potential challenges that come with it. Today our oldest daughter and I talk about the challenges and the benefits of homesteading along with some pretty funny experiences we never saw coming when we decided to homestead! Resources mentioned in this episode: The Unhurried Homeschooler Audio Book Raising Boys to Men Book If you purchase Raising Boys to Men you will receive a fr...
Mar 25, 2024•41 min•Ep. 517
I’m excited to talk about one particular practice that has transformed my motherhood journey. It’s something I’ve mentioned off and on, but realized I needed to dedicate an entire episode to it! Resources mentioned in this episode: The Unhurried Homeschooler Audio Book Raising Boys to Men Book If you purchase Raising Boys to Men you will receive a free gift! Use this link to redeem: durendawilson.com/redeem (a list of movies to watch with your boys that portray boys and men as heroes!) CTC Math ...
Mar 22, 2024•40 min•Ep. 516
Today I’m going to be sharing some simple, but very helpful tips that our family has recently learned to work through conflict with other believers (including extended family and adult children). Episodes mentioned: Podcast episode search bar How Believers Should Handle Suffering Nurturing Sibling Relationships (3 episodes) Is It Really That Important That Our Kids Obey Us? Drive Thru Talking: An Effective Communication Tool Scriptures mentioned: Romans 12:18 Hebrews 12:14 Galatians 6 Romans 8:2...
Mar 18, 2024•40 min•Ep. 515
